Republicans Pledge to Block Al Franken from the Senate
CHETRY: Minnesota state officials have confirmed to CNN that Al Franken is the winner of the long drawn-out Senate race against incumbent senator, the Republican Norm Coleman. But now GOP leaders are saying they will do everything they can to prevent the former comedian and "Saturday Night Live" cast member from being seated until all legal matters are settled even if that drags on for months. Texas Senator John Cornyn is chairman of the Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee, and joins me from Capitol Hill. Senator Cornyn, thanks for joining us this morning.</s>U.S. SEN. JOHN CORNYN, CHAIRMAN, NATIONAL REPUBLICAN SENATORIAL COMMITTEE: Good morning. Good to be with you.</s>CHETRY: So, it does look like, I mean, after a lot of back and forth and two months after the election that the State of Minnesota is going to be declaring Al Franken the winner of the race, of the recount today. You said that Republicans are going to block Democrats from seating him. What is your argument?</s>CORNYN: Well, there's the Senate rules which require an election certificate, which won't be issued for seven days after the canvassing board makes its announcement. Its work is concluded. And then, of course, there are the issues that have been raised in the Minnesota Supreme Court, in which will be raised in front of a three-judge panel about double counted ballots and other irregularities in the process which are important to make sure that every vote counts.</s>CHETRY: So you're saying that the legal avenues for Norm Coleman have not been exhausted. You don't want Al Franken to be seated or anyone to be seated until all the legal challenges in Minnesota are up?</s>CORNYN: That's correct. And the rules to the Senate -- rule two of the rules of the Senate requiring election certificate. In Minnesota, that has to be signed by both the secretary of state and the governor, and it can't be issued before seven days of expired after the canvassing board's decision. So we're getting closer to a resolution, but we're not there yet.</s>CHETRY: All right. So, I mean, how much of this is just stalling then, the inevitable? I mean, if they are claiming that this is done, they are claiming that they've decided that Franken is the winner after recounting some of these ballots, aren't you just delaying the inevitable?</s>CORNYN: No, not necessarily. There's a matter of the lack of a uniform standard by which to count the absentee ballots. The Coleman campaign still contends that there are about 700 absentee ballots that were not counted, and its pointed to the likelihood that about 133 ballots were double counted in Franken's favor. So these sorts of issues needed to be sorted out. The best place to do that is in court where the rules of evidence apply, so we know with confidence at the end of the day who got the most votes in Minnesota in the Senate race.</s>CHETRY: You know, a lot of people have watched this race for a number of reasons. One of them, though, is that, you know, some are asking how did the GOP get into this situation? You guys lost seven Senate seats. Norm Coleman was, at one point, a pretty popular incumbent, and he is doing everything he can now to hang on to a seat by a political newcomer. What happened in Minnesota with this Senate seat?</s>CORNYN: Well, I think it's what happened nationally. It was a tough year for Republicans. You correctly point out that Republicans have lost. If this seat goes down, we lost 13 -- if this seat goes down, 14 Senate seats in the last two years. We're in a pretty tough spot with 41 Republican senators, hopefully, 42 if Coleman prevails in the litigation. But that's almost a filibuster-proof Senate, which means that the White House, controlled by President-elect Obama, the Democratic majorities in the House and the Senate can pretty much do what they want. But it's important, I think for the country, to have checks and balances on that power. That's at least part of the foundation of our country and our constitution, the notion of checks and balances on the power in the country's best interest.</s>CHETRY: Well, if Franken wins and Norm Coleman does lose this seat, you're basically going to have a former comedian, liberal air America radio host taking over this seat. Are you going to be able to work with Al Franken in some sort of consensus in the Senate?</s>CORNYN: I hope so. And just like we hope to be able to work with President-elect Obama. And I think there will be a broad middle ground where we can work together in the best interests of the country. It really depends a lot on the Democratic leadership in the Senate and the House and the White House. Whether they're going to try to press the liberal agenda of some of their supporters or whether they are going to try to rule from the center. I would tell you that President-elect Obama's cabinet appointments have been very promising, very reassuring in that regard. So I'm hopeful and somewhat optimistic, we'll be able to get some good things done for the American people.</s>CHETRY: Now in addition to Norm Coleman, Al Franken situation, you have another unusual situation and that's the vacant Illinois Senate seat that Rod Blagojevich, who's under fire and possibly being investigated for some pay-to-play allegations in Illinois, appointing Roland Burris. And there's a little bit of a fight going on as to whether or not he's going to be seated. Where do you weigh in on that?</s>CORNYN: Well, you know, interestingly enough, it's the same Senate rule, Senate rule two that requires an election certificate. In this case a nomination certificate signed off by the secretary of state that Mr. Burris does not have, and that's the reason why Democrats are saying they won't seat him, in addition to concerns about tainting -- the tainted process of this governor who has been charged with some very serious crimes. You know, I think you can really can't have it both ways. You can't say senator-nominee Burris can't be seated because we're concerned about the process and, yet, turn a blind eye to Minnesota law and the possible double counting of ballots in Franken's favor and the other irregularities. That's why I think we just need to take a deep breath and let this sort its way out in court.</s>CHETRY: Are you guys going to filibuster?</s>CORNYN: Well, filibuster course in the Senate means unless you can get 60 votes to proceed, then you don't. We continue debating it. And I think that that is the likelihood here if the Democrats try to ignore the Senate rule two in Minnesota Law, and try to short-circuit this process.</s>CHETRY: Texas Senator John Cornyn, thanks for talking to us today.</s>CORNYN: Thank you very much.</s>MARCIANO: Coming up on half past the hour, here are this morning's top stories. Israeli forces pounding Hamas militants as their military offensive in Gaza enters a tenth day. More than 500 Palestinians have been killed and 2,000 wounded since the fighting began. Israeli's foreign minister says the military incursion into Gaza shows that Israel will no longer use restraint when targeted by Hamas. They will retaliate. Elsewhere in the Middle East, they're calling it a new era for Iraq and U.S.-Iraqi relations. The new U.S. embassy in Baghdad is officially open for business. Officials actually moved into the $700 million facility two weeks ago but celebrated its official opening today. And Barack Obama plans to hit the ground running in Washington this week. He is meeting with congressional leaders today and hopes to have a massive economic recovery bill on his desk ASAP. It includes a $300 billion tax cut for workers and businesses. Today is also a big day for the Obama girls. They are starting classes at their new school, Sidwell Friends.</s>CHETRY: Well, back to our breaking news. Israel attacking Hamas militants in Gaza from land, sea, and air. The combat intensifying as Israeli forces push deeper into Gaza. In a defiant televised message, the armed wing of Hamas says it has thousands of fighters ready to battle Israel in Gaza. Despite Israeli's offensive Hamas launches dozens of rockets into southern Israel. CNN chief international correspondent Christiane Amanpour and Anderson Cooper are on the border of Israel and Gaza. And Christiane, so we just heard from this Hamas spokesman, he came out on TV this morning and said that showing clear defiance, promising more bombs and even threatening to take more Israeli soldiers hostage. Again, we're talking about the armed wing of Hamas. Is this the party line as well for Hamas?</s>AMANPOUR: Well, look. There is obviously the armed wing which has been on the television and been making these defiant statements since the action by Israel began. The political wing has been quite quiet and mostly really are in hiding. But as the tempo of the battle rages so does the tempo of the claims and counter claims and the threats and counter threats. Because as Hamas was saying that Israel dropped another load of leaflets on the center of Gaza and said that we have been engaging Hamas, they have been engaging us and we are going to do whatever it takes to silence them. And in these latest leaflets they have said to residents to leave residential areas and go into the center of the city. It's unclear quite what that means and what the implication of that is. But Tzipi Livni herself today have said in a press conference that the equation, "has changed." Up until now, she has told a press conference Hamas' attacks with rockets and we've replied proportionately, no longer. And yesterday, they said to us it's not just the degradation of their capability and motivation they are seeking but also an end to the smuggling of weapons. Listen to what she said.</s>TZIPI LIVNI, FOREIGN MINISTER OF ISRAEL: Another important issue to address not only by Israel but by the international community is the issue of the smuggling of weapon. Because when we are targeting and effecting their ability, if the day after the operation, we see more float of weapon coming to Gaza strip from Egypt, the meaning is that we're going to face in the future the need to address another problem. So the idea is to stop future armament of Hamas and this need to be handled on the Egyptian-Gaza border.</s>AMANPOUR: So as they try, as they try to work out a strategy for the future, there are also international officials right from the president of France on down coming here to try to figure out a solution to this.</s>COOPER: But right now, the military action continues and it's very difficult for us to get an accurate sense on the ground exactly what the situation is. This is about as close as we're allowed to get right now to Gaza-Israeli authorities are not allowing international foreign journalists into Gaza to cover the situation on the ground. We have been told by Israeli defense forces spokespeople that they carried out 30 attacks overnight. Six Israeli soldiers were wounded in those attacks. They've essentially cut Gaza in two to try to stop any kind of resupply that may take place. There's also some reports from the south of Israeli columns moving further south, perhaps trying to divide it even into smaller sections. There are a lot of Palestinians have been complaining, though, that if somebody is wounded further south, they can't get to one of the better hospitals further north because of the division. It's causing a lot of difficulties on the ground. Obviously, just beyond just military.</s>AMANPOUR: Yes, the truth of the matter is there's a great deal of fear in Gaza amongst the residents. Because not only are the Israelis going after the Hamas infrastructure in terms of its military capability but these are built-up area and so inevitably there have been a lot of casualties. Israel itself is admitting, Tzipi Livni that there have been civilian casualties regretting those but they are being overwhelmed in Gaza City right now. and the people are questioning where are we to run to? What can we do? You know in many of these wars and assaults that we've witnessed there has always been a vow for people to run out, to get out. In this case all the borders are closed. Those who want to get out cannot get out and that is increasing the danger for them.</s>COOPER: It's obviously not just the border with Israel but it's also the border with Egypt. That also has been closed. Residents cannot go into Egypt; 530 Palestinians have been killed. A Norwegian doctor who is volunteering in a hospital in Gaza has said that as many as a hundred of those killed have been women and children. But at this point, the battle continues and really with no sight of letting up.</s>AMANPOUR: Yes. It's going to be very difficult to see how they finally put an end to Hamas threat but of course, these casualties, the reality of them and the images that are going around the world are going to raise the pressure on Israel and the foreign minister knows it and has told us that herself.</s>COOPER: And Kiran, the rockets do continue to come into Israel. More than 16 rockets have fallen in Israel around this area Ashkalon and elsewhere today. But there are no reports of any fatalities in Israel today. Kiran.</s>CHETRY: Anderson and Christiane, quickly, you had mentioned once again the difficulty of, if indeed, there is progress, militarily by Israel in being able to stop Hamas, who fills that power vacuum and have we heard from Mahmoud Abbas or the Fatah movement about what their take is and what they plan to do what is going on there?</s>AMANPOUR: Well, we haven't actually heard much from President Abbas. We have heard from the chief Palestinian negotiator, Saab Erakat who has been on the airwaves and calling for an immediate cessation. Because they are saying that the most important thing is to stop the assault that is endangering the people admitting, of course, that the Hamas rockets must also stop coming into Israel but exactly that is the point. What happens in the end? This is a piece of Palestinian territory. 1.5 million people in there. Hemmed in with nowhere to go and the leadership there that they elected is Hamas. The huge elephant in the room in any type of diplomatic solution to this, even as they try to resolve the peace process. I mean, yesterday, incredibly, Tzipi Livni told me that she thought that this assault actually would help the peace process by strengthening the moderate Palestinian authority and weakening Hamas. We don't know whether that is going to be able to be played out like that.</s>CHETRY: All right. Anderson Cooper and Christiane Amanpour on the Gaza-Israeli border for us this morning, thank you.</s>MARCIANO: A little bit of an ice storm cranking up across parts of the country. Our Reynolds Wolf has been tracking it in the CNN severe weather center. Hi, Reynolds.</s>REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: How right you are, Rob. Certainly, tough times for people in Dallas and Little Rock and the western Carolinas. Not only that but we have another Pacific storm ramping up in the Pacific northwest. We'll give you the full story coming up right here on CNN. AMERICAN MORNING, your Most News in the Morning.