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CNN Live Today

Interview with Rep. Linda Sanchez (D), Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D)

Aired November 08, 2002 - 11:35   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.


LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: The Republicans made history in this week's midterm elections. You probably heard that already this week. But so did two Democrats from California. Loretta and Linda Sanchez are going to be the first sisters to serve together in Congress. The Sanchez sisters join us now from our Los Angeles bureau this morning.
Good morning, ladies, and congratulations.

REP. LINDA SANCHEZ (D), CALIFORNIA: Good morning.

REP. LORETTA SANCHEZ (D), CALIFORNIA: Thank you.

HARRIS: With all the breaking news that we had to get to this morning, we aren't going to have a lot of time. I apologize for that.

But I've got to start off with this one first: Which one of you is the kid sister here?

LINDA SANCHEZ: That would be me.

HARRIS: Was there a discussion about this, about the kid sister copycatting here and walking in big sister's foot steps or what?

LORETTA SANCHEZ: Not at all. In fact, Linda has a mind of her own and she decided that she wanted to run and enlisted my help. And as a sister, what could I do? She's going to be a great member of Congress.

HARRIS: What did sis warn you about, Linda? Did she warn you about anything about life in D.C.?

LINDA SANCHEZ: Well, about campaigning, a lot of good advice, and the advice about D.C. is just starting. But I think probably the best piece of advise she gave me was to not take criticism and attacks personally, to really develop a thick skin and just not be distracted from what you need to focus on to be successful. And that was absolutely the best piece of advice.

HARRIS: What I thought this morning was the most interesting thing, not that the two of you being in Congress is not interesting, but the fact the two of you were there after running against two Hispanic Republican candidates, and both men, as I understand it, correct?

(CROSSTALK)

HARRIS: What does that say about politics and about this country at this particular time?

LORETTA SANCHEZ: It speaks to the power of women and women coming into politics and coming into their own. The Democrats are about to elect Nancy Pelosi as their leader in the House of Representatives. She's charismatic, smart, she's a consensus builder...

HARRIS: She's already got your vote, obviously.

LORETTA SANCHEZ: Californian, a native -- she brings the fresh approach from California that we have. It's going to be great for Democrats.

HARRIS: I take it that means you won't be supporting Harold Ford, who we heard this morning, announce that he is going to be running for that post.

LORETTA SANCHEZ: Harold is a great friend of mine, but Nancy has him beat.

HARRIS: Linda, what do you say about that? Since you have a mind of your own as your sister just said.

LINDA SANCHEZ: I've gotten to know Nancy. She was very helpful to me in terms of mentoring me through the process of running for office, and she's been incredibly supportive. So I'm inclined to support her. I think he's great and energetic, and we need that kind of rejuvenation of the party at the leadership level to really get Democrats back on track.

HARRIS: Do you see any specific benefit or any specific hurdle to be jumped over here by having the two of you working together?

LORETTA SANCHEZ: I don't know about hurdles, but hopefully, I'll be able to enlist her to help me on some of the initiatives I want to bring to the 108th Congress, one of them being a retraining law for people who have lost jobs and need to get a new set of skills so that they can move on and get better jobs. And I might even talk her into some help with some of the defense issues that I work on as the ranking women on the Defense Committee.

HARRIS: Do you have an interest in any specific committees at this time, Linda.

LINDA SANCHEZ: I do have -- my preferred committee would be the Judiciary Committee. Right now we don't have any Latino representation on that committee, and they consider a lot of issues that specifically impact minority communities and people of color. So that's definitely an interest. And I have others. But you know, we'll see how the committee assignments play out.

HARRIS: This is going to be very interesting, and I must say I think it's going to be enjoyable to the two of you in your careers there in Washington. Congresswoman Sanchez and Congresswoman Elect Sanchez, thank you for your time and good luck to both of you down the road. Hope to talk to you later on. LINDA SANCHEZ: Thank you.

LORETTA SANCHEZ: Certainly, thank you.

HARRIS: Take care.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com





Sanchez (D)>


Aired November 8, 2002 - 11:35   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: The Republicans made history in this week's midterm elections. You probably heard that already this week. But so did two Democrats from California. Loretta and Linda Sanchez are going to be the first sisters to serve together in Congress. The Sanchez sisters join us now from our Los Angeles bureau this morning.
Good morning, ladies, and congratulations.

REP. LINDA SANCHEZ (D), CALIFORNIA: Good morning.

REP. LORETTA SANCHEZ (D), CALIFORNIA: Thank you.

HARRIS: With all the breaking news that we had to get to this morning, we aren't going to have a lot of time. I apologize for that.

But I've got to start off with this one first: Which one of you is the kid sister here?

LINDA SANCHEZ: That would be me.

HARRIS: Was there a discussion about this, about the kid sister copycatting here and walking in big sister's foot steps or what?

LORETTA SANCHEZ: Not at all. In fact, Linda has a mind of her own and she decided that she wanted to run and enlisted my help. And as a sister, what could I do? She's going to be a great member of Congress.

HARRIS: What did sis warn you about, Linda? Did she warn you about anything about life in D.C.?

LINDA SANCHEZ: Well, about campaigning, a lot of good advice, and the advice about D.C. is just starting. But I think probably the best piece of advise she gave me was to not take criticism and attacks personally, to really develop a thick skin and just not be distracted from what you need to focus on to be successful. And that was absolutely the best piece of advice.

HARRIS: What I thought this morning was the most interesting thing, not that the two of you being in Congress is not interesting, but the fact the two of you were there after running against two Hispanic Republican candidates, and both men, as I understand it, correct?

(CROSSTALK)

HARRIS: What does that say about politics and about this country at this particular time?

LORETTA SANCHEZ: It speaks to the power of women and women coming into politics and coming into their own. The Democrats are about to elect Nancy Pelosi as their leader in the House of Representatives. She's charismatic, smart, she's a consensus builder...

HARRIS: She's already got your vote, obviously.

LORETTA SANCHEZ: Californian, a native -- she brings the fresh approach from California that we have. It's going to be great for Democrats.

HARRIS: I take it that means you won't be supporting Harold Ford, who we heard this morning, announce that he is going to be running for that post.

LORETTA SANCHEZ: Harold is a great friend of mine, but Nancy has him beat.

HARRIS: Linda, what do you say about that? Since you have a mind of your own as your sister just said.

LINDA SANCHEZ: I've gotten to know Nancy. She was very helpful to me in terms of mentoring me through the process of running for office, and she's been incredibly supportive. So I'm inclined to support her. I think he's great and energetic, and we need that kind of rejuvenation of the party at the leadership level to really get Democrats back on track.

HARRIS: Do you see any specific benefit or any specific hurdle to be jumped over here by having the two of you working together?

LORETTA SANCHEZ: I don't know about hurdles, but hopefully, I'll be able to enlist her to help me on some of the initiatives I want to bring to the 108th Congress, one of them being a retraining law for people who have lost jobs and need to get a new set of skills so that they can move on and get better jobs. And I might even talk her into some help with some of the defense issues that I work on as the ranking women on the Defense Committee.

HARRIS: Do you have an interest in any specific committees at this time, Linda.

LINDA SANCHEZ: I do have -- my preferred committee would be the Judiciary Committee. Right now we don't have any Latino representation on that committee, and they consider a lot of issues that specifically impact minority communities and people of color. So that's definitely an interest. And I have others. But you know, we'll see how the committee assignments play out.

HARRIS: This is going to be very interesting, and I must say I think it's going to be enjoyable to the two of you in your careers there in Washington. Congresswoman Sanchez and Congresswoman Elect Sanchez, thank you for your time and good luck to both of you down the road. Hope to talk to you later on. LINDA SANCHEZ: Thank you.

LORETTA SANCHEZ: Certainly, thank you.

HARRIS: Take care.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com





Sanchez (D)>