CNN "State of the Union" - Transcript: Interview With Ohio Governor John Kasich

Interview

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BASH: Voters across the country head to the polls in just one month. And President Trump is on the campaign trail telling his supporters -- quote -- "In a certain way, I'm on the ballot."

Is President Trump hurting or helping his party?

Joining me now is Republican Governor John Kasich of Ohio.

Good morning, Governor. Let me get straight to it.

The Senate has confirmed Brett Kavanaugh. He is now a justice. Are you happy about that?

GOV. JOHN KASICH (R), OHIO: Well, I'm not happy about the process, Dana.

We are operating...

BASH: Are you happy? Let's just start with him. Are you happy he's on the Supreme Court?

KASICH: Well, it's not about a matter of happy.

I mean, he's on the Supreme Court. We have to respect the fact that the Senate made that decision. We had two people who I deeply respect, Murkowski and Collins, two Republican senators, that saw it differently.

I have not had a chance to read that report, as have the rest of Americans. But the decision has been made. And I respect that decision. And we would hope that the court will now move in a direction where they can make decisions.

And I would hope that the court will not become ideological. That would begin to erode confidence in the court. In fact, confidence in the court has already been eroded.

But, Dana, let me tell you what I'm particularly worried about. Our leaders need to stop playing a zero sum game, like a -- flipping a coin, you know, I win, you lose.

Leaders need to figure out a way to bring people together. Now, they can have a victory, but they can't leave the person who loses vanquished. And that's so much of what we're seeing.

And in a zero sum game, we get to a point where any tactic is acceptable, and then we use our tongues and we say things that we ultimately can deeply regret. And the tongue can also be powerful through the use of social media.

Now, what's required? It requires leadership to stabilize, to make sure that they're not vanquishing their opponent.

And I'm going to give you a perfect example. I was thinking about this morning on the ride over here, John McCain, in the middle of a presidential campaign -- remember, that's a guy who we memorialized about three weeks ago, where Republicans, Democrats celebrated his life and his leadership.

[09:30:03]

He was a town hall meeting, and somebody started viciously accusing Barack Obama. McCain, in the middle of a campaign, said: I don't agree with you, and knock it off and stop it.

BASH: Senator...

KASICH: And, as I recall, there were people who -- there were people in that meeting who booed him.

But, you see, it wasn't: I need to win at all costs.

And that's where we're operating today, Dana. And it needs to stop, and our leaders need to lead the way.

BASH: Talking so much about the Senate, I accidentally called you senator.

Governor, my question for you is, you have been talking about this, frankly, as you know, sort of screaming into the wilderness about this need to step up.

What makes you think now is going to be any different?

KASICH: Well, look, the first thing is, when people ask, why should they vote, now they have a chance in November to vote and declare their message loud and clear.

But it -- what has to happen, Dana, and at all levels -- you know, if you're the CEO of a company, because the Kavanaugh situations has got people yelling and screaming at each other who are just next to each other's offices. CEOs need to calm it down.

You know, the business leaders are important. Our religious leaders should be calming this down and offering respect for others.

And our political leaders, they need to realize that, at the end, they're going to be out, and no one is going to remember them.

BASH: So...

KASICH: I saw George Mitchell the other day. And he was a fine leader. He could be partisan, but he was a fine leader. No one remembers who he is. All he has is his reputation.

And so what I'm suggesting is, our leaders need to be bigger than themselves. I was there at a time when I saw leaders who could embrace and make sure that it wasn't a win-loss situation. BASH: So, Governor, you're talking about the midterms. We are one

month away from the midterm elections.

KASICH: Yes.

BASH: President Trump racked up some pretty big wins this week. Unemployment just hit a 49 year-low. He got Mexico and Canada to come to the table on trade, two Supreme Court justices so far.

Is President Trump, do you think, going to help Republicans now in November?

KASICH: OK, well, I mean, first of all, the court, it could be a short-term win.

If the people this country are so divided, because -- let me tell you what I think a president should do. You're going to nominate a Supreme Court justice, and you're a Republican, you know you're going to have a conservative. I support conservatives on the court.

But it would make sense to work with a Democrat who would say, OK, I know it's going to be conservative. All right, let me help you to pick somebody so that we don't go through this.

We didn't go through this with Gorsuch.

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BASH: So, should they not have pushed Kavanaugh the way that they did? Was it shortsighted?

KASICH: I just -- I think the whole process -- look, it's both sides. A pox on both houses for the way this was conducted.

And people in the country are appalled. That's because it's like, I got to win, and you got to lose.

So that is not -- look, sometimes, you can have a short-term win, and the long term, you have to wonder about the soul of our country.

Let me ask you this, Dana. We have very low unemployment. Why are people so unsettled? You know why? Because people don't feel as though they're being included. They don't feel they're being given a fair shake. People, to some degree, have become tribal. And our leaders have encouraged it.

So, what do I think's going to happen in the midterms? I think it's going to be a good year for Democrats. How good? I'm not so sure, because if their message is abolish ICE and things like that, if -- they're not going to have a big wave.

But Republicans, they need -- look, I got Republican candidates running out here. And they say, frankly, when they talk about the approach in Ohio, which is include everybody, to make sure people at the top and people at the bottom can be hopeful, they do better when they're out campaigning door to door. It's -- the natural progression of things is, when the president's in two years out, the other party does well. I don't know how big the wave is going to be. So we got to see what happens in November, but then we have to move beyond that election and try to get this country unified.

Think about it. The Congress is disrespected. The press is disrespected. The Justice Department is disrespected. And the court is beginning to lose respect.

That is a bad place for our country to be. And we have got to stop it. And it starts, Dana, really with you and me.

BASH: Perfect way to leave it.

Governor John Kasich, joining me this morning from Ohio, appreciate it.

KASICH: We will fix it. We will fix this.

BASH: Thanks.

KASICH: We all have good hearts. We will fix this.

BASH: Thank you, Governor. Thank you.

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