Obama's main man David Axelrod was on "Face the Nation" this morning, assiduously not taking a position against Israel. Transcript:
And now, from Washington, substituting for Bob Schieffer, CBS News correspondent Chip Reid.
REID: Joining us now from Chicago, David Axelrod, senior adviser to President-elect Obama.
David, thank you for joining us.
Mr. DAVID AXELROD (Obama White House Senior Advisor): Great to be here. Thank you.
REID: Let's go with the headlines today, we've got to. The news is
just really difficult in Gaza right now. Nearly 300 killed in Israeli
airstrikes. The Bush administration response so far has been to blame Hamas and to urge Israel to be very careful about civilian casualties. Now, I suspect if I ask you specifically what Barack Obama
would do here, you'll tell me that there's only one president at a
time. So let me ask you a slightly different question, which is do you
anticipate that the Obama administration will be just as supportive of
Israel as the Bush administration has been?
just really difficult in Gaza right now. Nearly 300 killed in Israeli
airstrikes. The Bush administration response so far has been to blame Hamas and to urge Israel to be very careful about civilian casualties. Now, I suspect if I ask you specifically what Barack Obama
would do here, you'll tell me that there's only one president at a
time. So let me ask you a slightly different question, which is do you
anticipate that the Obama administration will be just as supportive of
Israel as the Bush administration has been?
Mr. AXELROD: Well, certainly the president-elect recognizes the
special relationship between the United States and Israel. It's a–it's
an important bond, an important relationship, he's going to honor it.
And he wants to be a constructive force in helping to bring about the
peace and security that both the Israelis and the Palestinians want and
deserve. And obviously, this situation has become even more complicated
in the last couple of days and weeks, as Hamas began at shelling,
Israel responded. But it's something that he's committed to.
special relationship between the United States and Israel. It's a–it's
an important bond, an important relationship, he's going to honor it.
And he wants to be a constructive force in helping to bring about the
peace and security that both the Israelis and the Palestinians want and
deserve. And obviously, this situation has become even more complicated
in the last couple of days and weeks, as Hamas began at shelling,
Israel responded. But it's something that he's committed to.
REID: But do you think he will be equally as supportive of Israel as the Bush administration?
Mr. AXELROD: I think he–I think–as I said, I think he recognizes
that special relationship. He's going to work closely with the
Israelis. They're a great ally of ours, the most important ally in the
region. And we're–that is a fundamental principle from which he'll
work. But he will do so in a way that will promote the cause of peace
and work closely with Israelis and Palestinians on that–toward that
objective.
that special relationship. He's going to work closely with the
Israelis. They're a great ally of ours, the most important ally in the
region. And we're–that is a fundamental principle from which he'll
work. But he will do so in a way that will promote the cause of peace
and work closely with Israelis and Palestinians on that–toward that
objective.
REID: There are tanks massing on the border, Israeli tanks on the
Gaza border as we speak, and they are calling up 6,500 reserve soldiers
for a possible land invasion. Would that change things? Because then it
becomes an Obama administration problem. Obviously, if they go into Gaza
with a land invasion, that is something that's going to take some time.
Would that change things, and change how an Obama administration views
Israel? And would it also affect the entire agenda? Might they have to
put other things off if that's problem number one on day one?
Gaza border as we speak, and they are calling up 6,500 reserve soldiers
for a possible land invasion. Would that change things? Because then it
becomes an Obama administration problem. Obviously, if they go into Gaza
with a land invasion, that is something that's going to take some time.
Would that change things, and change how an Obama administration views
Israel? And would it also affect the entire agenda? Might they have to
put other things off if that's problem number one on day one?
Mr. AXELROD: Well, let me say, we started this interview with you
doing my part, so–but I have to go back to that. The fact is that
there is only one president at the time. There's only–only one
president can speak for America at a time, and that president now is George Bush.
The president-elect was on the phone with Secretary Rice yesterday,
he's monitoring the situation closely. But the Bush administration has
to speak for America now, and it wouldn't be appropriate for me to
opine on these matters.
doing my part, so–but I have to go back to that. The fact is that
there is only one president at the time. There's only–only one
president can speak for America at a time, and that president now is George Bush.
The president-elect was on the phone with Secretary Rice yesterday,
he's monitoring the situation closely. But the Bush administration has
to speak for America now, and it wouldn't be appropriate for me to
opine on these matters.
REID: Let me…
Mr. AXELROD: I will say, the president–you go ahead, Chip.
REID: No, you go ahead.
Mr. AXELROD: The president-elect was in Sderot last July, in
southern Israel, a town that's taken the brunt of the Hamas attacks,
and he said then that when bombs are raining down on your citizens
there is an urge to respond and act and try and put an end to that. So
you know, that's what he said then and I think that's what he believes.
southern Israel, a town that's taken the brunt of the Hamas attacks,
and he said then that when bombs are raining down on your citizens
there is an urge to respond and act and try and put an end to that. So
you know, that's what he said then and I think that's what he believes.
REID: When he talks to Secretary Rice, is he simply passively listening or is he also offering an assessment?
Mr. AXELROD: Well, I think they have a–they have a good working
relationship and there's a–I think that the calls are largely in
the–in the area of fact-finding for him. I would hardly describe him
as passive. But I think he wants to get a handle on the situation so
that when he becomes president on January 20th he has the advantage of
all the facts and information leading up to that point.
relationship and there's a–I think that the calls are largely in
the–in the area of fact-finding for him. I would hardly describe him
as passive. But I think he wants to get a handle on the situation so
that when he becomes president on January 20th he has the advantage of
all the facts and information leading up to that point.
REID: Last question on this topic. Hillary Clinton, of course, will be your–is expected to be…
MR. AXELROD: Mm-hmm.
REID: …assuming she gets confirmed–the secretary of state
in the Obama administration. Is he talking–is the president-elect
talking to her? Are the wheels moving within the Obama team on this?
in the Obama administration. Is he talking–is the president-elect
talking to her? Are the wheels moving within the Obama team on this?
MR. AXELROD: Well, he's been meeting with his national security team
and consulting with them on a consistent basis. One of the things that
we feel good about is that we've got such a strong and experienced
team: Senator Clinton as secretary of state, Secretary Gates staying on, and General Jones as the national security advisor,
who has vast experience in that region. And the president-elect is in
touch with all of them around this situation and other events.
and consulting with them on a consistent basis. One of the things that
we feel good about is that we've got such a strong and experienced
team: Senator Clinton as secretary of state, Secretary Gates staying on, and General Jones as the national security advisor,
who has vast experience in that region. And the president-elect is in
touch with all of them around this situation and other events.
