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Politics : PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: FastC6 who wrote (615518)	8/31/2004 11:15:00 PM
From: Mr. Palau	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 769670

Schwarzenegger on abortion, gays, environment (CNN) --For the first time since he announced his intention to replace California Gov. Gray Davis in the upcoming recall election, actor Arnold Schwarzenegger Wednesday explained his views on a variety of topics including abortion, homosexuality, and the environment. Sounding more like a Democrat than a Republican, the GOP candidate said in a radio interview that he is pro-choice but does not support what critics call "partial-birth" abortions, and said he agrees with parental notification for underage girls seeking abortions, unless there is abuse or other problems in the girl's family. In a rapid-fire series of questions by radio talk show host Sean Hannity on the nationally syndicated Sean Hannity Show, Schwarzenegger, on the phone from California, said he does not support gay marriage, but does approve of some kind of domestic partnership. "I think that gay marriage is something that should be between a man and a woman," he said, a misstatement in a rush to keep up with the staccato-like delivery of the questions. He also supports the Brady Bill, which tightened gun control measures. "I would also like to close the loophole of the gun shows," Schwarzenegger said, referring to the fact that people can buy weapons at such exhibitions without a background check. Delving into issues closer to the hearts of Californians, the candidate said he does not support giving driver's licenses to illegal aliens, but he said the issue of offering them other services is not so clear. "That is an issue with the federal government because the governor has nothing, [not] really much power over those things," Schwarzenegger said. The actor also said he does not support the legalization of drugs, except for the medicinal use of marijuana; he is in favor of limited school vouchers; and he supports allowing schools to decide whether prayer will be part of their day. But he came out strongly against allowing oil companies to drill off the coast of California. "No, absolutely not, I think that we should stop the oil drilling and I think that our state government and federal government should negotiate to buy back the leases," the candidate said. As for his economic views, Schwarzenegger said he's "fiscally conservative." "I don't believe in spending. The first thing I would do when I go into Sacramento is put a spending cap on those politicians, because they just can't help themselves, they're addicts, they should go to an addiction place because it's ridiculous to spend money they don't have," he said. The candidate said he would be willing to take a pledge stating that barring any state emergencies, he would not raise taxes on California residents. One of Schwarzenegger's top advisers, former Secretary of State George Shultz, told CNN Wednesday that tax cuts are a top priority of the Schwarzenegger team, "but we're a long ways from there." "The first thing we have to do is get the operating budget under control and start getting the debts paid off," Shultz said from Palo Alto, California. "If you can get the spending under control and you get California's costs under control by reforming the workman's compensation system and other such things, then the California economy starts to move forward, and it starts to generate a lot of revenue with the current tax system," Shultz added. Of his fellow 134 candidates in the October 7 election, Schwarzenegger only talked about Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante, saying the lieutenant governor is the same as incumbent Davis. "It's the same mold," he said. Debates among candidates are being organized now, the actor said. Find this article at: cnn.com SAVE THIS \| EMAIL THIS \| Close Check the box to include the list of links referenced in the article.

To: FastC6 who wrote (615518)	8/31/2004 11:15:56 PM
From: Nikole Wollerstein	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 769670

TEAM KERRY wants President Bush to denounce an ad campaign by an independent group, called Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, which has criticized Sen. John Kerry's Vietnam record. After months of the Democrats smiling and winking as well-funded independent groups that share their political views distorted the record on President Bush's service in the Air National Guard, they now are outraged when the same tactics are turned against them. How dare the Republicans stoop as low as they have. Now Team Kerry claims that the Bushies are behind the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth ads attacking Kerry's military record, even though there is no proof that Bush League is behind the attacks. News flash (to the New York Times, which ran its story on the funding behind the anti-Kerry ad on page one): People who support Bush have paid for the anti-Kerry ads. Not a news flash: People who support Kerry have bankrolled anti-Bush ads. For months now, readers have deluged my e-mail inbox, urging me to question Kerry's Vietnam record and to examine whether Kerry had earned his three Purple Hearts. I have responded with unrestrained scorn. After all, I answer, Kerry saw more combat than Bush. Besides, the Kerry of today is running for the White House. The Democratic National Committee, at its convention in Boston, alas, spent more time showcasing Soldier Kerry, with scant attention to Sen. Kerry. On the one hand, it was a positive development that Democrats chose to salute military service. On the other hand, the Kerry who began his convention speech telling America he was "reporting for duty" was something of a farce. How low the Democrats have sunk. Now DNC Chairman Terry McAuliffe, one- time enforcer for the draft-evading Bill Clinton, crows about Kerry's military prowess while bashing Bush for being "AWOL." When party biggies are reduced to arguing that their guy is better because he served in a war to which they objected, truly they have run out of compelling issues. Note that Kerry's charges -- that the Bushies are behind the Swift boat ads -- come as the new Swift boat spots attack, not Kerry's military record, but what Kerry said in public testimony before the U.S. Senate in 1971. In that testimony, Kerry spoke of atrocities committed by American soldiers -- this is testimony for which some vets never will forgive Kerry. Now Kerry is outraged that his critics are repeating what he said -- quoting the speech with which he launched his political career. Bob Dole, speaking for a generation for which military service has a different standard, quipped on CNN Sunday, Kerry is in the hot seat for a reason: "I mean, one day he's saying that we were shooting civilians, cutting off their ears, cutting off their heads, throwing away his medals or his ribbons. The next day he's standing there, 'I want to be president because I'm a Vietnam veteran.' " On Sunday, a Washington Post story looked at charges that Kerry did not earn all of his medals and found that "although Kerry's accusers have succeeded in raising doubts about his war record, they have failed to come up with sufficient evidence to prove him a liar." No surprise there. If there's one thing I've learned in life, it is to discount what is said by any group or person that claims to represent "the truth." (This means filmmaker Michael Moore.) Still, as Dole said, "Not every one of these people can be Republican liars." Indeed, the Washington Post story also found holes in the Kerry war- hero hagiography and reported that Kerry refused to release documents related to his military record. Kerry, of course, would not be expected to release this information if he had not made his military tenure the core of his campaign for president. It shouldn't be this personal, but it is because the race has become all about personality. It's odd: America is at war. Kerry and his fellow Democrats have disagreed with Bush on many aspects of the war. But rather than argue on the big issues, Camp Kerry has focused on nasty little digs. Take Kerry campaign spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter's response to Bush spokesman Scott McClellan's statement that Kerry was "losing his cool" on the Swift boat controversy. Cutter shot back, "Mr. McClellan needs to understand that John Kerry is not the type of leader who will sit and read 'My Pet Goat' to a group of second-graders while America is under attack" -- a shot at Bush for remaining in a Florida classroom for several minutes after learning of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Talk about thin-skinned. I guess that's what happens when you are fed a dose of your own medicine. E-mail Debra J. Saunders at dsaunders@sfchronicle.com.