During his report Shuster cited Nancy Pelosi to attack Bush on Katrina, Sen. John McCain to hit Bush on Iraq and Howard Dean to slam Allen. Then Shuster called the Democrat's "wise" and doomed the GOP with this sign-off: "Reminding voters of your opponent's mistakes is a wise political campaign strategy and between George Allen, the problems in Iraq and the anniversary of the Bush team's Katrina debacle Democrats are now having a field day. Republicans are simply trying to hang on just 75 days before the congressional elections. I'm David Shuster for Hardball in Washington."
The following is the entire transcript of Shuster’s report:
David Shuster: "Almost a year since Hurricane Katrina swamped the Gulf Coast, left the country shocked at the Bush administration's ineptitude the Bush team is now engaged in damage control for the year after reminder."
[George W. Bush: "It's a time to remember that people suffered. And it's a time to recommit ourselves to helping them but I also want people to remember that a one-year anniversary is just that."]
Shuster: "The White House would love for Americans to forget about everything that went wrong a year ago."
Shuster: "And focus instead on the future. So to help, the President met this week with survivor Rocky Vaccarella."
[Rocky Vaccarella: "I wanted to remind the President that the job's not done and he knows that and I just don't want the government and President Bush to forget about us. And I just wish the President could have another term in Washington."
Shuster: "The enthusiasm seemed strange for a Katrina related event..."
Shuster: "A White House spokesperson later acknowledged that Vaccarella is an active Republican who once ran for local office on the Republican ticket. Democrats pointed to continued problems along the Gulf Coast hit the President hard. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, quote, ‘Tens of thousands of Hurricane Katrina survivors are still engaged in an unparalleled struggle to rebuild their lives. President Bush is holding a public relations blitz that the survivors of Katrina can ill afford.' The White House is clearly in an atmosphere of damage management. Whether it's Katrina or the Iraq war. On Iraq the surprise is that the administration's most defensive posture was sparked by Arizona Senator John McCain. This week the GOP's 2008 presidential frontrunner pointed to the ongoing problems with the war and referred to the President's ‘Mission Accomplished' banner and assorted statements by Vice President Cheney."
[Sen. John McCain: "It has contributed enormously to the frustration that Americans feel today because they were led to believe that this would be some kind of a day at the beach. The White House said McCain's criticism is old news."]
[Dana Perino, White House Deputy Press Secretary: "Senator McCain has made similar comments. He is a senator who is not shy about sharing his views. That's one of the reasons he is such a unique figure in American politics and also one of the most popular."]
Shuster: "Another Republican who supports keeping U.S. troops there indefinitely is Virginia Senator George Allen. The President this week attended a fundraiser for Allen who is on the defensive in a tough Senate race because of Iraq but also because of a remark Allen made about a man working for his Democratic challenger."
[Sen. George Allen: "And let's give a welcome to macaca here. Welcome to America and the real world of Virginia."]
Shuster: "Macaca is a term that can refer to a monkey. Allen said he was referring to the man's haircut and has apologized repeatedly. But last night on Hardball."
[Howard Dean: "Look I served with George Allen when he was governor. I don't think he belongs in public service to be honest with you. There are Republicans who are capable and, and, and smart, thoughtful people and he's not one of them."]
Shuster: "Reminding voters of your opponent's mistakes is a wise political campaign strategy and between George Allen, the problems in Iraq and the anniversary of the Bush team's Katrina debacle Democrats are now having a field day. Republicans are simply trying to hang on just 75 days before the congressional elections. I'm David Shuster for Hardball in Washington."
