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American Morning

Condit Speaks: Strong Reaction Continues

Aired August 24, 2001 - 11:19   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.
STEPHEN FRAZIER, CNN ANCHOR: We have spent some time so far this morning hearing from the public this hour about Gary Condit's interviews. Now let's find out what his colleagues are saying.

And for that, we'll turn to CNN's Jeanne Meserve, who is on Capitol Hill -- Jeanne, hello again.

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Stephen.

Most members of Congress are on vacation or in their home districts. And many are glad they are away from reporters and cameras and not in a position where they have to comment on Gary Condit's performance. In the words one congressional aide, they don't want to say much because -- quote -- "You don't throw stones around a cesspool."

One of the few members who has had something to say is Congressman Bob Barr of the state of George. He told "The New York Times" that he had less respect for Condit after the interview than he did before and that he expected -- he felt that he should resign immediately. An aide to Congressman Barr tells me that Barr's disillusionment comes because Condit has not been forthcoming.

One of the other rare reactions to the interview came from James Matheson, a congressman, a Democrat from the state of Utah.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. JIM MATHESON (D), UTAH: I was just disappointed that we didn't focus on what I think is the critical issue. And that is, someone is missing.

QUESTION: Were you disappointed with Connie Chung's questions, maybe?

MATHESON: No.

QUESTION: Disappointed in his answers?

MATHESON: No, just the whole situation in terms of a focus on that someone is missing. And that ought to be the fundamental focus.

(END VIDEO CLIP) MESERVE: Asked if Condit had hurt himself with his interview on ABC, one aide to the House Democratic leadership said, "Yes, absolutely." He said Condit's failure to be forthcoming and his failure to offer any relief to the Levy family was -- quote -- "hard for members to swallow." Instead of taking the air out of the story, this aide said he has given it more life.

As for reaction on the Senate side, one Senate aide said to us, the interview was -- quote -- "maddening" -- Stephen, back to you.

FRAZIER: Not very equivocal about that -- Jeanne Meserve on Capitol Hill.

Jeanne, thank you.

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Let's keep it on politics and focus on California.

Dick Rosengarten knows California politics. He is publisher of "California Political Week." That is the state's largest political newsletter. And Dick is joining us from Los Angeles to talk more about Gary Condit's media performance and his future.

Dick, good morning.

DICK ROSENGARTEN, PUBLISHER, "CALIFORNIA POLITICAL WEEK": Good morning to you.

KAGAN: Any word for your newsletter about how this is playing at home in Modesto?

ROSENGARTEN: Well, I talked to some people last night after the interview was over, and they didn't think that Condit answered the questions right.

I said in the newsletter this week that he had to do three things. He had to be completely honest and open in all of his answers. No. 2, he had to apologize and ask for forgiveness. And, No. 3, he had to make sure that the voters in the district absolutely didn't have any qualms about him being involved with Chandra Levy's disappearance.

There's no two ways about it: On the first two items, he gets an F. On the third thing about disappearance, the jury is still out. I mean, I thought he answered the questions pretty well in that respect. But the snap polling that was done overnight tends to indicate that there are a lot of people out there, particularly in Modesto, who still have their doubts about that.

KAGAN: Let's look at Gary Condit's future, and first where he comes from. In Modesto, he has a rare amount of support. At least in the past he did. He's had an incredibly successful political career.

ROSENGARTEN: Oh, absolutely.

This is a guy who has never had to really worry about running for reelection. Once he was first elected in 1989 in that special, he's been elected without any sweat whatsoever. And until the middle of the first week in May, Dick Gephardt and the Democrats back in Washington, D.C. didn't have a thing to worry about.

KAGAN: Well, they do now.

ROSENGARTEN: But then -- oh, absolutely.

KAGAN: And let's look at where they find themselves -- in a tough spot. They either support Gary Condit, or if they don't, they are probably going to lose that district, aren't they?

ROSENGARTEN: There's a very, very good chance that they could. Now, the one thing that we don't know is exactly how voters stand. And you can bet your firstborn that over this weekend every pollster in the world is going to be there polling in the 18th Congressional District. I wouldn't be surprised if Governor Gray Davis had his pollsters in there.

Governor Davis is a close political ally of Gary Condit.

KAGAN: Well, don't two the Condit children work for Gray Davis?

ROSENGARTEN: Yes, they're both special assistants. And they're both very well liked. Both the kids are well liked. So...

KAGAN: Give us this insider's perspective, too, of California. What about redistricting and congressional districts, Dick?

ROSENGARTEN: Well, there's been a lot -- first of all, Gary's district is -- it's a very conservative district, but it's got a slight Democratic edge. There are about 46 percent Democrats in that district compared to about 39 percent Republicans.

The Democrats, as we know, they're reapportioning all over the country right now. And that's the same thing up in Sacramento right now. There have been rumors that the Democrats up in Sacramento may move the district a little bit north towards Stockton, which is a very heavy Democratic area, and put that into Gary's district. Well, that might help him somewhat, but he has damaged himself so badly with this whole thing.

And, like I said, I didn't think too much of the interview last night. The letter was not very forthcoming either. So he's got himself some real problems here.

KAGAN: Do you think he will run again?

ROSENGARTEN: Oh, yes. Now, I had that in the newsletter about three weeks ago that he was going to run. This guy is one tough cookie. And don't forget that. You could see that in the way he looked and everything last night. He's got ice water in his veins. He's going to run again. I don't think there's any doubt about that.

KAGAN: As that race gets closer, we'll have to have you back.

Dick Rosengarten, with "California Political Week," thanks for your insight today. It's been good to see you.

ROSENGARTEN: OK. Bye-bye.

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