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American Morning

Interview with Cruz Bustamante

Aired August 11, 2003 - 07:32   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.


DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush is heading to California this week, the scene of an ever expanding political circus, the recall vote just weeks away. You could say the White House is keeping a close eye on developments while at the same time trying to stay above the fray.
What role, if any, might President Bush play in this race?

Let's bring in our White House correspondent, John King, to talk about that -- John, good morning.

JOHN KING, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Daryn.

The president said late last week that he thought Arnold Schwarzenegger would make a good governor. Now, that surprised even the president's own top aides. They wanted to keep their hands off of this. You have a number of Republican candidates running, one who's on the show later this morning, Bill Simon. Remember, he was the Republican nominee last time, not the president's choice in the primary, but Mr. Bush did campaign for Bill Simon in the end last time. But, of course, the president was asked about Arnold the other day when he was down on the ranch in Crawford, Texas. He initially declined to answer, then he said he thought he would make a good governor.

Now, this is a somewhat controversial position, because the president did not outright endorse Arnold Schwarzenegger, but you might take the president's words that way, certainly if you support the actor turned politician. The president will be heading out to California to raise money. Aides say he is not going to get directly involved in the recall effort now. But even saying that nice thing about Arnold Schwarzenegger has some conservatives upset.

Arnold Schwarzenegger supports abortion rights. He supports gay rights. This is a president who has spent a great deal of time in his first two and a half years in office making sure he has good relations with the Republican Party's conservative base. So this is a very difficult one for the White House. They had hoped to make California competitive in 2004. That remains an open question. So they're waiting very gingerly, Daryn. It will be interesting to see when the president is actually in the state later this week how specific he is at all about Schwarzenegger or any of the Republican candidates.

KAGAN: Well, and, John, the Bush family well known for its loyalty. Arnold Schwarzenegger has a long history with this family, at least with President Bush's father. KING: He does. Arnold Schwarzenegger served as chairman of the president's, the former President Bush's physical fitness commission at the White House. And, again, he -- Arnold Schwarzenegger himself came here to see the president's top political adviser, Karl Rove, several months back. That's when he was pushing that ballot initiative for after school programs in California.

Like President Bush, Arnold Schwarzenegger likes to talk about education, after school programs. It's just a tough one for the White House to get too involved in. The words unity in the California Republican Party have not appeared in the same sentence all that often in the past five or six years. They had hoped to bring the party together. The president getting involved in this recall effort in any way could further divide things. It's a very difficult issue for the White House.

KAGAN: Well, it's going to be interesting times in California, an interesting trip to watch President Bush take.

John King at the White House.

John, thank you.

BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Daryn, look at the new poll numbers right now. Forty-two percent of voters polled by CNN, "USA Today" and Gallup say they would vote for Schwarzenegger. The two nearest Republicans down the list tied at 13 percent. State Senator Tom McClintock and Bill Simon, who lost a close race back in November to Gray Davis.

The man at second, Cruz Bustamante, is lieutenant governor.

He's with us live now in Sacramento to talk about his chances and this race right now that is getting an awful lot of attention across the country.

Sir, good morning to you.

Thanks for your time here on AMERICAN MORNING.

LT. GOV. CRUZ BUSTAMANTE (D), CALIFORNIA: Oh, thank you for inviting me, Bill.

HEMMER: If you pick up a copy of "Newsweek" magazine, if you pick up a copy of "Time" magazine, Arnold Schwarzenegger did not drop a dime for any of this publicity.

How do you stop what appears to be a runaway political train right now?

BUSTAMANTE: Well, I don't think it is a runaway political train, first of all. I think that clearly Arnold Schwarzenegger has a tremendous number of fans as an actor and clearly people are excited about, you know, his announcement and that kind of a thing. And I think that's going to wear for a while and then I think we're going to get back to a real campaign. And I believe Arnold knows that, as well.

We're going to have to start talking about issues and people are going to start trying to figure out whether or not one group or one person or another is going to be the best candidate, and they're going to base that on the issues.

HEMMER: Now, you just heard John King's report from the White House. We go back to the poll numbers right now, according to our numbers, anyway, you're trailing Schwarzenegger by about 20 points.

If you consider what some are saying right now, sending a moderate Republican, a moderate conservative, who may be able to steal Democratic votes, what do you say to Democrats in your state who may favor his position and may be drawn toward him?

BUSTAMANTE: Well, clearly there's a group of folk, especially within the Democratic Party, who are going to be opposed to Arnold's campaign. They're going to be opposed because I think that they believe clearly that the more progressive side of the agenda or the more progressive group are going to be within the Democratic Party.

I mean if you really believe in trying to make sure that admissions for every talented kid, regardless of race, are going to make sure that they're going to be maintained; if you are going to make sure the that coastal legacy that we've all been fighting for for many, many years is going to be maintained; if you're going to make sure that we're going to protect the most vulnerable people among us, you're going to have to make sure that you're going to identify someone who can not only articulate and make sure that they can just say the words, but people who have been able to do it and fight and make sure that they understand how do those kinds of things in California.

A perfect example is the issue of the car tax and also student fees in the colleges and universities. It is short-sighted and it is lax vision when you're increasing the amount of tuition for students who are trying to go to our universities and colleges. You're mortgage our future by not having what will probably end up being 60,000 students that won't be able to go and putting an unfair burden on working class and middle class families.

HEMMER: In order for you to enact anything in that area, though, you have to win this election, if, indeed, it comes to that, the recall vote is approved. If that's the case, poll numbers show 54 percent of those surveyed think Gray Davis should leave office and, in fact, be recalled.

As his right-hand man sitting on top of a $38 billion deficit, how do you tell people in California you know what, you can trust me, follow me, my policy will be different and it will work?

BUSTAMANTE: Well, first of all, they've already done that. The voters of this state have already voted for me twice. And they voted for me twice statewide and successfully specifically to be able to take care of the position should the governor not be able to carry on his duties. Now, the voters know that I'm an independent person and they have voted for me independently. And as a result, they expect me to be able to step in. And I've had a chance, for the last five years, to prepare myself for that eventuality.

HEMMER: Well, when you were talking, we put another poll up for our viewers to see. Fifty percent of those surveyed recently say you have no chance in terms of getting a vote from California voters.

Your reaction to that?

BUSTAMANTE: Well, you know, I've always been told, whether I was going to run for office from the Central Valley -- I came from a little tiny town in the Central Valley and people said, you know, maybe I shouldn't go to college, either, I shouldn't run for office, I couldn't be the speaker, I couldn't win statewide as a lieutenant governor.

If I'd have listened to all the naysayers, all a long time ago, I wouldn't be here today.

So, the way I look at it is that I'm an average guy trying to do an above average job. And the voters have voted for me several times now to be able to do that, and I think I'm presenting myself as a viable second option, that I have opposed the recall. However, you're going to have a second vote. Vote for Bustamante just in case.

HEMMER: Would you rather be governor or would you rather see Gray Davis keep the job?

BUSTAMANTE: Well, you know, I'm here as an alternative. I'm here to be a positive second option. I'm here to make sure that the voters have an opportunity to be able to use that second vote. And I hope that they will.

HEMMER: Some are speaking with a split tongue. How do you keep a cohesive message when you're taking a two-pronged approach?

BUSTAMANTE: Well, that's oddly put, but basically I think it's -- if you look at it very, very clearly, you have two votes on this issue. You have the vote of the recall and then you have the vote of somebody that you'd like to replace in the event, in the event that it should be successful. They're going to be voting and I don't think that you've asked the same question of any of the other candidates. In fact, I think that there's a clear distinction between me and many of the other candidates.

First of all, I am the only Democrat in the race. And if you look at the top folks on the other side of the aisle, the other candidates, I'm probably the only non-millionaire in the race.

I think people are going to have a chance to choose clearly between my candidacy and the others.

HEMMER: We will talk to another candidate in a matter of moments. Bill Simon will be our guest.

He lost to the current governor back in November, to Gray Davis.

He'll be our guest in a matter of moments here.

Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante, thanks, live in Sacramento.

Thanks for joining us today.

BUSTAMANTE: Thank you for inviting me.

HEMMER: You've got it -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Well, that's going to be an interesting race to watch. I don't believe the lieutenant governor answered your question, would he rather be governor or rather the recall fails. It's a good question.

HEMMER: We'll get another shot.

KAGAN: That we will, as the time goes on.

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 11, 2003 - 07:32   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush is heading to California this week, the scene of an ever expanding political circus, the recall vote just weeks away. You could say the White House is keeping a close eye on developments while at the same time trying to stay above the fray.
What role, if any, might President Bush play in this race?

Let's bring in our White House correspondent, John King, to talk about that -- John, good morning.

JOHN KING, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Daryn.

The president said late last week that he thought Arnold Schwarzenegger would make a good governor. Now, that surprised even the president's own top aides. They wanted to keep their hands off of this. You have a number of Republican candidates running, one who's on the show later this morning, Bill Simon. Remember, he was the Republican nominee last time, not the president's choice in the primary, but Mr. Bush did campaign for Bill Simon in the end last time. But, of course, the president was asked about Arnold the other day when he was down on the ranch in Crawford, Texas. He initially declined to answer, then he said he thought he would make a good governor.

Now, this is a somewhat controversial position, because the president did not outright endorse Arnold Schwarzenegger, but you might take the president's words that way, certainly if you support the actor turned politician. The president will be heading out to California to raise money. Aides say he is not going to get directly involved in the recall effort now. But even saying that nice thing about Arnold Schwarzenegger has some conservatives upset.

Arnold Schwarzenegger supports abortion rights. He supports gay rights. This is a president who has spent a great deal of time in his first two and a half years in office making sure he has good relations with the Republican Party's conservative base. So this is a very difficult one for the White House. They had hoped to make California competitive in 2004. That remains an open question. So they're waiting very gingerly, Daryn. It will be interesting to see when the president is actually in the state later this week how specific he is at all about Schwarzenegger or any of the Republican candidates.

KAGAN: Well, and, John, the Bush family well known for its loyalty. Arnold Schwarzenegger has a long history with this family, at least with President Bush's father. KING: He does. Arnold Schwarzenegger served as chairman of the president's, the former President Bush's physical fitness commission at the White House. And, again, he -- Arnold Schwarzenegger himself came here to see the president's top political adviser, Karl Rove, several months back. That's when he was pushing that ballot initiative for after school programs in California.

Like President Bush, Arnold Schwarzenegger likes to talk about education, after school programs. It's just a tough one for the White House to get too involved in. The words unity in the California Republican Party have not appeared in the same sentence all that often in the past five or six years. They had hoped to bring the party together. The president getting involved in this recall effort in any way could further divide things. It's a very difficult issue for the White House.

KAGAN: Well, it's going to be interesting times in California, an interesting trip to watch President Bush take.

John King at the White House.

John, thank you.

BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Daryn, look at the new poll numbers right now. Forty-two percent of voters polled by CNN, "USA Today" and Gallup say they would vote for Schwarzenegger. The two nearest Republicans down the list tied at 13 percent. State Senator Tom McClintock and Bill Simon, who lost a close race back in November to Gray Davis.

The man at second, Cruz Bustamante, is lieutenant governor.

He's with us live now in Sacramento to talk about his chances and this race right now that is getting an awful lot of attention across the country.

Sir, good morning to you.

Thanks for your time here on AMERICAN MORNING.

LT. GOV. CRUZ BUSTAMANTE (D), CALIFORNIA: Oh, thank you for inviting me, Bill.

HEMMER: If you pick up a copy of "Newsweek" magazine, if you pick up a copy of "Time" magazine, Arnold Schwarzenegger did not drop a dime for any of this publicity.

How do you stop what appears to be a runaway political train right now?

BUSTAMANTE: Well, I don't think it is a runaway political train, first of all. I think that clearly Arnold Schwarzenegger has a tremendous number of fans as an actor and clearly people are excited about, you know, his announcement and that kind of a thing. And I think that's going to wear for a while and then I think we're going to get back to a real campaign. And I believe Arnold knows that, as well.

We're going to have to start talking about issues and people are going to start trying to figure out whether or not one group or one person or another is going to be the best candidate, and they're going to base that on the issues.

HEMMER: Now, you just heard John King's report from the White House. We go back to the poll numbers right now, according to our numbers, anyway, you're trailing Schwarzenegger by about 20 points.

If you consider what some are saying right now, sending a moderate Republican, a moderate conservative, who may be able to steal Democratic votes, what do you say to Democrats in your state who may favor his position and may be drawn toward him?

BUSTAMANTE: Well, clearly there's a group of folk, especially within the Democratic Party, who are going to be opposed to Arnold's campaign. They're going to be opposed because I think that they believe clearly that the more progressive side of the agenda or the more progressive group are going to be within the Democratic Party.

I mean if you really believe in trying to make sure that admissions for every talented kid, regardless of race, are going to make sure that they're going to be maintained; if you are going to make sure the that coastal legacy that we've all been fighting for for many, many years is going to be maintained; if you're going to make sure that we're going to protect the most vulnerable people among us, you're going to have to make sure that you're going to identify someone who can not only articulate and make sure that they can just say the words, but people who have been able to do it and fight and make sure that they understand how do those kinds of things in California.

A perfect example is the issue of the car tax and also student fees in the colleges and universities. It is short-sighted and it is lax vision when you're increasing the amount of tuition for students who are trying to go to our universities and colleges. You're mortgage our future by not having what will probably end up being 60,000 students that won't be able to go and putting an unfair burden on working class and middle class families.

HEMMER: In order for you to enact anything in that area, though, you have to win this election, if, indeed, it comes to that, the recall vote is approved. If that's the case, poll numbers show 54 percent of those surveyed think Gray Davis should leave office and, in fact, be recalled.

As his right-hand man sitting on top of a $38 billion deficit, how do you tell people in California you know what, you can trust me, follow me, my policy will be different and it will work?

BUSTAMANTE: Well, first of all, they've already done that. The voters of this state have already voted for me twice. And they voted for me twice statewide and successfully specifically to be able to take care of the position should the governor not be able to carry on his duties. Now, the voters know that I'm an independent person and they have voted for me independently. And as a result, they expect me to be able to step in. And I've had a chance, for the last five years, to prepare myself for that eventuality.

HEMMER: Well, when you were talking, we put another poll up for our viewers to see. Fifty percent of those surveyed recently say you have no chance in terms of getting a vote from California voters.

Your reaction to that?

BUSTAMANTE: Well, you know, I've always been told, whether I was going to run for office from the Central Valley -- I came from a little tiny town in the Central Valley and people said, you know, maybe I shouldn't go to college, either, I shouldn't run for office, I couldn't be the speaker, I couldn't win statewide as a lieutenant governor.

If I'd have listened to all the naysayers, all a long time ago, I wouldn't be here today.

So, the way I look at it is that I'm an average guy trying to do an above average job. And the voters have voted for me several times now to be able to do that, and I think I'm presenting myself as a viable second option, that I have opposed the recall. However, you're going to have a second vote. Vote for Bustamante just in case.

HEMMER: Would you rather be governor or would you rather see Gray Davis keep the job?

BUSTAMANTE: Well, you know, I'm here as an alternative. I'm here to be a positive second option. I'm here to make sure that the voters have an opportunity to be able to use that second vote. And I hope that they will.

HEMMER: Some are speaking with a split tongue. How do you keep a cohesive message when you're taking a two-pronged approach?

BUSTAMANTE: Well, that's oddly put, but basically I think it's -- if you look at it very, very clearly, you have two votes on this issue. You have the vote of the recall and then you have the vote of somebody that you'd like to replace in the event, in the event that it should be successful. They're going to be voting and I don't think that you've asked the same question of any of the other candidates. In fact, I think that there's a clear distinction between me and many of the other candidates.

First of all, I am the only Democrat in the race. And if you look at the top folks on the other side of the aisle, the other candidates, I'm probably the only non-millionaire in the race.

I think people are going to have a chance to choose clearly between my candidacy and the others.

HEMMER: We will talk to another candidate in a matter of moments. Bill Simon will be our guest.

He lost to the current governor back in November, to Gray Davis.

He'll be our guest in a matter of moments here.

Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante, thanks, live in Sacramento.

Thanks for joining us today.

BUSTAMANTE: Thank you for inviting me.

HEMMER: You've got it -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Well, that's going to be an interesting race to watch. I don't believe the lieutenant governor answered your question, would he rather be governor or rather the recall fails. It's a good question.

HEMMER: We'll get another shot.

KAGAN: That we will, as the time goes on.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com