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American Morning
Interview of Linda, Loretta Sanchez
Aired March 06, 2002 - 09:21 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.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Voters in California's central valley have spoken, their message to Congressman Gary Condit quite clear: take a hike.
Nothing is forgiven, and it is over for him. Condit never got away from the scandal surrounding his relationship with the missing intern Chandra Levy. After months of scandal, Democratic voters in the congressman's district voted to give him his walking papers and end his 12-year career in Washington.
A couple of other big stories in California overnight. Huge upset in the gubernatorial primary. The Republican businessman Bill Simon beat the former mayor of Los Angeles, Richard Riordan, who had the backing of President Bush. Wasn't enough.
For other California politicians, two sisters, politics is indeed a family affair this morning. Loretta and Linda Sanchez are at the threshold of becoming first sisters ever to serve in the Congress of the United States.
Loretta Sanchez ran unopposed in yesterday's Democratic primary, and is expected to easily win a fourth term from Southern California's 46th Congressional district, but it was her sister Linda, who surprised, perhaps, some of the odds-makers. She defeated five primary opponents, and now has the Democratic nomination, and is favored to win the general from the state's 39th district.
With a little help from the voters in November, then, the Sanchezes will be taking their sisterly act on the road to Washington, and become the first ones ever to serve in the Congress.
And they join us this morning from Los Angeles. Loretta, who is in the blue, and Linda, who is in the red, and we're delighted to have the two of you with us. Congratulations on your victories.
REP. LORETTA SANCHEZ (D), CALIFORNIA: Well, actually, Jack, it is just the opposite.
CAFFERTY: I wrote it down wrong. I apologize. So, Loretta is in the blue.
LORETTA SANCHEZ: No, Loretta is in the red.
CAFFERTY: Loretta is in the red. LORETTA SANCHEZ: Linda is in the blue.
CAFFERTY: Let me start with Linda, because you had five opponents in the primary, your sister ran unopposed, and her victory was, kind of, a fait accompli. But how did you manage to have your voice heard above the voices of the other five?
LINDA SANCHEZ, CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE, CALIFORNIA: Well, you know, in a very crowded field, in the primary, one of the best advantages you can have is a very strong field campaign. Lots of voter contact through door to door walking, and we had a very strong field program, and I think that's what put us over the top.
CAFFERTY: Your mother taped an ad that ran on television in both your districts out there, and it was great. Something to the effect that, in Spanish, she told the voters, My daughter know that education is the key to success because I taught them. If fact, we have a picture of that ad up on the screen now. How is she handling this growing success of the two of you?
LINDA SANCHEZ: Well, she's really thrilled. She was very excited last night when the returns came in, and I think it's pretty much the embodiment of the American dream that anybody can grow up to be President of the United States, or in this case, serve in the U.S. Congress.
CAFFERTY: Congressman Sanchez in the red, address the historic significance of this. You two would be, conceivably, if things go right in November, the first sister act ever to serve in the Congress. Were you aware of this at the time that your sister, Linda, decided to run, and what do you make of the significance of it?
LORETTA SANCHEZ: Well, I think we're very excited about it, and, of course, all the women in the House are very excited about it because it is very historic. There have been sons and fathers who have served together in the Congress, brothers, of course, the Burton brothers out of California, we even have two cousins who serve together in the Congress right now, but there have never been two women. And so, it is going to be real exciting for it to be sisters, and, of course, it is even more historic because it will be Hispanics who will be serving together in the Congress.
CAFFERTY: Now, as the father of four daughters, which I am, I can testify to the fact that sisters don't always get along. Tell me a little bit about the relationship of the two of you growing up, and how you are getting along then versus now, perhaps.
LORETTA SANCHEZ: You know, we're seven of us in our family, and I'm at the front end, and my sister is towards the back. So there's probably been more of a bossy from my end, and a rebel-type situation from her end, but we actually have grown up pretty well together. So, I think we are going to be able to handle things on the House floor. And I'm sure she will listen to me if it is really important and we need her vote.
CAFFERTY: Is she telling the truth, Linda? LINDA SANCHEZ: Well, yeah. I think on most things, Loretta and I agree. You know, sometimes our paths diverge, but I think overall, we are very good at trying to work out differences.
CAFFERTY: All right. The Republicans are, no doubt, going to bring this up in the campaign in the general election, and its a controversy of the district. You're running in Los Angeles County, you Linda, because your sister runs in the district in Orange County, and you couldn't run there because that is Congresswoman Sanchez's seat. And your opponents will make something of this. A quick response to the controversy about that.
LINDA SANCHEZ: Certainly. Well, I have lived in Lakewood since 1999 when I purchased my home, but I lived there prior to that, and really it was because I loved the community, and the diversity of the community in Lakewood that I chose to purchase my first home there, as a matter of fact, and have integrated myself very well in locally, and think that I have the experience and the tenacity to really do a good job representing the residents of the new 39th.
CAFFERTY: Well, let me congratulate you both again on your victories, wish you continued success, and point out to our viewers that not only might you become the first sisters ever to serve, first Hispanic sisters ever to serve, but the closeness of these elections. The Republican majority in the House is pretty slim, and it's conceivable that the two of you could be instrumental in swinging control of the House of Representatives over if you win. So, thank you both for being with us. Congressman Loretta Sanchez and congressional candidate Linda Sanchez, sisters from Los Angeles. Thanks again.
LORETTA SANCHEZ: Thank you.
LINDA SANCHEZ: Thank you.
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