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CNN Live Today
Analyzing a Free-for-All
Aired August 13, 2003 - 11:29 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.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: If the California recall is a circus, as many are calling it, could the ringmaster be at work in the White House? Some Democrats charge President Bush's right-hand Man Karl rove as the orchestrator in the recall. That's one of the topics we'll be in talking about with Dick Rosengarten in Los Angeles this morning. He is the editor of "California Political Week."
Mr. Rosengarten, thanks so much for being with us.
So what about Karl Rove?
DICK ROSENGARTEN, "CALIFORNIA POLITICAL WEEK": I think he would be delighted if there was a Republican governor here in California, but in terms of him actually orchestrating Arnold Schwarzenegger, I don't think so.
Remember, Arnold Schwarzenegger is a moderate Republican. He has some competition out here from Bill Simon and Tom McClintock, who are what you would call hard-line conservatives. George Bush's political base is hard-line conservatives. He doesn't want to do anything that would upset his base.
So, therefore, I don't think that Rove is really behind this, but like I said, he'd be absolutely delighted if Arnold Schwarzenegger or Bill Simon or Tom McClintock were governor, because it might put California in play come next year.
COLLINS: I think it's interesting to point out, too, what we mean by moderate Republican. We have certainly heard that term quite a bit surrounding Arnold Schwarzenegger.
ROSENGARTEN: Pro choice, he doesn't have a problem with gays, and he's generally pretty comfortable with gun control legislation.
COLLINS: But fiscally conservative.
ROSENGARTEN: Right. He's fiscally conservative. But on social issues; abortion gays, guns, he's a moderate. And already out here in California, you've had the far right go after Schwarzenegger on these issues.
COLLINS: Yes, we certainly have seen some of that. In fact, let's talk about that for a moment if we could. What is happening on the campaign trail right now today? What do you see as highlights, if you will?
ROSENGARTEN: Well, right now, it's like Bob Franken said. All the action is taking place in the secretary of state's office and around the state in the various county registrars. There is really only one candidate other than Gray Davis who is out on the campaign trail, and that's Bill Simon, and he's traveling up north today.
Schwarzenegger, I think, is probably ensconced in his home in Brentwood, taking government 101 lessons, you know, how to beef up on the issues, because he can't continue to not say anything. The longer he delays in coming out with something substantive, the bigger trouble he's going to get into.
COLLINS: Dick Rosengarten, we love talking wit you, with "California Political Weekly." Unfortunately, we are going to have to cut things a little bit short today due to the nature of the breaking news and due to the nature of this business.
ROSENGARTEN: Not a problem.
COLLINS: Mr. Rosengarten, thanks so much.
ROSENGARTEN: All right, you're welcome.
COLLINS: We'll check back in a little bit later.
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 13, 2003 - 11:29 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: If the California recall is a circus, as many are calling it, could the ringmaster be at work in the White House? Some Democrats charge President Bush's right-hand Man Karl rove as the orchestrator in the recall. That's one of the topics we'll be in talking about with Dick Rosengarten in Los Angeles this morning. He is the editor of "California Political Week."
Mr. Rosengarten, thanks so much for being with us.
So what about Karl Rove?
DICK ROSENGARTEN, "CALIFORNIA POLITICAL WEEK": I think he would be delighted if there was a Republican governor here in California, but in terms of him actually orchestrating Arnold Schwarzenegger, I don't think so.
Remember, Arnold Schwarzenegger is a moderate Republican. He has some competition out here from Bill Simon and Tom McClintock, who are what you would call hard-line conservatives. George Bush's political base is hard-line conservatives. He doesn't want to do anything that would upset his base.
So, therefore, I don't think that Rove is really behind this, but like I said, he'd be absolutely delighted if Arnold Schwarzenegger or Bill Simon or Tom McClintock were governor, because it might put California in play come next year.
COLLINS: I think it's interesting to point out, too, what we mean by moderate Republican. We have certainly heard that term quite a bit surrounding Arnold Schwarzenegger.
ROSENGARTEN: Pro choice, he doesn't have a problem with gays, and he's generally pretty comfortable with gun control legislation.
COLLINS: But fiscally conservative.
ROSENGARTEN: Right. He's fiscally conservative. But on social issues; abortion gays, guns, he's a moderate. And already out here in California, you've had the far right go after Schwarzenegger on these issues.
COLLINS: Yes, we certainly have seen some of that. In fact, let's talk about that for a moment if we could. What is happening on the campaign trail right now today? What do you see as highlights, if you will?
ROSENGARTEN: Well, right now, it's like Bob Franken said. All the action is taking place in the secretary of state's office and around the state in the various county registrars. There is really only one candidate other than Gray Davis who is out on the campaign trail, and that's Bill Simon, and he's traveling up north today.
Schwarzenegger, I think, is probably ensconced in his home in Brentwood, taking government 101 lessons, you know, how to beef up on the issues, because he can't continue to not say anything. The longer he delays in coming out with something substantive, the bigger trouble he's going to get into.
COLLINS: Dick Rosengarten, we love talking wit you, with "California Political Weekly." Unfortunately, we are going to have to cut things a little bit short today due to the nature of the breaking news and due to the nature of this business.
ROSENGARTEN: Not a problem.
COLLINS: Mr. Rosengarten, thanks so much.
ROSENGARTEN: All right, you're welcome.
COLLINS: We'll check back in a little bit later.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
