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CNN Live Saturday

President Bush: Changing Washington or Changed by Washington?

Aired June 23, 2001 -   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.
DONNA KELLEY, CNN ANCHOR: As President Bush is learning, politics can sometimes clash with principle. Many times in Washington, compromise is the name of the game if you want anything done.

CNN's White House correspondent Major Garrett on the balancing act now hanging over the president.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MAJOR GARRETT, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Almost everywhere he goes, Mr. Bush tells voters he's changing Washington.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The old way was you didn't worry about results, you just worried about how loud you yelled at somebody or how you pointed your finger.

GARRETT: But privately, congressional Republicans wonder if things really have changed. They praise Mr. Bush's tax cut victory, but cringe at political deals with Democrats, among them boosting education spending by billions and canceling Navy live fire training on the island of Vieques in 2003.

MARSHALL WITTMANN, HUDSON INSTITUTE: Some Republicans are uttering the dreaded C word. They're describing the administration as Clintonian. In truth, there are two George W. Bush's: There's George W. Reagan, who is very resolute on tax policy and Social Security and missile defense, and there's George W. Clinton, who will compromise on issues like Vieques, defense spending, protectionism, and Republicans are bit confused at the moment.

GARRETT: The confusion is confined to conservative Republicans. Moderates applaud any Bush move to the center, and are seeking more, especially on the environment. But conservatives were crucial to Mr. Bush's election, and senior advisers say keeping them happy is a top priority. Analysts agree.

WITTMANN: The challenge for him now is to govern from the center while not having his base defect from him.

GARRETT: Other experts say the root of Mr. Bush's problem is that he's plotting for reelection in 2004 while congressional Republicans are worrying about next year's election. STUART ROTHENBERG, POLITICAL ANALYST: After taxes, the president's agenda was not quite as clear and crisp, and he's had to go back and forth on some issues, and I think to some extent he's left some Republicans on Capitol Hill angry, dissatisfied and concerned.

GARRETT (on camera): Top Bush advisers say the president can't win everything in a divided Congress. Besides, they say, Congress is always cranky. On that point, conservative Republicans don't disagree, but they say Mr. Bush must resist the temptation to cut deals with Democrats that discourage his most enthusiastic supporters.

Major Garrett, CNN, Crawford, Texas.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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