Atlanta’s Kasim Reed plays well on national scene
I didn’t see this at the time — Aug. 19 — because I haven’t watched the Sunday news shows in decades. But on Meet the Press, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed appeared with Ted Cruz, the Tea Party favorite who is now the GOP nominee for Senate in Texas, and conservative columnist Peggy Noonan.
Here’s what happened:
UPDATE: For those unable to view the video, here’s a transcript of the two sections included above. The entire transcript is available here.
MR. REED: I want to push back on this notion of Paul Ryan as a serious man. He b– he voted for every budget b– busting measure under President Bush. He voted for TARP. He asked for money under the American Recovery and Investment Act. He voted for both wars. He put Medicare on a credit card, and then all of a sudden in last 24 months, he’s developing the stature as a serious guy, so I want to push back on that…
GREGORY: Well, so why…
MR. REED: …and then in terms of this week– and then in terms of this week, he has underperformed Sarah Palin. He’s contributed about a one percent bump, and according to Gallup, the Republican pick for Vice President typically performs at about five points.
GREGORY: So should that be– Mr. Cruz, should that be part of the record here? I mean, why is the Tea Party so supportive of a guy who is part of, what the Tea Party thinks, was profligate spending under his predecessor, under– under President Bush?
MR. CRUZ: Look I think the reason is simple. It’s because Paul Ryan has been serious about talking about these issues, about getting serious about solutions. You know, it’s ironic…
GREGORY: But votes– but votes matter.
MR. CRUZ: And– and I don’t– and I don’t agree with all of his votes. But– but…
GREGORY: Do we have…
MR. CRUZ: …let’s be– let’s be clear. Let’s contrast the leadership Paul Ryan
GREGORY: Sure.
MR. CRUZ: …with President Obama’s lack of leadership. The Senate for three years hasn’t had a budget. And so it’s very difficult for Democrats to complain, how dare the other side actually get serious about fixing these– these problems when they don’t even pretend to fix the problems.
MR. REED: He wasn’t serious under President Bush. Why wasn’t he serious when we were funding the war in Iraq? Why didn’t he say America should pay for the war in Afghanistan? Why didn’t he– why didn’t he say that when we have a TARP program, it needs to be available to folks on Main Street? He was for the automotive bailout.
MR. CRUZ: And, you know, I’m curious, did– did Barack Obama say any of that?
MR. REED: He– he was for that. No, no.
MR. CRUZ: Did the Democrats say any of that?
MR. REED: The Democrats did not. But I tell you what, we’re not walking around talking about a guy who has a career doing something completely different. He has a budget that doesn’t balance, and he’s– he claims that he’s a budget balancer. He’s using supply-side economics. They have a 20 percent tax policy that’s a five-trillion-dollar tax cut.
MR. CRUZ: And I agree with you.
MR. REED: That doesn’t make any sense.
MR. CRUZ: I agree with you but…
MR. REED: Doesn’t make any sense.
MR. CRUZ: …that Republicans spent too much…
MR. REED: And we’re sitting around here, acting and being polite and it doesn’t make sense.
And Reed’s comment on Joe Biden’s “chains” remark:
GREGORY: Kasim Reed, did you hear race in those remarks? Is there a racial appeal? Doug Wilder did as we showed the governors before.
MR. REED: I — I didn’t hear it. I mean, I watched the entire presentation, got a copy of the transcript. I didn’t hear it. I think that this is small ball. I think that he was talking about the Wall Street recovery, and– and that was the context of the message. When Mitt Romney or Paul Ryan stands up to Rush Limbaugh, when– when– when they’re disparaging a Georgetown law student or stands up to Ted Nugent, really stands up to anybody or stands up to Donald Trump, then I’ll be willing to have a conversation about a comment that the vice president made.
– Jay Bookman
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
456 comments Add your comment
St Simons - he-ne-ha
August 29th, 2012
4:32 pm
“Attendees Shout Down Delegate from Puerto Rico in Rude Incident”
Incident? doesn’t that imply ‘incidental’? atypical of the norm?
i’d say “stay classy Republicans” again, but well, you know…
Tom(Independent Viet Vet,USAF)
August 29th, 2012
4:32 pm
I hope the Repubs are more gracious to Michelle Obama than the Democrats were to Ann Romney but I guess we already know which side has more class!
JamVet
August 29th, 2012
4:33 pm
Danny, paradoxically, they hate the Hollywood and TV actors, yet they FLOCK to their movies and programs and line those actor’s pockets with gold!
As for Eastwood, it was only a scant few months ago that Lush Rimjob and his millions of minions were all puking at the sight of Clint.
Remember this one, fake conservatives?
http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2012/02/07/the_clint_eastwood_ad_is_right_it_s_time_to_come_together_and_defeat_liberalism
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
August 29th, 2012
4:34 pm
Will the SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS! ever appear on Meet The Press ?
josef
August 29th, 2012
4:34 pm
TOM
A new twist on class warfare, eh?
josef
August 29th, 2012
4:35 pm
K’CHAK
josef
August 29th, 2012
4:36 pm
Clint Eastwood belongs to the SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS…
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
August 29th, 2012
4:38 pm
I hope the Repubs are more gracious to Michelle Obama…
That ship sailed a looooooooooong time ago with epithets such as “Moochelle”
pogo
August 29th, 2012
4:40 pm
Reed is playing to his base by parroting the days liberal talking points. He knows they aren’t intelligent enough to understand the intricacies of American politics today and no matter what “side” you are on, there is always another side. Jay, judging by your and Luckovich’s last few contributions to the sheets it certainly appears you two are getting really, really nervous. In fact you appear to be absolutely shrill. In the end Jay, this time, no matter who the winner is, they will in the end turn out to be hated losers because of the damage that Obama and his band of dim witted advisors have done in 3.5 short years. I also blame Bush and the damage he did by his capitulation to a liberal congress.
Union
August 29th, 2012
4:40 pm
getalife
August 29th, 2012
4:31 pm
Yes, he destroyed our country and cons voted for it.
Not too bright are they union?
yep.. they sure aren’t.. odd though.. why do you think it is all the libs keep asking for help from the ones that are not too bright?
St Simons - he-ne-ha
August 29th, 2012
4:41 pm
Where are the partisan rangers?
Why, we’re hidin out in the deep woods of an island off the coast
of New Somalia, just waitin fer the signal…
with our Che’ berets on…
whoaa! look out!….incoming!
its one of those little white balls again!
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
August 29th, 2012
4:41 pm
josef
As I recall, our host said earlier that he was visiting a sick friend/ family member.
Granny Godzilla - Union Thugette
August 29th, 2012
4:42 pm
Tom(Independent Viet Vet,USAF)
August 29th, 2012
4:32 pm
I hope the Repubs are more gracious to Michelle Obama than the Democrats were to Ann Romney but I guess we already know which side has more class!
.
.
.
You have seen what has been said about FLOTUS by some of the GOP correct?
You’ll have to show us a link where Mrs Romney has had to deal with
that same level of treatment or your just blowin’ smoke.
Joe Hussein Mama
August 29th, 2012
4:43 pm
Since you seem to be running a little more slowly than usual today, RB, I’m going to do you a big favor and break it down for you. Here’s what actually happened.
What RB said (see @ 12:09 PM on page 3 of this thread) – “Bro, the dems can’t come up with any Bush policies that caused the housing collapse either, but that hasn’t stopped anybody from blaming him even still today has it?”
My reply (see @ 12:15 PM on page 3 of this thread) – “I do wish that he hadn’t intervened when states tried to implement tougher mortgage documentation policies before the meltdown.”
BTW, note that I said nothing about President Clinton in my reply.
RB’s response (see @ 1 PM on page 5 of this thread) – “Joe, I don’t suppose you’d care to support your claim Bush blocked states attempts to tighten mortgage rules which were mostly put in place by Clinton would you?”
Now why would he bring President Clinton into the mix? I didn’t bring up President Clinton, and besides . . .
My response to RB (see @ 1:49 PM on page 6 of this thread) – “RB, this is what I’m speaking about.”
(2 links were included)
“I objected to your earlier construction because I didn’t bring up President Clinton in regards to this, and AFAIK, he wasn’t involved in it anyway.”
“In any event, I think you know that I didn’t vote for Clinton either time. I voted for Perot in ‘92 and Dole in ‘96, so bringing up Clinton won’t get you any traction with me.”
So, RB, I already spotted your misrepresentation, pointed it out AND had supported my claim about President Bush with evidentiary links – all before you came back to dishonestly call me a liar again. Maybe you *thought* I brought up President Clinton, but the fact of the matter is that I *didn’t* and that you falsely claimed that I had. And I already pointed that out to you before you started your obligatory complaining about me ‘lying’ to you.
News flash, guy. When the words I *actually* say don’t match up to the words you *wish* I had said, that’s not me lying. That’s *you* lying.
Now, if you want to refer back to my links and discuss the meat of the claim I presented to you, I’m all for that. But IMO you really need to sharpen up on your attention to detail and stop calling other posters liars.
pogo
August 29th, 2012
4:44 pm
And Jay, if I were you I would never write a piece in support of an Atlanta mayor. Corruption seems to be intrinsic and to be a pre-requisite for that position.
Common Freaking Sense isn't very Common
August 29th, 2012
4:45 pm
getalife
I heard there was a BIG BLOW down there.
Are Newt and Callista in town
Tom(Independent Viet Vet,USAF)
August 29th, 2012
4:46 pm
I guess if Obama wins, more jobs building roads, bridges and govt work will be available. College degrees will not be necessary! If Romney wins, my guess is more jobs like IT positions, engineers, etc in private market requiring degrees. Which is the educated work-force of the future? I guess my biggest concern though, is that Cons think of the future of their children and grandkids and the National Debt. Libs(correct me if I am wrong) think of RIGHT NOW IT IS ABOUT ME) and no concern over our exploding National Debt?
getalife
August 29th, 2012
4:47 pm
“why do you think it is all the libs keep asking for help from the ones that are not too bright?”
Funny, if we want to know how to lose two occupations, collapse the global economy, blow out a balanced budget with a surplus we will give you a call con.
JamVet
August 29th, 2012
4:48 pm
,i>If Romney wins, my guess is more jobs like IT positions, engineers, etc in private market requiring degrees.
Yep.
In Bangalore. Mumbai and Delhi…
getalife
August 29th, 2012
4:49 pm
Common,
Nah, they are at the gop circus in Tampa.
Just a strong tropical storm down here.
Common Freaking Sense isn't very Common
August 29th, 2012
4:50 pm
Tom
Got news for you on the IT jobs (edumicated ones) have been offshored to the cheapest labor.
If they couldn’t be Bush has allowed about 750,000 H1b visa holders here to fill them (until they can be offshored).
Do you speak Hindi?
josef
August 29th, 2012
4:52 pm
K’CHAK
Thanks…
getalife
Heard they were considering blowing the levee in Plaquemines…any news on what’s going on there?
He ne ha…
Wish I could find it now, but several years ago I ran across a recording of the Internationale in Tsa-la-gi!
They BOTH suck
August 29th, 2012
4:52 pm
Jam
Don’t forget Manilla. Another one that is starting to be a recipient of off shoring
Joe Hussein Mama
August 29th, 2012
4:52 pm
Tom — “I guess if Obama wins, more jobs building roads, bridges and govt work will be available. College degrees will not be necessary! If Romney wins, my guess is more jobs like IT positions, engineers, etc in private market requiring degrees. Which is the educated work-force of the future?”
I’m guessing that you’ve never heard of the H1B visa program or the abuses of it that businesses have engaged in over the laat 15 years or so.
Tom(Independent Viet Vet,USAF)
August 29th, 2012
4:54 pm
Jamvet – Good one, can I send you an application for a position in one of those countries? Or is your heart set on still residing in Iran?
Doggone/GA
August 29th, 2012
4:54 pm
“I guess if Obama wins, more jobs building roads, bridges and govt work will be available. College degrees will not be necessary! If Romney wins, my guess is more
Hate to break it to you, but even in an era of “jobs like IT positions, engineers, etc in private market requiring degrees. Which is the educated work-force of the future?” SOMEONE has to maintain the roads and bridges and other infrastructure.
Jim S.
August 29th, 2012
4:55 pm
Kasim does very well in this type of format. Obviously, Mr. Ryan is being over touted as some kind of reformer when the proposals he is making in slashing the top tax bracket is utterly ridiculous in terms of fiscal responsibility. If you can’t balance the budget until 2040, then you can’t even begin to pay the debt; ironically, the Republicans have the stupid number increasing on a board during the convention; why don’t they just show the number if the Ryan budget were to pass, it’s astronomical! When is anybody going to give a truthful, honest proposal for any of these things. I could propose balanced budget rather quickly, but all of the interest groups would howl and the members of both parties would run for shelter. Remember, we not only need to balance the budget, but we actually have to pay the debt! That can’t even start until you balance the budget…Ryan’s some kind of hero for balancing the budget in 2040 and giving the fat cat supporters of the Rove fund a huge tax break in the process? That’s worthy of a two syllable PUH-LEEEEZE!
getalife
August 29th, 2012
4:55 pm
“Heard they were considering blowing the levee in Plaquemines…any news on what’s going on there?”
Yes, they have a flood up to their roofs like Katrina.
Rescuing people from their roofs again.
Joe Hussein Mama
August 29th, 2012
4:57 pm
getalife — “Yes, they have a flood up to their roofs like Katrina. Rescuing people from their roofs again.”
I heard Billy Nungesser (?) interviewed on NPR about 6:30 this morning and the flooding had apparently already commenced by then.
josef
August 29th, 2012
4:57 pm
getalife
Where did they blow it?
Union
August 29th, 2012
4:58 pm
getalife
August 29th, 2012
4:47 pm
“Funny, if we want to know how to lose two occupations, collapse the global economy, blow out a balanced budget with a surplus we will give you a call con.”
the eu is doing all they can to benefit the global economy.. but i digress.. (you know what they say about never arguing with an idiot) also.. never assume someone is something they might not be.. its not polite to profile..
Tom(Independent Viet Vet,USAF)
August 29th, 2012
4:59 pm
They Both Suck and his buddy Jamvet – I have to remember to quit taking a knife to a gun-fight with you two guys!
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
August 29th, 2012
5:01 pm
but i digress.. (you know what they say about never arguing with an idiot)
The very reason I generally ignore your drivel.
getalife
August 29th, 2012
5:02 pm
Joe,
He said he stayed for Katrina but got more flood damage from this one.
josef,
Levee failed already by a subdivision of new houses.
Rescuing white folks this time.
Common Freaking Sense isn't very Common
August 29th, 2012
5:03 pm
Joe
Are you as offended as I am that Tom didn’t choose us along with Jam And Both.
BooHoo
I’m crushed LOL
Tom(Independent Viet Vet,USAF)
August 29th, 2012
5:03 pm
Joe Hussein Mama – You seem like a real smart guy, are you Joe Biden in disguise? The Joe name gave you away!
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
August 29th, 2012
5:03 pm
Oh, and SHEETS!
getalife
August 29th, 2012
5:04 pm
union,
cons are racist idiots.
Sorry , if that hurt your feelings but it is the truth.
TaxPayer
August 29th, 2012
5:04 pm
Rescuing white folks this time.
Were the white Republicans standing on their rooftops yelling to the rescuers to just drop them a new pair of bootstraps to replace the ones that got washed away.
Union
August 29th, 2012
5:04 pm
@ kam.. missing that witty “squirrel’ & “sport”..
must be one of the times you are not “generally” ignoring me.. but i appreciate that you are standing up for getalife.. some folks just cannot seem to do it on their own..
getalife
August 29th, 2012
5:09 pm
union,
Whaaa.
Joe Hussein Mama
August 29th, 2012
5:10 pm
Tom — “Joe Hussein Mama – You seem like a real smart guy, are you Joe Biden in disguise? The Joe name gave you away!”
No, I’m not Joe Biden. He’s older than me and I’m not Catholic.
josef
August 29th, 2012
5:13 pm
K’CHAK
It worked!
Tom(Independent Viet Vet,USAF)
August 29th, 2012
5:14 pm
Common Freakin Sense@4:45 – About the Blow comment, probably Bill Clinton would know more about that than Newt and Callista? Gotcha!!
JamVet
August 29th, 2012
5:23 pm
Tom, I love everything about this country. I have great things to say about her all of the time. Her people, her government, her natural resources, her future.
You on the other hand have never once writeten anything good about her at all.
Enjoy Teheran, you’ll find tons of fellow Uncle Sam haters there!
Reality
August 29th, 2012
5:41 pm
Dog-gone/Ga. There are so many lies and promises I don’t have room to write them. Let me fill you Mr. DemoRAT. I’m independant. I voted for Carter, and Clinton. But thus far in his time in office I just don’t see any progress. Its people like YOU die hard party lovers that are running this country into the ground. VOTE FOR THE CANDIDATE WHO HAS EXPERIENCE,EDUCATION, COMMON SENSE, AND IS BEST QUALIFIED TO BE PRESIDENT. THE PARTY BE DAMNED!
gm
August 29th, 2012
5:50 pm
You go Reed, the backwood rep Georgians conservatives dont get, just maybe the other states will, somebody has to stand up to these hypocrites of the tea party””””
That Black Guy,
August 29th, 2012
5:50 pm
Bernie, are you ok with what was done to MIA Love’s wiki page?
GT
August 29th, 2012
5:52 pm
Kasim Reed has an unusual and unexpected solid punch in his debating posture. I first notice it when he would come to the television station to answer questions when most of us would have wanted to hide. O has a lot of this, let get it on spirit in him, he went to a Republican retreat, a few years ago, practically by himself to discuss the Congress passing some bills. Romney is a hider who takes his meals in a closet. Obama and Reed truly look like they enjoy the heat, not worried they are going to be trapped saying the wrong thing. I have said often this contest is over when O debates Romney, the contrast in mental ability of the two is way in the favor of Obama. Reed ain’t bad either. Seldom will you catch these nuvo politicians on the right taking on someone in the middle straight up, I think the “mayor” title fooled Ted Cruz and again after watching Perry debating doesn’t seem to be a Texans strong point. anyway
That Black Guy
August 29th, 2012
6:05 pm
Keep Up the Good Fight!
August 29th, 2012
4:17 pm
During Tuesday’s trial [SC trial regarding voting right act], critics who charge that [SC] voter ID is designed to disenfranchise minority voters appeared to have scored an important victory when they presented the law’s author state Rep. Alan Clemmons (R), with racist emails he received while drafting the legislation:
Garrard Beeney, who represented the civil rights groups, presented emails sent to and from Clemmons’ personal account between 2009 and 2011, when he was working on the law.
One, from a man named Ed Koziol, used racially charged rhetoric to denounce the idea that poor, black voters might lack transportation or other resources necessary to obtain photo ID. If the legislature offered a reward for identification cards, “it would be like a swarm of bees going after a watermelon,” Koziol wrote.
Beeney asked Clemmons how he had replied to this email. Clemmons hesitated a moment before answering, “It was a poorly considered response when I said, ‘Amen, Ed, thank you for your support.’”
________________________________________________
Keep, what was racist in that post?
JamVet
August 29th, 2012
6:32 pm
In terms of foreign policy, Romney/Ryan would be total disasters.
As has been pointed out repeatedly, he even has some of the (W)orst Ever’s “advisers” on his staff.
More deadly stupidity and utterly botched invasions and occupations emanating from Washington is EXACTLY what this country does not need right now.
The lives of America’s children cannot be trusted to men like these.
Unfit to lead…
Tom(Independent Viet Vet,USAF)
August 29th, 2012
6:59 pm
Jamvet – And you think America’s children should be trusted to a man like Obama?
JamVet
August 29th, 2012
7:08 pm
No, and that is why I voted against him and will do so again in November.
But the fact is, he is MUCH less deadly and incompetent in those matters than the Bush/Romney/Chambliss neocons…
Tom(Independent Viet Vet,USAF)
August 29th, 2012
7:18 pm
Jamvet – Just back from gym, saw your post about loving country. The aggressive side of me says post back,don’t let it go. Some of you it is like talking to a rock. Yes, I see things from a conservative view, my children and grandchildren’s future is the most important thing to me. Next is the National Debt. I believe you should earn what you get in life, not expect someone to give it to you. I know these views are the opposite of what you Democratic liberals believe in. I was just kiddin about the foreign countries, someone else opened that can of worms. So what if Romney sent jobs overseas, Obama was nothing more than a Community Organizer and activist. At least Romney knew a little about jobs and did not spend most of his life in foreign countries growing up. This should be about Pres of the United States not the United Nations! Go ahead and elect your guy and see National Debt at 20 trillion when he leaves office in 4 yrs. LIVE FOR TODAY and don’t worry about the future is what you apparently are all-about!
Vast Right Wing Conspiracy (aka "Knuckle-Dragger")
August 29th, 2012
9:18 pm
Kasim is the guy that can not get a one percent sales tax passed, right? But now he is an expert on national politics. That is funny. Giving Bugs Bunny a hard time as VP would be hilarious when your guy is Biden. And by the way, Biden’s racist comments were exceedingly condescending towards blacks; that is obvious to any sentient being.
Mark T
August 30th, 2012
8:44 am
Keep Up the Good Fight!
August 29th, 2012
11:38 am
Kinda like Scott Akin’s words on rape are Mitt Romney’s and the whole GOP’s fault
Sorry speedo crazy… Scott Akin’s words (as joined in many bills by Ryan) represent the GOP Platform.
You really need to think.
Are you really that dense to think that one mans words are the whole party’s platform…almost every member of the GOP has asked him to step down…get real dude