This clip includes some harsh criticism from prominent Repubs such as Frank Wolf and Chuck Hagel.
This is from the November 2, 2003 program of Meet the Press.
Complete Video and Photos
Rumsfeld: On The Shrub Administration’s Refusal To Cooperate With Congress (Small – 5 MB)
Tim Russert:
“Let me turn to some of the concerns expressed by Republicans in the Congress. This was Frank Wolf: Republican allies complain of administration arrogance towards Congress: ‘Pride goeth before the fall.’
And this, a prominent Republican Hill staffer: Rumsfeld and Secretary Wolfowitz, your top deputy, ‘just give off the sense that they know better than thou, and they don’t have to answer our questions.’
And this from Chuck Hagel on the Intelligence and Foreign Affairs Committees, Republican: ‘The Bush administration did miscalculate the difficulty of the war in Iraq. I think they did a miserable job of planning for a post-Saddam Iraq. They treated many in the Congress, most of the Congress, like a nuisance. When we asked questions, we wanted to be helpful, we wanted to participate. And now they are finding out that reality is dominating.’
‘Arrogance?’ ‘Nuisance?’ Not a full appreciation of your fellow Republicans in the Congress?”
Donald Rumsfeld:
“Well, you know, there’s 535 members of the House and Senate, and you are going to find every viewpoint across the spectrum. It’s always been so. You’ve served there — I served in Congress. And there’s always going to be someone who has a different view, and we accept that. We have spent enormous numbers of hours up there — I do. Secretary Powell does. Others in the administration, briefing Senators, briefing House members, briefing staff members. And overwhelmingly they’ve been appreciative of those briefings and felt that they were helpful. We’ve sent up intelligence briefing people on a regularly weekly basis. I think probably there’s been more information back and forth in this conflict during Iraq and Afghanistan than in any conflict in the history of the country.
Now, when people are having their constituents killed, and they see things happening that worry them, understandably they’re going to be worried and concerned about it, and I accept that. And these are tough issues. These are not easy issues. And the fact that there are a variety of views in Congress simply reflects the country. There are a variety of views in the country. And that’s understandable.”
Rumsfeld On Meet The Press: On The Shrub Administration’s Refusal To Cooperate With Congress
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