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Former Governor Christine Todd Whitman talks to Alan about the nature of today’s campaigns and how our elected officials need to be more bipartisan.
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Like -- of former New Jersey governor Christine Todd Whitman -- -- strategy group.
And served in the cabinet -- president hears of you pushes the head of the EPA administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
Appreciate you -- on the program.
Do you think.
Do you not happy -- the way this presidential race is going.
I'm very unhappy but that I I don't think it's that's what we.
-- need to have -- is the level of discussion is not where we needed for this country right now.
What do you think it got to this point.
Well because everything has gotten so partisan over the last decade or so where every issue is.
Not look that none of the issues -- put another way I look at true about policy president but through that -- partisan prism of what's gonna get me another another -- when you see.
Polls like the one that was released today that they better than eighty million people will not vote in the election.
What is -- it was all you have to do picture based out in your basement the most rapidly partisan and that means you -- in the red meat issues and the exciting -- And don't discuss the really important policy issues.
Do you think you're Jon Huntsman supporter.
You not as -- excited about the candidacy of -- run.
Well I god.
Wish it were otherwise I wish I had another choice that choice justice did.
Put some variety into it and may be forced.
The two campaigns that we have.
To start to focus on the Centre and talk about the issues that are most importance to the majority of people in this country instead of calling each other names.
But let's talk about the issues.
Is one party more guilty than the other.
You know the Republicans have been doing it longer but no parties are are just as guilty and that that's it's sad thing that Democrats are starting to the same thing with this ideological purity and moving to the left the Republicans did -- ideological purity and -- to the right.
That you probably still gonna commit rounding -- Barack Obama doesn't.
Well yeah I mean -- bad.
If -- it's been an interesting campaign to watch -- -- With the choice.
Paul Ryan -- he weathered Mitt Romney -- has put the economy front and center.
And that's the last place Obama wants to -- Because I don't think he wants to run on his record of the economy it's not that great now you can disagree and I know that the president will certainly point out some of the flaws are problems with what Paul Ryan has has been suggesting particularly in Florida Medicaid scare it will that was seniors and they're gonna lose everything which.
You know in the case about the we campaign to run.
But it was if it means to -- that we're gonna see even more negativism because that's where it's -- have to -- Beginning -- have the have run -- campaign and Brian and running themselves accusing the president of stealing.
From Medicare.
The united seventeen billion dollars that's that's literally the case is slowing the rate of growth aren't they being disingenuous.
And when they say they're stealing their robbing.
Real -- I would let president yeah.
And the language of both sides using our own way idle mind and -- they don't reflect what's really happening.
You know the cost somebody -- dirty Meyer was somebody else well you know it's.
Romney could -- we're better than that our issues are bigger than that we need to have a sensible discussion and it's hard to be heard unfortunately in this day and age during the political season when you want to talk some substance because.
With a 24/7 news cycle the pressure's always on the -- something that's gonna attract attention and if people aren't gonna vote and only have to worry about -- your face.
Then you're not gonna bother to get and anything that might erode your -- you're just gonna stick with those issues that appeal commandment and use that.
Most outlandish rhetoric that you can have.
Have you heard from the Romney campaign and Alison you've been pretty outspoken about visiting the Republicans reached at you today we don't like what you're saying so much.
No I don't think that.
We tell -- former New Jersey governor Christine Todd Whitman would you have a tougher time today getting elected.
Not later than that majors.
-- you've got a governor Chris Christie seems to be.
Quite non partisan some of the things he says I'm sure -- conservatives he's not.
He's not going along the party line it -- on -- Well he's not he he recognizes that not everything is.
It is a partisan issue and that not there's not one group that has no right answers from the other group -- so was wrong and oh by the way he also happens to have a Democrat legislature and he's gonna have to work with them.
And that's not met you like.
-- like Chris Christie yes to our agreement and only -- but yes I do like.
He had been a better -- survey for VP.
Or even for the top of the ticket.
Maybe the top of the ticket except he didn't he needs a little bit more experience and I think he'd say that -- did say that.
His time is it -- the -- it's good to finish out at least cure for first four years.
Would -- have made -- a better vice president certainly would have been compelling.
I'm not sure that that's a role that naturally that's him.
You're right -- and computer.
Really happy -- school with Scott what's going on your state right now.
Well I think we're taking on the right issues he's taking on the right if companies want some significant battles and carry out some things that that we tried to get on and couldn't get done and he's getting them done so well that's good.
Any predictions for it'll happen in November you think.
Obama we re elected.
I going to be very close election it I really think it's Mitt Romney's to lose you know that's going to be all about that the economy.
But Brian Nelson.
Brian help someone you Connie what it doesn't what he doesn't do whispering moderates to -- moderate women you know in fact I talked to a very active.
Democrats had been a big Obama supporter -- said I wish she was ready to vote for Mitt Romney.
And it was all that until he picked Ryan.
Did you think there's -- -- and women of the Republican Party is ms.
Ryan exemplify that.
I have a war on women -- voted he wanted to personhood amendment.
He doesn't believe in abortion even in cases of rape or incest he's voted along those lines does that hurt.
The party.
I think that does appointments certainly didn't have as much of that -- also the voting against the pay equity issues still.
Mean all that is and the.
Well -- Lilly Ledbetter act for example.
Yeah now now I mean that there are a lot of things that mean that he's not gonna polian.
Those people and we need to.
I mean.
The last election cycle presidential election cycle John McCain there were.
Some -- two million more self identified pro life Christian born again voters who went to the polls to vote for John McCain.
And voted for George Bush and his reelection.
So we got the -- We -- her head handed to methods should have been in my mind you have to have more than the base.
The -- fine you don't want to alienate them but you need more than men to to win.
Can you get those -- -- two million just talked about without.
You know what can you get the independence.
And the women without alienating the two million you just talked about.
Well that's the challenge -- I think you can you won't get all of them.
Yeah but you will get some of them.
And where they gonna -- yeah.
-- governor appreciate the everything you -- you -- thank you so much -- our program -- the --
