Tuesday, after several days of trying, Mark finally spoke with Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D – NY).

That was outstanding! I’m going to have to listen to that some more! LOL!

UPDATE: I just transcribed that entire interview!

Transcript of Mark Levin’s interview of Maurice Hinchey on 7/31/2007.

LEVIN: Rich, my producer, wasn’t the honorable Maurice Hinchey supposed to have called us by now?

RICH: We’re waiting still. Yes he was.

LEVIN: We tried to get him on last week. We tried to get him Monday. We tried to get him today. He said he would come on. He may yet call. But, at a minimum, he’s rude. At a minimum, he doesn’t keep his promise on time. So, I’ve decided to interview congressman Maurice Hinchey of New York, with or without him. And if he calls in, he’s welcome to join in. Maurice Hinchey who has called for the impeachment of the President. To censure the President and Vice President.

LEVIN: Oh wait, we have Maurice Hinchey! Is this you, sir?

HINCHEY: Is this Mark?

LEVIN: My God, it’s hard to get a hold of you, my friend.

HINCHEY: Oh, not at all. You shouldn’t have any trouble getting a hold of me.

LEVIN: Why, are you available?

HINCHEY: Um, of course I am.

LEVIN: Alright, congressman, I want to get serious with you for a minute. First of all, welcome to the show.

HINCHEY: Please do and thank you very much. It’s a pleasure to be with you.

LEVIN: No it’s not. You know it’s not. But, it’s a pleasure…it’s.

HINCHEY: No, it is.

LEVIN: OK, let’s get down to it. Who do you want to impeach?

HINCHEY: There is no, uh..

LEVIN: Sir, you’ve, you’ve called for the impeachment…

HH: There’s no impeachment process going on here.

LEVIN: Who do you want to impeach, I asked.

HINCHEY: If it were up to me…

LEVIN: Yes, you.

HINCHEY: I think if it were up to me and I think a great many other people, probably…

LEVIN: Alright, just speak for yourself. I want to stay focused.

HINCHEY: …the vast majority of people across the country…

LEVIN: No, no, no, you don’t speak for every… Who do YOU want to impeach?

HINCHEY: I think. Yes. I’m, um, I’m just answering your question.

LEVIN: No, YOU. Who do YOU want to impeach?

HINCHEY: If it were up to me as well as I think the vast majority of people across the country, I think there would be an impeachment against the President and also the Vice President.

LEVIN: Alright. President and Vice President and then Stretch Pelosi would be president. That’s pretty good, huh?

HINCHEY: Ha, ha, ha. If that were to happen, yes.

LEVIN: You’d be thrilled, wouldn’t you?

HINCHEY: But, keep in mind, there’s only 17 months left in this administration.

LEVIN: Alright, so it’s a phony issue.

HINCHEY: And there’s no impeachment process going on.

LEVIN: I know, but sir, I’m asking you what you want to do. What’s going on in your head. Now, you want to censure…

HINCHEY: What’s going on in my head is this, Mark.

LEVIN: Yes?

HINCHEY: I am in the process of introducing a resolution with regard to censure.

LEVIN: And in the Constitution I have, sir, where is that?

HINCHEY: Oh, that’s, uh…

LEVIN: Where’s your authority for that? I got it in front of me. I can’t find it.

HINCHEY: It’s within…
LEVIN: Article what? Section what?

HINCHEY: It’s within federal law.

LEVIN: Federal law to censure a president?

HINCHEY: It’s within federal law for the congress to, uh, engage in a censure resolution with regard to specific actions of the administration.

LEVIN: No, no. You don’t have the…

HINCHEY: And all the people in the administration, actually.

LEVIN: Hold on now. You do not have the constitutional authority to censure the President of the United States.

HINCHEY: Yes, we do.

LEVIN: Where is it?

HINCHEY: We have the constitutional authority because there is like, as you know, the Constitution is not specific with regard to every single action that the Congress or the administration or other aspects of the government can take.

LEVIN: So the President could censure Maurice Hinchey, then?

HINCHEY: There are extensions…

LEVIN: Hold on now.

HINCHEY: There are extensions…

LEVIN: So the President could censure Maurice Hinchey.

HINCHEY: Yeah, fine. Please do.

LEVIN: Now, isn’t that idiotic, congressman?

HINCHEY: If you wanted to do that…

LEVIN: Congressman?

HINCHEY: I’ve heard..

LEVIN: Come on.

HINCHEY: I’ve heard. I’ve heard some conversation from you which sort of moves in that direction.

LEVIN: You, uh. You love this show, don’t you?

HINCHEY: I. I uh, kind of like it, actually.

LEVIN: Do you listen to this… Do you listen to this…

HINCHEY: I’ve found it rather interesting recently. (Laughing)

LEVIN: But you would… (Laughing) Don’t make me like you.

LEVIN: Now you would impose the Fairness Doctrine on me to shut me up, wouldn’t you? Aren’t you one of the leaders of that effort?

HINCHEY: Definitely not. I have no interest in shutting you up. The only interest I have in you is keeping you doing whatever you want to do.

LEVIN: Well, how can that be if I have to have some liberal shrill sitting next to me every minute?

HINCHEY: Well, you don’t.

LEVIN: Well, how would this work under the Hinchey Fairness Doctrine?

HINCHEY: Under… well, under Fairness, it’s not my Fairness Doctrine. This is… I mean the idea of fairness was put into the Federal Communication Commission rules back in the 20’s…

LEVIN: Yes, we’ve changed a little since then. You’re aware of that, right?

HINCHEY: …and strengthen in the 30’s and 40’s

LEVIN: Yes

HINCHEY: I was pretty young back in those days.

LEVIN: Yes, weren’t we all.

LEVIN: Alright, let me ask you this. So, you favor impeachment, even though you know that’s not practical. Now you join… Why are you joining Russ Feingold? He’s a joke. Why are you joining Russ Feingold in censure, congressman?

HINCHEY: Well, I think Russ Feingold is a very bright man. Very intelligent…

LEVIN: No, he’s not.

HINCHEY: Yes, he is. He’s very intelligent and very insightful.

LEVIN: Why do you say he’s bright? How do you know he’s intelligent? I think he says a lot of dumb stuff, frankly.

HINCHEY: Well, I know him. I mean, I know him personally and I’ve seen him, I’ve listened to him. I understand who he is…

LEVIN: Pretty dumb, you have to agree.

HINCHEY: …what he believes in and I like him. I think he’s a very good man.

LEVIN: Alright, congressman, let’s cut to the chase here. You’ve been in Congress since 1995, is that correct?

HINCHEY: No, actually 1993. I was elected in 1992 for the first time.

LEVIN: Alright, 1993. More to my point, now Congressman, anytime during your long service in the House of Representatives prior to 9/11 did you call for us to attack al Qaeda in Afghanistan? Yes or no?

HINCHEY: I very much supported the President’s attack on al Qaeda in Afghanistan.

LEVIN: Did you prior to 9/11…

HINCHEY: Yes I did.

LEVIN: Hold on now.

HINCHEY: Yes.

LEVIN: You did? Where? I couldn’t find it.

HINCHEY: Prior to 9/11? No. No, not prior to 9/11.

LEVIN: Why not? Why not?

HINCHEY: I didn’t…I did not call for it.

LEVIN: Why not?

HINCHEY: Why not? Because it wasn’t my authority to do so.

LEVIN: Well, it’s not your authority to call for censure, either. I’m asking you why you didn’t…

HINCHEY: Oh, yes it is. It is completely within my authority…

LEVIN: Well, that’s not constitutional.

HINCHEY: …to call for censure. Completely within my authority.

LEVIN: Well, sir, you can call for kumquats too, that doesn’t make it so. I’m just asking you why you and other liberals…you are liberal, aren’t you?

HINCHEY: I’m a Democrat.

LEVIN: Sir, I know your voting record. Come on. You’re way out there on the socialist side.

HINCHEY: I’m a Democrat.

LEVIN: Why can’t you be a happy socialist?

HINCHEY: I’m for the working…I’m for the working people of our country, if you want to call that…

LEVIN: So am I.

HINCHEY: …if you want to call that some other language….

LEVIN: Alright, let me fix it. You’re a progressive.

HINCHEY: Please do.

LEVIN: You’re a progressive. Are you a progressive?

HINCHEY: I’m a Democrat and I’m for blue collar, white collar, working people. I’m for the working people of this country.

LEVIN: Well, well, I’m for killing terrorists and I asked you since 1993 you tell me you’ve been in Congress all the way up to, what, 9/11, you… at no time did you see the rise of terrorism in Afghanistan and al Qaeda and at no time did you call for us to attack them. Is that true?

HINCHEY: Uh, the first part is not true. The second part is true. I did not call to attack them. That’s correct. In Afghanistan…

LEVIN: Well, did you make a big fuss out of…did you… Let me put it to you this way.

HINCHEY: Sure.

LEVIN: You’ve said a lot about censure. Did you spend as much time on the house floor attacking Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda all the way up to 9/11 as you’ve been talking about censure of late?

HINCHEY: I spent a lot of time attacking Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda and after the, uh…and I supported the invasion of Afghanistan…

LEVIN: I know, we all did. I’m asking before 9/11.

HINCHEY: Let me finish. The upsetting of the Taliban and getting rid of al Qaeda and going after Osama bin Laden. In fact, I was the first few members of Congress…I was in the first group…small group of members of Congress…to go to Afghanistan.

LEVIN: Alright, listen to me. I don’t care about any of that. I asked you about before…

HINCHEY: I was in Afghanistan in January…

LEVIN: Hold on now.

HINCHEY: I was in Afghanistan in January of 2002.

HINCHEY: So I was very much in support of going after them.

LEVIN: Sir, sir, please.

HINCHEY: And I was very…

LEVIN: This is why…Hold on now…

HINCHEY: I was very disappointed…

LEVIN: Lower the congressman. This is why people get annoyed. I said 2001, you’re talking about 2002. And the answer is no. Correct congressman? Can’t you just say no and we can move to the next subject?

HINCHEY: The answer is…well, what’s the question?

LEVIN: The question was, did you at any time prior to 9/11 call for the attack on al Qaeda in Afghanistan or Osama bin Laden. Yes or no?

HINCHEY: I’ve already answered that question.

LEVIN: The answer’s no.
HINCHEY: I called for the attack of on Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda in Afghanistan immediately…

LEVIN: After 9/11.

HINCHEY: …after the attack of… immediately after the attack of September 11.

LEVIN: I know, but…

HINCHEY: Yes.

LEVIN: Did you notice I asked about prior to 9/11?

HINCHEY: I noticed that and I said and I answered that question. I’ve answered it now 3 times.

LEVIN: And you’re also talked about after 9/11 five times.

LEVIN: Now, let me ask you this.

HINCHEY: Well, I’ve talked about it 3 times.

LEVIN: Can we move on? Can we move on, sir?

HINCHEY: Sure! Good!

LEVIN: Now, are you for or against gun control?

HINCHEY: I am a firm believer in the Constitution and among the…the…thee, uh…uh…believe in everything in the Constitution, including the 2nd Amendment.

LEVIN: Including censure that’s not even there. I gotta congratulate you.

HINCHEY: Including censure?

LEVIN: Yes.

HINCHEY: (Laughing)

LEVIN: Now, let me ask you. No. The Second Amendment…

HINCHEY: Censure is completely in a law.

LEVIN: Do you…

HINCHEY: It’s a resolution
LEVIN: Do you sir…

HINCHEY: It’s a resolution

LEVIN: Sir?

HINCHEY: Well, let me just explain it to you.

LEVIN: Do you know that…hold on…hold on. Lower the congressman.

LEVIN: Do you know the history of censure in this country? It happened once in the Senate because some partisan hacks went after Andrew Jackson, the founder of the Democrat Party, and they wanted to humiliate him. That’s the only time it ever happened, sir. Isn’t that correct?

HINCHEY: You should use the language correctly, it’s the Democratic Party.

LEVIN: Oh, who cares? Am I right or not, sir?

HINCHEY: You shouldn’t…you shouldn’t confuse nouns and adjectives.

LEVIN: Alright, I’m very confused with you because I’ve asked you repeatedly…

HINCHEY: What’s the question?

LEVIN: Where’s censure in the Constitution? It’s not.

HINCHEY: Let’s try it again. What’s your question?

LEVIN: The only president to ever be censured was Andrew Jackson. Why do you want to pursue this? We’re in the middle of a war and you’re acting like Dennis Kussinich and we all know he’s a kook!

HINCHEY: We’re not in the middle of a war. We’re in the middle…

LEVIN: Do you agree with me that Dennis Kussinich is a kook?

HINCHEY: We’re in the middle of a disaster…

LEVIN: Can we agree on that?

HINCHEY: We’re in the…we’re in the middle of a disastrous military occupation, we’re not in the middle of a war.

LEVIN: Sir, we’re in the middle of a war whether you think it’s disastrous or not.

HINCHEY: The only war we’re in the middle of is a war that is sectarian between the Shias and the Sunnis.

LEVIN: Alright, let’s stop with the talking points. It’s very annoying.

HINCHEY: And also insurgents among al Qaeda.

LEVIN: Well, maybe if you had stood up on the House floor prior to 9/11 and demanded that we attack the Taliban and al Qaeda in Afghanistan. Maybe we wouldn’t be here. Why didn’t you do that?

HINCHEY: I think a lot of people should have and I should have been among them.

LEVIN: Well, you didn’t and you’re an elected member of Congress!

HINCHEY: Pardon me?

LEVIN: You did not and you’re an elected member of Congress.

HINCHEY: I did not before the attack of September 11…

LEVIN: Well, that was a big mistake, don’t you think?

HINCHEY: …advocate an attack in Afghanistan, that is correct.

LEVIN: Why?

HINCHEY: I did so after September 11.

LEVIN: Alright, we’ve been down this road.

HINCHEY: And I did so, vigorously.

LEVIN: Let me ask you a question. The Second Amendment…

HINCHEY: …and I also…

LEVIN: Hold on now. I got this already. The Second Amendment. You say you support the Second Amendment. I asked you if you support gun control. Can you tell me what exactly you support?

HINCHEY: What I support is going after al Qaeda.

LEVIN: No, no. I’m on the Second Amendment. The Second Amendment. Hold on.

HINCHEY: What I supported was…this is what I supported was…this administration going after Osama bin Laden. But, this administration let him go…

LEVIN: I know, we got that…

HINCHEY: …as you probably will remember. They let him go.

LEVIN: Oh, yeah, they let him go. (Sarcastic)

HINCHEY: They let him go, yes. Why…

LEVIN: They said the just let him go… (Sarcastic)

HINCHEY: Why did Bush let bin Laden go?

LEVIN: I think you’re confusing your buddy, BJ Clinton with George W. Bush, sir. He’s the one that let him go.

HINCHEY: George W. Bush let him go, that’s correct.

LEVIN: No, BJ Clinton.

HINCHEY: (Laughing) You’re mistaken about that.

LEVIN: Now let me ask you a question, sir. I’m back to the Second Amendment.

HINCHEY: You’re a nice guy and I kind of like you, but you’re mistaken about that.

LEVIN: Can we get to the Second Amendment, please?

HINCHEY: Sure.

LEVIN: You said you support the Second Amendment.

HINCHEY: I very much do, yeah.

LEVIN: So, you oppose gun control.

HINCHEY: I’m in favor of the Second Amendment. I’m in favor in the way in which the State of New York handles gun control. I think the State of New York does it in a very appropriate way. And they do it very effectively.

LEVIN: Very aggressive, right?

HINCHEY: No, not terribly…not too aggressively, no. I think the State doesn’t want to…

LEVIN: I don’t want to put you on the spot, but

HINCHEY: No, I don’t think the State of New York handles it too aggressively

LEVIN: I don’t mean to…if you listen to my…hold on now.

HINCHEY: Pardon me?

LEVIN: Well, do you think Virginia is aggressive about the way they enforce their rules?

HINCHEY: I think that there are deficiencies in a number of states and I think that the experience that we have seen in Virginia gives testimony to the fact that Virginia is deficient in some respects, yes.

LEVIN: Now, didn’t you have a little problem with a gun in Virginia?

HINCHEY: I did. Many years ago, yeah. 1994.

LEVIN: And what happened?

HINCHEY: I had a gun in a package in a bag and I come down here by car and I forgot that it was in the bag and I was going…I had to rush home because of an emergency situation and I forgot that it was in the bag and I went to the airport. I’m licensed to carry a firearm.

LEVIN: You’re licensed to carry a…do you have threats against you life?

HINCHEY: I did at one time, yes.

LEVIN: Well I get threats, too, and I don’t carry a firearm. Let me ask you this. And, by the way, I’m all for it, congressman.

HINCHEY: I got threats…well, let me just conclude that I got threats from organized crime and I was advised by the highest ranking police authority in the State of New York to carry a gun to protect myself because they said they couldn’t guarantee my protection.

LEVIN: And I believe that’s a good think and believe most Americans should be able to do that. Do you agree?

HINCHEY: I agree.

LEVIN: You do agree? Now, let me ask you something. You said Virginia’s laws are a little loose. What should they have done to you when you were found you carrying this weapon illegally?

HINCHEY: Pardon me?

LEVIN: What should Virginia have done? You want…you like tougher rules in Virginia? Why?

HINCHEY: Virginia did the right thing. They took care of it in the appropriate way.

LEVIN: Now, should you have been censured, sir?

HINCHEY: Look. Censure. What we’re doing with regard with to this censure has nothing to do with…

LEVIN: I think this is a fair..do you…Excuse me. Censure, actually, under the Constitution, you can be censured by the House and asking you when that happened should you have been censured?

HINCHEY: No. Definitely not.

LEVIN: Why not?

HINCHEY: Because, there was nothing censurable about it.

LEVIN: You pled no contest.

HINCHEY: What we…of course.

LEVIN: That means you were guilty.

HINCHEY: What we’re talking about here with regard to the Bush administration is the fact that they have intentionally misled the Congress and the American public.

LEVIN: I’m talking about you. Can you stop…can you stop obsessing with the president, sir? Sir, can you stop obsessing with the president?

HINCHEY: No, I’m not obsessing; I’m just trying to answer your questions.

LEVIN: I know where you’re coming from.

HINCHEY: I don’t know how a person can ask a question and then not give someone the opportunity to answer it.

LEVIN: Because you’re going off and I’m not asking you about the Bush administration. I’m asking you about you.

HINCHEY: I’m not…no, no, no. You…you said…see. Fine. Come on. You just don’t like the answer. When you don’t like the answer then you interrupt.

LEVIN: I really don’t like your answer, just to be honest with you. Now, let’s move on.

HINCHEY: Well, I can give you whatever answer I want.

LEVIN: Yes, you can.

HINCHEY: Just as you can give any answer you want.

LEVIN: Yeah, the difference is, you want to oppose a Fairness Doctrine on me and I don’t want to oppose one on you.

HINCHEY: I want to…I want…

LEVIN: Let me ask you a question and now I cannot believe what I saw on the Tucker Carlson show and I know you sound like a reasonably intelligent man.

HINCHEY: …anything that is owned by the American public.

LEVIN: I am certain that…

HINCHEY: I think the government should…

LEVIN: Hold on now. Hold on now. I didn’t ask you the question. I am certain you didn’t say what I’m going to read on July 21 on the Tucker Carlson show on MSLSD. MSLSD. Do you agree with me calling them that, sir?

HINCHEY: For other resources the federal government should regulate…

LEVIN: Alright, slow down, now. This is not Congress.

HINCHEY: …carefully and properly what is owned by the American people.

LEVIN: So, let me go on. Oh, really? That Hugo Chavez line?

HINCHEY: The government should regulate what is owned by the American people.

LEVIN: How does your position differ from…hold on now.

HINCHEY: …whether it is the airwaves…

LEVIN: I got that. I’m not stupid.

HINCHEY: …or petroleum products or things of that nature.

LEVIN: Now let me ask you a question. How does your view differ from Hugo Chavez in Venezuela?

HINCHEY: Aaah, I have no idea. I don’t know him that well.

LEVIN: No, you know all about him. He’s a communist thug.

HINCHEY: I don’t know all about him.

LEVIN: He’s trying to take control over the airwaves by saying that their own…

HINCHEY: If he’s trying to take control of him, then I disagree with him.

LEVIN: Hold on now. Hold on now. Hold on now. That they’re owned by the public.

HINCHEY: If he’s trying to take control of the…

LEVIN: He keeps to the same rhetoric that you do.

HINCHEY: If he’s trying to take control of the airwave then I definitely disagree with him.

LEVIN: But sir, that’s the slippery slope you taking us on.

HINCHEY: No, I’m not. I’m not taking you on a slippery slope, at all.

LEVIN: They’re public airwaves, and hence, the government regulates and decides.

HINCHEY: Well, you…if you have…can I answer that question?

LEVIN: Yes, by all means.

HINCHEY: If you have public airwaves. What we have now is, corporate control of the airwaves.

LEVIN: My corporation doesn’t control me. They have never told me what to say, when to say…

HINCHEY: You have…I’m not saying that…I don’t know what…

LEVIN: Sir, sir. Lower him a second. Let me…I want to educate you about this. It’s very important.

LEVIN: There are 48 major radio stations in New York City, one of the most liberal cities in the country, and my show is rated number one AM and FM. People want to listen to it. Why shouldn’t they be allowed to, sir?

LEVIN: Could you hold on for your answer, because we have to take a hard break?

HINCHEY: Of course.

LEVIN: Alright, we’ll be right back with congressman, Maurice Hinchey.

LEVIN: Congressman Maurice Hinchey. May I call you Maurice? I feel like we’re bonding, sir.

HINCHEY: I think we are, Mark. Morris actually is…

LEVIN: We are giving you the last 20 seconds, go!

HINCHEY: Alright, thank a lot. Well, first of all, I express my appreciation to you for having me on with you…inviting me on with you. I very much enjoyed our conversation. Um, I think that…

LEVIN: Will you come back?

HINCHEY: Sure, I’d be glad to.

LEVIN: In a month or two? I’d love to have you.

HINCHEY: If you want me to, I’d be glad to come back on your show.

LEVIN: Yeah, we definitely want you to come back. Alright, sir? Alright, you be safe with that gun of yours.