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Interview With Arianna Huffington; California Candidate Snapshot
Aired October 01, 2003 - 15:14 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.
CANDY CROWLEY, CNN ANCHOR: Political commentator Arianna Huffington is still working to influence next week's recall election. But instead of asking people to vote for her, she's asking them to vote against the recall.
Arianna Huffington is with me now from here in Los Angeles, although we're not in the same place.
Let me ask you first just sort of explain this to someone who doesn't quite understand California, because look, they're looking at this and saying, here's a woman who came and said, replace this governor and have me. And you've gone from that to, OK, no, leave him there. It's kind of a hard turn, isn't it?
ARIANNA HUFFINGTON, FORMER CALIFORNIA GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE: Actually not, because, all along, I was against the recall in principle. I always saw it as a right-wing power grab and a way to try and depose a duly elected governor. But I also saw an opportunity there to elect an independent, progressive governor, who would really clean house in Sacramento with a simple plurality.
Now that that is not going to happen -- I'm a realist, as well as being an idealist -- and I know I can't really get elected on October 7, then the alternative to recalling the governor is Arnold Schwarzenegger. And that is really a clear and present danger for California, because this is a man beholden to all sorts of big business special interests that are funding his campaign, a man who has no idea how to balance the budget, a man who pretends to be an independent, while surrounding himself with GOP hacks and the Pete Wilson operatives. And that is a very troubling prospect.
CROWLEY: Let me ask you, if I could, having watched the debate between you and Mr. Schwarzenegger, is there a personality clash there? This seems a little personal.
HUFFINGTON: Oh, not at all. I actually like him and Maria very much. I've known them for a long time.
This is purely political. And you may remember, Candy, in 2000 that, again, we were a sold a different kind of Republican. George Bush was supposed to be a compassionate conservative, who liked minorities, who spoke a little Spanish, who had an environmentally sensitive ranch in Crawford, Texas. And we ended up with a warmonger who took a $500 billion surplus into a $500 (sic) deficit and lost us millions of jobs.
And I'm afraid that the same policies are going to become the policies prevailing in Sacramento.
CROWLEY: I want to also take a look just at where your polling numbers have gone since we have started this out. I mean, you started -- you were a long shot to begin with at three. But then the latest Los Angeles poll put you at an asterisk. Did that also factor into your thinking, that, "I ought to get out," because, at this point, it seems to me there are two questions, one, whether you should pull out because it's not worth the effort, and, two, whether you can indeed be helpful to Gray Davis at this point, considering that your numbers were falling?
HUFFINGTON: Well, actually, Candy, I really -- you know a lot about polls, as I do. And these numbers are pretty meaningless. There is a plus or minus 3 percentage point of error.
They're only polling likely voters. And my constituency were the disengaged voters, the disengaged, those who had really given up on our political system. And they're the people I'm appealing to right now. And I'm saying to them, I understand your longing to clean up house. I understand your longing to vote for the recall, to show that you don't want business as usual.
But I want you to be smart and strategic and look at the alternative, which is basically electing a traditional Republican, run by the same special interests that are running things in Washington.
CROWLEY: Arianna Huffington, I know we will see you on the campaign trail somewhere. Thanks so much.
HUFFINGTON: Thank you.
CROWLEY: Some of the high-profile, but less than serious recall candidates have received their fair share of attention in this campaign. But some of the lesser-known candidates placed their names on the crowded ballot in hopes of making a difference.
CNN's Thelma Gutierrez has more in our latest candidate snapshot.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DIANE BEALL TEMPLIN (AIP), CALIFORNIA GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE: Our rights are our might. Our votes are our voice. Diane Beall Templin is you're very best choice.
My name is Diane Templin and I'm running for governor.
THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): She is a 56- year-old attorney.
TEMPLIN: My name is Diane Templin. I'm running for governor.
GUTIERREZ: A real estate broker.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Diane's running for governor of California.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, all right.
GUTIERREZ: Wife and mother.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right.
GUTIERREZ: And the only American Independent Party gubernatorial candidate.
TEMPLIN: I joined the American Independent Party because they're the only party that acknowledges God as creator and the lord Jesus Christ as our savior.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And the lord bless you, Diane.
GUTIERREZ: Templin quotes the Bible with ease on the campaign trail.
TEMPLIN: In order to heal our land, we need to heal the people who are hurting.
First Thessalonians 4 16 and 17, it says the lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout.
GUTIERREZ: She says it was a Bible passage that convinced her to run for office.
TEMPLIN: I thought of a verse in Isaiah, the Old Testament. And it said, who will I send and who will go for me? And I said, here am I, lord. Send me.
GUTIERREZ: Templin says it hasn't been an easy road. She resents being locked out of this debate.
TEMPLIN: My contention is, if the Green Party or an independent who has no platform, no party, was allowed to participate, the American Independent Party Candidate, myself, should have been allowed.
GUTIERREZ: Templin says, as a constitutionalist, she believes federal income tax should be repealed.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is the American AIP?
TEMPLIN: Yes, American Independent Party.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Isn't that the anti-immigrant party?
TEMPLIN: We are against illegals.
GUTIERREZ: And she's against abortion, even in a case of rape or incest.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm glad you're pro-life.
GUTIERREZ: At a taping of "The Tonight Show..."
TEMPLIN: Would you like to see our platform and dance?
GUTIERREZ: ... Templin and her husband performed her platform.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And balance and have some support and be brought back up to fiscal responsibility.
TEMPLIN: And victory for California.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Diane Templin for governor.
GUTIERREZ: Thelma Gutierrez, CNN, Los Angeles.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Snapshot>
Aired October 1, 2003 - 15:14 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CANDY CROWLEY, CNN ANCHOR: Political commentator Arianna Huffington is still working to influence next week's recall election. But instead of asking people to vote for her, she's asking them to vote against the recall.
Arianna Huffington is with me now from here in Los Angeles, although we're not in the same place.
Let me ask you first just sort of explain this to someone who doesn't quite understand California, because look, they're looking at this and saying, here's a woman who came and said, replace this governor and have me. And you've gone from that to, OK, no, leave him there. It's kind of a hard turn, isn't it?
ARIANNA HUFFINGTON, FORMER CALIFORNIA GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE: Actually not, because, all along, I was against the recall in principle. I always saw it as a right-wing power grab and a way to try and depose a duly elected governor. But I also saw an opportunity there to elect an independent, progressive governor, who would really clean house in Sacramento with a simple plurality.
Now that that is not going to happen -- I'm a realist, as well as being an idealist -- and I know I can't really get elected on October 7, then the alternative to recalling the governor is Arnold Schwarzenegger. And that is really a clear and present danger for California, because this is a man beholden to all sorts of big business special interests that are funding his campaign, a man who has no idea how to balance the budget, a man who pretends to be an independent, while surrounding himself with GOP hacks and the Pete Wilson operatives. And that is a very troubling prospect.
CROWLEY: Let me ask you, if I could, having watched the debate between you and Mr. Schwarzenegger, is there a personality clash there? This seems a little personal.
HUFFINGTON: Oh, not at all. I actually like him and Maria very much. I've known them for a long time.
This is purely political. And you may remember, Candy, in 2000 that, again, we were a sold a different kind of Republican. George Bush was supposed to be a compassionate conservative, who liked minorities, who spoke a little Spanish, who had an environmentally sensitive ranch in Crawford, Texas. And we ended up with a warmonger who took a $500 billion surplus into a $500 (sic) deficit and lost us millions of jobs.
And I'm afraid that the same policies are going to become the policies prevailing in Sacramento.
CROWLEY: I want to also take a look just at where your polling numbers have gone since we have started this out. I mean, you started -- you were a long shot to begin with at three. But then the latest Los Angeles poll put you at an asterisk. Did that also factor into your thinking, that, "I ought to get out," because, at this point, it seems to me there are two questions, one, whether you should pull out because it's not worth the effort, and, two, whether you can indeed be helpful to Gray Davis at this point, considering that your numbers were falling?
HUFFINGTON: Well, actually, Candy, I really -- you know a lot about polls, as I do. And these numbers are pretty meaningless. There is a plus or minus 3 percentage point of error.
They're only polling likely voters. And my constituency were the disengaged voters, the disengaged, those who had really given up on our political system. And they're the people I'm appealing to right now. And I'm saying to them, I understand your longing to clean up house. I understand your longing to vote for the recall, to show that you don't want business as usual.
But I want you to be smart and strategic and look at the alternative, which is basically electing a traditional Republican, run by the same special interests that are running things in Washington.
CROWLEY: Arianna Huffington, I know we will see you on the campaign trail somewhere. Thanks so much.
HUFFINGTON: Thank you.
CROWLEY: Some of the high-profile, but less than serious recall candidates have received their fair share of attention in this campaign. But some of the lesser-known candidates placed their names on the crowded ballot in hopes of making a difference.
CNN's Thelma Gutierrez has more in our latest candidate snapshot.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DIANE BEALL TEMPLIN (AIP), CALIFORNIA GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE: Our rights are our might. Our votes are our voice. Diane Beall Templin is you're very best choice.
My name is Diane Templin and I'm running for governor.
THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): She is a 56- year-old attorney.
TEMPLIN: My name is Diane Templin. I'm running for governor.
GUTIERREZ: A real estate broker.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Diane's running for governor of California.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, all right.
GUTIERREZ: Wife and mother.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right.
GUTIERREZ: And the only American Independent Party gubernatorial candidate.
TEMPLIN: I joined the American Independent Party because they're the only party that acknowledges God as creator and the lord Jesus Christ as our savior.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And the lord bless you, Diane.
GUTIERREZ: Templin quotes the Bible with ease on the campaign trail.
TEMPLIN: In order to heal our land, we need to heal the people who are hurting.
First Thessalonians 4 16 and 17, it says the lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout.
GUTIERREZ: She says it was a Bible passage that convinced her to run for office.
TEMPLIN: I thought of a verse in Isaiah, the Old Testament. And it said, who will I send and who will go for me? And I said, here am I, lord. Send me.
GUTIERREZ: Templin says it hasn't been an easy road. She resents being locked out of this debate.
TEMPLIN: My contention is, if the Green Party or an independent who has no platform, no party, was allowed to participate, the American Independent Party Candidate, myself, should have been allowed.
GUTIERREZ: Templin says, as a constitutionalist, she believes federal income tax should be repealed.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is the American AIP?
TEMPLIN: Yes, American Independent Party.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Isn't that the anti-immigrant party?
TEMPLIN: We are against illegals.
GUTIERREZ: And she's against abortion, even in a case of rape or incest.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm glad you're pro-life.
GUTIERREZ: At a taping of "The Tonight Show..."
TEMPLIN: Would you like to see our platform and dance?
GUTIERREZ: ... Templin and her husband performed her platform.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And balance and have some support and be brought back up to fiscal responsibility.
TEMPLIN: And victory for California.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Diane Templin for governor.
GUTIERREZ: Thelma Gutierrez, CNN, Los Angeles.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Snapshot>
