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American Morning
Schwarzenegger's First 100 Days
Aired October 08, 2003 - 09:05 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: Arnold Schwarzenegger used his victory speech to reach out to opponents. He said his door will always be open and that Californians should work together for the good of the state.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER (R), CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR-ELECT: We have tough choices ahead. The first choice that we must make is the one that will determine our success. Shall we rebuild our state together or shall we fight amongst ourselves, create even deeper division, and fail the people of California? Well, let me tell you something. The answer is clear. For the people to win, politics as usual must lose.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: Now that the voting is over, here is what is next here in California. Election officials don't expect to have all the votes counted until mid-November. Once that is completed, the results can be certified. Arnold Schwarzenegger then has 10 days to assume office. On that schedule, it's late November.
Democrat Cruz Bustamante will remain as the lieutenant governor. We'll talk more about that item in a moment. The governor-elect has a 10-point plan for his first 100 days in office, including the nearly tripled car tax to 1998 levels, a spending freeze on state contracts and travel, and an audit of the budget. He'll also propose cuts to reduce the $8 billion budget deficit and try to restructure the debt here.
And he plans to repeal the law recently signed by Governor Davis that gave illegal immigrants the right to hold driver licenses. California voters, it seems, made up their minds to recall Gray Davis perhaps a month ago, if you listen to the exit polling that's been done here in California.
Bob Franken knows that all too well. He has residents in the Golden State, been here forever.
Good morning.
BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.
It's interesting. I'm not the only one who has brought up the movie "The Candidate," in which Robert Redford's character has just won an improbable political race. And the last words in the movie, he looks at his adviser and says, now what? (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FRANKEN (voice-over): Sometime shortly before Thanksgiving, California Republicans will take over the massive executive branch of state government, now that Arnold Schwarzenegger has beat the stuffing out of the Democrats.
SCHWARZENEGGER: And today, California has given me the greatest gift of all. You have given me your trust for voting for me. Thank you very much to all the people of California for giving me this great trust.
FRANKEN: People from across the spectrum contributed to Schwarzenegger's victory. Women were probably the most closely watched group after the accusations of sexual misconduct against Schwarzenegger, but final exit polls show they voted for him by a 42 to 37 percent margin and for the recall.
He carried the young, the old, the Independents, the moderates, even 25 percent of the Democrats. In fact, the Gray Davis base crumbled. Even union households supported the recall, 51 to 49 percent.
GOV. GRAY DAVIS (D), CALIFORNIA: Tonight, the voters decide it's time for someone else to serve.
FRANKEN: That someone would not be Cruz Bustamante. He only got 52 percent of the vote from his fellow Latinos, but he is still the lieutenant governor.
LT. GOV. CRUZ BUSTAMANTE (D), CALIFORNIA: Arnold, you're very famous for making movies all over the world. I want you to feel free to continue doing that.
FRANKEN: But Arnold Schwarzenegger has made a career move.
SCHWARZENEGGER: I will reach out to Republicans, to Democrats and Independents, to those who supported the recall and those who did not, those who supported me today and those who did not. I want to reach out to everybody.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FRANKEN: Now, Arnold Schwarzenegger called for an end to the bitter partisanship in Sacramento. Do not bet on that.
HEMMER: You're probably right on that.
You've been out here two months, as I mentioned earlier. Did you see the way things were going last night in the previous weeks and months you had been out reporting on this?
FRANKEN: What I saw, in addition to the fact that Arnold Schwarzenegger, of course, had all the star power, is that there was a tremendous amount of anger at Gray Davis. It was a combination of circumstances which may or might not have been entirely his fault. But you also had the fact that this man is not the affable kind of politician who likes to reach out and touch the voters. He's about as opposite of Bill Clinton, for instance, as you're going to find. You need to be able to do that better. And Gray Davis found it out only too well in this election.
HEMMER: Thank, Bob. Job well done to you.
(CROSSTALK)
HEMMER: And thanks for being our correspondent on AMERICAN MORNING out here in L.A.
Yesterday, political observers wondered how the allegations from women about Arnold Schwarzenegger's behavior in the past would affect the election. When voters finally went to the polls, their negative opinion, though, of Gray Davis, as Bob just pointed out, that outweighed any concern about Schwarzenegger's character. In fact, women favored Schwarzenegger; 42 percent of the vote from females went to Schwarzenegger, the approval rating listed at 48 percent, all on the female side.
Duf Sundheim, chairman of the California Republican Party, is here with me now in L.A; Art Torres, chairman of the California Democratic Party also in L.A. He's over at Davis headquarters in the Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles.
Gentlemen, good morning to both of you. Good to see you here.
(CROSSTALK)
HEMMER: Duf, hang on a second. I'm going to get to you in a moment.
First to Art.
As you evaluate this campaign, was it Arnold Schwarzenegger who did everything right or was it Gray Davis who did not do enough right to win?
ART TORRES, CALIFORNIA DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIRMAN: I think it was a little of both, quite frankly. And I think that star power really had an impact, as Bob Franken said in his story.
I also think that there was an anger of whatever was happening in California had to be the governor's fault, unfairly, I believe. And that multiplied as the days went by and the anger increased. And it was a way of people -- whatever they were feeling in the last few days had an impact in this legislation.
HEMMER: Yes, Art, hang on one second there downtown in L.A.
Want to get to Duf Sundheim right now.
And the same question to you. Was it Schwarzenegger's camp who did everything right, or can you really say that right now, knowing how much negativity there was in this state about Gray Davis?
DUF SUNDHEIM, CALIFORNIA REPUBLICAN PARTY CHAIRMAN: Well, there were no templates that took control in this event. One was the anger against Davis. The second was the Schwarzenegger campaign. And the two were separate. And it wasn't until the debate that the two were joined. And people understood that it was OK to let Davis go, because they had enough confidence in Schwarzenegger. And that's when it came together.
HEMMER: We have said this election has been interesting from the very start. It's going to get more interesting in late November, when Arnold Schwarzenegger is sworn in. Cruz Bustamante will remain as lieutenant governor.
Listen to part of his speech last night, addressing the now governor-elect.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LT. GOV. CRUZ BUSTAMANTE (D), CALIFORNIA: Arnold, you're very famous for making movies all over the world. I want you to feel free to continue doing that.
(LAUGHTER)
BUSTAMANTE: Go where you like. Feel free stay as long as you like. I'll be here keeping an eye on things.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: Art, how is this relationship in Sacramento going to be profitable for the people in California?
TORRES: Well, I think it's going to create a debate, obviously, on so many issues. This new governor is going to have a lot on his hands, a tremendous amount of challenges to deal with, and now, all of a sudden, inheriting many of the problems that Gray inherited in this process. And I wish him well. It's going to be a tough road ahead. But I think the people have spoken, and now it's time to govern.
There are very two different things in politics, campaigning and now the seriousness of governing and a constitutional duty to do the best can you in public office for the people of California.
HEMMER: Duf Sundheim is shaking his head right now in agreement.
I want to talk about the female issue right now. Knowing the allegations are out there, and to a lot of people's satisfaction, they haven't been answered completely, do these issues dog Arnold Schwarzenegger every day of his political life in Sacramento?
SUNDHEIM: Absolutely not.
I think that the great thing was that, as soon as they came out, he addressed them. And what I really found interesting, on that day, I received a number of calls from women. And what those calls were about is how Arnold should defend him, not the concern about the conduct.
HEMMER: You say he addressed them. But a number of people are saying that the address was very short and probably curt at this point in the race. And there are those who are saying that, listen, there are a number of questions that will follow him again.
If he's only going to appear at press conferences and do interviews, won't these questions continue to nag at him?
SUNDHEIM: No, I don't think so.
I think the people of California clearly spoke that they didn't want to be involved in the politics of personal destruction. He got more votes from women than any other candidate. The people of California want us to be addressing the economic issues of jobs and the budget deficit. As long as he focuses on that, I think he'll do well.
HEMMER: Duf Sundheim, thanks for hanging in there, here in L.A.
SUNDHEIM: Thank you, Bill.
HEMMER: Art Torres, thanks again to you as well live in downtown L.A.
TORRES: Congratulations, Duf.
SUNDHEIM: Thank you, Art.
HEMMER: You two have gone at it several times on CNN.
TORRES: Well, we're going to be working together in the future for the betterment of this state.
HEMMER: Good luck to you.
SUNDHEIM: I agree. 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
Aired October 8, 2003 - 09:05 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Arnold Schwarzenegger used his victory speech to reach out to opponents. He said his door will always be open and that Californians should work together for the good of the state.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER (R), CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR-ELECT: We have tough choices ahead. The first choice that we must make is the one that will determine our success. Shall we rebuild our state together or shall we fight amongst ourselves, create even deeper division, and fail the people of California? Well, let me tell you something. The answer is clear. For the people to win, politics as usual must lose.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: Now that the voting is over, here is what is next here in California. Election officials don't expect to have all the votes counted until mid-November. Once that is completed, the results can be certified. Arnold Schwarzenegger then has 10 days to assume office. On that schedule, it's late November.
Democrat Cruz Bustamante will remain as the lieutenant governor. We'll talk more about that item in a moment. The governor-elect has a 10-point plan for his first 100 days in office, including the nearly tripled car tax to 1998 levels, a spending freeze on state contracts and travel, and an audit of the budget. He'll also propose cuts to reduce the $8 billion budget deficit and try to restructure the debt here.
And he plans to repeal the law recently signed by Governor Davis that gave illegal immigrants the right to hold driver licenses. California voters, it seems, made up their minds to recall Gray Davis perhaps a month ago, if you listen to the exit polling that's been done here in California.
Bob Franken knows that all too well. He has residents in the Golden State, been here forever.
Good morning.
BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.
It's interesting. I'm not the only one who has brought up the movie "The Candidate," in which Robert Redford's character has just won an improbable political race. And the last words in the movie, he looks at his adviser and says, now what? (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FRANKEN (voice-over): Sometime shortly before Thanksgiving, California Republicans will take over the massive executive branch of state government, now that Arnold Schwarzenegger has beat the stuffing out of the Democrats.
SCHWARZENEGGER: And today, California has given me the greatest gift of all. You have given me your trust for voting for me. Thank you very much to all the people of California for giving me this great trust.
FRANKEN: People from across the spectrum contributed to Schwarzenegger's victory. Women were probably the most closely watched group after the accusations of sexual misconduct against Schwarzenegger, but final exit polls show they voted for him by a 42 to 37 percent margin and for the recall.
He carried the young, the old, the Independents, the moderates, even 25 percent of the Democrats. In fact, the Gray Davis base crumbled. Even union households supported the recall, 51 to 49 percent.
GOV. GRAY DAVIS (D), CALIFORNIA: Tonight, the voters decide it's time for someone else to serve.
FRANKEN: That someone would not be Cruz Bustamante. He only got 52 percent of the vote from his fellow Latinos, but he is still the lieutenant governor.
LT. GOV. CRUZ BUSTAMANTE (D), CALIFORNIA: Arnold, you're very famous for making movies all over the world. I want you to feel free to continue doing that.
FRANKEN: But Arnold Schwarzenegger has made a career move.
SCHWARZENEGGER: I will reach out to Republicans, to Democrats and Independents, to those who supported the recall and those who did not, those who supported me today and those who did not. I want to reach out to everybody.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FRANKEN: Now, Arnold Schwarzenegger called for an end to the bitter partisanship in Sacramento. Do not bet on that.
HEMMER: You're probably right on that.
You've been out here two months, as I mentioned earlier. Did you see the way things were going last night in the previous weeks and months you had been out reporting on this?
FRANKEN: What I saw, in addition to the fact that Arnold Schwarzenegger, of course, had all the star power, is that there was a tremendous amount of anger at Gray Davis. It was a combination of circumstances which may or might not have been entirely his fault. But you also had the fact that this man is not the affable kind of politician who likes to reach out and touch the voters. He's about as opposite of Bill Clinton, for instance, as you're going to find. You need to be able to do that better. And Gray Davis found it out only too well in this election.
HEMMER: Thank, Bob. Job well done to you.
(CROSSTALK)
HEMMER: And thanks for being our correspondent on AMERICAN MORNING out here in L.A.
Yesterday, political observers wondered how the allegations from women about Arnold Schwarzenegger's behavior in the past would affect the election. When voters finally went to the polls, their negative opinion, though, of Gray Davis, as Bob just pointed out, that outweighed any concern about Schwarzenegger's character. In fact, women favored Schwarzenegger; 42 percent of the vote from females went to Schwarzenegger, the approval rating listed at 48 percent, all on the female side.
Duf Sundheim, chairman of the California Republican Party, is here with me now in L.A; Art Torres, chairman of the California Democratic Party also in L.A. He's over at Davis headquarters in the Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles.
Gentlemen, good morning to both of you. Good to see you here.
(CROSSTALK)
HEMMER: Duf, hang on a second. I'm going to get to you in a moment.
First to Art.
As you evaluate this campaign, was it Arnold Schwarzenegger who did everything right or was it Gray Davis who did not do enough right to win?
ART TORRES, CALIFORNIA DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIRMAN: I think it was a little of both, quite frankly. And I think that star power really had an impact, as Bob Franken said in his story.
I also think that there was an anger of whatever was happening in California had to be the governor's fault, unfairly, I believe. And that multiplied as the days went by and the anger increased. And it was a way of people -- whatever they were feeling in the last few days had an impact in this legislation.
HEMMER: Yes, Art, hang on one second there downtown in L.A.
Want to get to Duf Sundheim right now.
And the same question to you. Was it Schwarzenegger's camp who did everything right, or can you really say that right now, knowing how much negativity there was in this state about Gray Davis?
DUF SUNDHEIM, CALIFORNIA REPUBLICAN PARTY CHAIRMAN: Well, there were no templates that took control in this event. One was the anger against Davis. The second was the Schwarzenegger campaign. And the two were separate. And it wasn't until the debate that the two were joined. And people understood that it was OK to let Davis go, because they had enough confidence in Schwarzenegger. And that's when it came together.
HEMMER: We have said this election has been interesting from the very start. It's going to get more interesting in late November, when Arnold Schwarzenegger is sworn in. Cruz Bustamante will remain as lieutenant governor.
Listen to part of his speech last night, addressing the now governor-elect.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LT. GOV. CRUZ BUSTAMANTE (D), CALIFORNIA: Arnold, you're very famous for making movies all over the world. I want you to feel free to continue doing that.
(LAUGHTER)
BUSTAMANTE: Go where you like. Feel free stay as long as you like. I'll be here keeping an eye on things.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: Art, how is this relationship in Sacramento going to be profitable for the people in California?
TORRES: Well, I think it's going to create a debate, obviously, on so many issues. This new governor is going to have a lot on his hands, a tremendous amount of challenges to deal with, and now, all of a sudden, inheriting many of the problems that Gray inherited in this process. And I wish him well. It's going to be a tough road ahead. But I think the people have spoken, and now it's time to govern.
There are very two different things in politics, campaigning and now the seriousness of governing and a constitutional duty to do the best can you in public office for the people of California.
HEMMER: Duf Sundheim is shaking his head right now in agreement.
I want to talk about the female issue right now. Knowing the allegations are out there, and to a lot of people's satisfaction, they haven't been answered completely, do these issues dog Arnold Schwarzenegger every day of his political life in Sacramento?
SUNDHEIM: Absolutely not.
I think that the great thing was that, as soon as they came out, he addressed them. And what I really found interesting, on that day, I received a number of calls from women. And what those calls were about is how Arnold should defend him, not the concern about the conduct.
HEMMER: You say he addressed them. But a number of people are saying that the address was very short and probably curt at this point in the race. And there are those who are saying that, listen, there are a number of questions that will follow him again.
If he's only going to appear at press conferences and do interviews, won't these questions continue to nag at him?
SUNDHEIM: No, I don't think so.
I think the people of California clearly spoke that they didn't want to be involved in the politics of personal destruction. He got more votes from women than any other candidate. The people of California want us to be addressing the economic issues of jobs and the budget deficit. As long as he focuses on that, I think he'll do well.
HEMMER: Duf Sundheim, thanks for hanging in there, here in L.A.
SUNDHEIM: Thank you, Bill.
HEMMER: Art Torres, thanks again to you as well live in downtown L.A.
TORRES: Congratulations, Duf.
SUNDHEIM: Thank you, Art.
HEMMER: You two have gone at it several times on CNN.
TORRES: Well, we're going to be working together in the future for the betterment of this state.
HEMMER: Good luck to you.
SUNDHEIM: I agree. 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
