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CNN Live Saturday

Bush Focuses on Economic Recovery

Aired January 05, 2002 - 16:01   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: On the economic front, Mr. Bush informed his hand-picked Republican audience today, quote, "not over my dead body -- over my dead body will they raise your taxes." More on that now from CNN White House correspondent Kelly Wallace.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): President Bush showing off his Spanish and launching his economic offensive. Holding a town hall meeting in this largely Hispanic community of Ontario, California and sending a message to his Democratic opponents back in Washington.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: When they say raising taxes will help the country recover -- not over my dead body will they raise your taxes!

(APPLAUSE)

WALLACE: This is the first of what Bush advisers say will be a series of events this month focusing on the economic slowdown. As Americans now select the economy over terrorism as the main problem affecting the country, according to a recent poll, and as political analysts say most Americans believe the president has the power to end the stalemate over tax cuts and help for the unemployed.

NORMAN ORNSTEIN, AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE: The public reaction is going to be, if you can wipe out those terrorists, don't tell me you can't knock a few heads among those pissant members of the House and Senate down at the other side of Pennsylvania Avenue.

WALLACE: It will be a delicate balancing act for Mr. Bush, maintaining bipartisan support for the war on terror while using his sky-high approval rating to get his agenda passed.

ORNSTEIN: Political capital is not renewable. It's perishable. You use it or you lose it.

WALLACE: But Democrats see an opening, taking on a popular president on domestic issues.

SEN. BYRON DORGAN (D), NORTH DAKOTA: You know, we have to engage, even while we strongly support the president and his -- his prosecution of the war against terrorism, we do have to engage on this issue of economic recovery, and we are doing that.

WALLACE: But Mr. Bush calls for an end to what he refers to as "the old ways of Washington."

BUSH: The old ways is, what's more important, the country or my political party? I stand here as a proud party man, but let me tell you something, the country is far more important.

WALLACE (on camera): Aides say the president will continue traveling around the country to show that he is doing what he can to help, because advisers are all too aware Mr. Bush and his party have much to lose in this year's congressional elections if things don't turn around.

Kelly Wallace, CNN, Ontario, California.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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