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>> Gary Walker: JUST AHEAD ON
"NEED TO KNOW," AFTER A LONG
AND BITTERLY CONTESTED BATTLE,
GEORGE W. BUSH TOOK THE OATH
OF OFFICE.
BUT THERE'S ALREADY BEEN
CONSIDERABLE CONTROVERSY OVER
THE NEW PRESIDENT'S STAND ON
AND ACTION REGARDING SCHOOL
VOUCHERS AND ABORTION.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE PAST
COUPLE OF DAYS AND LOOK AHEAD
TO THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.
IT'S ALL NEXT ON "NEED TO
KNOW."
>> I, GEORGE WALKER BUSH, DO
SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL
FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE OFFICE
OF PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES.
(Music)
>> THIS IS "NEED TO KNOW," THE
ROCHESTER AREA'S ONLY IN-DEPTH
NEWS PROGRAM.
"NEED TO KNOW" IS A PRODUCTION
OF WXXI NEWS AND PUBLIC
AFFAIRS, COVERING ISSUES,
POLITICS, EDUCATION AND
CURRENT EVENTS.
>> "NEED TO KNOW" IS MADE
POSSIBLE BY THE DAISY MARQUIS
JONES FOUNDATION, BY DORSCHEL
LEXUS, AND THROUGH THE SUPPORT
OF VIEWERS LIKE YOU.
>> Gary Walker: THANK YOU FOR
JOINING US.
ON MONDAY, HIS FIRST WORKDAY
ON THE JOB, PRESIDENT BUSH
MOVED TO BAR U.S. FUNDS TO
INTERNATIONAL FAMILY PLANNING
GROUPS WHICH INCLUDE ABORTION
AS AN OPTION IN THEIR
COUNSELING.
HE ALSO DECIDED TO ORDER A
REVIEW OF THE GOVERNMENT'S
APPROVAL OF THE RU-486
ABORTION PILL.
ABORTION RIGHT SUPPORTERS FEAR
PRESIDENT BUSH WILL MAKE
LIMITING ABORTION THE ACTION
ITEM OF HIS ADMINISTRATION.
ON TUESDAY, THE PRESIDENT
RELEASED HIS EDUCATION PLAN,
OFFERING STATES MORE FREEDOM
IN FUNDING IN EXCHANGE FOR
ANNUAL STUDENT TESTING.
THE SCHOOLS WOULD THEN BE
REWARDED OR PUNISHED BASED ON
THOSE RESULTS.
THE PLAN WOULD TEST
BIPARTISANSHIP BECAUSE IT
DEALS WITH VOUCHERS.
A POLL CONDUCTED LAST WEEK BY
ZOGBY INTERNATIONAL SHOWS THAT
THE PUBLIC IS EVENLY DIVIDED
ON USING SCHOOL VOUCHERS.
THE SURVEY CONDUCTED LAST WEEK
SAW 48% AGREE WITH USING
VOUCHERS, 45 DISAGREE WITH THE
PLAN, AND 7% ARE NOT SURE.
THE MARGIN OF ERROR, 4%.
ON INAUGURATION DAY, YOU COULD
SEE BOTH PROTESTORS AND
SUPPORTERS LINED UP ALONG THE
TWO-MILE PARADE ROUTE.
HERE AT HOME, WE WAITED TO
HEAR FROM THE 43rd PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES, HOPING
TO GET A GLIMPSE OF WHAT'S TO
COME.
>> TOGETHER WE WILL RECLAIM
AMERICA'S SCHOOLS, BEFORE
IGNORANCE AND APATHY CLAIM
MORE YOUNG LIVES.
WE WILL REFORM SOCIAL SECURITY
AND MEDICARE, SPARING OUR
CHILDREN FROM STRUGGLES WE
HAVE THE POWER TO PREVENT.
AND WE WILL REDUCE TAXES TO
RECOVER THE MOMENTUM OF OUR
ECONOMY AND REWARD THE EFFORT
AND ENTERPRISE OF WORKING
AMERICANS.
(Applause and cheering)
WE WILL BUILD OUR DEFENCES
BEYOND CHALLENGE, LEST
WEAKNESS INVITE CHALLENGE.
(Applause and cheering)
WE WILL CONFRONT WEAPONS OF
MASS DESTRUCTION SO THAT A NEW
CENTURY IS SPARED NEW HORRORS.
THE ENEMIES OF LIBERTY IN OUR
COUNTRY SHOULD MAKE NO
MISTAKE: AMERICA REMAINS
ENGAGED IN THE WORLD BY
HISTORY AND BY CHOICE, SHAPING
A BALANCE OF POWER THAT
FAVOURS FREEDOM.
WE WILL DEFEND OUR ALLIES AND
OUR INTERESTS.
WE WILL SHOW PURPOSE WITHOUT
ARROGANCE.
WE WILL MEET AGGRESSION AND
BAD FAITH WITH RESOLVE AND
STRENGTH.
IN ALL NATIONS, WE WILL SPEAK
OF THE VALUES THAT GAVE OUR
NATION BIRTH.
(Applause)
AMERICA AT ITS BEST IS
COMPASSIONATE.
IN A QUIET OF AMERICAN
CONSCIENCE, WE KNOW THAT DEEP,
PERSISTENT POVERTY IS UNWORTHY
OF OUR NATION'S PROMISE, AND
WHATEVER OUR VIEWS OF ITS
CAUSE, WE CAN AGREE THAT
CHILDREN AT RISK ARE NOT AT
FAULT.
ABANDONMENT AND ABUSE ARE NOT
ACTS OF GOD; THEY ARE FAILURES
OF LOVE.
(Applause)
AND THE PROLIFERATION OF
PRISONS, HOWEVER NECESSARY, IS
NO SUBSTITUTE FOR HOPE AND
ORDER IN OUR SOULS.
WHERE THERE IS SUFFERING,
THERE IS DUTY.
AMERICANS IN NEED ARE NOT
STRANGERS; THEY ARE CITIZENS.
NOT PROBLEMS BUT PRIORITIES.
AND ALL OF US ARE DIMINISHED
WHEN ANY ARE HOPELESS.
(Applause)
GOVERNMENT HAS GREAT
RESPONSIBILITIES FOR PUBLIC
SAFETY AND PUBLIC HEALTH, FOR
CIVIL RIGHTS AND COMMON
SCHOOLS.
YET COMPASSION IS THE WORK OF
A NATION, NOT JUST A
GOVERNMENT, AND SOME NEEDS AND
HURTS ARE SO DEEP THEY WILL
ONLY RESPOND TO A MENTOR'S
TOUCH OR A PASTOR'S PRAYER.
CHURCH AND CHARITY, SYNAGOGUE
AND MOSQUE LEND OUR
COMMUNITIES THEIR HUMANITY AND
THEY WILL HAVE AN HONOURED
PLACE IN OUR PLANS AND IN OUR
LAWS.
I ASK YOU TO SEEK A COMMON
GOOD BEYOND YOUR COMFORT.
TO DEFEND NEEDED REFORMS
AGAINST EASY ATTACKS, TO SERVE
YOUR NATION BEGINNING WITH
YOUR NEIGHBOUR, I ASK YOU TO
BE CITIZENS, CITIZENS NOT
SPECTATORS, CITIZENS NOT
SUBJECTS, RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS
BUILDING COMMUNITIES OF
SERVICE IN A NATION OF
CHARACTER.
(Applause)
>> Gary Walker: PRESIDENT
BUSH'S ADDRESS LASTED JUST
OVER 14 MINUTES.
THE LOUDEST CHEERS DURING HIS
SPEECH CAME WHEN Mr. BUSH
TALKED ABOUT TAX CUTS.
JOINING ME IN STUDIO ARE MARK
GEARAN, PRESIDENT OF HOBART
AND WILLIAM SMITH COLLEGES,
FORMER HEAD OF THE PEACE
CORPS.
HE ALSO SERVED IN THE
CLINTON/GORE WHITE HOUSE IN A
VARIETY OF ROLES, INCLUDING
DIRECTOR OF WHITE HOUSE
COMMUNICATIONS.
ALSO JOINING US IS Mr. CURT
SMITH.
HE IS A SENIOR LECTURER IN
ENGLISH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
ROCHESTER.
HE'S HOST OF "PERFECTLY
CLEAR," A WEEKLY POLITICAL
ROUNDTABLE.
AND CURT WAS A SPEECHWRITER IN
THE FIRST GEORGE BUSH WHITE
HOUSE.
WELCOME TO BOTH OF YOU.
ONE OF THE HAPPY THINGS ABOUT
THIS IS THAT, YOU KNOW,
THERE'S LOTS TO TALK ABOUT AND
POLITICS BEING AMONG THEM BUT,
YOU KNOW, OTHER -- DIFFERENT
AREAS.
WE HAVE A LOT OF ISSUES TO
TALK ABOUT.
I MEAN REAL, SUBSTANTIVE
ISSUES THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE
IN EVERY DAY AMERICANS' LIVES,
AND WE HAVE, NO SURPRISE, AN
EVENLY DIVIDED NATION ABOUT
MANY OF THESE ISSUES.
SO THERE'S LOTS OF SUBSTANCE
HERE AS WELL AS THE POLITICS
TO TALK ABOUT.
BUT LET'S BEGIN WITH WHAT
HAPPENED.
THE FIRST KIND OF PRESIDENTIAL
EDICT OUT OF THE BLOCKS WAS
HIS STAND ON ABORTION FOR
INTERNATIONAL GROUPS.
FIRST THING YOU'RE LOOKING AT
OUT OF THE BLOCKS OF A NEW
PRESIDENT, YOU KNOW, AND IT
STRUCK ME AS WE HAVE AN EVENLY
DIVIDED NATION OVER THIS
ELECTION, CONTESTED ELECTION
AS IT IS ANYWAY, EVENLY
DIVIDED ON THIS ISSUE -- WELL,
NOT REALLY, BUT STILL THE
POINT IS THAT COMING OUT OF
THE BLOCKS WITH THE MOST
DIVISIVE ISSUE IN AMERICA NOW
WHEN THE MESSAGE IS TO BRING
THE NATION TOGETHER AND HEAL,
HOW WISE A MOVE WAS THAT?
>> I THINK EXTRAORDINARILY
WISE.
I MEAN, THE PERCENTAGE OF
AMERICANS ACCORDING TO PUBLIC
OPINION SURVEYS FOR WHOM
ABORTION IS THE DECISIVE ISSUE
IS EXTRAORDINARILY SMALL.
A NUMBER OF SURVEYS SHOW THAT
FOR PEOPLE WHO VOTE ONLY ON
THE ISSUE OF ABORTION, THOSE
WHO OPPOSE ABORTION OUTNUMBER
THOSE WHO SUPPORT IT.
SO HE'S NOT LOSING ANYTHING
NUMERICALLY BY DOING THAT.
MORE TO THE POINT, HE
CAMPAIGNED DURING THE ELECTION
AS SOMEONE WHO HAD AN ETHICAL
COMPASS, A SET OF PRINCIPLES,
WHO WAS NOT GOING TO BE
DIVINED OR DEVISED OR LED BY
POLLS, AND SO IN ESSENCE WHAT
HE'S DOING HERE IS HE'S
KEEPING HIS WORD, MUCH THE
SAME AS PRESIDENT CLINTON KEPT
HIS WORD WHEN HE ADOPTED A
VERY DIFFERENT STANCE ON
ABORTION IN HIS FIRST MONTH OF
OFFICE IN JANUARY OF 1993.
PEOPLE WHO HATE THIS ARE NEVER
GOING TO VOTE REPUBLICAN AS
LONG AS THEY INHABIT THE GOOD
PLANET EARTH.
THE PEOPLE WHO LIKE IT TEND TO
BE, ON THE OTHER HAND, PART OF
HIS BASE.
AND IF I THINK THERE'S ONE
LESSON GEORGE W. BUSH OUGHT TO
HAVE LEARNED FROM HIS FATHER,
IT'S THAT YOU IGNORE YOUR
POLITICAL BASE AT YOUR PERIL.
SO HE'S DANCING WITH THE ONE
WHO BRUNG HIM.
THE ONLY PEOPLE IN THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY THAT IT IRKS
ARE THOSE ON THE FRINGE, THE
DICK ROSENBAUMS AND THE WIFE
OF AMO HOUGHTON AND PEOPLE OF
THIS ILK, WHO HAVE NEVER BEEN
PART OF THE REPUBLICANS'
PLACE, WHO MAY NEVER HAVE
VOTED FOR GEORGE W. BUSH IN
THE FIRST PLACE.
>> CHRISTINE --
>> I THINK IN THAT SENSE,
THAT'S ENTIRELY HER VIEW, BUT
WE'LL SEE WHAT VIEW SHE HAS
NOW THAT SHE'S A PART OF THE
CABINET.
IT'S CERTAINLY NOT GOING TO
IRK HER.
MY POINT IS THAT I THINK IF
YOU LOOK NUMERICALLY OR
POLITICALLY, AND ALSO IN TERMS
OF INTEGRITY, IT'S NOT ONLY A
GOOD CHOICE BUT, IN HIS VIEW,
I THINK IT'S AN UNAVOIDABLE
CHOICE.
>> Gary Walker: Mr. GEARAN?
>> WELL, I SHARE CURT'S SENSE
OF THE PREPOLITICAL STATEMENT.
OBVIOUSLY IT'S UNAVOIDABLE
BECAUSE IT'S THE ANNIVERSARY
DATE OF ROE V. WADE ON JANUARY
22nd, SO HE'S FORCED INTO
THIS.
BUT THOSE IN POLITICS KNOW
VERY WELL HE'S DANCING WITH
THE ONE WHO BRUNG HIM, AS CURT
SAID.
SO IT'S REFLECTIVE OF THAT.
AS A POLITICAL MATTER, IT'S
NOT ALTOGETHER SURPRISING.
HIS VIEWS ON ABORTION ARE
CLEAR; HIS VIEWS ON VOUCHERS
ARE CLEAR.
SO WHILE IT MAY BE SURPRISING
TO SOME WHO BEFORE THE
ELECTION SAW LITTLE DIFFERENCE
IN TERMS OF THE CHOICES FOR
PRESIDENT BETWEEN
VICE-PRESIDENT GORE AND
GOVERNOR BUSH, THAT'S WHAT
ELECTIONS ARE ABOUT AT THE END
OF THE DAY.
BUT MANY WAYS, EVEN PRIOR TO
THE JANUARY 22nd DECISION THAT
THE BUSH WHITE HOUSE -- OF
COURSE, THE INAUGURATION
ITSELF PROVIDED A VERY
INTERESTING AND MANY WAYS
POIGNANT MOMENT THAT I THINK,
AS YOU WELL SAID ABOUT OUR
DIVIDED COUNTRY, WENT A FAIR
AMOUNT OF WAY TO TRY TO
RECONCILE SOME OF THOSE
DIFFERENCES.
IT WAS A POINT OF INTEREST AS
AN OBSERVER ABOUT THE FATHER
AND SON, NOT HAPPENING SINCE
THE ADAMS.
THE FIRST TWO PARENTS TO
WITNESS THEIR SON'S
INAUGURATION, DOESN'T HAPPEN
SINCE 1961, AND VICE-PRESIDENT
GORE, HIS ELOQUENCE WHEN HE
LEFT THE RACE AND HIS CONDUCT
ON THAT DAY WENT A LONG WAY
TOWARD BUILDING THE KIND OF
FENCES' SPIRIT THAT PRESIDENT
BUSH TRIED TO ELUCIDATE IN HIS
INAUGURAL REMARKS.
>> Gary Walker: LET ME JUST
TAKE THE VIEW OF THE PERSON
WHO'S NOT POLITICALLY PLUGGED
IN.
I AGREE THAT PRESIDENT BUSH
STRENGTHENED HIS BASE AND THE
CONSERVATIVE WING OF THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY AND HIS
FATHER DIDN'T DO THAT.
POLITICALLY UNDERSTOOD, VERY
IMPORTANT.
BUT THE AVERAGE PERSON LOOKING
AT THIS AND SAYING, "OKAY, WE
ALL HAVE TO GET TOGETHER, GET
OVER THIS ELECTION AND COME
TOGETHER," AND YET HERE IS
THIS MOST DIVISIVE ISSUE AND
THE FIRST THING WE HEAR FROM
THE PRESIDENT IS THAT.
AND JUST SO YOU KNOW, BECAUSE
I FIGURED POLLS ARE CRAZY ALL
THE TIME AND WE CAN CITE A
MILLION OF THEM, BUT THE LAST
ONE WAS A GALLUP POLL LAST
WEEK SHOWING THAT 67 TO 30%
AMERICANS THINK ROE V. WADE
SHOULD STAND, 67% TO 30, AND
19% THINK ABORTION SHOULD BE
ILLEGAL IN ANY CIRCUMSTANCE.
THAT'S ONLY 1-IN-5.
AND THE NATION -- GUESS WHAT?
WE'RE DIVIDED ON OUR LABELS.
46% ARE PRO-CHOICE; 45% ARE
PRO-LIFE.
SO HERE WE ARE WITH THIS
DIVISIVE ISSUE.
I JUST WONDER IF THAT'S REALLY
THE WAY TO BEGIN IF YOUR
MESSAGE TO THE AMERICAN PUBLIC
IS LET'S PUT ASIDE OUR
PROBLEMS --
>> GARY, WHAT IS THE
ALTERNATIVE?
>> -- FIRST OF ALL --
>> THE ALTERNATIVE WAS TO TAKE
THE CLINTON POSITION WHICH,
ACCORDING TO YOUR POLLS, 46%
OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THEN,
IF HE HAD ATE BILL CLINTON'S
POSITION, THEY WOULD HAVE
THOUGHT THIS WERE DIVISIVE
BECAUSE IT WOULD HAVE
DISAGREED WITH THEM.
SO I THINK IT'S AN ENORMOUS
MISTAKE AND MEDIA STEREOTYPE
TO SAY THAT GEORGE BUSH PLAYED
TO THE UNIFIER; THEREFORE, HE
MUST ADOPT THE LIBERAL
POSITION.
THAT'S CALLED BIPARTISANSHIP
AND TOO MANY REPUBLICANS FALL
INTO THAT TRAP IN ESSENCE
CREATING DEBATE ON DEMOCRATIC
TERMS.
>> Gary Walker: BUT I MEAN ON
DAY ONE --
>> I DON'T CARE IF IT'S DAY 1
OR DAY 610.
(All talking simultaneously)
>> WELL, NO, I THINK IT'S AN
ENORMOUS DIFFERENCE.
I THINK MARK WOULD AGREE THAT
THE GAYS IN THE MILITARY WAS
AN UNFORTUNATE CHOICE OF
STRATEGY.
IN FACT, BILL CLINTON HAS
AGREED WITH THAT.
I DON'T THINK GEORGE BUSH, BY
CONTRAST, PAYS ANY KIND OF
PRICE FOR THIS BECAUSE HE'S
SIMPLY TAKING AN ISSUE, DOING
WHAT HE SAID HE WOULD,
STRENGTHENING HIS BASE, NOT
AVOIDING THE UNAVOIDABLE IN
THIS SENSE AND YOU CITED 67 TO
30 IN TERMS OF ROE VERSUS
WADE.
THIS IS NOT ROE VERSUS WADE.
THIS, ON THE OTHER HAND, IS
SOMETHING IN TERMS OF
INTERNATIONAL FUNDING, SO I
THINK THAT THEY'RE QUITE
DIFFERENT.
SO I DON'T THINK HE PAYS A
POLITICAL PRICE, AND A
PRESIDENT IS NOT SUPPOSED TO
FOLLOW; A PRESIDENT IS
SUPPOSED TO LEAD.
>> I THINK IT'S PROBABLY, IN
THE LONG RUN IN THIS
ADMINISTRATION, WHAT MAY BE
REMEMBERED LESS THAN THIS
INDIVIDUAL ABORTION DECISION,
WHICH I THINK IS CONSISTENT
WITH HIS POSITION,
I THINK THE QUESTION THAT WILL
BE ONE FOR SOME TIME AS WE GO
FORWARD, IN ASSUMING HE IS
CONFIRMED, STILL REMAINS THAT
FOR THE TENOR THAT HE WANTS TO
SET IN WASHINGTON, FOR
BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER, FOR
THE CHIEF LAW ENFORCEMENT
OFFICER HAVING THIS VERY
RANCOROUS...
>> Gary Walker: IT'S DELAYED A
WEEK --
>> IT WAS IN MANY WAYS A MORE
INTERESTING WINDOW INTO
REPUBLICAN PARTY POLITICS AND
THE NEED TO DO THAT, TO
APPOINT JOHN ASHCROFT.
AS WE LOOK AT THESE OPENING
WEEKS, I'M THINKING IN MANY
WAYS HE'S OFF TO A RESPECTABLE
START, WITH THE CHIEF OF
STAFF, THE SECRETARY OF
LABOUR, ELAINE CHILD, WHO I
KNOW WELL, THE PREDECESSOR --
BUT AS YOU LOOK TO THE HEALING
PART OF YOUR QUESTION IN TERMS
OF ARE WE BRINGING THE COUNTRY
TOGETHER, PERHAPS THE ASHCROFT
MAY BE A BETTER EXAMPLE OR
QUESTION OF THAT INTENT THAN
HIS JANUARY 22nd DECISION.
>> WELL, IT TAKES TWO TO COME
TOGETHER, TAKES TWO IN ESSENCE
TO MEET ON COMMON GROUND.
IT'S VERY INTERESTING IN TERMS
OF ASHCROFT.
NUMBER ONE, DIANNE FINESTEIN,
I THINK TO MOST REPUBLICANS
HER VOTE WAS PREORDAINED.
I WOULD HAVE BEEN SHOCKED, FOR
EXAMPLE, IF SHE HAD VOTED ON
BEHALF OF JOHN ASHCROFT.
SHE COMES FROM ONE OF THE MOST
LIBERAL STATES IN THE NATION,
ARGUABLY THE STRONGEST
CLINTON/GORE STATE IN THE
NATION.
[continued in next column] |
[continued from left column]
THE PEOPLE THAT BANKROLL HER
CAMPAIGNS ARE MEMBERS OF
DEMOCRATS' SPECIAL INTEREST
GROUPS, MUCH LIKE THOSE WHO
BANKROLL REPUBLICAN FROM THE
LEFT -- OR RIGHT RATHER.
SHE FACED ENORMOUS PRESSURE IN
THAT SENSE.
I WOULD HAVE BEEN SURPRISED.
AND THE RANCOR WHICH I THINK
YOU QUITE JUSTIFIABLY
CATEGORIZE COMES NOT FROM JOHN
ASHCROFT AND HIS CONDUCT BUT
THOSE, IN ESSENCE THAT HAVE
CASTIGATED HIM.
IT WILL BE VERY INTERESTING TO
SEE IN TERMS OF THE WHOLE
TENOR OF CIVILITY AND
BIPARTISANSHIP.
ONE OF THE BRIGHT THINGS, AND
I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE
INAUGURAL ADDRESS IN A MOMENT,
THAT BUSH DID IN HIS INAUGURAL
WAS TO CAST THE TENOR IN
WASHINGTON NOT IN TERMS OF
BIPARTISANSHIP, WHICH IS A
COLD WORD TO CONSERVATIVES,
BUT RATHER CIVILITY.
SO WE WILL SEE, IN ESSENCE HE
IS SAYING, "I AM EXTENDING THE
OPEN HAND, THE OFFERED HAND."
LET US SEE, HE WAS SAYING, HOW
THE DEMOCRATS RESPOND.
AND THEY RESPONDED BY
ASSAILING JOHN ASHCROFT, BY
BARNEY FRANK TALKING ABOUT A
VACUOUS INAUGURAL ADDRESS, BY
STORMING OUT, THE
ALL-DEMOCRATIC BLACK CAUCUS,
OUT OF THE COUNTING OF
ELECTORAL VOTE AND BY STAGING
A COUNTER INAUGURAL,
BOYCOTTING THE INAUGURAL.
THIS DOESN'T STRIKE ME THAT
DEMOCRATS AT LEAST FROM THE
FAR LEFT ARE INTERESTED IN
THAT KIND OF BIPARTISANSHIP.
WE'LL SEE.
BUT AGAIN, I GET BACK TO THE
LESSON.
HIS DAD, WHEN HE WAS
PRESIDENT, TRIED TO MAKE AN
ENORMOUS DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
GOVERNING AND CAMPAIGNING.
BILL CLINTON DIDN'T, AND I
DON'T THINK YOU CAN, NOT IN
THE AGE OF THE PERMANENT
CAMPAIGN.
SO I THINK IN A POLITICAL SORT
OF WAY, THE ASHCROFT WILL BE A
BOOM NOT BUST.
>> Gary Walker: REALLY?
WELL, I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF
CONTROVERSY AROUND IT, AND I
DON'T THINK -- DO EITHER ONE
OF YOU THINK IT'S A
MISCALCULATION OR SOMETHING
THAT'S NOT NEEDED ON THE PART
OF THE CONGRESS TO DELAY THE
HEARINGS OF SOMEONE LIKE
Mr. ASHCROFT?
IF YOU WANT TO REALLY PEER
INTO HIS BEGINNINGS, LOOK AT
THE WRITINGS.
I THINK THE PAST IS A FAIR
PREDICTOR OF THE FUTURE,
PERHAPS.
SO IS WHAT IS GOING ON IN
CONGRESS NOW YOU THINK
INAPPROPRIATE WHEN IT COMES TO
Mr. ASHCROFT?
>> I DON'T KNOW ABOUT
INAPPROPRIATE.
BEFORE WE TALK, LET'S FIRST
DEFINE OUR TERMS.
DEMOCRATS MIGHT SAY IT'S
PROPER; REPUBLICANS MIGHT SAY
IT'S A PILING ON.
I GO BACK TO JANET RENO AND I
THINK OF A FAIR READING OF HER
RECORD.
SHE, FOR EXAMPLE, OPPOSED
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.
SHE WAS NOT ASKED IN ESSENCE
DURING HER CONFIRMATION
HEARINGS, "WELL, DOES THIS
MEAN YOU WON'T ENFORCE THE
LAWS?"
SO I THINK THERE IS A DOUBLE
STANDARD.
I THINK SHE'S A LEAN TO THE
LEFT AS FAR AS HE IS TO THE
RIGHT.
BUT I THINK A PRESIDENT BY AND
LARGE, UNLESS THERE'S ETHICAL
TURPITUDE OR SOMETHING THAT
SMACKS OF BIGOTRY AND RACISM,
NONE OF WHICH HAS BEEN PROVED
WITH ASHCROFT, THE PRESIDENT
OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE HIS
TEAM, AND THAT TEAM OUGHT TO
BE IN PLACE AND RUNNING.
BECAUSE OF THE 36 DAYS AFTER
THE ELECTION, THE BUSH
TRANSITION WAS ALREADY
TRUNCATED.
I THINK IT'S FAIR TO HIM AND
GOOD FOR THE COUNTRY, BARRING
ANY KIND OF MORAL SQUALOR, TO
GET THE TEAM IN PLACE.
AFTER ALL, THEY'RE GOING TO BE
HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
LET THEM HAVE RESPONSIBILITY
AS WELL.
>> I WAS STRUCK BY HOW SPEEDY
THE SENATE HAS MOVED ON THE
BALANCE OF THE CABINET, OTHER
CONFIRMATIONS... I THINK
THEY'RE MOVING WITH ALL DUE
SPEED.
WHAT'S MORE TO THE STORY, I
THINK, IS THE ONE NOMINATION
DELAYED IS ARGUABLY THE
CANDIDATE THEY KNOW BEST, THE
FORMER MEMBER OF THE CLUB, THE
SENATE.
SO I THINK IT'S REASONABLE.
IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT JOB.
WE DON'T NEED TO RUSH TO
JUDGMENT IN ANY WAY.
IF THE UNITED STATES SENATE IS
EXERCISING THEIR
CONSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
TO REVIEW AND CONFIRM
CANDIDATES, I THINK THAT'S
PRUDENT.
THIS GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN
AROUND FOR AWHILE.
WE CAN HAVE SOME TIME TO TAKE.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY
INSURRECTION THAT WILL RESULT
FROM THIS.
TO THE EXTENT THAT I THINK THE
DEMOCRATS ARE EVIDENCING THE
WILLINGNESS TO WORK WITH THE
INCOMING ADMINISTRATION AND
CONFIRMING PEOPLE QUITE
QUICKLY, INDEED MEETING ON
INAUGURATION DAY TO GET GOING
WITH KEY POSTS.
>> Gary Walker: IT'S PRUDENT
ON THE PART OF ALL LEGISLATORS
TO DO THIS BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT
GOING TO HANG A REPUBLICAN OR
DEMOCRATIC LABEL ON IT.
THE AMERICAN PUBLIC,
REGARDLESS OF THE RANCOR OVER
THE ELECTION, REGARDLESS OF
THE CLOSENESS OF IT, ARE
FORMULATED BEHIND SEVERAL
ISSUES, ONE OF THEM AT THE TOP
BEING EDUCATION, ACCORDING TO
A GALLUP POLL LAST WEEK WHICH
ASKED TO NAME PRIORITIES.
THERE WERE 15 CATEGORIES, AND
50% SAID THE TOP PRIORITY
SHOULD BE EDUCATION AND 44%
SAID IT SHOULD BE A HIGH
PRIORITY.
SO IF 94% OF THE COUNTRY
THINKS THIS IS WHAT YOU SHOULD
BE ACTING ON, AND CORRECTLY,
THE PRESIDENT, YOU KNOW, IS
STANDING UP AND SAYING, YOU
KNOW, WE'VE GOT TO TALK ABOUT
EDUCATION.
NOW, JUST BECAUSE YOU NAME
EDUCATION AS THE TOP PRIORITY,
WHAT YOU DO ABOUT IT IS JUST
GOING TO BE, I THINK, A
FASCINATING DISCUSSION.
AS WE ALL KNOW, THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT HAS ABOUT THIS MUCH
TO DO WITH EDUCATION COMPARED
TO STATES AND LOCALITIES.
WHAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
DOES --
>> IN TERMS OF FUNDING, NOT
NECESSARILY CONTROL.
>> Gary: RIGHT.
>> AND THAT'S ONE OF THE GREAT
ISSUES HERE.
IN FACT, GIVEN THE FEDERAL
FUNDING, WHICH IS RATHER
MINUSCULE COMPARED TO STATE
AND LOCAL, OUGHT THEY TO HAVE
THE KIND OF MONOPOLISTIC
CONTROL OR AT LEAST WHAT A LOT
OF PEOPLE, CONSERVATIVE
REPUBLICANS, THINK IS
EXCESSIVE CONTROL OVER WHAT
AUTONOMIES DO IN LOCAL SCHOOL
BOARDS?
I THINK THAT THIS IS -- YOU
KNOW, WE BOTH TALK ABOUT
EDUCATION.
BOTH SIDES NOW, BOTH TALKING
ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY AND
RESPONSIBILITY AND DISCIPLINE
AND THIS KIND OF THING, BUT
THOSE WORDS CAN HAVE AN
EXTRAORDINARILY DIFFERENT
CONNOTATION DEPENDING ON YOUR
IDEOLOGY.
JUST ONE FINAL POINT IF I MAY
ON THE ASHCROFT THAT IT'S
GOING TO BE VERY INTERESTING
TO SEE THE FINAL ROLL CALL IN
THE DEMOCRATIC SENATE BECAUSE,
OF COURSE, IT'S 50/50 WITH
DICK CHENEY AS VICE-PRESIDENT
CASTING THE DECISIVE VOTE.
BUT ALREADY FOUR DEMOCRATS --
DEL MILLER, BUSH WON THE SOLID
SOUTH; ROBERT BYRD OF WEST
VIRGINIA, BUSH WON WEST
VIRGINIA WHICH HADN'T HAPPENED
REALLY SINCE DWIGHT EISENHOWER
FOR REPUBLICANS AND RICHARD
NIXON IN '72, ON THE
REPUBLICAN SIDE, AND THEN THE
TWO SENATORS AT LEAST FROM
NORTH DAKOTA, BOTH DEMOCRATS,
IN A STATE BUSH WON
OVERWHELMINGLY.
SO I THINK WHAT YOU'RE GOING
TO SEE -- BECAUSE THIS IS IN
ESSENCE NOT SIMPLY STATESMEN
BUT IT'S ALSO POLITICAL.
I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE
DEMOCRATS WHO COME FROM STATES
THAT BUSH WON HANDSOMELY IN
THE END PERHAPS TILT THAT WAY.
BUT CLINTON AND SCHUMER ARE
OBVIOUSLY GOING TO BE AGAINST
ASHCROFT, AND A LOT OF THE
PRO-GORE STATES WILL HEAVILY
TILT THAT WAY.
BUT THE EDUCATION THING IS A
LOVELY MANTRA.
I MEAN IT'S MUCH LIKE GOD AND
MOTHERHOOD, BUT WE'LL SEE IN
THE END; THE DEVIL IS IN THE
DETAIL.
>> IT IS BUT, AGAIN, HOW FAR
THIS PARTY HAS COME.
IN 1994, AN IMPORTANT PART OF
THE CONTRACT FOR AMERICA WAS
THE ABOLITION OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
THAT WAS IN THE PARTY PLATFORM
--
>> Gary Walker: CONTRACT WITH
AMERICA.
>> YES, THAT BROUGHT NEWT
GINGRICH AND OTHERS INTO
POWER.
AND NOW THE FIRST SUBSTANTIVE
ISSUE OUT OF THE BOX, WHICH I
AS A COLLEGE PRESIDENT AM
DELIGHTED TO OBSERVE, IS
EDUCATION.
OBVIOUSLY MANY DETAILS LEFT TO
BE ON THE TABLE.
BUT THAT CHANGE AS A PARTY
MATTER, AS A PARTISAN MATTER,
I THINK IS NOTEWORTHY,
THAT THEY HAVE COME ALONG TO
UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF
IT.
AND BACK TO THE ASHCROFT
PIECE, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT
FOR SUCH A KEY POST AS
ATTORNEY GENERAL NOT TO
OVERPOLITICIZE THE INTENT OF
SENATORS.
THEY MAY VERY WELL VOTE QUITE
APART FROM HOW INDIVIDUAL
STATES VOTED.
OBVIOUSLY, I'M NOT SOPHOMORIC
AS TO THE POLITICS, BUT THAT
IS THE CASE AND I THINK
WE'D ALSO HAVE TO OBSERVE THAT
THIS IS A VERY POLITICAL
APPOINTMENT, TO BEGIN WITH, TO
GARNER.
SO POLITICS INJECTS
EVERYWHERE, BUT WE SHOULD BE
AT LEAST CAUTIONARY TO OBSERVE
THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE
REASONABLE JUSTIFICATION QUITE
APART FROM --
>> Gary Walker: BUT I GUESS
HAVING YOUR STATE --
(All talking simultaneously)
>> -- I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO
SEE AN ENORMOUS CORRESPONDENCE
BETWEEN WHO WON THOSE STATES
AND IN THE END, AMONGST
DEMOCRATS AT LEAST, WHICH WAY
THEY VOTE.
>> Gary Walker: LET'S GO BACK
TO PRIORITIES AGAIN.
I WAS STRUCK BY -- YOU DON'T
HANG YOUR HAT ON POLLS ALL THE
TIME, THOUGH THEY HAVE BEEN
FAIRLY CONSISTENT OVER THE
LAST LITTLE WHILE.
I'M LOOKING AT EDUCATION AS
OUR TOP PRIORITY.
OUT OF THE 15 ITEMS, WHERE DO
YOU THINK A MASSIVE FEDERAL
TAX CUT FINISHED ON THE
PUBLIC'S PRIORITY LIST OF 15
ISSUES?
>> I WOULD THINK QUITE DOWN
THE LINE.
>> Gary Walker: 14th.
14!
THE ONLY ONE BELOW IT IS
Mr. McCAIN'S ISSUE, WHICH IS
CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM.
BUT 14th!
BUT IN THE 90th PERCENTILE FOR
COMBINATIONS WERE KEEPING
AMERICA PROSPEROUS, ENSURING
LONG-TERM STRENGTH IN SOCIAL
SECURITY, HELPING SENIORS PAY
FOR PRESCRIPTION DRUGS,
BALANCE THE FEDERAL BUDGET,
MEDICARE, HEALTH CARE,
MILITARY SECURITY.
IMPROVING THE CONDITIONS FOR
MINORITIES AND THE POOR POLLED
80%, WAY UP THERE.
TAX CUTS, SECOND FROM THE
BOTTOM ON THE LIST OF AMERICAN
PRIORITIES, AND YET IT'S THE
FEELING IN WASHINGTON THAT
THIS IS THE ONE WE'RE GOING TO
GET DONE FIRST AND THIS IS THE
ONE THAT WE'RE GOING TO PUT
MOST OF OUR EMPHASIS AND
PRIORITY ON IN THIS
ADMINISTRATION.
DO YOU AGREE?
>> WELL, I DON'T KNOW.
THOSE WERE 15 CASES AND
OPTIONS GIVEN THE AVERAGE
RESPONDENT.
I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE
SEEN AMONG THEM RESTORING THE
AMERICAN MORALS, THE MORAL
CONTEXT OF THIS COUNTRY.
I THINK THAT WOULD RANK VERY
HIGH, VERY NEAR THE TOP.
THAT WAS, TO ME, THE GREAT
CONTEXT OF BUSH'S SPEECH,
WHICH I FOUND INSPIRATIONAL,
STIRRING.
I DIDN'T KNOW HE HAD IT IN
HIM, FRANKLY, FROM PAST
SPEECHES, BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS
THE FINEST INAUGURAL SINCE
KENNEDY'S IN '61.
YOU TALK ABOUT KEEPING THE
COUNTRY PROSPEROUS; BUSH WOULD
MAKE THE CASE -- I CERTAINLY
WOULD AS WELL -- THAT KEEPING
THE COUNTRY PROSPEROUS AND A
TAX CUT NOT ONLY ARE SOMETHING
NOT MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE BUT
ALSO VERY SOLIDLY LINKED.
HE BELIEVES, PARTICULARLY WITH
THE SLOWDOWN THAT WE HAVE NOW,
AT LEAST IN MANY QUARTERS,
THAT A TAX CUT OF $1.3
TRILLION CAN HELP KEEP THE
COUNTRY PROSPEROUS.
I THINK DEMOCRATS WILL NOT
SUPPORT THE 1.3, BUT I DO
THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A
COMMON GROUND AND MEETING OF
THE MIND ON THE NEED FOR THE
TAX CUT --
>> Gary Walker: WE'RE GOING TO
CUT TAXES --
(Talking simultaneously)
>> SO I THINK -- AND YOU KNOW
SOMETHING?
IF A TAX CUT A YEAR FROM NOW
HAS HELPED REGALVANIZE THE
ECONOMY, NO ONE IS GOING TO BE
SAYING, "GOSH, WE SHOULDN'T
HAVE HAD THAT TAX CUT."
IN THE END, IS THE COUNTRY
PROSPEROUS IS REALLY WHAT
VOTES ARE CONCERNED ABOUT.
>> Gary Walker: AGAIN, DEVIL
IN THE DETAILS, THOUGH.
ARE WE GOING TO HAVE A $1.3
TRILLION TAX CUT?
ARE WE GOING TO HAVE SOMETHING
BETWEEN WHAT Mr. GORE AND
Mr. BUSH HAD IN MIND --
>> IT DOESN'T FEEL THAT WAY TO
ME.
CERTAINLY THE TOP PRIORITY OF
PRESIDENT BUSH, AND NOTABLE
SUPPORT FROM CHAIRMAN
GREENSPAN I OBSERVED TODAY IN
THE PAPER...
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE INCOMING
TREASURY SECRETARY'S TESTIMONY
BEFORE HIS CONFIRMATION
HEARING, IT WAS A LITTLE BIT
DOWNGRADED IN HIS TESTIMONY IN
TERMS OF ITS IMPORTANCE.
I THINK THERE WILL BE SOME
FORM OF IT.
I CAN'T IMAGINE IT WILL NEAR
BUSH'S REPRESENTATION IN THE
CAMPAIGN.
BUT I THINK THERE IS AN
ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF ECONOMIC
CONCERNS.
I WOULD THINK REGALVANIZING IS
A LITTLE STRONG GIVEN THE 22
MILLION NEW JOBS THAT HAVE
BEEN CREATED IN THE PAST EIGHT
YEARS.
BUT THERE'S CERTAINLY AN
ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THAT,
WHAT WE CAN DO IN THE PROPER
CONTEXT.
I SUSPECT THE NEWS TODAY OF
GREENSPAN'S SUPPORT IS
POSSIBLY THE MOST IMPORTANT
FACTOR WE HAVE DISCUSSED THUS
FAR.
>> YOU KNOW WHAT'S INTERESTING
IS THAT GEORGE W. BUSH, WHO
LOVES HIS DAD ALMOST WITH A
REVERENCE THAT IS ENVIOUS I
THINK PROBABLY FOR ANY DAD IN
THIS COUNTRY, HE'S LEARNED
FROM WHAT HE DID WRONG.
BUT I THINK HE HAS LEARNED,
FRANKLY, FROM WHAT CLINTON DID
RIGHT, PARTICULARLY IN THE
ECONOMIC REALM.
BILL CLINTON CAME INTO OFFICE
IN JANUARY OF 1993 AND YOU
WOULD OBVIOUSLY KNOW THIS FAR
BETTER THAN I, BUT THE
STROKING OF ALAN GREENSPAN,
THE MEETING WITH HIM
PRIVATELY, THE IN ESSENCE
GETTING HIM ON YOUR SIDE,
CREATING A PERSONAL AND I
SUSPECT IDEOLOGICAL
RELATIONSHIP, IT WAS
ENORMOUSLY INFLUENTIAL,
SOMETHING THE PRIOR
ADMINISTRATION WISHES THEY HAD
DONE.
SO GEORGE W. BUSH, I THINK
YOU'LL FIND HIM A VERY FACILE
POLITICIAN, MUCH BETTER THAN
HIS DAD IN THAT SENSE, WILL
NOT MAKE DAD'S MISTAKE BUT
RATHER, AS I SAY, WILL SAY,
"LET US REASON TOGETHER."
AND I THINK THAT THE GREENSPAN
IS NOT A QUID PRO QUO,
NECESSARILY BUT PERHAPS IT
EVOLVES.
>> Gary Walker: ONE MORE TOPIC
QUESTION: WHAT IS THE ONE
AREA THAT THE UNITED STATES
CONGRESS AND THE NEW PRESIDENT
WILL AGREE ON AND ACT ON
FIRST?
WHAT AREA?
>> I SUSPECT SOME KIND OF
EDUCATION REFORM.
>> I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT.
I ALSO THINK IN TERMS OF
MILITARY PREPAREDNESS, NOT
WHAT BUSH WANTS, BUT IN THAT
AREA AS WELL.
>> Gary Walker: CURT SMITH,
"PERFECTLY CLEAR," AND MARK
GEARAN OF HOBART WILLIAM SMITH
COLLEGE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NEXT WEEK WE'LL LOOK AT
RE-DISTRICTING.
IT'S A BIG ISSUE.
SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.
(Music)
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