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CNN Saturday Morning News
"Novak Zone"
Aired September 13, 2003 - 09:30 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: To California now. The top Republican candidates for governor are stumping for support at their party's state convention. Arnold Schwarzenegger tops in his party, but some polls show State Senator Tom McClintock gaining ground.
All this comes a day before Governor Gray Davis gets support from Bill Clinton, who will campaign with him in Los Angeles.
But what about the rest of the field? Robert Novak is on the road in the Golden State and welcomed a couple of fringe candidates into The Novak Zone.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERT NOVAK, HOST: Welcome to The Novak Zone.
I'm in Griffith Park in Los Angeles, California, reporting on the California recall election.
Joining us now is an independent candidate for governor, Brooke Adams of Dana Point in Orange County. She's a 25-year-old account executive.
Miss Adams, why are you running for governor?
BROOKE ADAMS (I), CALIFORNIA GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE: The state is in crisis. And I'm interested in providing leadership, setting it back on track. I was born and raised in California. I plan to live here the rest of my life. And with the state in shambles, at some point it's going to become entirely unaffordable for me to live in California.
NOVAK: You're running a pretty professional campaign with a Web site, costs money. Why are you doing that, spending that kind of money?
ADAMS: Because these issues are of importance. These are core issues that span generations, they span political parties. I'm interested in them, I'm interested in our future, and I'm interested in representing a younger generation.
NOVAK: You are a pretty conservative candidate, yet you're running as an independent...
ADAMS: Yes.
NOVAK: ... not as a Republican. Why?
ADAMS: Because again, like I said, these issues span political parties. I believe we need to return focus to the issues, not to the popularity of candidates, not to political parties, but to the core issues that are affecting all Californians. And I feel that it allows me to better represent all Californians.
NOVAK: The leading candidate is Arnold Schwarzenegger (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Governor Bustamante oppose the Proposition 54 taking out any racial identification. You support it. Why?
ADAMS: I do. I support it because I believe in a color-blind society. I believe that it is archaic to collect such information that is unnecessary. Prop 54 supports a color-blind society. People opposed to it, I think, continue the notion of a fragmented society.
Considering yourself a black American, we don't say black Californian. I think that we are all Americans. We are all Californians. And I think it is of great importance to continue the dream that Dr. King put forth, that we would like to have a society based on merit, not based on race.
NOVAK: There is a deck of cards out with the candidates. You're the queen of diamonds.
ADAMS: Yes.
NOVAK: What does that do for you?
ADAMS: I think it is great, because it allows people to familiarize themselves with these candidates. I think it was very clever. I think that it's easy to skim through them. I myself have become more familiar with the numerous candidates, the major ones as well as the rest of them. And it has allowed me to, you know, gain more understanding.
NOVAK: Brooke Adams, you're only 25 years old.
ADAMS: Yes.
NOVAK: After this campaign, what are you going to do with the rest of your life? You going to run for city council or something?
ADAMS: I certainly am interested in politics. I'm currently entirely focused on this race. But I'm interested in these issues. I'm interested in making a difference. I'm interested in providing leadership and taking action.
NOVAK: Brooke Adams, independent candidate for governor of California, thank you very much.
ADAMS: Thank you for having me.
NOVAK: Our next candidate is Kurt Rightmyer, an independent candidate from West Covina, California. He's a substitute teacher, a poet, a editor, a jazz musician, and an amateur middleweight sumo wrestler under the name of Tachikaze.
On top of that all that, Mr. Rightmyer, why in the world are you running for governor?
KURT TACHIKAZE RIGHTMYER (D), CALIFORNIA GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE: I want to see if it's possible for an unknown candidate as myself, who has vision and integrity, to put the American dream to the test. I want to know if it's possible in our media saturated-age for an unknown to get his message out and to effect real change.
NOVAK: You are a sumo wrestler, how -- and there is a body builder named Arnold Schwarzenegger, who was Mr. Universe, who is running for governor. How do you think you'd do in the ring with Arnold Schwarzenegger?
RIGHTMYER: I'd take Arnold two out of three in the dojo, Bob. The truth is, sumo takes a lot of strength and dexterity, but it also requires a great deal of skill, and the deft touch at the right moment, so surprise and speed.
NOVAK: What would you do, as governor of California, if you really were to be -- have that authority?
RIGHTMYER: The first thing I would do is, I would go after bloated, out-of-control government spending. The department of general services has an $837 million annual budget. Their sole reason for existing is to improve the efficiency of government, believe it or not.
There are members of the board of equalization who make almost $600,000 a year salary. That's almost four times as much as the governor. Is that right? I think governor is a harder position.
NOVAK: Do you think your experience in the sumo ring has fitted you for the political ring?
RIGHTMYER: Absolutely. In sumo, I've learned that when push comes to shove, you don't back down. My blood runs red, not gray.
NOVAK: And what do you find is the biggest challenge to you, trying to run against this huge field?
RIGHTMYER: Well, basically, my biggest challenge is getting my name out, getting people to take me seriously as a candidate, as someone with ideas, for definitely reforming and in some case revolutionizing the way we do government.
I want to be taken seriously as a candidate. Unfortunately, a lot of people just see me as some hulking sumo figure, as comic fodder. And that's unfortunate.
NOVAK: Why do you think French television is following you? And did you ever dream that you'd be a household word in France?
RIGHTMYER: Well, I mean, I love French poetry. And as you know, I'm a published poet. So, I mean, I adore French culture. I'm also being followed by Japanese TV because of the sumo angle, I guess you would say. But yes, I, you know, definitely enjoy the exposure on both sides of the ocean.
NOVAK: After this is over, do you think you'll continue in politics, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) to something else?
RIGHTMYER: I think so. I mean, this is in my blood now. And I am sincere about effecting as much change as I can, in California, and hopefully someday the entire country.
NOVAK: We'll hear from two other candidates next week.
Thank you for joining me in "The Novak Zone."
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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 13, 2003 - 09:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: To California now. The top Republican candidates for governor are stumping for support at their party's state convention. Arnold Schwarzenegger tops in his party, but some polls show State Senator Tom McClintock gaining ground.
All this comes a day before Governor Gray Davis gets support from Bill Clinton, who will campaign with him in Los Angeles.
But what about the rest of the field? Robert Novak is on the road in the Golden State and welcomed a couple of fringe candidates into The Novak Zone.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERT NOVAK, HOST: Welcome to The Novak Zone.
I'm in Griffith Park in Los Angeles, California, reporting on the California recall election.
Joining us now is an independent candidate for governor, Brooke Adams of Dana Point in Orange County. She's a 25-year-old account executive.
Miss Adams, why are you running for governor?
BROOKE ADAMS (I), CALIFORNIA GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE: The state is in crisis. And I'm interested in providing leadership, setting it back on track. I was born and raised in California. I plan to live here the rest of my life. And with the state in shambles, at some point it's going to become entirely unaffordable for me to live in California.
NOVAK: You're running a pretty professional campaign with a Web site, costs money. Why are you doing that, spending that kind of money?
ADAMS: Because these issues are of importance. These are core issues that span generations, they span political parties. I'm interested in them, I'm interested in our future, and I'm interested in representing a younger generation.
NOVAK: You are a pretty conservative candidate, yet you're running as an independent...
ADAMS: Yes.
NOVAK: ... not as a Republican. Why?
ADAMS: Because again, like I said, these issues span political parties. I believe we need to return focus to the issues, not to the popularity of candidates, not to political parties, but to the core issues that are affecting all Californians. And I feel that it allows me to better represent all Californians.
NOVAK: The leading candidate is Arnold Schwarzenegger (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Governor Bustamante oppose the Proposition 54 taking out any racial identification. You support it. Why?
ADAMS: I do. I support it because I believe in a color-blind society. I believe that it is archaic to collect such information that is unnecessary. Prop 54 supports a color-blind society. People opposed to it, I think, continue the notion of a fragmented society.
Considering yourself a black American, we don't say black Californian. I think that we are all Americans. We are all Californians. And I think it is of great importance to continue the dream that Dr. King put forth, that we would like to have a society based on merit, not based on race.
NOVAK: There is a deck of cards out with the candidates. You're the queen of diamonds.
ADAMS: Yes.
NOVAK: What does that do for you?
ADAMS: I think it is great, because it allows people to familiarize themselves with these candidates. I think it was very clever. I think that it's easy to skim through them. I myself have become more familiar with the numerous candidates, the major ones as well as the rest of them. And it has allowed me to, you know, gain more understanding.
NOVAK: Brooke Adams, you're only 25 years old.
ADAMS: Yes.
NOVAK: After this campaign, what are you going to do with the rest of your life? You going to run for city council or something?
ADAMS: I certainly am interested in politics. I'm currently entirely focused on this race. But I'm interested in these issues. I'm interested in making a difference. I'm interested in providing leadership and taking action.
NOVAK: Brooke Adams, independent candidate for governor of California, thank you very much.
ADAMS: Thank you for having me.
NOVAK: Our next candidate is Kurt Rightmyer, an independent candidate from West Covina, California. He's a substitute teacher, a poet, a editor, a jazz musician, and an amateur middleweight sumo wrestler under the name of Tachikaze.
On top of that all that, Mr. Rightmyer, why in the world are you running for governor?
KURT TACHIKAZE RIGHTMYER (D), CALIFORNIA GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE: I want to see if it's possible for an unknown candidate as myself, who has vision and integrity, to put the American dream to the test. I want to know if it's possible in our media saturated-age for an unknown to get his message out and to effect real change.
NOVAK: You are a sumo wrestler, how -- and there is a body builder named Arnold Schwarzenegger, who was Mr. Universe, who is running for governor. How do you think you'd do in the ring with Arnold Schwarzenegger?
RIGHTMYER: I'd take Arnold two out of three in the dojo, Bob. The truth is, sumo takes a lot of strength and dexterity, but it also requires a great deal of skill, and the deft touch at the right moment, so surprise and speed.
NOVAK: What would you do, as governor of California, if you really were to be -- have that authority?
RIGHTMYER: The first thing I would do is, I would go after bloated, out-of-control government spending. The department of general services has an $837 million annual budget. Their sole reason for existing is to improve the efficiency of government, believe it or not.
There are members of the board of equalization who make almost $600,000 a year salary. That's almost four times as much as the governor. Is that right? I think governor is a harder position.
NOVAK: Do you think your experience in the sumo ring has fitted you for the political ring?
RIGHTMYER: Absolutely. In sumo, I've learned that when push comes to shove, you don't back down. My blood runs red, not gray.
NOVAK: And what do you find is the biggest challenge to you, trying to run against this huge field?
RIGHTMYER: Well, basically, my biggest challenge is getting my name out, getting people to take me seriously as a candidate, as someone with ideas, for definitely reforming and in some case revolutionizing the way we do government.
I want to be taken seriously as a candidate. Unfortunately, a lot of people just see me as some hulking sumo figure, as comic fodder. And that's unfortunate.
NOVAK: Why do you think French television is following you? And did you ever dream that you'd be a household word in France?
RIGHTMYER: Well, I mean, I love French poetry. And as you know, I'm a published poet. So, I mean, I adore French culture. I'm also being followed by Japanese TV because of the sumo angle, I guess you would say. But yes, I, you know, definitely enjoy the exposure on both sides of the ocean.
NOVAK: After this is over, do you think you'll continue in politics, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) to something else?
RIGHTMYER: I think so. I mean, this is in my blood now. And I am sincere about effecting as much change as I can, in California, and hopefully someday the entire country.
NOVAK: We'll hear from two other candidates next week.
Thank you for joining me in "The Novak Zone."
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
