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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.