From CNN's Dana Bash

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Speaker Dennis Hastert reiterated Thursday his claims that House Democrats who voted against the detainee bill were in favor of granting terrorists more rights. This comes after House Minority leader Nancy Pelosi called Hastert a "desperate man," for making such assertions.

When asked by reporters if he "really believes" Democrats were for more rights for terrorists, Hastert replied "Oh yeah, absolutely. What we're trying to do is put terrorists behind bars and make sure that they don't get out and kill people in this country.

"And yeah, it's pretty apparent to me that if you're voting about that you're saying, look at, we think that these people ought to have any right that any other American citizen should have in the courts, and in fact they're here to kill us."

Pelosi Wednesday defended her vote against the bill, saying, "I think every person in America would tear these people to shreds with their bare hands if they had the opportunity," but added that "we want them punished, but not in a way that endangers our troops."

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