Sound Off: Did the House Overreact?
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: For the first time ever, the United States House of Representatives has locked the doors and gone into recess over fears of bacterial contamination. The Senate though stayed in business. Did the House overreact? Well, many newspapers have been highly critical of House members. Look what "The New York Post" wrote. It actually called lawmakers "wimps." Not only are the House and Senate divided, but there have been lots of mixed messages coming from Washington. Should we be living life as normal as possible, or should we be extra careful? Are we getting leadership or confusion from the government? That is the focus of today's "Sound Off" with syndicated columnist Julianne Malveaux. She's back. She joins us from Washington this morning. Welcome back. Here in New York, constitutional lawyer Ann Coulter, good morning to you as well. All right, you two. I know, Ann, that you are pretty proud of how government is handling this crisis. Let me ask you this, at a time when we have doctors, advising New Yorkers not to stockpile Cipro, we have senators who have gone on camera and say that they are taking Cipro prophylactically, even though they don't know if offices were exposed to anthrax. Is that responsible? What kind of message does that send, Ann?</s>ANN COULTER, CONSTITUTIONAL LAWYER: Well, if they are the ones in the areas of where the anthrax was, I suppose it makes some sense.</s>ZAHN: That is not what doctors say.</s>COULTER: I would not defend the House of Representatives here. I wouldn't want any confusion on that point. I'm totally with "The New York Post." These guys are chickens. If Strom Thurmond can go to work, I think they can go to work on the House side, too.</s>ZAHN: Julianne?</s>JULIANNE MALVEAUX, SYNDICATED COLUMNIST: Well, I do agree with Ann about the House. I think they are sending very mixed messages. On one hand, you're telling Americans to get back to business as usual, but we haven't closed the House since the Civil War. They are sitting here saying -- it is it is not only wimpy, but it's irresponsible at some level. I think also these folks who are taking the Cipro are sending out the wrong signal. I think we are getting mixed signals all along the way, which is why so many people can't get back to business, but are instead frightened.</s>ZAHN: Ann, in your estimation, is homeland defense working?</s>COULTER: Well, it's only been up and running 10 days. And you know, I would be the first to criticize Tom Ridge the moment does something wrong, but I don't think he has yet. He's only been in that position for 10 days, and I think it can be, I mean, sort of an hysterical response to demand immediate action. Look how long it took to begin the military response. Taking time, taking something seriously, I think quite the opposite of leaping out and issuing information, and I think there is a little bit of a complaint because people just don't like the information they are getting. It's not like the government is lying or hiding information. I think it has been quite responsible, and forthcoming and honest, but sorry, the news isn't all sunshine and cheer.</s>ZAHN: Julianne, is that the problem, that the American public just doesn't want to accept the information they are getting, or do you think that the government wants it both ways here?</s>MALVEAUX: I think the government wants it both ways. I think this homeland defense thing is a bad joke, quite frankly. There has been all this focus on the Middle East. We have domestic terrorists. I mean, anyone is capable of having done this anthrax thing, so to continue to try to make a leap between the hijackers and the anthrax may ignore all kinds of things. I think also...</s>COULTER: But they aren't doing that.</s>MALVEAUX: Just a minute, Ann, just a minute. Ridge said yesterday he was coordinating, not running, but coordinating 46 different agencies. Granted he's only been on the job for 10 days, but his press conference yesterday gave me absolutely no confidence, frankly.</s>COULTER: But if I could say, that's actually a good example of what people are complaining about. On one hand, you hear some people complaining that the government is saying, we haven't found a link between the anthrax attacks and the terrorists yet, which is true. I mean, as Dick Cheney said, the vice president said, you know, I'm skeptical that there isn't a link, but that's all that can be said. And on the other hand, Julianne is complaining that they are trying too much of a link.</s>MALVEAUX: That is not what are they doing, Ann. They are taking their time...</s>COULTER: I think they're being totally honest on the basis of the information they have. I don't know how you criticize the government for that.</s>MALVEAUX: They are taking all this time to look to link with hijacking. We have all kinds of other links to look at. No one is criticizing government for giving inaccurate information.</s>COULTER: I think they are looking for links.</s>MALVEAUX: But what Hastert says, that spores are coming through the ventilation systems, you have a panic on your hands. When you have a Congress -- they don't know what they are talking about. At least keep your mouth shut, you know, until you know what talking about. There are a couple physicians in the Senate, and they have been very reassuring, but you're getting mixed signals, and liking the information or not liking the information, the fact is that it's mixed information.</s>ZAHN: Ann said she wasn't going to defend the House on that part -- Ann.</s>COULTER: Right, on that hoax, I'm totally with you.</s>ZAHN: Let me move to you one other critical issue. There has been talk that -- well, we know. This has happened. Second -- excuse me, Defense Secretary Rumsfeld said yesterday that we were going to give the Northern Alliance support it needs to be successful, and indicated even supporting perhaps a move south to Kabul. That flies in the face of what Secretary of State Powell has said, Ann. Is there a disconnect here? That is what Christiane Amanpour says is the perception in Pakistan.</s>COULTER: No, I don't think there actually is a disconnect. I mean, Colin Powell is the diplomatic one. He is the one building the coalition, and he says we will be respectful of Pakistan's position on this. That doesn't mean we are giving Pakistan veto power. It means we are being exactly what Powell says, respectful. And if I could also say, I mean, not only do I not see a</s>ZAHN: Hate to do this, Julianne. You're going have to hold your thoughts until next week, when we hope bring you back. We have to take a short break here. A computer has taken us off the air. Thank you two for joining us. Appreciate both of your insights.