RUSSERT: With us this morning is the minority leader of the United States Senate, Harry Reid of Nevada. Welcome, Senator Reid.
REID: Thank you, Tim. It's nice to be here.
RUSSERT: Senator, President Bush launched a bold initiative this week designed to convince the American people that the Earth is flat. Do you agree with him?
REID: No I don't, Tim. The Earth is round.
RUSSERT: Senator, are you calling President Bush a liar?
REID: I don't know if he's lying or delusional, but he's certainly wrong. The Earth is round.
RUSSERT: Senator, are you sure you stand by that?
REID: Absolutely.
RUSSERT: The reason I ask is that just this morning the White House released a transcript of a communication received yesterday from Osama Bin Laden, in which Bin Laden says that he thinks the Earth is round. Are you sharing talking points with terrorists, Senator?
REID: Tim, have you been sniffing glue?
RUSSERT: You've refused to answer my question, so I'll assume the answer is "yes" -- the Democratic Party is indeed sharing talking points with Osama Bin Laden.
REID: We're doing no such thing, Tim.
RUSSERT: But you agree with him?
REID: Tim, the shape of the Earth isn't in dispute. Just because I know it's round and Osama Bin Laden knows it's round doesn't mean me or my party is in any way affiliated with Bin Laden.
RUSSERT: Jerry Falwell, Pat Roberton, James Dobson. . . they've all come out this week supporting the President's contention that the Earth is flat. Why are Democrats so hostile toward people of faith?
REID: We're not, Tim. The Earth is round. There's no political agenda in making that statement. It is what it is.
RUSSERT: Okay, we'll move on to the NSA wiretapping story. Democrats have been clear in saying that they don't think we should listen in on phone calls coming from Al Qaeda. Do you expect this strategy of hating America and wanting the terrorists to win will help you in the midterm elections this November?
REID: Tim, I don't know of a single Democrat who is against listening in on the phone calls of terrorists. Our concern is simply that the President follow the Constitution and the existing FISA law when doing so. We can get the information we need to help keep us safe and protect civil liberties at the same time. We don't have to choose one over the other.
RUSSERT: Have you ever tapped the phone of a terrorist?
REID: No.
RUSSERT: But President Bush has. Isn't that why the American people give the Democrats such poor marks on national security? Because President Bush is willing to do something that you won't?
REID: Well I've never personally tapped anyone's phone, Tim. It's never been my job.
RUSSERT: So you're against the program entirely?
REID: No, I'm not against the program. I just want it done legally.
RUSSERT: To the best of your knowledge, has Hillary Clinton ever tapped a phone?
REID: I have no idea, Tim. And quite frankly, I don't see the relevance.
RUSSERT: We spoke earlier in the week with Michael Moore. He's never tapped a phone, either. Barbra Streisand, Rob Reiner, Martin Sheen. . . amazingly, none of these people have ever tapped a phone. Have you been taking your marching orders from Hollywood, sir?
REID: Tim, this is silly.
RUSSERT: So you think the War on Terror is silly?
REID: Let's move on.
RUSSERT: Very well. Do you think Condi Rice will run for President in 2008?
REID: I have no idea, Tim. You'd have to ask her.
RUSSERT: Would you vote for her?
REID: I certainly wouldn't vote for her. That much I can say.
RUSSERT: So you hate black people?
REID: Of course not, Tim. My disapproval of Dr. Rice has to do with her performance as National Security Advisor and Secretary of State. Let's remember she was one of the people who "couldn't imagine" the 9/11 attacks, and she was also an architect of this disastrous war we have ongoing in Iraq. Her race has nothing to do with anything.
RUSSERT: Senator Reid, how many black people do you have in your family?
REID: None.
RUSSERT: So do you like black people, or do you hate them? Haven't you just flip-flopped? Isn't this why the American people rejected John Kerry? Because President Bush has always liked black people and you can't decide if you do or you don't?
REID: I haven't flip-flopped on anything, Tim. And quite frankly, I expected a little more out of you this morning. Your line of questioning is pretty silly, and you don't seem to be getting to any serious points.
RUSSERT: Okay, here's a serious one. Do you think Condi Rice will run for Vice President in 2008?
REID: I'll have to give you the same answer as before.
RUSSERT: That you hate black people?
REID: No, the other one.
RUSSERT: That you're a flip-flopper like John Kerry?
REID: Those were actually your words and not mine. Tim, can we talk for a minute about Iraq?
RUSSERT: Absolutely. Democrats have been very critical about President Bush's leadership in the war in Iraq. Do you enjoy giving aid and comfort to our enemies?
REID: That's not what we're doing, Tim. We want a successful outcome in Iraq, but that looks unlikely given how the President has conducted this war. All we want to do is hold him accountable for his mistakes. Sadly, he's made plenty of those.
RUSSERT: Name one.
REID: Well, he was wrong about weapons of mass destruction.
RUSSERT: How do you know that?
REID: Well, he said Iraq had a significant WMD capability. And nearly three years later, we've found nothing. In addition, our chief weapons inspector, David Kay, concluded that the WMD arsenal President Bush described before the war didn't exist.
RUSSERT: Is David Kay a liberal?
REID: I have no idea what his politics are. But it's clear what he's said matches what we've seen on the ground.
RUSSERT: So he's a liberal? Isn't Michael Moore a liberal also?
REID: Michael Moore has nothing to do with this. We're talking about Iraq.
RUSSERT: Has Michael Moore ever been to Iraq?
REID: I don't know, Tim. Once again, I'm having a hard time understanding your line of questioning.
RUSSERT: Senator, your party frequently implies that the President doesn't understand things. And now you're saying that you don't understand something. Isn't that another flip-flop? Did John Kerry give you your talking points this morning? Were they in French?
REID: I haven't spoken to Senator Kerry this morning.
RUSSERT: So there's a rift within the Democratic Party leadership?
REID: There's no rift.
RUSSERT: But you said you're not speaking with him.
REID: I said I didn't speak to him this morning. In fact, we speak almost every day. I'm sure we'll even speak later today.
RUSSERT: In French?
REID: I don't speak French.
RUSSERT: So you hate France?
REID: No, I don't hate France. I just don't speak French.
RUSSERT: Condi Rice speaks several languages. Where do you see her in eight years?
REID: Tim, let me make a huge point about the 2006 elections. I want everyone in your audience to hear this, because it's incredibly important and our future depends on understanding the differences between the two parties.
RUSSERT: Senator, we thank you for your time.
REID: But I didn't get to. . .
RUSSERT: To be continued. Coming up next, Bob Novak shares his thoughts on Condi Rice, journalistic ethics, and why all Americans love President Bush.