McClintock: 'In the race to the finish line'

CNN ^ | August 26, 2003 | CNN

[Recourse]

WASHINGTON (CNN) --With one recent poll showing actor Arnold Schwarzenegger falling behind Democratic Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante in California's gubernatorial recall race, some top Republicans are urging other GOP candidates to drop out of the race.

Businessman Bill Simon, the GOP nominee against Gov. Gray Davis last year, dropped out over the weekend. But Republican state Sen. Tom McClintock says he's in the race for good. McClintock, in Sacramento, California, spoke with CNN's Judy Woodruff on Tuesday. The following is an edited transcript.

[Recourse]

Goodbye, Gray. Hello, Cruz. Thanks for splitting the vote, McC. Without Arnold in the race, the Democrats win handily. McC has no centrist support. California now has 47% registered Democrats as opposed to 37% registered Republicans. McC, I like your stuff, but you can't win.

[Grand Old Partisan]

Maybe McClintock is angling for a job in the Bustamante administration.

[Thane_Banquo]

...And California will continue swirling around the toilet bowl slowly, waiting for the inevitable final drop into 3rd world status.

I will never understand why so many conservatives prefer losing to winning. McClintock should withdraw immediately, or risk destroying the state of California by electing Cruz Bustamove.

[BunnySlippers]

MCCLINTOCK: No. No. We've gotten no calls whatsoever.

What are the chances this guy is lying? If he's lying, why should I believe him?

[Cathryn Crawford]

Well, I think that's a good point. And that's why I'm prepared, at the appropriate time, to accept Arnold Schwarzenegger's endorsement.

Well, I like his attitude...

[Those_Crazy_Liberals]

McC has already shown he has no statewide appeal. Why he insists on losing the election for others too is beyond me.

[Those_Crazy_Liberals]

"What are the chances this guy is lying? If he's lying, why should I believe him?"

My favorite lie of his so far is when he said he was sad or disappointed that Simon got out of the race!

[Those_Crazy_Liberals]

We certainly wouldn't expect anything less from you.

[Cathryn Crawford]

Thank you. You wanna have another one? I distinctly remember who won the last and who ran away with their tail between their legs.

[risk]

California now has 47% registered Democrats as opposed to 37% registered Republicans. McC, I like your stuff, but you can't win.

First of all, this estimate assumes that no Democrats will vote for a candidate who has promised not to raise their taxes. They're property owners, employees, employers, and other kinds of tax payers as well as we Republicans are. McClintock is the only one who has been clear on both the immigration issue (including Proposition 187 that passed so popularly, and therefore must have been voted for by Democrats) and the racial anonymity act. It seems that he could actually win over Democrats if the Republican party could get behind him and sell his ideas on a bipartisan basis. It can and should be done. In a month from now, we can reassess the situation and decide what's best -- on our own.

[SunStar]

All the whiners on this thread should consider the fact that not everyone is willing to abandon all principles just to "win", including the owner/founder of FreeRepublic.com. I really wish you'd people would just let democracy work. This isn't a normal election. Just 25-30% of the vote can win...

[Cathryn Crawford]

It seems that he could actually win over Democrats if the Republican party could get behind him and sell his ideas on a bipartisan basis. It can and should be done. In a month from now, we can reassess the situation and decide what's best -- on our own.

Excellent point.

If McClintock doesn't have a chance, it's because Republicans refuse to get behind a conservative candidate. Arnold has likeability, but just because he was the Terminator in a movie doesn't mean he's going to do the same in real life.

McClintock has a real platform, a well enumerated platform.

[Cathryn Crawford]

All the whiners on this thread should consider the fact that not everyone is willing to abandon all principles just to "win", including the owner/founder of FreeRepublic.com. I really wish you'd people would just let democracy work. This isn't a normal election. Just 25-30% of the vote can win...

That's what everybody forgets, and that's what they need to be reminded of.

[Grand Old Partisan]

Bustamante is going to have around 40%, much more than Arnold's 35% and McClintock's 10%.

[Rabid Dog]

He is well known and well respected on both sides for his integrity. He doesn't need to lie. He's also known for answer a simple yes or no to difficult questions. He doesn't "waffle".

[Cathryn Crawford]

Bustamante is going to have around 40%, much more than Arnold's 35% and McClintock's 10%.

It's too early to tell; and it's too bad if that happens. Another 10 or 15% to McClintock and California could have a true conservative for the first time in a long time.

[Those_Crazy_Liberals]

LOL go back to your blog. Its much more of a challenge to read your writings to yourself.

[Torie]

WOODRUFF: Well, let me ask you quickly about your own plan. You say you would repeal the California state car tax. If you did, that is another $12 billion added to the state deficit. How would you make it up?

MCCLINTOCK: Actually, that is $4 billion. When we repeal the entire car tax, as I have advocated doing, it will be about $6 billion.

Woodruff needs a better researcher to prepare her before she goes on the air. Most don't know anything about the California budget, and are too lazy to find out, or don't want to know, because next year is going to be horrific (Davis' campaign slogan should be, "apres moi, le deluge"), but one thing anybody remotely familiar with California knows, is that the patently illegal unilateral by executive fiat car tax reinstatement raised 4 billion in revenue, not 12 billion (a tax which by the way which this elitist supports as a policy matter, but nevertheless believes beyond per adventure is illegal).

I guess Woodruff is just another lazy dumb bottle blond info babe (albeit an aging one).

Sorry, but I just felt the need to engage in this little bitch slap. Infra dig I know, but I plead as my defense, that Jimmy Stewart once invoked, on behalf of a client in a movie where he was a crimbo defense lawyer defending a client charged with murder, the defense of an "irresistible impulse." George C. Scott was the prosecutor. It worked for Jimmy in the movie, so I assume it will work for me.

A little levity for ya John to destract you from your arduous task of reducing the height of the wall.

[Nateman]

There are over 50 self proclaimed rats on this ballot. We are playing right into their game by highlighting the different republicans,when we should be highlighting all the other RAT choices.

[Cathryn Crawford]

LOL go back to your blog. Its much more of a challenge to read your writings to yourself.

Thanks for proving my point. The joke's on you.