WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today U.S. House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn appeared on CNN’s “New Day” to discuss “smart wall” border security and respond to the President’s oval office address last night. Below are excerpts from the interview and a link to the full interview:
On the Border Wall:
“Well, I would love to spend money on what I call a ‘smart wall,’ rather than a concrete edifice. We cannot protect the border with concrete. We can protect the border using the technology that’s available to us to wall off intrusions by using that technology. So, a ‘smart wall’ is what we Democrats have been talking about. We will give the president what’s required to erect such a ‘smart wall.’”
Crisis at the border:
“Absolutely not. We have a challenge. All our humanitarian issues are challenges for us. But no crisis. Six apprehensions do not make a crisis when you have thousands and thousands of encounters.”
In response to the President’s speech last night:
“We saw a reckless President morph into a feckless presidency.”