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**

>>> GOOD EVENING.

I'M SHAUNA SANFORD.

WELCOME TO THIS SPECIAL

EDITION OF "LOUISIANA: THE

STATE WE'RE IN."

TONIGHT THE SPOTLIGHT IS ON

THE TWO MEN RUNNING FOR

GOVERNOR.

DEMOCRAT JOHN BEL EDWARDS

AND REPUBLICAN DAVID VITTER.

THEY WERE KIND ENOUGH TO SIT

DOWN WITH ME FOR ONE-ON-ONE

INTERVIEWS.

ASKED MANY OF THE SAME

QUESTIONS, THEY TALKED OPENLY

ABOUT THEIR FAITH, FAMILIES,

THE POLITICAL ATTACKS AND WHY

EACH SHOULD EARN YOUR VOTE TO

BECOME THE NEXT LEADER OF

LOUISIANA.

SINCE OUR CONVERSATIONS,

THERE HAVE BEEN NEW

DEVELOPMENTS MAKING THIS RACE

ALL THE MORE INTRIGUING.

DAVID VITTER WAS ENDORSED BY

FORMER GOVERNOR MIKE FOSTER,

BUT VITTER'S REPUBLICAN

CHALLENGER DURING THE

PRIMARY, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR

JAY DARDENNE, CROSSED PARTY

LINES AND ENDORSED DEMOCRAT,

JOHN BEL EDWARDS.

IN A MOMENT, YOU WILL HEAR

THE CANDIDATES TALK ABOUT

SOME ISSUES BUT WE'LL SAVE

MOST OF THEM FOR THE LIVE

LPB GOVERNOR'S RUNOFF DEBATE

ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 10th,

AT 7:00 P.M.

THE FIRST DEBATE OF THE RUNOFF.

WE CERTAINLY DON'T WANT YOU

TO MISS IT.

DURING OUR INTERVIEWS, MY

FIRST QUESTION TO EACH

CANDIDATE, GIVEN THE PRESSING

PROBLEMS OF THIS STATE FROM

THE DREADFUL BUDGET SITUATION,

TO UNDERFUNDED HIGHER

EDUCATION AND HEALTH CARE

SYSTEMS, POOR INFRASTRUCTURE,

AND A LIST THAT GOES ON AND

ON, WHY DO THEY EACH WANT

THIS JOB?

>> YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, WENDY

AND I THOUGHT LONG AND HARD

ABOUT THE RACE BEFORE WE DE

SITE -- DECIDED.

WE DID DECIDE I COULD HAVE THE

BIGGER IMPACT HERE IN LOUISIANA

TO BUILD THE TEAM TO TAKE ON

EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE TALKING

ABOUT.

YOU'RE CERTAINLY RIGHT.

WE ARE IN THE DITCH AS A STATE.

WE HAVE ENORMOUS CHALLENGES.

BUT I'M EVEN MORE CONVINCED

THAT IF WE HAVE STRONG

LEADERSHIP AND CLEAR SOLUTIONS

AND THAT'S WHAT OUR CAMPAIGN IS

BUILT AROUND, WE CAN HAVE OUR

BEST DAYS AHEAD OF US.

>> I DECIDED TO RUN BECAUSE WE

HAVE TO HAVE A CHANGE IN

DIRECTION.

WE HAVE TO HAVE A GOVERNOR WITH

THE LEADERSHIP ABILITY TO BRING

PEOPLE TOGETHER TO PURSUE THE

COMMON INTEREST.

AND IT'S HARD.

BECAUSE THESE ARE DIFFICULT

TIMES.

THE DECISIONS WE ARE GOING TO

HAVE TO MAKE ARE GOING TO BE

DIFFICULT.

BUT WE NEED SOMEONE WITH THE

RELATIONSHIPS IN THE

LEGISLATURE AND WITH LOCAL

GOVERNMENT AND WITH THE

BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND THE

HIGHER EDUCATION COMMUNITY TO

BRING IT ALL TOGETHER, BRING

PEOPLE TOGETHER TO PURSUE THE

COMMON INTEREST.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH WENDY FOR

ALL OF YOUR LOVE AND SUPPORT.

>> NOW, YOU'RE THE ONE RUNNING

FOR OFFICE, BUT IF YOU ARE

ELECTED, REALLY YOUR FAMILY IS

ELECTED.

>> YEAH, SURE.

>> YOU JUST MENTIONED YOUR

WIFE, WENDY.

COULD YOU TALK A LITTLE ABOUT

HER AND YOUR FAMILY AS YOU HAVE

EMBARKED ON THIS JOURNEY?

>> YOU ARE CERTAINLY RIGHT, IT

IS A FAMILY ENDEAVOR BY

DEFINITION AND THEY HAVE BEEN

ALL IN AND THEY COULDN'T BE

MORE SUPPORTIVE.

WENDY HAS BEEN TRAVELING THE

STATE.

SHE IS A GREAT PARTNER IN ALL

OF THIS.

SHE WORKS FULL-TIME.

GENERAL COUNSEL FOR THE

ARCHDIOCESE OF NEW ORLEANS, BUT

SHE HAS BEEN ALL IN AND IT HAS

BEEN A FUN EXPERIENCE GOING

AROUND THE STATE.

>> I WAS INTRODUCED BY MY WIFE

WHO HAS BEEN MY PARTNER FOR 26

YEARS.

>> TOGETHER WE HAVE THREE

CHILDREN.

AND WE HAVE TRAVELED THE STATE

TOGETHER.

AND THEY NOW KNOW WHAT I'VE

ALWAYS KNOWN AND WHY I KNEW

WHEN I WAS TRAVELING AROUND THE

WORLD IN THE ARMY, WE WERE

COMING HOME.

LOUISIANA IS A SPECIAL PLACE.

>> TALK A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR

FAITH AND WHAT THAT MEANS TO

YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.

>> LIKE MOST LOUISIANANS, THAT

IS AN ABSOLUTE ANCHOR FOR WENDY

AND ME.

AND CERTAINLY IT HAS GOTTEN ME

THROUGH SOME VERY TOUGH TIMES

AND HELD OUT THE PROMISE OF

REDEMPTION AND FORGIVENESS,

WHICH HAS BEEN SO SPECIAL IN MY

LIFE.

CERTAINLY IT INFORMS WHERE I'M

COMING FROM.

CERTAINLY I'M A THOUSAND

PERCENT PRO LIFE.

HONORED TO BE ENDORSED BY

NATIONAL RIGHT TO LIFE,

LOUISIANA RIGHT TO LIFE.

CERTAINLY IT INFORMS MY BELIEF

IN THE SANCTITY AND IMPORTANCE

THE INDIVIDUAL AND THAT A

FREEDOM THAT WE NEED TO GIVE

THE INDIVIDUAL AND HELP WE NEED

TO GIVE THE INDIVIDUAL TO

EMPOWER THAT PERSON.

IT INFORMS WHY I THINK A BIG

CIVIL RIGHTS ISSUE TODAY IS

EDUCATION.

BECAUSE SO MANY POOR FAMILIES

DON'T HAVE ADEQUATE

OPPORTUNITY.

AND IF THEY'RE CONFINED AND

RELEGATED TO A FAILING SCHOOL,

THAT'S LIKE AN ECONOMIC DEATH

SENTENCE AND THAT'S WRONG.

SO IT INFORMS ALL OF THOSE

THINGS.

>> I WAS RAISED BY MY MOTHER

AND FATHER.

MY MOTHER IS A CHARITY HOSPITAL

NURSE.

MY FATHER WAS A SHERIFF.

THEY HAD EIGHT CHILDREN IN 10

YEARS.

WE WENT TO CHURCH EVERY SUNDAY.

FILLED UP AN ENTIRE PEW.

AND WE DID THE CATECHISM.

THE TOUGHEST CATECHISM TEACHER

I EVER HAD WAS IN THE SIXTH

GRADE BECAUSE IT WAS MY MOTHER.

THE FAITH IS ESSENTIAL TO ME

AND TO MY WIFE.

IT INFORMS OUR DECISIONS.

IT INFORMS MANY OF MY POLICY

POSITIONS, NOT JUST MY PRIVATE

LIFE, BUT POSITIONS THAT I HAVE

IN THE LEGISLATURE AND

POSITIONS THAT I'M GOING TO

HAVE AS GOVERNOR, INFORMED BY

MY CATHOLIC CHRISTIAN FAITH.

PLEADS ME TO BE PRO LIFE FOR

EXAMPLE, IN EIGHT YEARS IN THE

LEGISLATURE, 100% VOTING RECORD

WITH LOUISIANA RIGHT TO LIFE.

I LIKE TO TELL PEOPLE I'M PRO

LIFE, NOT JUST PRO BIRTH.

THERE IS A DIFFERENCE.

SOME PEOPLE THAT ONCE THE CHILD

IS BORN, THEY FEEL NO

OBLIGATION TO CONTINUE TO HELP

THE MOTHER WITH THAT CHILD,

WHETHER THEY NEED NUTRITION OR

EDUCATION OR HOUSING OR HEALTH

CARE.

I'M NOT ONE OF THOSE FOLKS.

I BELIEVE IN BEING PRO LIFE.

>> WHAT'S THE SCRIPTURE THAT

YOU GO TO OVER AND OVER AGAIN

WHEN YOU NEED TO DRAW ON YOUR

FAITH?

>> OH, IT'S NOT ONE PARTICULAR

SCRIPTURE.

YOU KNOW, I'M A GOOD CATHOLIC,

SO DON'T ASK ME TO QUOTE THE

BIBLE.

IT'S THE GENERAL VALUES THAT

THAT IS ALL ABOUT.

THE GENERAL TRADITIONS,

INCLUDING FORGIVENESS AND

REDEMPTION AND HOW WE TREAT ONE

ANOTHER, PARTICULARLY IN A

FAMILY UNIT AND OTHERWISE.

>> I WILL TELL YOU MATTHEW 25,

DOING FOR THE LEAST AMONG US IS

INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO ME.

BUT IT IS THE SECOND PART OF

THAT THAT REALLY STICKS WITH ME

BECAUSE WE ALWAYS KNOW THAT THE

SCRIPTURE WHEN JESUS SAID, YOU

KNOW, WHEN YOU SAW ME HUNGRY OR

THIRSTY OR NEEDING CLOTHING OR

IN PRISON OR SICK, WHEN DID WE

SEE YOU THAT WAY?

WELL, WHEN YOU DID IT FOR THE

LEAST, YOU DID IT TO ME.

THEY FOLLOWS THAT UP.

WHEN YOU SAW THE LEAST AMONG

YOU AND YOU DIDN'T DO IT FOR

THEM, THAT YOU ALSO DID NOT DO

FOR ME.

IT IS THE SECOND PART THAT

REINFORCES THE FIRST.

AND IT IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS

ABOUT MY FAITH THAT INFORMS MY

POLICY POSITIONS AND I THINK WE

NEED TO DO WHAT WE REASONABLY

CAN FOR THE POOR IN LOUISIANA.

JAMES TWO, FAITH WITHOUT WORKS

IS -- YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE

WORKS.

>> LET'S TALK A LITTLE ABOUT

YOUR TIME SERVING IN THE STATE

LEGISLATURE.

YOU HAD A LOT OF SUCCESS THERE.

YOU WAGED A LOT OF TOUGH

BATTLES.

DIDN'T WIN YOU A WHOLE LOT OF

FRIENDS.

SOME PEOPLE HAVE SAID THAT YOU

WERE AN OUTCAST.

DID YOU SEE IT THAT WAY?

DID YOU EVEN CARE IF THAT IS

HOW SOME PEOPLE --

>> I WAS AN OUTCAST AND QUITE

FRANKLY I WOULD WEAR THAT AS A

BADGE OF HONOR, CONSIDERING

THOSE THAT WERE -- THE GOOD OLE

BOYS WHO CAST ME OUT, AND, YES,

BECAUSE I WAS FIGHTING FOR

CHANGE AND WE BROUGHT CHANGE.

WE OFFERED AND PASSED TERM

LIMITS.

>> THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO

FEEL IT HASN'T REALLY BEEN THAT

GREAT FOR LOUISIANA, AND I'M

SURE THESE ARE CRITICISMS THAT

YOU HAVE HEARD.

SOME PEOPLE WHO HAVE SAID THAT

IT HAS INCREASED THE RATE AT

WHICH PEOPLE JUMP FROM THE

HOUSE TO THE SENATE.

IN FACT, IT HAS WEAKENED THE

HOUSE, THAT PEOPLE ARE STILL

ABLE TO GET BEYOND THAT 12-YEAR

RESTRICTION.

AND THAT PEOPLE ARE STILL ABLE

TO HOP FROM ONE OFFICE TO THE

OTHER.

SO, IS IT WORKING THE WAY THAT

YOU ENVISIONED?

>> OH, I THINK IT IS WORKING

VERY WELL AND IT IS BRINGING

NEW, FRESH, INPUT AND IDEAS

INTO THE STATE LEGISLATURE

OVERALL.

I THINK YOU HAVE MORE TRUE

CITIZEN LEGISLATORS THAN EVER

BEFORE.

MORE FOLKS FROM BUSINESS AND

OTHER BACKGROUNDS THAT ARE VERY

IMPORTANT.

OUR REPRESENTATIVE'S VOICES.

IT IS TRUE IF YOU SERVE IN THE

HOUSE YOU CAN GO SERVE IN THE

SENATE.

IT WAS NEVER DESIGNED TO

PREVENT THAT.

BUT I THINK IT HAS CHANGED THE

CULTURE SOMEWHAT IN BATON

ROUGE, AND HELPED US BECOME A

MORE CONSERVATIVE STATE IN

TERMS OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

>> I DON'T KNOW IF IT HAS

HELPED THEM BECOME MORE

CONSERVATIVE OR NOT.

I WILL TELL YOU THAT I DON'T

BELIEVE THERE IS MUCH

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE

CONSERVATIVE NATURE OF THE

LEGISLATURE TODAY THAN THERE

WAS 10, 15 YEARS AGO.

AND IN GENERAL, I'M AGAINST

THEM.

NOW WE HAVE TERM LIMITS FOR THE

GOVERNOR.

I HAVEN'T TRIED TO DO ANYTHING

ABOUT THAT.

WE HAVE TERM LIMITS FOR THE

LEGISLATURE.

HAVEN'T TRIED TO DO ANYTHING

ABOUT THAT.

LEGISLATURE, AS NEW BILLS HAVE

COME UP TO TRY TO INCREASE THE

NUMBER OF OFFICES, SUBSEQUENT

TERM LIMITS, I THINK WITHOUT

EXCEPTION I HAVE BEEN OPPOSED

TO THOSE BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT

THE PEOPLE OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO

DECIDE WHO THEIR LEADERS ARE

AND NOT THE LAW SETTING SOME

ARBITRARY LIMIT.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK THAT A

GOVERNOR SHOULD BE SOMEONE WHO

BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER, A

CONSENSUS BUILDER.

DO YOU SEE THE JOB IN THAT WAY?

>> ABSOLUTELY AND I HAVE THE

RECORD OF BIPARTISAN WORK.

LOOK, I DON'T MIND ROCKING THE

BOAT.

I DON'T MIND OPPOSING THE

INSIDERS.

I HAVE DONE THAT OVER AND OVER

AND OVER.

AND I'M PROUD OF THAT.

I DON'T APOLOGIZE FOR IT.

I HAVE THE STRONGEST PROVEN

RECORD OF ACTUALLY PASSING

IMPORTANT LEGISLATION.

USUALLY ON A VERY BIPARTISAN

BASIS.

JUST RECENT EXAMPLES.

RIGHT NOW AS WE SPEAK, I'M ONE

OF THE LEADING REPUBLICANS

WORKING ON A CONSENSUS

BIPARTISAN HIGHWAY BILL,

IMPORTANT FOR THE COUNTRY,

IMPORTANT FOR LOUISIANA.

IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, I

JOINED WITH BARBARA BOXER OF

CALIFORNIA, ONE OF THE MOST

LIBERAL MEMBERS OF THE SENATE,

AND WE CAME TOGETHER AND

COWROTE AND PASSED A WATER

RESOURCES BILL.

REALLY IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF

CORPS OF ENGINEERS PROJECT.

HELPED TO PASS THE FLOOD

INSURANCE FIX.

THERE WAS A REAL CRISIS IN

SOUTH LOUISIANA BECAUSE OF SOME

OF THE NEW FLOOD INSURANCE

RULES AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

I WAS ONE OF THE LEADERS AGAIN

ON A BIPARTISAN BASIS TO GET

THAT FIXED AND THAT WAS

ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL IN SOUTH

LOUISIANA, PARTICULARLY AFTER

OUR HURRICANES.

>> AND, SO, EVEN WITH ALL OF

THAT, PEOPLE STILL REFER TO YOU

AS POLARIZING AND THEY SAY

YOU'RE NOT GOOD WHEN IT COMES

TO COMPROMISE.

>> CERTAINLY MY POLITICAL

DETRACTORS ARE ALWAYS GOING TO

SAY THAT.

CERTAINLY JOHN BEL EDWARDS IS

GOING TO CAMPAIGN THAT WAY.

BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE

RECORD, HE IS ONE OF THE MOST

LIBERAL MEMBERS OF THE STATE

HOUSE.

HE HAS BEEN VERY POLARIZED IN

THAT SENSE.

>> DAVID VITTER HAS NOTHING

ELSE TO SAY AND THAT ANSWER IS

AN EXAMPLE OF HOW POLARIZING HE

IS.

I AM 100% WITH LOUISIANA RIGHT

TO LIFE.

I HAVE AN A WITHIN NRA.

I WILL TELL YOU THAT I WILL

GOVERN FROM THE CENTER OF THE

POLITICAL SPECTRUM WITH

POSITIONS ON MANY ISSUES THAT

ARE VERY, VERY CONSERVATIVE.

HOW IS IT A LIBERAL POSITION TO

WANT TO BRING BACK OUR FEDERAL

TAX DOLLARS AND PROVIDE HEALTH

CARE COVERAGE TO OUR WORKING

POOR SO THAT OUR HOSPITALS,

CLINICS, AND DOCTORS GET

REIMBURSED FOR THE CARE THAT

THEY'RE PROVIDING.

THAT IS NOT A LIBERAL POSITION.

THAT IS A CONSERVATIVE

POSITION.

THAT IS THE RIGHT POSITION.

>> WE NEED A COMMITTED, HONEST

DISCIPLINED GOVERNOR WITH THE

LEADERSHIP ABILITY TO BRING

PEOPLE TOGETHER.

REGARDLESS OF RACE, GENDER,

PARTY, GEOGRAPHY.

>> THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE

WHO FEEL THAT THERE ARE A LOT

OF ISSUES HERE IN LOUISIANA

THAT ARE DIVIDED ALONG GENDER

LINES, RACIAL LINES, AND PARTY

LINES.

SO THAT'S A PRETTY TALL ORDER.

WHERE DO YOU BEGIN?

>> WELL, LOOK, YOU BEGIN BY

PUTTING LOUISIANA FIRST.

NOT PARTY.

AND SO MY POSITION NOW AND

ALWAYS HAS BEEN AND ALWAYS WILL

BE.

I WILL STAND WITH ANYONE OF ANY

PARTY WHO WANTS TO DO GOOD BY

LOUISIANA.

AND I WILL STAND UP AGAINST AND

FIGHT ANYONE OF ANY PARTY WHO

WANTS TO DO SOMETHING THAT IS

BAD FOR OUR STATE.

BUT YOU'VE GOT TO BE ABLE TO

BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER AND

CONVINCE THEM THAT YOU HAVE THE

LEADERSHIP ABILITY, NOT JUST TO

SPEAK TO THEM, BUT TO LISTEN TO

THEM.

AND WORK TOGETHER AND FIND

COMPROMISE TO MOVE THE STATE

FORWARD.

>> GOT A CHANCE TO TALK TO SOME

OF YOUR COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE

AISLE.

HERE IS WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY.

THEY SAY THAT YOU ARE ALWAYS

WELL PREPARED.

THAT YOU'RE EASY TO WORK WITH,

BUT THEY SAY THAT YOU ARE

OPINIONATED AND THAT YOU HAVE

SUCH FIRMLY HELD CONVICTIONS

THAT THEY ARE CONCERNED WHETHER

YOU WILL BE ABLE TO COMPROMISE

AND CONSIDERING THAT THE

MAJORITY IN BOTH THE STATEHOUSE

AND THE SENATE, REPUBLICANS,

COMPROMISE IS GOING TO BE

ESSENTIAL, RIGHT?

>> I ABSOLUTELY UNDERSTAND

THAT.

AND I KNOW THAT I DO HAVE

OPINIONS.

WE CAN COMPROMISE.

IT IS NOT A DIRTY WORD.

IT IS WHAT I HAVE BEEN DOING

OVER THE LAST EIGHT YEARS.

MOST PROUD OF THE WORK I DID IN

2013 WHERE I WAS ABLE TO BRING

TOGETHER REPUBLICANS AND

DEMOCRATS AND INDEPENDENTS IN

THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO

INSIST UPON AN INCREASE IN

INVESTMENT IN K-12 EDUCATION.

AS A RESULT, WE INVESTED $70

MILLION MORE THAT YEAR IN K-12

EDUCATION THAN HAD -- WOULD

HAVE BEEN THE CASE OTHERWISE.

I THEN AUTHORED A RESOLUTION

ASKING BESE TO INCORPORATE THAT

MONEY INTO NEXT YEAR'S FORMULA,

AND NOW IT IS IN THIS YEAR'S

FORMULA, TOO, ALONG WITH MORE

MONEY WE WERE ABLE TO GET THIS

MOST RECENT SESSION IN THE SAME

WAY.

END OF THIS ACADEMIC YEAR,

THERE WILL BE $250 MILLION MORE

INVESTED IN K-12 EDUCATION THAN

WOULD HAVE BEEN THE CASE

WITHOUT MY LEADERSHIP IN THE

HOUSE.

HALF OF THAT MONEY HAS GONE TO

PAY RAISES FOR CERTIFIED

CLASSROOM TEACHERS.

>> ARE YOU PREPARED TO BE A

ONE-TERM GOVERNOR?

>> YES, IF IT TAKES THAT.

BUT I THINK WE CAN START A REAL

TURN-AROUND, GIVE PEOPLE REAL

HOPE SO I'M NOT EXPECTING THAT,

BUT I'M GOING TO DO WHAT IT

TAKES.

>> TO BE A TRULY EFFECTIVE

GOVERNOR YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE

TO RISK BEING A ONE-TERM

GOVERNOR BECAUSE OF DECISIONS

THAT ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE

MADE, THE CHANGES THAT WE'RE

GOING TO HAVE TO DO TO GET OUT

OF THE DITCH ARE GOING TO BE

VERY, VERY DIFFICULT.

SOME OF THEM ARE NOT GOING TO

BE POPULAR.

BUT IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

>> YOU HAVE BEEN TALKING A LOT

ABOUT EDUCATION ON ELECTION

NIGHT, YOU SAID --

>> FIRST THING WE'RE GOING DO

IS TO PUT A STAKE THROUGH THE

HEART OF WASHINGTON'S COMMON

CORE AND REPLACE IT WITH A

SMARTER AND BETTER LOUISIANA

SYSTEM.

[APPLAUSE]

>> NOW, AT ONE POINT YOU WERE

FOR IT.

NOW YOU ARE VEHEMENTLY AGAINST

IT.

WHAT CHANGED?

>> WHAT I SAID IS I SUPPORTED

STRONG STANDARDS AND

ACCOUNTABILITY.

STILL DO.

WHEN I LOOKED AT THE DETAILS OF

COMMON CORE, I FOUND TWO

THINGS.

FIRST OF ALL, SEEDING WAY TOO

MUCH POWER AND AUTHORITY TO

OUTSIDE OF LOUISIANA.

SECONDLY, SOME SPECIFICS OF

THOSE STANDARDS I THINK ARE

DEVELOPMENTALLY INAPPROPRIATE.

AND THEY NEED TO BE FIXED,

PARTICULARLY FOR EARLIER

GRADES.

AND, THIRD, IT'S BEEN A

DISASTER IN TERMS OF EMPOWERING

THE MOST IMPORTANT EDUCATORS IN

THE EQUATION.

PARENTS AND TEACHERS.

>> WHY DO YOU THINK COMMON CORE

IS NOT THE BEST THING FOR

LOUISIANA?

>> WELL, LOOK, I DON'T BELIEVE

YOU SHOULD EVER TAKE ACADEMIC

STANDARDS DEVELOPED OUTSIDE OF

THE STATE OF LOUISIANA AND

ADOPT THEM IN OUR STATE IN

WHOLESALE FASHION BEFORE YOU

HAVE VETTED THOSE STANDARDS

WITH LOUISIANA EDUCATORS AND

LOUISIANA PARENTS.

NOW, I HAVE NOT SUPPORTED

COMMON CORE.

I DID SUPPORT THE COMPROMISE

THIS PAST YEAR WHEREBY WE ARE

RECEIVING PUBLIC INPUT ON THE

STANDARDS.

IT IS MY HOPE AND EXPECTATION

THAT THAT IS GOING TO BE A

MEANINGFUL EXERCISE.

THEY'RE GOING TO DO IT IN GOOD

FAITH AND TRANSPARENT FASHION.

AT THE END OF THE DAY WE WILL

HAVE NEW STANDARDS THAT WE CAN

MOVE FORWARD WITH.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE

CAMPAIGN.

A NEGATIVE CAMPAIGN.

ANTICIPATED TO BECOME EVEN MORE

SO.

WHAT IS ONE OF THE MOST

UPSETTING THINGS THAT YOU HAVE

HEARD, AN ATTACK ON YOU THAT

YOU WOULD LIKE TO RESPOND TO,

THE ONE MOST UPSETTING THING?

>> WELL, I'M NOT GOING TO

REPEAT RIDICULOUS ATTACKS.

CERTAINLY I AGREE WITH YOU THAT

IT HAS BEEN A NEGATIVE

CAMPAIGN.

AND I KNOW THAT BETTER THAN

ANYBODY.

I WILL TELL YOU, SHAUNA, AS I

SIT HERE, I HAVE NOT RUN A

NEGATIVE AD.

THERE HAS NOT BEEN ONE NEGATIVE

AD PAID FOR BY THE JOHN BEL

EDWARDS CAMPAIGN.

NOW, IT IS MY HOPE THAT WE ARE

GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET THROUGH

THIS ELECTION CYCLE AND THAT

WILL BE THE CASE THROUGHOUT.

BUT I AM NOT GOING TO SIT THERE

AND TAKE IT AND TAKE IT AND

TAKE IT IF, IN FACT, YOU KNOW,

THAT IS WHAT CONTINUES TO COME

MY WAY.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT ONE OF THE

MOST CONTROVERSIAL ADS THAT IS

OUT RIGHT NOW.

AND IT IS AN AD BY YOUR

CAMPAIGN OR ONE THAT IS FOR

YOU, AND IT IS IN REFERENCE TO

THE THUG AD.

THE ONE THAT I'M TALKING ABOUT,

IN WHICH IT SAYS THAT

REPRESENTATIVE JOHN BEL EDWARDS

WOULD RELEASE 5,500 PRISONERS

IF HE BECOMES ELECTED GOVERNOR.

YOU HEAR THE NARRATOR, YOU SEE

A BLACK MAN AND THEN A WHITE

MAN.

NAACP OF NEW ORLEANS ASK THAT

IT COMES DOWN.

BASICALLY WHAT IT IS SAYING IS

WHITE PEOPLE NEED TO BE AFRAID

OF BLACK PEOPLE -- DO YOU

THINK -- I JUST WANT TO KNOW

WHAT YOUR OPINION IS.

DO YOU SEE ANYTHING WRONG WITH

THAT AD?

>> NO.

NO.

THERE IS NOTHING RACIAL ABOUT

THE WORD THUG.

THERE IS NOTHING RACIAL ABOUT

THE IMAGES THAT WE USE.

SO, WHAT AM I MISSING?

>> I WILL LET DAVID VITTER

DECIDE WHETHER HE WANTS TO TAKE

IT DOWN.

I WILL LET THE PEOPLE DECIDE

FOR THEMSELVES WHAT MESSAGE HE

IS TRYING TO DELIVER AND WHAT

EMOTION HE IS TRYING TO INVOKE.

I JUST KNOW THAT IT'S FALSE.

AND I KNOW THAT HE IS ATTACKING

ME ON SOMETHING WHERE THERE IS

NO SUBSTANCE TO SUPPORT WHAT HE

IS SAYING.

AND I WILL LET THE PEOPLE

DECIDE FOR THEMSELVES WHETHER

THEY SHOULD TAKE THAT INTO

ACCOUNT.

>> JOHN BEL EDWARDS GAVE A

SPEECH AT SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY.

THE ENTIRE SPEECH IS ON TAPE,

AND HE SAID HE'S GOING TO LET

OUT 5,500 PRISONERS.

>> I WAS THERE, DAVID VITTER

WASN'T.

I KNOW WHAT I SAID.

THIS IS VERY NONCONTROVERSIAL.

IF WE WANT TO BE NUMBER TWO IN

THE NATION, IF WE WANT TO BE

NUMBER TWO IN THE NATION THAT

OVER TIME WE HAVE TO REDUCE OUR

INMATE POPULATION BY 5,500

INMATES.

AND THEN WE WILL BE NUMBER TWO

BEHIND MISSISSIPPI.

I DO NOT HAVE A PLAN.

I HAVE NEVER HAD A PLAN AND I

HAVE NEVER SAID THAT I HAVE A

PLAN TO REDUCE -- TO RELEASE

5,500 INMATES ON TO THE STREETS

OF LOUISIANA.

THAT'S NOT WHAT I SAID.

AND, IN FACT, DAVID VITTER

HIMSELF AT A DEBATE SAID THAT

WE HAVE TOO MANY NON-VIOLENT

OFFENDERS LANGUISHING FOR TOO

LONG IN OUR PRISONS, AND I

THINK HE'S RIGHT.

AND THAT IS THE ONLY THING THAT

I'VE BEEN SAYING AS WELL.

>> WHAT ABOUT THE INCARCERATION

RATE.

IS IT SOMETHING THAT YOU ARE

INTERESTED IN DEALING WITH?

DO YOU SEE THAT AS A PROBLEM?

>> YEAH, I SEE THE CRIME RATE

AS A PROBLEM.

WE HAVE ONE OF THE HIGHEST

CRIME RATES IN THE COUNTRY.

AND I DON'T THINK WE

EFFECTIVELY DEAL WITH

CRIMINALS.

BOTH HARDENED CRIMINALS AND

THOSE WHO ARE NONVIOLENT.

I DON'T THINK WE EFFECTIVELY

DEAL WITH THEM AT ALL.

I'M NOT GOING TO PICK AN

ARBITRARY NUMBER LIKE JOHN BEL

EDWARDS DID AND I'M NOT GOING

TO RELEASE 5,500 CRIMINALS FROM

LOUISIANA PRISONS LIKE HE SAID

HE WOULD BECAUSE I THINK THAT

WOULD ENDANGER LOUISIANA

CITIZENS.

>> HE SAYS THAT IS AN ARBITRARY

NUMBER.

WHERE DID YOU GET THAT NUMBER?

>> FROM THE SECRETARY

DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS WHO

KNOWS MORE ABOUT HOW MANY

INMATES WE HAVE IN LOUISIANA

THAN ANYBODY ELSE IN THE STATE.

ABSOLUTELY NOT ARBITRARY.

>> THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF

NEGATIVE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN

SAID ABOUT YOUR PERSONAL LIFE.

YOU DID ADMIT TO A SERIOUS SIN

SEVERAL YEARS AGO.

A LOT OF THINGS HAVE COME

OUT -- A LOT OF NEGATIVE THINGS

HAVE COME OUT HERE IN RECENT

WEEKS.

WHEN YOU ARE A PUBLIC SERVANT

YOU'RE UNDER SCRUTINY,

PROFESSIONAL LIFE AND PERSONAL

LIFE IS UNDER SCRUTINY, LIKE IT

OR NOT.

DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE

HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR

PERSONAL LIFE AND THINGS THAT

HAVE COME OUT?

>> SURE.

AND I ALSO UNDERSTAND WHY MY

POLITICAL ENEMIES ARE USING

THAT TACT.

TWO DIFFERENT GROUPS, TWO

DIFFERENT QUESTIONS.

I TALKED TO VOTERS ALL AROUND

THE STATE ALL OF THE TIME.

AND I SAID YEARS AGO THAT I DID

COMMIT A SERIOUS SIN IN MY

MARRIAGE ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO.

THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT I FIXED

THAT PROBLEM.

I ASKED FOR FORGIVENESS AND

REDEMPTION, AND RECEIVED IT AND

I THANK GOD FOR THAT AND MY

FAMILY AND WENDY FOR THAT EVERY

DAY.

>> DOES THE PUBLIC HAVE THE

RIGHT TO KNOW ABOUT THE

PERSONAL LIVES OF POLITICIANS?

>> DO THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO

KNOW?

WHEN THERE IS INTERSECTIONS

BETWEEN THE PERSONAL LIFE AND

THE PUBLIC PERFORMANCE.

I WILL TELL YOU THAT IF AS A

PUBLIC FIGURE YOU MAKE CERTAIN

STATEMENTS ABOUT THE PERSONAL

LIVES OF OTHER PEOPLE, AND THEN

YOU'RE HYPOCRITICAL ABOUT YOUR

OWN PERSONAL LIFE AND WHETHER

IT REFLECTS ON YOUR ABILITY TO

BE A PUBLIC SERVANT, THEN I

THINK THAT IS LEGITIMATE

DISCOURSE IN THE PUBLIC ARENA.

YES, I DO.

>> WHAT DO YOU SAY TO GET

VOTERS TO GO OUT AND VOTE IN

THIS RUNOFF ELECTION?

>> GO OUT AND EARLY VOTE.

GO AHEAD AND DO IT.

THIS WHOLE ELECTION IS ABOUT

PUTTING LOUISIANA FIRST.

AND THAT'S NOT JUST MY CAMPAIGN

SLOGAN.

IT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO DO AS

OUR NEXT GOVERNOR AND IT MEANS

THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A

STATE GOVERNMENT THAT IS GOING

TO LOOK LIKE THE PEOPLE THAT WE

GOVERN.

IT MEANS THAT WE'RE GOING TO

LISTEN.

WE'RE NOT JUST GOING TO TALK.

IT MEANS THAT I'M GOING TO BE

ACCESSIBLE NOT JUST TO THE

MEDIA, BUT TO THE PEOPLE.

WE WILL TACKLE OUR TOUGHEST

CHALLENGES FIRST BECAUSE ONLY

WHEN WE DO THAT WILL WE BE ABLE

TO INVEST AS WE NEED TO IN OUR

CRITICAL PRIORITIES TO MOVE OUR

STATE FORWARD.

THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO DO AS

OUR NEXT GOVERNOR.

I CAN'T WAIT TO GET STARTED.

>> THE MAIN THING I WOULD SAY

IS THAT THERE IS A LOT RIDING

ON THIS ELECTION.

OUR FUTURE.

AND, SO, THIS ISN'T A TIME TO

PASS, TO DO SOMETHING ELSE.

TO GO TO A FOOTBALL GAME

INSTEAD OF VOTE.

YOU CAN EARLY VOTE.

BUT THERE IS A LOT RIDING ON

THIS ELECTION.

AND FUNDAMENTALLY IT IS A

CHOICE, AS ALL ELECTIONS ARE,

BETWEEN A LOUISIANA

CONSERVATIVE AND A PRO-OBAMA

LIBERAL.

AND THAT IS PROVED OUT IN ISSUE

AFTER ISSUE AFTER ISSUE.

WE ALL AGREE THAT WE NEED

CHANGE IN LOUISIANA.

WE ALL AGREE THAT BATON ROUGE

HAS PUT US IN A DITCH.

THE QUESTION IS, WHO'S

LEADERSHIP IS GOING TO GET US

OUT OF THE DITCH HEADED IN THE

RIGHT DIRECTION?

BECAUSE WE CAN HEAD IN THE

WRONG DIRECTION, TOO.

I THINK THAT WOULD BE

DISASTROUS FOR LOUISIANA.

>> MANY THANKS TO BOTH JOHN BEL

EDWARDS AND DAVID VITTER FOR

TAKING TIME TO TALK WITH US.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS

INTERVIEW AGAIN, VISIT

lpb.org/SWI.

AND REMEMBER, YOU CAN SEE THE

CANDIDATES LIVE STATEWIDE IN

THE LPB GOVERNOR'S RUNOFF

DEBATE TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 10th,

AT 7:00 P.M.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING

AND FOR EVERYONE HERE AT LPB,

UNTIL THE NEXT TIME, THAT'S THE

STATE WE'RE IN.

>> WE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM

YOU, WRITE "LOUISIANA: THE

STATE WE'RE IN," 7733 PERKINS

ROAD IN BATON ROUGE.

CALL TOLL FREE, 1-800-272-8161.

EMAIL LPB.

CHECK US OUT ON FACEBOOK AND

TWITTER AND VISIT OUR WEB SITE

lpb.org.

THIS AND OTHER EDITIONS ARE

AVAILABLE ON HOME VIDEO.

>> SUPPORT FOR THIS PROGRAM IS

PROVIDED BY THE FRED B. AND

RUTH B. ZIEGLER FOUNDATION OF

JENNINGS, ZIEGLER MUSEUM IS A

CULTURAL CENTER FOR SOUTHWEST

LOUISIANA, FEATURING EUROPEAN

AND AMERICAN ARTISTS AND

WILDLIFE DIORAMAS.

ADDITIONAL FUNDING IS PROVIDED

BY THE FOUNDATION FOR

EXCELLENCE IN LOUISIANA PUBLIC

BROADCASTING.

AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.