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CNN Live Sunday

Bush Embarks on 'Working Vacation'

Aired August 05, 2001 - 17:17   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: President Bush has embarked on a break he calls a month-long working vacation. He plans to tour the heartland, meet people, he says and learn more about their values. Is this a new strategy -- a new focus, perhaps?

CNN White House correspondent Kelly Wallace is traveling with the president; she has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Before arriving in Texas, President Bush gave a hint of what he would be doing on his summer vacation.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I'm headed home to the heartland to listen to the American people and talk about values that unite and sustain our country.

WALLACE: Translate that into focusing on the compassionate part of his quote "compassionate conservative agenda," with aides looking at possible new initiatives with universal appeal, such as tackling teen pregnancy, promoting character education, and preventing kids from joining gangs.

The white house calls this a natural evolution of the president's agenda, not a shift to the center to attract moderates and women, many of whom have been turned off by the administration's emphasis during the first six months on tax cuts and drilling for oil on public lands.

ANDREW CARD, WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF: We are not driven by polls; instead we're driven by what the president feels is important for the country.

WALLACE: Still, the president advisers know that Mr. Bush must expand his support beyond his conservative base to get his agenda passed, and boost his chances for re-election, so this summer and fall, the president will press for prescription drug coverage for seniors, education reform, and help for illegal immigrants in the United States: issues that appeal to moderates.

But some Democrats say Mr. Bush's words have not been matched by actions.

SEN. JOE LIEBERMAN (D), CONNECTICUT: You can't just talk the talk of centrist compassionate government, you have to walk the walk.

WALLACE: Perhaps no issue may define the president's approach more than his upcoming decision whether to allow federal funding of research from stem cells of human embryos.

(on camera): With a decision expected this month, the president will spend time on his ranch grappling with a matter he says is beyond politics, but his decision will have political implications because in the end he won't be able to please moderates and most conservatives at the same time.

Kelly Wallace, CNN, Crawford, Texas.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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