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CNN Saturday Morning News
Interview with Michael Davidson, Alex De Campo
Aired August 09, 2003 - 09:39 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.
SEAN CALLEBS, CNN ANCHOR: Arnold Schwarzenegger (UNINTELLIGIBLE) power could be a big influence in California's recall race, with lines like "Hasta la vista, Davis," when speaking about current governor Gray Davis. Schwarzenegger just may attract younger voters to the polls, with more impact on the young voters' outcome.
We are joined by Michael Davidson. He is the chairman of the California College Republicans, as well as Alex De Ocampo, the president of the California Young Republicans.
Michael, I'll start with you. Is Arnold Schwarzenegger someone really someone you want running that state?
MICHAEL DAVIDSON, CHAIRMAN, CALIFORNIA COLLEGE REPUBLICANS: Well, I don't see why not. He certainly is the 900-pound gorilla in this state. And he's the success story, he's an American dream story. He's gone from nothing to everything.
And if someone's going to bring business back into this state and turn it around, I think certainly Gray Davis has run this state into the ground. It's a disaster. He's turned it in from a $9 billion surplus into a $38 billion deficit (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...
CALLEBS: Let's try to stay on Arnold, though...
DAVIDSON: ... (UNINTELLIGIBLE) hope...
CALLEBS: ... just for one bit. What experience does he have, though, trying to balance $38 billion in debt?
DAVIDSON: Well, he's a businessman, he's done -- most of his money, actually, was made in business. And he's done well in the movies. And I think he has the PR machine that's going got be able to work with the legislature. He has the bipartisan support. And a lot of times, that's what it takes. Gray Davis doesn't have any support whatsoever. And that's what we need, we need hope.
CALLEBS: Well, Alex, let me ask you, is Michael right? Is Gray Davis someone you want running the state?
ALEX DE OCAMPO, PRESIDENT, CALIFORNIA YOUNG DEMOCRATS: Gray Davis has the leadership. First of all, if we go back to Arnold Schwarzenegger, we need to realize that he does not have the experience. But the Republican on the other side just told me that he is a businessman. I'm sorry to say, but he has no -- really no business experience. He was an investor for Planet Hollywood, and that went belly up.
CALLEBS: OK, but let's talk about Gray, though. What's the problem there with Governor Davis? He can't -- even when he tried to keep his own party in line asking other Democrats not to jump in, he was unsuccessful.
DE OCAMPO: Well, first of all, the Democrats are united. You focus on the first question, do you want to recall your governor? Democrats are united, no. This recall is a partisan ploy pushed by right-wing extremists who basically want to hijack the governorship. These people could not even get elected in a general election.
And let's face it, in 2002, November 2002, Democrats swept the state, I'm sorry to say. You know, Republicans, you lost, stop acting like sour grapes.
CALLEBS: Well, Michael, what about that? I mean, there are hundreds of people who have signed up already, something like 57 have already paid the $3,500, got the 65 signatures. Is -- are you worried this could just digress into a just a (UNINTELLIGIBLE)?
DAVIDSON: Well, let me speak to something that Alex just said. He mentioned that Gray Davis has the experience. And I don't see where this experience has got him. He's run the state into the ground, infrastructure, education, the business climate, jobs...
DE OCAMPO: Look, can I just say...
DAVIDSON: ... everything is a complete...
DE OCAMPO: ... (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...
CALLEBS: ... and utter disaster in the state.
(CROSSTALK)
CALLEBS: Come on now, we're trying to get the young...
(CROSSTALK)
CALLEBS: ... the young opinion here...
(CROSSTALK)
CALLEBS: ... and you guys are acting like grownups fighting here. Let's try to calm it down just a bit.
Michael, just pick up on that for just one bit, though. Are you worried about this digressing into a joke? I mean, you have all of these candidates who are signing up.
DAVIDSON: Well, I think it's comical, on one hand, that people like Larry Flynt are getting into the race. But I think that we're going to have -- the state is very charged right now, politically charged. We're going to have voter turnout that rivals the presidential election. So I think it's great. More people are going to be involved. More people are seeing the disaster that Gray Davis has run the state into the ground. I think it's going to be turned around. People are going to get involved. The credible candidates are going to rise to the top. And we'll get a fiscally responsible governor.
CALLEBS: Well, Alex...
DAVIDSON: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) hope.
CALLEBS: ... let me ask you, is it a good idea to spend the millions and millions of dollars it's going to take to have this recall? Right now...
DAVIDSON: Well...
CALLEBS: ... when the state is just swimming in red?
DE OCAMPO: I think it is...
CALLEBS: Let's let Alex answer (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...
DAVIDSON: ... relative to (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...
CALLEBS: ... hang on, (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...
DE OCAMPO: I think it is -- Could I finish, please? Thank you. Sixty-seven million dollars, according to the secretary of state, will be spent on this recall. Even more, $67 million can be spent on education for young -- to really push towards young voters. That (UNINTELLIGIBLE), that $67 million could be paid for education, could be paid for state security.
But no, we're using this as a partisan ploy to basically hijack the governorship, (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...
DAVIDSON: Thirty percent, 30 percent of the people who signed the recall petition were Democrats.
(CROSSTALK)
CALLEBS: Hang on, hang on, Alex, hang on one second, Alex.
DE OCAMPO: Well, can I just say one thing?
DAVIDSON: Let put this in perspective. The deficit right now is $38 billion. I think getting rid of Gray Davis is a bargain compared to a $38 billion deficit.
CALLEBS: OK, Alex, jump in.
DAVIDSON: And we just bombed it, $10 billion.
DE OCAMPO: (UNINTELLIGIBLE), it's not $38 billion, I'd like to correct my Republican counterpart...
DAVIDSON: The legislative analyst's office.
DE OCAMPO: Look, we just passed a budget, the -- we just passed a budget in the state senate and the state assembly. The governor signed it. And it's $8 billion. You're incorrect on that issue.
(CROSSTALK)
DAVIDSON: ... the budget.
DE OCAMPO: ... realize, 47 other states are going through budget deficits. We're not recalling anyone. Recalls are for cars, not for governors.
And first of all, you need to realize that other states aren't recalling their governors. They're working in a bipartisan matter.
CALLEBS: OK, Michael...
DE OCAMPO: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) voters are going to start looking into this, and they're going to realize that this is a big circus, and that Democrats, at the end of the day, are going to really work hard for the young voters...
(CROSSTALK)
DAVIDSON: ... the Democrats are completely divided. Look at Bustamante, Garemendi, they are completely (UNINTELLIGIBLE) divided. They don't know where to go because...
(CROSSTALK)
DE OCAMPO: We are united, we're focusing on...
DAVIDSON: ... because of Gray Davis's very poor leadership.
DE OCAMPO: ... the first question.
DAVIDSON: OK, which is vote yes...
DE OCAMPO: And (UNINTELLIGIBLE) the first question...
DAVIDSON: ... on the recall.
DE OCAMPO: No, it is vote no on the recall. We are united.
CALLEBS: OK, gentlemen, I got to thank you for joining us. We're out of time. But judging by the way you two go at it, you have a very good future in this kind of thing. Thanks a lot, guys, we appreciate it.
DAVIDSON: Thank you.
DE OCAMPO: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
CALLEBS: Michael Davidson, chairman of the California Republicans, and Alex De Ocampo, he is the president of California Young (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...
DE OCAMPO: Democrats.
CALLEBS: ... Democrats.
DE OCAMPO: California Young Democrats.
CALLEBS: OK, thanks, guys, we appreciate it.
DAVIDSON: Thank you.
DE OCAMPO: Goodbye.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired August 9, 2003 - 09:39 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SEAN CALLEBS, CNN ANCHOR: Arnold Schwarzenegger (UNINTELLIGIBLE) power could be a big influence in California's recall race, with lines like "Hasta la vista, Davis," when speaking about current governor Gray Davis. Schwarzenegger just may attract younger voters to the polls, with more impact on the young voters' outcome.
We are joined by Michael Davidson. He is the chairman of the California College Republicans, as well as Alex De Ocampo, the president of the California Young Republicans.
Michael, I'll start with you. Is Arnold Schwarzenegger someone really someone you want running that state?
MICHAEL DAVIDSON, CHAIRMAN, CALIFORNIA COLLEGE REPUBLICANS: Well, I don't see why not. He certainly is the 900-pound gorilla in this state. And he's the success story, he's an American dream story. He's gone from nothing to everything.
And if someone's going to bring business back into this state and turn it around, I think certainly Gray Davis has run this state into the ground. It's a disaster. He's turned it in from a $9 billion surplus into a $38 billion deficit (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...
CALLEBS: Let's try to stay on Arnold, though...
DAVIDSON: ... (UNINTELLIGIBLE) hope...
CALLEBS: ... just for one bit. What experience does he have, though, trying to balance $38 billion in debt?
DAVIDSON: Well, he's a businessman, he's done -- most of his money, actually, was made in business. And he's done well in the movies. And I think he has the PR machine that's going got be able to work with the legislature. He has the bipartisan support. And a lot of times, that's what it takes. Gray Davis doesn't have any support whatsoever. And that's what we need, we need hope.
CALLEBS: Well, Alex, let me ask you, is Michael right? Is Gray Davis someone you want running the state?
ALEX DE OCAMPO, PRESIDENT, CALIFORNIA YOUNG DEMOCRATS: Gray Davis has the leadership. First of all, if we go back to Arnold Schwarzenegger, we need to realize that he does not have the experience. But the Republican on the other side just told me that he is a businessman. I'm sorry to say, but he has no -- really no business experience. He was an investor for Planet Hollywood, and that went belly up.
CALLEBS: OK, but let's talk about Gray, though. What's the problem there with Governor Davis? He can't -- even when he tried to keep his own party in line asking other Democrats not to jump in, he was unsuccessful.
DE OCAMPO: Well, first of all, the Democrats are united. You focus on the first question, do you want to recall your governor? Democrats are united, no. This recall is a partisan ploy pushed by right-wing extremists who basically want to hijack the governorship. These people could not even get elected in a general election.
And let's face it, in 2002, November 2002, Democrats swept the state, I'm sorry to say. You know, Republicans, you lost, stop acting like sour grapes.
CALLEBS: Well, Michael, what about that? I mean, there are hundreds of people who have signed up already, something like 57 have already paid the $3,500, got the 65 signatures. Is -- are you worried this could just digress into a just a (UNINTELLIGIBLE)?
DAVIDSON: Well, let me speak to something that Alex just said. He mentioned that Gray Davis has the experience. And I don't see where this experience has got him. He's run the state into the ground, infrastructure, education, the business climate, jobs...
DE OCAMPO: Look, can I just say...
DAVIDSON: ... everything is a complete...
DE OCAMPO: ... (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...
CALLEBS: ... and utter disaster in the state.
(CROSSTALK)
CALLEBS: Come on now, we're trying to get the young...
(CROSSTALK)
CALLEBS: ... the young opinion here...
(CROSSTALK)
CALLEBS: ... and you guys are acting like grownups fighting here. Let's try to calm it down just a bit.
Michael, just pick up on that for just one bit, though. Are you worried about this digressing into a joke? I mean, you have all of these candidates who are signing up.
DAVIDSON: Well, I think it's comical, on one hand, that people like Larry Flynt are getting into the race. But I think that we're going to have -- the state is very charged right now, politically charged. We're going to have voter turnout that rivals the presidential election. So I think it's great. More people are going to be involved. More people are seeing the disaster that Gray Davis has run the state into the ground. I think it's going to be turned around. People are going to get involved. The credible candidates are going to rise to the top. And we'll get a fiscally responsible governor.
CALLEBS: Well, Alex...
DAVIDSON: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) hope.
CALLEBS: ... let me ask you, is it a good idea to spend the millions and millions of dollars it's going to take to have this recall? Right now...
DAVIDSON: Well...
CALLEBS: ... when the state is just swimming in red?
DE OCAMPO: I think it is...
CALLEBS: Let's let Alex answer (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...
DAVIDSON: ... relative to (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...
CALLEBS: ... hang on, (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...
DE OCAMPO: I think it is -- Could I finish, please? Thank you. Sixty-seven million dollars, according to the secretary of state, will be spent on this recall. Even more, $67 million can be spent on education for young -- to really push towards young voters. That (UNINTELLIGIBLE), that $67 million could be paid for education, could be paid for state security.
But no, we're using this as a partisan ploy to basically hijack the governorship, (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...
DAVIDSON: Thirty percent, 30 percent of the people who signed the recall petition were Democrats.
(CROSSTALK)
CALLEBS: Hang on, hang on, Alex, hang on one second, Alex.
DE OCAMPO: Well, can I just say one thing?
DAVIDSON: Let put this in perspective. The deficit right now is $38 billion. I think getting rid of Gray Davis is a bargain compared to a $38 billion deficit.
CALLEBS: OK, Alex, jump in.
DAVIDSON: And we just bombed it, $10 billion.
DE OCAMPO: (UNINTELLIGIBLE), it's not $38 billion, I'd like to correct my Republican counterpart...
DAVIDSON: The legislative analyst's office.
DE OCAMPO: Look, we just passed a budget, the -- we just passed a budget in the state senate and the state assembly. The governor signed it. And it's $8 billion. You're incorrect on that issue.
(CROSSTALK)
DAVIDSON: ... the budget.
DE OCAMPO: ... realize, 47 other states are going through budget deficits. We're not recalling anyone. Recalls are for cars, not for governors.
And first of all, you need to realize that other states aren't recalling their governors. They're working in a bipartisan matter.
CALLEBS: OK, Michael...
DE OCAMPO: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) voters are going to start looking into this, and they're going to realize that this is a big circus, and that Democrats, at the end of the day, are going to really work hard for the young voters...
(CROSSTALK)
DAVIDSON: ... the Democrats are completely divided. Look at Bustamante, Garemendi, they are completely (UNINTELLIGIBLE) divided. They don't know where to go because...
(CROSSTALK)
DE OCAMPO: We are united, we're focusing on...
DAVIDSON: ... because of Gray Davis's very poor leadership.
DE OCAMPO: ... the first question.
DAVIDSON: OK, which is vote yes...
DE OCAMPO: And (UNINTELLIGIBLE) the first question...
DAVIDSON: ... on the recall.
DE OCAMPO: No, it is vote no on the recall. We are united.
CALLEBS: OK, gentlemen, I got to thank you for joining us. We're out of time. But judging by the way you two go at it, you have a very good future in this kind of thing. Thanks a lot, guys, we appreciate it.
DAVIDSON: Thank you.
DE OCAMPO: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
CALLEBS: Michael Davidson, chairman of the California Republicans, and Alex De Ocampo, he is the president of California Young (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...
DE OCAMPO: Democrats.
CALLEBS: ... Democrats.
DE OCAMPO: California Young Democrats.
CALLEBS: OK, thanks, guys, we appreciate it.
DAVIDSON: Thank you.
DE OCAMPO: Goodbye.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
