Excerpt from the transcript:
JIM LEHRER: Have you seen these photographs, as well as the president?
DAVID AXELROD: I've seen some of the photographs.
JIM LEHRER: You agree that they would be inflammatory?
DAVID AXELROD: Well, I think the president has made the right decision. And his first responsibility is to protect the safety of our troops and to protect the country. He's making the decision on that basis.
My fundamental understanding from the president is that he feels strongly that this would have a deleterious effect on our troops, that it would put them in jeopardy, and he wants to pursue all legal avenues to prevent their release at this time...
JIM LEHRER: Did Vice President Cheney's criticism of President Obama and saying that he's jeopardizing the safety of the country have any influence on this decision of President Obama?
DAVID AXELROD: Absolutely not. Believe me, I've been with the president as he speaks about these issues, and he's got one thing on his mind, which is to make the right decision for the troops, for the country, for our national security. I don't think he's worried about comments from the sidelines by anybody.
JIM LEHRER: For the record, there's no concern among the president and his advisers such as you about what Vice President Cheney's been saying about President Obama?
DAVID AXELROD: I don't have any concerns at all. I mean, the vice president has his own motivations, whatever they may be. He is free to offer his opinions.
But the president has responsibilities, and he's going to discharge those responsibilities through his best judgment, regardless of what the vice president has to say.
Read the full transcript:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/14/david-axelrod-defends-mov_n_203789.html
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