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Saturday, January 22, 2000

With the Iowa Caucuses just two days away, both front-runners and lesser-known candidates are canvassing the state trying to connect with voters and motivate them to head to the polls. As he greets each new group of voters, Texas Gov. George W. Bush is aiming to definitively prove his front-runner status, emphasizing his tax plan and trying to avoid touchier subjects like abortion.

Bush's national campaign spokesman, Ari Fleischer, joined "Free Media" to talk about Bush's presidential bid, campaigning in the final hours before the presidential nominating process begins and the candidate's vision for running the country. The transcript follows:

Free Media: Good afternoon, Ari, and welcome. Monday night's caucus is just around the corner. What are Gov. Bush and the campaign focusing on in these last few hours?

Ari Fleischer: Thanks for inviting me. We're focusing on getting out the vote in the final days and hours. The most important thing is to make sure the people actually get to the polling places. The governor said yesterday that he was worried about the problem of complacency. It's very important to get the people who support the governor to the polling place.

Fairfax Station, Va.: Gov. Bush, In this day of so many Americans asking the candidates "What are you going to do to solve my health problem, financial problem, and every other problem I have?" Will you commit to us that you will take President Kennedy's lead of "Don't ask what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country" and reduce the size of this immense government and cut as much as possible the freedom stifling taxes that continue to grow and grow? Thank you.

Free Media: This question came in addressed to Gov. Bush, but maybe you can address it, Ari.

Ari Fleischer: The governor agrees with the premise of the question. That's why he's announced a tax plan that cuts taxes by $483 billion dollars over five years, so they keep their money, and so the politicians can't even get their hands on it to waste it. Politicians can't spend what they don't have.

Free Media: The abortion issue arose again this past week, with Gov. Bush's remark that Roe v. Wade was a stretch. The press keeps asking about it and his Republican opponents keep trying to get an answer on running mates and judicial appointments. What if this issue continues to dog the governor? Will he answer the questions more at length?

Ari Fleischer: One, we don't view this as an issue that's dogging or not dogging. We view this as a very valid part of the national discourse. The governor has been crystal clear on his views: He's pro-life with the exception of rape and incest. As governor of Texas he has championed compassionate alternatives to abortion. He passed and signed into law a strong parental notification law, he developed and won legislative approval for the nation's strongest adoption reform laws, which has led to a dramatic increase in adoptions in Texas. And as president, Gov. Bush will sign a ban on partial birth abortions.

Free Media: Ari had one clarification....

Ari Fleischer: Gov. Bush is pro-life with the exception of rape, incest and the life of the mother.

Colorado Springs, Colo.: When Vice President Gore was in the Senate, he voted to TABLE the D'Amato amendment portion of S. 2355 in opposing the death penalty for drug-related killings. He has also voted to oppose the death penalty in cases where there is a murder of a law enforcement officer or ordered by drug kingpins. He has also voted to oppose the D'Amato amendment portion of S. 1241 which would allow for the death penalty to be imposed for crimes where a firearm is involved and the crime is capital in nature. My question is why hasn't somebody in the Bush campaign, such as yourself or George W., mentioned to the American public that Vice President Gore has a voting record that would suggest he is soft on crime while he was in the Senate?

Ari Fleischer: Gov. Bush hopes he will be able to and looks forward to closing the Clinton-Gore chapter of the modern presidency. He hopes he will be the standard bearer of our party so we can take back the White House. But first he has to concentrate during the nomination. If nominated he will have plenty to say about why his low-tax, strong-education, compassionate conservative record is better than Gore's high-tax, big-government record. But we'll wait till the primary voters have their say.

Free Media: The last question about Vice President Gore is a reminder of how hard it can be to run as front-runner. How does that status affect your strategy?

Ari Fleischer: Being a front-runner is a mixed blessing. Of course, first place is exactly where you want to be. First place also makes you a target for the press and opponents. All things considered, however, there's no place we'd rather be.

Dallas, Tex.: How can you say that the Governor is pro-life when roughly one third of all U.S. executions were performed under his watch. This while the State provides only $5,000 to defense, while it spends $150,000 to prosecute a capital murder case?

Ari Fleischer: The governor supports capital punishment for the most violent and heinous crimes because he believes it saves lives.

Mason City, Iowa: How many Yankees fans are on the Bush staff?

Ari Fleischer: I'm the biggest one myself. Of course the governor is a Rangers fan. And I'm not sure how to toe the party line. I think I'll still support the Yankees. Sorry, Governor.

Greenbelt, Md.: Where does G.W. stand on environmental issues: a) Top soil erosion, b) Rain forest depletion, c) Natural resources – mining, timber industries?

Ari Fleischer: The governor believes in a balanced approach to protecting the environment so we can preserve our green spaces and our natural resources by building a conservation partnership between the federal government, state and local governments and the stake-holders, all of whom he believes share a commitment to protect our land. He also has high hopes for what technology will bring. Already we're seeing signs – cars with better gas mileage, technological ways of reducing hazardous wastes and making plants and facilities more efficient with less emissions. Texas has a record of decreasing pollution in the air and he accomplished this with a cooperative approach. He does not believe you can sue your way to clean air. He believes in a cooperative approach that brings people together on behalf of the environment.

Free Media: That is our last question for Bush spokesman Ari Fleischer. Many thanks for your time today, Ari. And thanks to our readers for your questions.

Ari Fleischer: Here is to victory Monday. (And go Yankees!)

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