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Bush Describes Administration as Compassionate Conservative

Aired April 30, 2002 - 14:47   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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: I want to get to San Jose, California. President Bush talking today about his compassionate conservative philosophy. Aides say he wants Americans to know it's the defining theme of his administration, and one that other candidates could successfully embrace.

Our senior White House correspondent again with the president, traveling today. Here is John King in California. John, good afternoon.

JOHN KING, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good afternoon to you, Bill. If you followed campaign 2000 at all, you know that compassionate conservatism was then-Governor Bush's principle theme throughout that campaign. He says it is his theme again as president now.

Nothing new in the president's speech today, in terms of how he described how his philosophy impacts his views on issues like health care, education, welfare reform, faith-based initiative.

But there's a reason the president is returning to that initiative now: some concern in the Republican Party that he is -- yes, President Bush is hugely popular, but so much of his attention is focused on the war on terrorism. So much of it now on the Middle East.

Republicans worry that the Democrats will get the upper hand on the domestic issues, like health care and education. So the president making the case here in California today, so when voters go to the poll this fall it choose members of Congress and to pick governors, they should consider the philosophy of his Republican Party.

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GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We need a different approach than either big government or indifferent government. We need a government that is focused, effective, and close to the people. A government that does a few things and does them well.

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KING: Now, history says the president's party loses seats in Congress in this off-term election year. That would be a big deal because control of Congress is so close right now. The president hoping to help his party. Most of all, he's helping them raise money -- Bill.

HEMMER: John, there was also an announcement from California regarding the axis of evil, one of the three countries mentioned, North Korea. What's happening, with movement there, on the missile program?

KING: Bill, the administration announcing today that the North Korean government has now said it's prepared to resume negotiations on its missile program and other issues. That is a big breakthrough, the administration considers it. The White House now debating exactly the timing and the details of those negotiations.

But look in the very near future for an administrative envoy to head to North Korea to once again resume those negotiations, which broke off at the end of the Clinton administration.

HEMMER: Interesting development. John King, thanks, traveling with the president in California.

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