HEADLINE: GOVERNOR BUSH DELIVERS REMARKS AND TAKES QUESTIONS FROM THE MEDIA AT A PELLA CENTRAL COLLEGE RALLY
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GOV. GEORGE W. BUSH (R-TX), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Thank you, Dean. And, Senator, thank you very much. I'm honored to have you by my side. Dean, thank you for your support.
Well, people are getting ready to vote here pretty soon, and I'm excited about my chances. I'mI look forward to traveling throughout Iowa with the senator by my side and some of the congressional delegation and other leaders reminding people that they've got to go to the caucus.
It's one thing to have a nice lead in the polls. What's important is to have a lead when they actually count who shows up, and so I'm working hard to say to those precinct chairmen and team leaders and county chairmen who we've recruited across thethe State of Iowa thank you for what you're doing and toand to kind of gear up an extra notch higher, get more energized, if possible, to get people to show up to vote next Monday night.
II've got a message that people are listening to. The agriculture sector's a very important part of theof Iowa life, and not onlynot only the folks who till the land but the financial services and equipment folks and the suppliers and, Dean, your endorsement helps send the message. Now we need to get the leaders to convince the people to show up.
I'd be glad to answer some questions.
Yeah? David?
QUESTION: Governor Bush, you said today that Senator McCain is your friend and you want him to be your friend when this campaign is over. Your friend is asking you to pull the ad that you're running in New Hampshire. Will you pull that ad for your friend?
BUSH: Senator McCainin the course of the debate right here in Iowa, I asked him about theabout the getting rid of employer benefits. I said, "Senator, why do you want to tax benefits of people, such as education or meals or transportation?" He didn't answer the question.
And so, evidently, he's changing his plan, and so we sent some people over to Washington yesterday to find out exactly what is the plan, how is he going to pay for his tax cuts, and I'm still awaiting the answer, David. I take him for his word.
I don't have the printed copy of the taxhis proposal, butbut I laid out exactly what he said in his proposal, and what his proposal waswas towas to get rid of employer-related benefits, except for a few items, and he - he didhe did carve out some items, and so I think heI think we need to understand how the plan works.
QUESTION: But now that your friend is...
BUSH: Well, I...
(CROSSTALK)
QUESTION: ... false and misleading...
BUSH: Well, II'm waiting for...
QUESTION: ... stop running the ad.
BUSH: I'm waiting for my friend to explain what his plan is, and then when I hear his plan, if it'sif, in fact, it works and it's different from what he initially said, then we'll see.
QUESTION: Governor?
BUSH: Yes, Dan.
QUESTION: In 1997, when you proposed a big tax plan for Texas, it included a net tax cut but some tax increases.
BUSH: Correct.
QUESTION: Why are you criticizing Senator McCain for doing the same thing?
BUSH: II'm not criticizing him. I just said how can he justify the $40 billion. II wanted him to explain, and then, evidently, he didn't want to explain the $40 billion. I just wanted to know, "John, why?" and I wanted him to be able to explain...
QUESTION: No, but youno, but you've said it is wrong to do that if he's doing that.
BUSH: Well, I thought he was, but II...
QUESTION: And why iswhy is it wrong for him to have essentially a net tax cut of $240 billion...
BUSH: Because I felt like he had the chance...
QUESTION: ... if you have a similar kind of program...
BUSH: Because I felt like education beneI think the people needed to know exactly what was in his plan. Evidently, it's not in his plan.
(CROSSTALK)
BUSH: OK. Well, we'll see. I just want to hear what he says, butbutwait a minute. Let me finish, Dan. This is a tax on educational benefits. That wasremember, on the question I asked, I said, "Do you think it makes sense to tax educational benefits?" I didn't think it did. I thought it was aI thought it was a policy I didn't subscribe to, and II wanted him to clarify why he thought that made sense.
QUESTION: Well, in that case, why didn't you put on an ad that said, "Why doesn't Senator McCain tell us exactly what's in the plan?" as opposed to...
BUSH: Maybe that will be...
QUESTION: ... saying what was in it and criticizing him for it?
BUSH: Well, maybe that will be the nextmaybe that will be the next ad.
Yeah?
QUESTION: Governor, what kind of report did you get from your aides who met with the McCain team yesterday?
BUSH: Nothing.
QUESTION: You didn't talk to them?
BUSH: No. I don'tthere was nothing to report.
QUESTION: I underthere was a meeting, right?
BUSH: Yeah, that'sthat's whatthere's the report: There was a meeting.
QUESTION: And what did they learn there?
BUSH: Nothing.
QUESTION: OK.
BUSH: Now IIlook, there's athere's a broader debate, and that is the debate about the size of the tax cuts andI mean, we can spend hours trying to figure out what he said, what he didn't say. Evidently, Dan, the question I asked him is no longer a valid question because heit's not a part of his plan, he claims. I just want to know what it is, and I think youyou...
QUESTION: Do you accept that it's no longer a part of his plan?
BUSH: I'd like to see what his plan is, and then I will accept it if it is not. I don't think he's...
QUESTION: You don't accept his word that that's not what he was planning to do and it would not be part of his plan?
BUSH: I amI thought he would have answered that in Iowa had Iduring the debate when I brought it up.
QUESTION: But hethey say they answered it subsequent to the debate and before your ad went up.
BUSH: I don'tI didn't hear that answer then. I'm sorry. I didn'tjust didn't hear the answer. He could have answered me when I asked the question, "John, why does it make sense to tax the educational benefits?" and if it wasn't his plan, what he should have said was, "Governor, that's not a part of my plan."
QUESTION: Well, let melet me ask a...
BUSH: He didn't say that.
QUESTION: What's the difference between your criticism of the ads that Steve Forbes has run against you about your tax record in Texas and the ad you are now running about Senator McCain and his tax plan?
BUSH: Because I had a tax cut, Dan. I cut the taxes. I led the State of Texas to the largest tax cut in 1997, and I have done so in 19 -- and I did so in 1999 as well.
Yeah?
QUESTION: Governor, abortion is a big issue here. You've said that you would appoint strict constructionists to the bench. I'm kind of curious what your definition of a strict constructionist is and...
BUSH: People whosorry.
QUESTION: ... andlet me just finish hereand if you could give us an example of a Supreme Court ruling that you believe was kind of the paradigm of a strict constructionist ruling and one that deviated grossly from that standard. What is your definition...
BUSH: I'm not going to get into Supreme Court rulings. I'm not a lawyer. I don'tyou know, but a strict constructionist is someone who views the Constitution and strictly interprets the Constitution for what it is and doesn't use the opportunity of the Constitution to really pass legislation oror legislate from the bench, and that's the position I've taken throughout the course of the campaign, Terry (ph), and it's going to be the position I'm going to take all the way through the campaign.
Yeah?
QUESTION: Governor Bush, when is the last time you talked with your mother about the abortion issue, and what was that conversation like?
BUSH: I can't remember the last time I talked to my mom about it. (INAUDIBLE) campaigning for me in New Hampshire.
QUESTION: Your daughters, howeverin your book, you talk about your daughterat least one of your daughters deviating with you on the issue of the death penalty. Do either of them, do you believe...
BUSH: I'm not going to talk about my daughter's point of view. That'smy daughters arethey're part of my private life, and I appreciate...
QUESTION: Well, you talked about the...
BUSH: Yeah. That's an example of something, but I'm not going to talk about my daughters during the course of the campaign, and I appreciate you respecting their privacy.
QUESTION: Governor, it's traditional for us before the caucuses to focus on getting people actually to their precincts. There seems to be some real urgency. Are you worried that because you've been so consistently ahead in the polls here that some of your supporters will stay home?
BUSH: I am worried that people say that "Governor Bush doesn't need my help. The polls are high and, therefore, he doesn't need my help." I do worry about that, and sobut I think all good campaigns have a sense of urgency to it, and I'mand so we're working hard to get out of the vote, and I hope peopleI hope people understand that the only vote that really matters is the one that takes place on caucus night.
Yeah? Frank?
FRANK: I just wanted to follow up on Terry's (ph) -- this strict construction thing has come up in the context of-when you're asked about abortion as a litmus test. What wouldby your reading of the Constitution, what would a strict constructionist be forced to conclude about the permissibility of abortion, Roe...
BUSH: Roe v. Wade was a reach, overstepped the constitutional bounds, as far as I'm concerned. I want to remind you I'm not a lawyer.
Yeah?
QUESTION: Governor, at a lot of these question-and-answer sessions you've had with voters both in New Hampshire and Iowa, sometimes the first question and many questions are about health care and the need to provide more health care to the uninsured. None of your major policy speeches so far have been specifically about health care, and now the president himself has come out with a plan. Do youare you going to propose a plan to do something about increasing the number of insured Americans?
BUSH: Yeah, I have. You've heard me discuss a lot of thea lot of what's going to be in the plan.
QUESTION: But it seems likeit's seems to be a concern that a lot of Americans have, and yet it hasn't been a priority of yours yet policy-wise.
BUSH: It's been a priority for me to answer the questions when I've been asked them, and I'll have aI'll lay out a formal speech, but you should be able to tell from the answers I've been giving, since you've been following me a lot, of what's going to be in the speech.
QUESTION: Will you have as a goal universal coverage?
BUSH: I'll have as a goal the idea of making sure people have got affordable health care and insurance policies to make sure they're able to pay for them.
Yeah?
QUESTION: If Roe v. Wade was a reach in terms of an operative definition of strict constructionism, can you give an example of another case that might have been a blatant violation of strict constructionism?
BUSH: No. Ithat's a technical answer, Terry (ph).
BLOOM: But let melet me follow up on that, if I could.
BUSH: No.
QUESTION: Steve Forbes has attacked you on that very issue, abortion, saying that you're a pacifist as opposed to someone like himself whom he describes as, you know, strict conservative (INAUDIBLE). Would youwhat do you think of being called a pacifist on the...
BUSH: I don't need to ask him that question. I've got a record of adoptionI've promoted adoptions in the State of Texas. I've signed a parental notification law, worked hard for abstinence education in the State of Texas. I've got a good, strong record. I've actually done an office. I've performed. So you mightyou might have to ask him about that.
Yeah?
CANDY CROWLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Governor, you know how this works. You can sometimes win in the Iowa caucus, and it can be seen as not having done as well as expected and ergo a loss. What do you expect to do? Do you have to do what the polls are showing? And I wanted to ask you also about, you know, your dad coining that phrase "Big Mo (ph)." Do you think what happens here in Iowa propels you into a New Hampshire...
BUSH: It didn't work. Big Mo (ph) didn't work. That'sI should tellI should ask thereverse the question. Maybe I ought to ask you all what iswhat's the definition of victory? I mean...
(CROSSTALK)
BUSH: Yeah. Thanks. Never mind.
Candy, IIthis is whatit's the interesting thing about elections. There's a lot of smart people that are watching the outcome, and they get to make the deterthey try to filter out the results. For me, I want to come in first place. I've said that II thought 37 percent would be a pretty good total. After all, that's the highest that any person has got in the Republican caucuses in a crowded field, and I hope I can do that.
But, you're right, I mean, sometimes victory may not mean victory. I hope it means it in my case. I have no idea-I feel good about my chances. We've got a good organization, andand should I win here, it'sI've got a tough fight in New Hampshire. I understand that, and I'm looking forward to going and taking my case to the people in New Hampshire.
Yeah.
QUESTION: Governor, you were just saying before that you believe in appointing strict constructionists, and you think Roe v. Wade is a reach. Is there any reason people can conclude from those two positions that that decision or that law on the land right now would be in jeopardy should you become president and appoint a justice?
(CROSSTALK)
BUSH: ... name strict constructionists to the Supreme Court.
Yeah?
QUESTION: On abortion, if a friend or relative soughtwho was raped sought your counsel aboutand pregnant because of that rape sought your counsel about abortion, what would you give them in terms of advice?
BUSH: I would say that Ifirst of all, I believe thatI believe in three exceptions when it comes to abortion, but I would say Iyou know, I would hope I would be able to evoke enough sympathy from the rape case that I could help comfort her as a friend.
QUESTION: (INAUDIBLE) what she should do?
BUSH: It's up to her.
QUESTION: What action should the FDA take on the abortion pill? Should they authorize it to be sold and distributed to the public, and if they do, would you uphold the...
BUSH: I'm inclined not to accept that (INAUDIBLE) by the FDA. It's abortion.
QUESTION: And if you became president, if it had already been done, would you rescind that?
BUSH: That's too hypothetical. We'll see.
Yeah?
QUESTION: Governor, what did you think about your brother tossing people out of his office the other day when some black legislators staged a sit-in there?
BUSH: Well, I was asked about it. I think Carl (ph) asked me. Evidently, he used a three-letter word in the plural, and I said, "I hope my mother didn't hear him say that." But it sounds like he's resolved the issue well. Jeb's a good leader, and he's got a good heart. He ishe's concerned about making sure people have full access to the American dream, and I didn't see the fullall I saw was TheThe Postwhat happened afterafter the incident. Evidently, they shook hands, and they moved on evidently.
QUESTION: Governor, when you say that you would appoint strict constructionists and you say that you believe Roe v. Wade was an overreach, doesn't that invite speculation that you're saying that you have an anti-abortion...
(CROSSTALK)
BUSH: ... going to name strict constructionists to the court, people who strictly interpret the Constitution and who do not leaveuse the bench as a way to legislate. That's...
QUESTION: Isn't it incumbent on you to name a case that youthat helps us understand what the definition of strict constructionism...
BUSH: Not right this second, sir. Not right this second.
QUESTION: When if not now?
BUSH: Yeah?
QUESTION: Governor, if Steve Forbes is incorrect in characterizing you as not being as strong as he and other Republicans are when it comes to abortion, whywhy don't you ever mention it in your speeches and especially in a crowd like this wherethis rally you had wherewhen I was talking to people beforehand, a lot of them indicated they wanted to hear what you said about...
BUSH: And they came up and asked me about it. I've got a good record in the State of Texas. A lot of people know my record. I've been a pro-life governor. I've got a record on parental notification, a record on abstinence education, a record on promoting adoptions.
QUESTION: Governor...
(CROSSTALK)
QUESTION: Gore took a break in his campaign with Mr. Bradley the other day and criticized you as being anti-labor in Texas and criticized your tax plan. First of all, are you surprised thathe's got his own racethat he would attack you now...
BUSH: Yes.
QUESTION: ... and what would be your response?
BUSH: My response is I hope to get to meet him in the general election, and...
QUESTION: Do you expect that he'll be the nominee?
BUSH: I don't have any idea. I don't have any idea. It may come as a surprise to you, but I'm staying really focused on my own race. I'mI'm worried about getting the vote out. I'm worried about the people showing up at the caucuses here Monday night. There can be ample time for whoever the nominee of the Democrat Party is and whoever the nominee of the Republican Party is to square off, and I take it as a huge compliment. The president did this earlier in the yearor earlier last year at times, was willing to, you know, talk about my campaign. I thought that was a huge compliment. I'm glad the vice president views me as a threat. The biggest threat is the people of Iowa not going to the caucuses.
Thank you very much. I look forward to seeing you at the next stop.
BLOOM: Governor Bush, just real quick, there were two strong conservative voices today...
BUSH: What now?
BLOOM: William Safire today in an op-ed piece and The Wall Street Journal editorial page both came out today essentially charging that you and your forces have stopped John McCain from getting on the ballot in New York.
BUSH: The Republican Party, Dave, is making this decision. The chairman of the Republican Party is enforcing the rules in place, and people must get grassroots support to get on the ballot of New York. It's been this way for every single campaign, and the party can deal with this issue. They're plenty capable of making the decision of whether they ought to enforce the rules.
Thank you, all.
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