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American Morning

Battle for California

Aired September 25, 2003 - 09:05   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.


BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Back to California, the campaign to the recall for Governor Gray Davis entering now the home stretch. This is a sprint right now. About 12 days to go until the vote. The major candidates squared off last night, rather intense at times, in Sacramento.
Rusty Dornin was there for us.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It was his first, his only debate. No surprise that Arnold Schwarzenegger was the first to start swinging.

ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER (R), CALIFORNIA GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE: You guys pulled wool over the people's eyes twice. The third time, now you're out. On October 7, you guys are out.

DORNIN: There was a lot of flack about the fact the candidates knew the questions beforehand, but most of this debate was definitely unscripted.

ARIANNA HUFFINGTON (I), CALIFORNIA GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE: And we're still paying that price. And one more thing, Arnold. You know, you talk about the...

SCHWARZENEGGER: Arnold.

HUFFINGTON: Yes. You know, you talk...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thirty seconds.

SCHWARZENEGGER: I like that. Arianna, just let me say one thing.

(CROSSTALK)

HUFFINGTON: Let me just finish.

SCHWARZENEGGER: Your personal income tax has the biggest loophole. I can drive my Hummer through it that's how big your loophole is. Let me tell you something.

DORNIN: In past debates, Arianna Huffington took the offensive. This night her target was mainly Schwarzenegger.

HUFFINGTON: Completely hypocritical of Arnold. SCHWARZENEGGER: Arianna...

HUFFINGTON: Because I'm here -- let me finish.

SCHWARZENEGGER: You're talking about the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) right now...

HUFFINGTON: Let me finish!

SCHWARZENEGGER: ... and not about education (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

HUFFINGTON: You know, this is completely impolite. This is the way you treat women, we know that, but not now.

DORNIN: A reserved Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante pushed his new tough love program for California.

LT. GOV. CRUZ BUSTAMANTE (D), CALIFORNIA GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE: I raise tobacco taxes. I raise alcohol taxes. I raise the upper income tax bracket on the largest and the highest 4 percent of all Californians.

DORNIN: Green Party candidate Peter Camejo's pitch?

PETER CAMEJO (GREEN), CALIFORNIA GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE: And we need to look at the fact that people are paying much higher taxes than the wealthiest people in our state or what the corporations are paying.

DORNIN: Republican Tom McClintock continued to toe the Republican line.

STATE SEN. TOM MCCLINTOCK (R), CALIFORNIA GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE: I will cut spending and balance this budget without a tax increase.

DORNIN: A successful debate debut for Schwarzenegger and a chance for the other candidates to finally stand up to the actor- turned-politician.

Rusty Dornin, CNN, Sacramento.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HEMMER: All right, there's the backdrop.

Back to our senior analyst, Jeff Greenfield, and his thoughts and his take on the debate last night.

Good morning to you.

JEFF GREENFIELD, CNN SENIOR ANALYST: I was disappointed that Andy Serwer did not mention my favorite Tequila movie.

HEMMER: Which is?

GREENFIELD: Tequila mockingbird.

Anyway, a couple of things about this debate. First, it may well have been the most watched non-presidential debate in American political history. More than 100 local stations in California carried it. It was on at 6:00 California time for 90 minutes uninterrupted. It was Schwarzenegger's first and only appearance, and his presence alone guaranteed a curiosity factor.

And beyond that, despite the fact that, as Jack has been complaining that the questions were produced in advance, two quick points: Debaters always know the kinds of questions they're going to be asked, and the format that allowed for that open interchange at the end of every question did provide, I thought, both some sizzle and some steak.

And we'll take you through a couple. You've seen a couple of them already, because that's what we at CNN do -- remind you again and again, because it's important.

Let's take a look first at Schwarzenegger, who clearly came out ready to talk about personal experiences and statistics and the occasional pre-scripted sound byte. Take a listen to Arnold.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SCHWARZENEGGER: I visited companies here in California. I visited the farmers and the small companies, big companies, vendors and all of that stuff. Everyone is saying the same thing. California, we have a three-strike system. You guys pulled wool over the people's eyes twice. The third time now, you're out.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GREENFIELD: OK, that's Arnold I'm not the politician; I'm the citizen engaged.

As for Cruz Bustamante, the lieutenant governor, "cool hand Cruz," very quiet, very calm, the voice of reason. And, again, I want to play an expanded version of what Rusty showed you, because it shows you how committed Bustamante is to bring out Democrats, talking about something that Republicans aren't too fond of, how he will balance the budget by raising taxes. Give a listen here.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BUSTAMANTE: We've done all the easy things, and now it's time to do the tough things. That's why I submitted a plan, a plan that I call "tough love for California." In that plan, I raise tobacco taxes. I raise alcohol taxes. I raise the upper income tax bracket on the largest and the highest 4 percent of all Californians. I do that, but in return, we close the budget gap.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GREENFIELD: Now, Tom McClintock, a conservative state senator, a lot of Republicans are openly asking, insisting he get out of the race to clear the field for Arnold. He's running third at about 14 percent in the polls. Last night, McClintock did not utter a single word of criticism about Schwarzenegger, but he did reaffirm some basic conservative positions, including -- and I think this could be an important issue in the election, as it often is in California -- illegal immigration. Listen to Senator McClintock.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MCCLINTOCK: Illegal immigration undermines that process of legal immigration that's the strength of our nation. There are millions of people who are willing to abide by our immigration laws to come to this nation, become Americans, and see their children grow up and prosper as Americans. Illegal immigration is the process of cutting in line in front of them, and I don't believe that we should be rewarding such behavior.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GREENFIELD: Now, finally, the headlines were grabbed by the constant dueling between columnist/author Arianna Huffington and Arnold Schwarzenegger. She set out from the get-go to put Schwarzenegger in her sights, and I'll play you just one example of a case where Arnold took the bait, and we'll talk about for a second whether that has any consequences. But give a listen here.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HUFFINGTON: It's completely hypocritical of Arnold to come here...

SCHWARZENEGGER: Arianna...

HUFFINGTON: Let me finish. Let me finish!

SCHWARZENEGGER: You're talking about the car tax right now and not about education (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

HUFFINGTON: Let me finish. You know, this is completely impolite. This is the way you treat women, we know that, but not now.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That was a direct and personal attack on Mr. Schwarzenegger. So would you respond?

SCHWARZENEGGER: I would just like to say that I just realized that I have a perfect part for you in "Terminator 4."

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GREENFIELD: Now, two questions: Is that going to be seen as some kind of threat against women? I am skeptical. Is it going to be seen as one too many times when Arnold Schwarzenegger is ordered to the quip instead of, you know, the substance? And I will frankly say I don't know.

HEMMER: Yes, the campaign managers for Schwarzenegger were talking before this debate that is if -- this is their quote now: "If he strings together verbs and words, then he wins, because the expectation game is so low."

What we didn't talk about, though, Gray Davis was not there last night.

GREENFIELD: Right.

HEMMER: His lack of presence, does it help him or does it hurt him based on what we saw last evening?

GREENFIELD: My sense is that it marginally hurt, because what Gray Davis needed was a train wreck. He needed for people to look at this and say, my God, these are the people who are going to replace our governor? No thanks.

I thought, you know, -- look, whenever debates get a little contentious, critics say it's too wild, and whenever they get uncontentious, people say they're boring. This is politics. This was a reasonably interesting -- in fact, more than reasonably interesting debate.

HEMMER: I would agree with you actually.

GREENFIELD: And so, people looking at it, did they see this and say there's nobody on that stage that I could trust more than our present governor? I don't think so.

HEMMER: I found it much more captivating than a lot of people thought. There was a lot of trash talk about the format going into it, but I thought it played out quite well.

We have about 15 seconds. Wesley Clark is going to appear in a debate.

GREENFIELD: This is a debate where there's only one thing on anybody's mind and the chattering classes, people like me: How's the general going to do? And maybe we'll talk about that tomorrow.

HEMMER: We'll see.

GREENFIELD: OK.

HEMMER: Thank you, Jeff. Good to see you.

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 September 25, 2003 - 09:05   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Back to California, the campaign to the recall for Governor Gray Davis entering now the home stretch. This is a sprint right now. About 12 days to go until the vote. The major candidates squared off last night, rather intense at times, in Sacramento.
Rusty Dornin was there for us.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It was his first, his only debate. No surprise that Arnold Schwarzenegger was the first to start swinging.

ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER (R), CALIFORNIA GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE: You guys pulled wool over the people's eyes twice. The third time, now you're out. On October 7, you guys are out.

DORNIN: There was a lot of flack about the fact the candidates knew the questions beforehand, but most of this debate was definitely unscripted.

ARIANNA HUFFINGTON (I), CALIFORNIA GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE: And we're still paying that price. And one more thing, Arnold. You know, you talk about the...

SCHWARZENEGGER: Arnold.

HUFFINGTON: Yes. You know, you talk...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thirty seconds.

SCHWARZENEGGER: I like that. Arianna, just let me say one thing.

(CROSSTALK)

HUFFINGTON: Let me just finish.

SCHWARZENEGGER: Your personal income tax has the biggest loophole. I can drive my Hummer through it that's how big your loophole is. Let me tell you something.

DORNIN: In past debates, Arianna Huffington took the offensive. This night her target was mainly Schwarzenegger.

HUFFINGTON: Completely hypocritical of Arnold. SCHWARZENEGGER: Arianna...

HUFFINGTON: Because I'm here -- let me finish.

SCHWARZENEGGER: You're talking about the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) right now...

HUFFINGTON: Let me finish!

SCHWARZENEGGER: ... and not about education (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

HUFFINGTON: You know, this is completely impolite. This is the way you treat women, we know that, but not now.

DORNIN: A reserved Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante pushed his new tough love program for California.

LT. GOV. CRUZ BUSTAMANTE (D), CALIFORNIA GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE: I raise tobacco taxes. I raise alcohol taxes. I raise the upper income tax bracket on the largest and the highest 4 percent of all Californians.

DORNIN: Green Party candidate Peter Camejo's pitch?

PETER CAMEJO (GREEN), CALIFORNIA GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE: And we need to look at the fact that people are paying much higher taxes than the wealthiest people in our state or what the corporations are paying.

DORNIN: Republican Tom McClintock continued to toe the Republican line.

STATE SEN. TOM MCCLINTOCK (R), CALIFORNIA GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE: I will cut spending and balance this budget without a tax increase.

DORNIN: A successful debate debut for Schwarzenegger and a chance for the other candidates to finally stand up to the actor- turned-politician.

Rusty Dornin, CNN, Sacramento.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HEMMER: All right, there's the backdrop.

Back to our senior analyst, Jeff Greenfield, and his thoughts and his take on the debate last night.

Good morning to you.

JEFF GREENFIELD, CNN SENIOR ANALYST: I was disappointed that Andy Serwer did not mention my favorite Tequila movie.

HEMMER: Which is?

GREENFIELD: Tequila mockingbird.

Anyway, a couple of things about this debate. First, it may well have been the most watched non-presidential debate in American political history. More than 100 local stations in California carried it. It was on at 6:00 California time for 90 minutes uninterrupted. It was Schwarzenegger's first and only appearance, and his presence alone guaranteed a curiosity factor.

And beyond that, despite the fact that, as Jack has been complaining that the questions were produced in advance, two quick points: Debaters always know the kinds of questions they're going to be asked, and the format that allowed for that open interchange at the end of every question did provide, I thought, both some sizzle and some steak.

And we'll take you through a couple. You've seen a couple of them already, because that's what we at CNN do -- remind you again and again, because it's important.

Let's take a look first at Schwarzenegger, who clearly came out ready to talk about personal experiences and statistics and the occasional pre-scripted sound byte. Take a listen to Arnold.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SCHWARZENEGGER: I visited companies here in California. I visited the farmers and the small companies, big companies, vendors and all of that stuff. Everyone is saying the same thing. California, we have a three-strike system. You guys pulled wool over the people's eyes twice. The third time now, you're out.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GREENFIELD: OK, that's Arnold I'm not the politician; I'm the citizen engaged.

As for Cruz Bustamante, the lieutenant governor, "cool hand Cruz," very quiet, very calm, the voice of reason. And, again, I want to play an expanded version of what Rusty showed you, because it shows you how committed Bustamante is to bring out Democrats, talking about something that Republicans aren't too fond of, how he will balance the budget by raising taxes. Give a listen here.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BUSTAMANTE: We've done all the easy things, and now it's time to do the tough things. That's why I submitted a plan, a plan that I call "tough love for California." In that plan, I raise tobacco taxes. I raise alcohol taxes. I raise the upper income tax bracket on the largest and the highest 4 percent of all Californians. I do that, but in return, we close the budget gap.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GREENFIELD: Now, Tom McClintock, a conservative state senator, a lot of Republicans are openly asking, insisting he get out of the race to clear the field for Arnold. He's running third at about 14 percent in the polls. Last night, McClintock did not utter a single word of criticism about Schwarzenegger, but he did reaffirm some basic conservative positions, including -- and I think this could be an important issue in the election, as it often is in California -- illegal immigration. Listen to Senator McClintock.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MCCLINTOCK: Illegal immigration undermines that process of legal immigration that's the strength of our nation. There are millions of people who are willing to abide by our immigration laws to come to this nation, become Americans, and see their children grow up and prosper as Americans. Illegal immigration is the process of cutting in line in front of them, and I don't believe that we should be rewarding such behavior.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GREENFIELD: Now, finally, the headlines were grabbed by the constant dueling between columnist/author Arianna Huffington and Arnold Schwarzenegger. She set out from the get-go to put Schwarzenegger in her sights, and I'll play you just one example of a case where Arnold took the bait, and we'll talk about for a second whether that has any consequences. But give a listen here.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HUFFINGTON: It's completely hypocritical of Arnold to come here...

SCHWARZENEGGER: Arianna...

HUFFINGTON: Let me finish. Let me finish!

SCHWARZENEGGER: You're talking about the car tax right now and not about education (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

HUFFINGTON: Let me finish. You know, this is completely impolite. This is the way you treat women, we know that, but not now.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That was a direct and personal attack on Mr. Schwarzenegger. So would you respond?

SCHWARZENEGGER: I would just like to say that I just realized that I have a perfect part for you in "Terminator 4."

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GREENFIELD: Now, two questions: Is that going to be seen as some kind of threat against women? I am skeptical. Is it going to be seen as one too many times when Arnold Schwarzenegger is ordered to the quip instead of, you know, the substance? And I will frankly say I don't know.

HEMMER: Yes, the campaign managers for Schwarzenegger were talking before this debate that is if -- this is their quote now: "If he strings together verbs and words, then he wins, because the expectation game is so low."

What we didn't talk about, though, Gray Davis was not there last night.

GREENFIELD: Right.

HEMMER: His lack of presence, does it help him or does it hurt him based on what we saw last evening?

GREENFIELD: My sense is that it marginally hurt, because what Gray Davis needed was a train wreck. He needed for people to look at this and say, my God, these are the people who are going to replace our governor? No thanks.

I thought, you know, -- look, whenever debates get a little contentious, critics say it's too wild, and whenever they get uncontentious, people say they're boring. This is politics. This was a reasonably interesting -- in fact, more than reasonably interesting debate.

HEMMER: I would agree with you actually.

GREENFIELD: And so, people looking at it, did they see this and say there's nobody on that stage that I could trust more than our present governor? I don't think so.

HEMMER: I found it much more captivating than a lot of people thought. There was a lot of trash talk about the format going into it, but I thought it played out quite well.

We have about 15 seconds. Wesley Clark is going to appear in a debate.

GREENFIELD: This is a debate where there's only one thing on anybody's mind and the chattering classes, people like me: How's the general going to do? And maybe we'll talk about that tomorrow.

HEMMER: We'll see.

GREENFIELD: OK.

HEMMER: Thank you, Jeff. Good to see you.

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