Washington Week Show - # 4201
Washington Week Show - # 4201
Washington Week Show # 4201 - Defining Patriotism. Hosted by Gwen Ifill, with guests Doyle McManus, Linda Greenhouse, Alan Murray, John Harwood. Composite footage (unclean) with Washington Week title and text : boy holding candle at nighttime vigil; male American soldier holding baby; female soldier holding infant; soldiers getting onto transport; law enforcement officials checking African-American woman s purse (security check); surveillance camera (security camera) atop Washington building; NASDAQ sign; crowd in stadium waving american flags; fireworks.
Washington Week Show - # 4201
Gwen Ifill introduces show topic: patriotism in the United States. Doyle McManus of The Los Angeles Times notes that serving in the military and/or in combat has become increasingly professionalized, technical, and highly specialized. As a result, it feels as though the military has become distanced from the civilians they protect. In a nod of appreciation, he mentions the 85,000 reservists called up that hold civilian jobs but are currently performing important support missions.
Washington Week Show - # 4201
Gwen Ifill shifts the discussion to civil liberties and pertinence to the War on Terror. Linda Greenhouse of The New York Times notes that for the majority of Americans there are only minor inconveniences in terms of security, but in the coming months and years there will be changes that will impact how the government prosecutes detainees, terrorists, and illegal aliens. The legal question will be how U.S. citizens will be treated if a few are found to be in league with foreign terrorists.
Washington Week Show - # 4201
Gwen Ifill asks Alan Murray of CNBC how Americans view themselves after the terror attacks. Murray details how the past decade, which includes the fall of the Soviet Union and East Asian economic depression, had Americans and foreign powers see the United States as the true economic model for prosperity. However, after the terror attacks, and with recent years of huge corporate bonuses coupled with layoffs, that secure, prosperous feeling has faded. Citizens, after decades of handing control over to the free market, now wish for government to retake control.
Washington Week Show - # 4201
Gwen Ifill turns to polling results. Before September 11th, there was a clear delineation between "red" and "blue", but now we are all supposed to come together. She asks John Harwood (Wall Street Journal) if that has happened. He notes that voters feel more united but politicians are back to partisan lines. The question is when are the voters going to return back to partisan ways, which will have an impact on the issues of the upcoming elections.
Washington Week Show - # 4201
John Harwood of The Wall Street Journal and Alan Murray of CNBC give explanations as to what Congress is currently doing, or not doing, since the passage of the Patriot Act. Democrats have been keen to align themselves as closely to the President as possible on domestic issues and the hunt for Osama bin Laden. Murray goes back to Doyle McManus's (L.A. Times) point earlier, points out that Americans are more involved in this war than any perhaps since 1812. Americans feel like targets since the 9/11 attacks. Footage of airport security (TSA, Homeland Security). Caucasian man getting scanned by security official with metal detector. Man's black dress shoes on conveyor after going through security check. White man tying shoes. African-American woman scanning black bag with wand.
Washington Week Show - # 4201
Gwen Ifill wants to know what the public opinion is on civil liberties. Linda Greenhouse of The New York Times says it seems the country is divided on civil liberties, but that may be because they don't know what it is like to have these liberties be rolled back. Alan Murray (CNBC) adds that if a larger attack were to occur, we may not have a choice but to have our civil liberties suspended to some extent.
Washington Week Show - # 4201
The panel discuss what price Americans are willing to pay for security. It seems Americans are willing to pay taxes for security and defense, but not much else. When it comes to defense spending, those who have not served are eager to approve budgets and add to it, yet those who have served take a more critical look at budget requests.
Washington Week Show - # 4201
Alan Murray (CNBC) responds to a question on defense spending priorities versus deficit reduction. It seems previous thoughts on fiscal responsibilities and restraint are out the window in favor of defense spending and national security priorities.
Washington Week Show - # 4201
Gwen Ifill thanks her panel, wraps up the show. Credits