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Interview With New York Governor George Pataki
Aired October 24, 2003 - 15:07 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.
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: Three more U.S. soldiers were killed in Iraq today. One died in a small-arms attack in Mosul. The others were hit by mortar fire north of Baghdad.
Meantime, at a conference in Spain, countries pledged to donate between $14 and $19 billion in grants and loans to help rebuild Iraq. That amount falls far short of the $36 billion the Bush administration was hoping for, on top of the $20 billion pledged by the United States.
Just a short time ago, a few minutes ago, I talked to New York's governor, George Pataki, about Iraq and about politics here at home. I started by asking him if postwar problems were going to be causing political trouble for President Bush's reelection effort.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GOV. GEORGE PATAKI (R), NEW YORK: Oh, I don't think so. I think it's going to be a strength that he's shown the moral courage and the commitment to stand up to evil terror wherever it takes us and he has the courage and commitment to carry through.
It's one thing to win the war. We won the war in Afghanistan against the Taliban and al Qaeda. And the al Qaeda are back in their caves. We won the war against Saddam Hussein, and he's in hiding as well. But it's equally important and perhaps more important that we win the peace. We have to establish a democracy, a free and independent Iraq, first for our own national security, and also for the rest of the world to see that we're serious about going after those who would engage in terror against America or harbor terrorists, and not just to be punitive, but to help people achieve the values they want, which is freedom.
WOODRUFF: Well, if it's not going to hurt him in the country broadly, let me ask you about New York state in particular.
The last poll that was done in New York, about a month ago, our poll, showed President Bush's approval rating at 42 percent. He was losing to all the major Democratic contenders. Should the Bush/Cheney campaign contest the presidential campaign, election, in New York state, in your state, or should they just assume you're going to see a repeat of 2000 there?
PATAKI: Judy, let me say they should and I believe they will. New Yorkers understand the tremendous leadership that the president and vice president have shown. And I'm confident that, come next November, they'll respond accordingly. You can't govern based on polls. If we did that, then we wouldn't have a need for a president. All you'd need is a little meter in the Oval Office. But this president understands that, when America is attacked and when New York is attacked, that it's not because we've done something wrong. It's because of what we've done right, our belief in freedom and our belief in the ability of people to worship as they see fit.
WOODRUFF: I hear you...
PATAKI: And I believe the American people are going to understand that this president is right in fighting to defend American freedom.
WOODRUFF: All right, I hear you, but still have a question about that poll.
Let me move on, though, to Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, your home state senator, yesterday essentially blamed you and your administration for holding up homeland security money, $97 million that the federal government appropriated to New York.
Let me quote to you what she said. She said: "It appears to me that this stranglehold is at the state governmental level. I think it's the state either not being prepared or not willing to distribute the money."
PATAKI: Well, I think that report and those comments are nonsense.
We are very proud of what we've done for homeland security. First, we've had enormous support from the administration. And Secretary Ridge has been extremely understanding that New York City was a target and is a symbol of America, as is New York state. And we work together, a joint city and state application to get funding from Washington. And we're working with local governments to make sure it's used appropriately.
I think it's more the fact that our senators failed to change the formula, so that it is not based on a threat analysis. Most of the funding is allocated based on population. And while Wyoming and Montana are great states and have wonderful people, they're not as much, as likely to be a target as Washington, D.C. or New York City or Los Angeles. And I'm very proud that we have the finest Office of Public Security anywhere in America. It's a national model.
We're working well with the locals. And I would suggest that Senator Clinton check her facts.
WOODRUFF: Let me finally ask you a question about George Pataki. It has not gone unnoticed that you're going to be in Iowa next week to speak at a Republican dinner. So this is raising questions. Are you looking to set some groundwork here for a possible run for president yourself in '08, or are you still looking -- or are you looking at the Senate in '06?
PATAKI: Judy, I have two goals.
The first is, every day, to be the best governor I can for the people of this state. I'm proud they gave me the privilege last year to serve another term. And I'm going to do everything I can to make this state even better. And the second is to help the president and vice president get reelected.
I understand the incredible importance of having an administration that defends American freedom and doesn't wait until we're attacked. If you think back, the World Trade Center towers were blown up in 1993. They didn't come down, but we lost lives. Our embassies were attacked in the mid-'90s. The Cole was blown up in the year 2000. And we had a government that played defense, instead of protecting us by going after those who would attack us where they live before they can come here.
So I certainly intend to do what I can to help this president get reelected. I believe in him and his policies. But, at the same time, my No. 1 obligation is to be the best governor I can be. And that's what I will do.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WOODRUFF: And on my question to him about why he's going to Iowa, Governor Pataki said he's going simply at the request of the Bush/Cheney campaign.
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 24, 2003 - 15:07 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: Three more U.S. soldiers were killed in Iraq today. One died in a small-arms attack in Mosul. The others were hit by mortar fire north of Baghdad.
Meantime, at a conference in Spain, countries pledged to donate between $14 and $19 billion in grants and loans to help rebuild Iraq. That amount falls far short of the $36 billion the Bush administration was hoping for, on top of the $20 billion pledged by the United States.
Just a short time ago, a few minutes ago, I talked to New York's governor, George Pataki, about Iraq and about politics here at home. I started by asking him if postwar problems were going to be causing political trouble for President Bush's reelection effort.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GOV. GEORGE PATAKI (R), NEW YORK: Oh, I don't think so. I think it's going to be a strength that he's shown the moral courage and the commitment to stand up to evil terror wherever it takes us and he has the courage and commitment to carry through.
It's one thing to win the war. We won the war in Afghanistan against the Taliban and al Qaeda. And the al Qaeda are back in their caves. We won the war against Saddam Hussein, and he's in hiding as well. But it's equally important and perhaps more important that we win the peace. We have to establish a democracy, a free and independent Iraq, first for our own national security, and also for the rest of the world to see that we're serious about going after those who would engage in terror against America or harbor terrorists, and not just to be punitive, but to help people achieve the values they want, which is freedom.
WOODRUFF: Well, if it's not going to hurt him in the country broadly, let me ask you about New York state in particular.
The last poll that was done in New York, about a month ago, our poll, showed President Bush's approval rating at 42 percent. He was losing to all the major Democratic contenders. Should the Bush/Cheney campaign contest the presidential campaign, election, in New York state, in your state, or should they just assume you're going to see a repeat of 2000 there?
PATAKI: Judy, let me say they should and I believe they will. New Yorkers understand the tremendous leadership that the president and vice president have shown. And I'm confident that, come next November, they'll respond accordingly. You can't govern based on polls. If we did that, then we wouldn't have a need for a president. All you'd need is a little meter in the Oval Office. But this president understands that, when America is attacked and when New York is attacked, that it's not because we've done something wrong. It's because of what we've done right, our belief in freedom and our belief in the ability of people to worship as they see fit.
WOODRUFF: I hear you...
PATAKI: And I believe the American people are going to understand that this president is right in fighting to defend American freedom.
WOODRUFF: All right, I hear you, but still have a question about that poll.
Let me move on, though, to Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, your home state senator, yesterday essentially blamed you and your administration for holding up homeland security money, $97 million that the federal government appropriated to New York.
Let me quote to you what she said. She said: "It appears to me that this stranglehold is at the state governmental level. I think it's the state either not being prepared or not willing to distribute the money."
PATAKI: Well, I think that report and those comments are nonsense.
We are very proud of what we've done for homeland security. First, we've had enormous support from the administration. And Secretary Ridge has been extremely understanding that New York City was a target and is a symbol of America, as is New York state. And we work together, a joint city and state application to get funding from Washington. And we're working with local governments to make sure it's used appropriately.
I think it's more the fact that our senators failed to change the formula, so that it is not based on a threat analysis. Most of the funding is allocated based on population. And while Wyoming and Montana are great states and have wonderful people, they're not as much, as likely to be a target as Washington, D.C. or New York City or Los Angeles. And I'm very proud that we have the finest Office of Public Security anywhere in America. It's a national model.
We're working well with the locals. And I would suggest that Senator Clinton check her facts.
WOODRUFF: Let me finally ask you a question about George Pataki. It has not gone unnoticed that you're going to be in Iowa next week to speak at a Republican dinner. So this is raising questions. Are you looking to set some groundwork here for a possible run for president yourself in '08, or are you still looking -- or are you looking at the Senate in '06?
PATAKI: Judy, I have two goals.
The first is, every day, to be the best governor I can for the people of this state. I'm proud they gave me the privilege last year to serve another term. And I'm going to do everything I can to make this state even better. And the second is to help the president and vice president get reelected.
I understand the incredible importance of having an administration that defends American freedom and doesn't wait until we're attacked. If you think back, the World Trade Center towers were blown up in 1993. They didn't come down, but we lost lives. Our embassies were attacked in the mid-'90s. The Cole was blown up in the year 2000. And we had a government that played defense, instead of protecting us by going after those who would attack us where they live before they can come here.
So I certainly intend to do what I can to help this president get reelected. I believe in him and his policies. But, at the same time, my No. 1 obligation is to be the best governor I can be. And that's what I will do.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WOODRUFF: And on my question to him about why he's going to Iowa, Governor Pataki said he's going simply at the request of the Bush/Cheney campaign.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
