Iowa Press; 1303; 1985 Republican And Democratic Party Chairs

But I will pray to show you 13 0 3 recorded November 3rd 85 what. A. What major funding for this program was provided by friends of Iowa Public Television. What. Cocktail parties formal dinners and guest workers. No it's not an early season holiday festivities. It all marks the beginning of the 1996 campaign season for the Iowa Democratic and Republican parties. Given the bleaker state of the Iowa economy do Republican incumbents stand a chance of re-election. Can I would Democrats field candidates were strong enough to oust an incumbent governor and former Republican congressman. Tonight will seek answers to those questions from the newly

elected Iowa Democratic chairman Arthur Davis and the new Republican state chair Sally Novitsky. This is the Sunday November 3rd edition of Iowa promise being born. Iowa's trying to hold on to its first in the nation presidential caucus status. Presidential hopefuls like Vice President George Bush are already planning visits to the state. Iowa gubernatorial candidates have raised a total of five hundred seventy five thousand dollars to run their 86 campaigns. Yes it all indicates the 86 campaign season is under way and the past two weekends as Nancy Crowfoot reports both the Iowa Democrats and Republicans boasted of likely victories and optimism. Last weekend the Iowa Republican Party was selling everything from elephant coffee mugs for

souvenirs to candidates for re-election to optimism for the future of the Republican Party led by two of the national sales representatives of the party. Transportation secretary Elizabeth Dole and Senate Majority Leader Robert Dole. Even though right now it looks a little gloomy around the edges. I think it's going to get better and better. And let's not forget the one big asset we have in the Republican Party right now is Ronald Reagan. Ronald Reagan is our leader. And this crowd that night might consider Reagan an asset that many Iowa Republicans including Governor Terry Branstad are distancing themselves from the president in part because of the current state of the farm economy. At a recent news conference Governor Branstad said he would not ask the president to come to I want to campaign for him. So goes the dilemma of the Republican Party current farm problems in an unimproved I way you can I mean may have forced a split

within the Republican Party and may make Governor Branstad and the incumbent Republicans in Congress vulnerable in the 1986 election and the Democrats are betting on that vulnerability. You know today I stand before you as a candidate for governor. I also come here to stand for a cause as well as a candidacy. The question we face in the 1986 election is not only who will be the governor of the state but how good I will go into growing. Jenkins and two other seasoned Democratic office holders are vying for the governorship. But while the Democrats may have the ammunition to attack the incumbents the question pending do they have strong enough candidates to win. For both the Democrats and Republicans one thing seems assured and that is that the two incumbent Democratic congressman and the four Republican incumbents will

most likely be easily re-elected. The campaign 86 is already underway in a big way and the campaign strategy and publicity for both the Republicans and the Democrats is under new leadership in Iowa. And I will be talking about the campaigns and the issues that will surround next year's elections with the newly elected Iowa Democratic chairman Mark Davis Republican state chair Sally. Good morning. 53 year old selling to that ski started her political involvement working on the Barry Goldwater for president campaign in 1064. She has since chaired the Lynn County campaign committees of Tom talky and George Bush in 1980 chaired the Lynn County Republican Party as co-chair of the Republican state central committee and just four weeks ago was named the party's state chairman. The Iowa Democratic Party named its new leader last July. He's Arthur Davis a Des Moines attorney. Davis chaired a fund raising committee 10 years ago to help get the state Democratic Party out of debt.

He also chaired the Iowa finance committee for Jimmy Carter's presidential campaign in 1980. Among other accomplishments he wrote some position papers for President Lyndon Johnson and helped Johnson decide his Iowa political appointments. Davison events could be questioned this week by David yaps and a political reporter for The Des Moines Register and by John McConnell a columnist for the Brunton Hawkeye and other Harris newspapers John. Mr Davis in the last election now. Tom Harkin spent 2 million or so to defeat to Sen. Jepson is your party prepared to spend that kind of money to keep their Senator Charles Grassley. I think it's very very difficult to raise that kind of money for the Democrats to beat Senator Grassley for a very simple reason. Nation Lee it was readily perceive the Jepson was beatable nation lead is not yet perceived that Grassley is or what your perception are you conceding that

they say to get out of it is simply acknowledging that it will be more difficult to defeat Grassley than it was Jepson. Well if it's more difficult the where is your top plank candidate quality players as well as a strong Democratic candidate that could take on that kind of a difficult way. Well we have a candidate in the race John Rorik a local Dem or an attorney who does not yet have the name identification. And obviously there's a lot of talk around the margins about the possibility of another Kennedy. John Crystal is a name that I hear people call me. I'd say 10 calls a week. Half the people call because they know that John Christine and I are friends of half call because I do a great care for our viewers John Crystal is a former banker and President Bankers Trust into Boeing now comes basically from Coon Rapids from the gar seed company the old Garstin domus and the smaller banks at the Garstin Cristal family home before we move on to your colleague any day out whoever your

candidate and where do you think Chuck Grassley is vulnerable. Grassley is vulnerable with the truth and the truth there's a total misconception of him on one point and that point is his opposition to the Pentagon is very cleverly attacked $600 a strays and I'm delighted that he has he's not an opponent of the Pentagon and the Democratic Party has to bring that in front of the people. You're shaking your head at that vulnerability wife. Well I guess I don't quite understand what you're attacking. You're saying that he is not an opponent of the Pentagon because attacking the $600 ashtray because of military spending. You know what it what I'm saying is he attacks the Pentagon a $600 ashtrays and it's a right good idea. He votes for the gigantic budget that's why I'm saying you're finding this a conflict not a country. Monthly. No I think you may just have enjoyed that day. A suggestion of a candidate like John Crystal who are you.

I would say that he would worry me more than any other candidate. I'm not so sure that he has the name identification either I think he'd have to work just as hard at it but why why do you find John Christy a little troubling what do you what do you see the voters might like about John Crystal. Well his a credible person a formidable person. He has a very good reputation in the business circles and I would say that this is what they're probably looking at you know that's Senator Dole in the introduction to this program said Ronald Reagan is an asset and yet the governor of the state says he doesn't want to come out here and campaign. Your party's executive director is saying the party should distance itself from Ronald Reagan. Do you think Ronald Reagan is an asset to our Republicans this year. He's not on the egg policy. I think that everyone is forgetting what we're talking about I think that people are making this more of a curved lunch that we simply are trying to distance ourselves from the president period that is not true the governor.

Same way we're always talking about is the ag policy and I think when you're hearing we do not want him out here they're saying now today things can change a month from now six weeks from now by next year. Ask them but I think what they're saying today. No but it's strictly on that. I mean the president enjoys a popularity across the United States and you're right except in Iowa but our governor does enjoy a high popularity what's already been done that's been good. Well I just think getting the economy moving across the United States has been good I think is not healing he's not moving here but I think that what you're trying to do and what people are trying to do is pin the egg problem on the Republicans. It's not a partisan problem it did not start with the Republicans. And I think. Go ahead. Well I just think that the perception out there is that it didn't start in 81 and this is we're seeing the results of a of a Carter Mondale administration high interest rates high inflation a thing called the embargo. And we're feeling the effects of it.

True how are Republicans going to talk about Jimmy Carter's embargo. Well I suppose forever as long as it is a problem that was a problem and it did affect I've talked an awful lot of farmers in 1900 you backed George Bush for the presidency against Ronald Reagan. George Bush said Reagan's economic policies were brutal economics. Do you think that's still true. Well you'd have to ask George Bush that I you think I didn't say that. I'm back to HANNITY Why did I want to write you think that's still true John. Oh I squat Miss Davis here after Republican high indeed concerned about the Iowa agricultural situation being a problem for them. The Democrats have to offer Iowa voters as far as the agricultural crisis is concerned just let me go backwards for just a moment in defining the term a little differently. I disagree with Mr. Novitsky that there's an egg problem it is an egg problem certainly in a sense but you have to understand I'm sure you do that in Iowa. It is a jobs problem too. Since most of our industry has

depended upon agriculture the people out of work in Cedar Rapids and Waterloo are industrial workers. So you have to add those people then you have to add the bank crisis in Iowa. You can call it an egg problem if you want it results from the same source but the problem of the Iowa economy is much broader than just talking about farmers. Well what are the Democrats in Iowa going to do I'm not sure the problem originates in my life believe in Washington with the Reagan administration. It originated for the most part when that administration failed to understand that you could not at the same time increase spending on defense and decrease taxes and leave the American dollar high. That's what created the problem. I don't think it can be solved solely from what is there that's going to turn to Governor Branstad for a minute. He's below 50 percent in the polls. He's got a

job disapproval rating of almost one third of what I was voters since he's been governor he's raised sales tax vetoed the lottery twice. He's got a state budget deficit. Why has Terry Branstad been a good governor for a while. Well listen I go back and answer each of these I think he has a high popularity in the polls according to your paper this morning. I think a 62 percent approval rate overall approval rate is very high 83 among farmers I believe the 50 percent was on economic approval rate. But I think he has a very high approval rate overall. They do a lottery. That's another question. He he did not go along with the lottery when he felt the constituents of Iowa did not want the lottery. I think it's very brave bold and shows good leadership to follow what the constituency want. They wanted the lottery so therefore he passed it. Why has he been a good governor. Well for some of these reasons I just said I think he's been a very bold governor and I think he's been forthright. I think he's had a hard

time with a Democrat legislature trying to get some of his programs through. I think the repeal of the machinery and equipment tax is a very fine example when he wanted to pass it in 1983 and nobody wanted to pass it then it wasn't politically expedient for the people who are running for governorship as a matter of fact it was expedient until this year and I'm not so sure that the Saturn plant didn't force that hand they have to make a better business climate. But I think it's ridiculous for this legislature to keep knocking the leader when they aren't doing anything to help the leader. Well Mr. Davis it whatever whatever defect the critics may say it has he does seem to have gotten it and we just I don't know if I will but nationwide as the single most if not effective at least Bush spokesman for the five going to Washington and they said the devil with the pleasure. Being the five credit crisis. Who the Democrats have who's

an Burgesses and leader in a five crisis point I want and Tom Harkin to questions a possible answer to that and he's not running in 86. Who do you have on the scene that can have an affect on this next election and we can look to a foreign leader. Well I think he's or any of the three Democratic candidates for governor if elected could do that. The positions that they hold are lieutenant governor majority leader temporarily no Senate and attorney general simply don't give them that position. But let me go backwards and I seem to be doing that with you John through a very simple point. The point is a gubernatorial election in my mind will resolve itself to a single issue and that single issue is whether Governor Branstad is going to be able to convince the people of Iowa at this moment. He's doing a pretty fair job that he has nothing to do with these awful people in Washington despite the fact that it is a time when the Democratic Party was saying the entire economy of I

was at risk and they were saying it in 82 and 83 and 84. Governor Branstad was traveling the state as the chair of President Reagan's campaign. I think the people in Iowa need to focus on that we are simply looking at it expedient step aside just as a good citizen of Aeschines got a problem with. So I guess I just have to say that's fine for a little Jenkins and everyone to run around the state knocking the governor about what did they do and their role of leadership to help anything but that's my point. They have done absolutely nothing but hinder the progress because they're not passing his agenda. Well I frankly call them the three blind mice they're all running around trying to figure out who their leader is among them. It's kind of follow the leader hide behind a leader I don't see them coming up with new programs it's easy to be a Monday morning quarterback named these three people. We have a name that is a problem we call them the three here it's Anderson Miller and Jenkins

is who we're talking about here is that right yes OK. Dave. Well we were asking why people should vote for candidates and be for parties and I'm hearing the two of you saying well you should be for Terry Branstad because you ought to be against the legislature or should be against Branstad because you should be against Ronald Reagan. I'd like you Mr. Davis to tell me what is so compelling about the three candidates that you're offering for governor you can't beat somebody with nobody Terry Branstad you have all kinds of problems but unless you articulate an alternative Aren't you going to have a difficult time beating him. Well we're going to be in was one of them. Obviously one of them was going to get nominated and you give me a very difficult task taking three diverse people in a very short time describing why each of them should be elected. Let me simply say it this way a fair look at their performance in the jobs that they have helped. Lieutenant governor attorney general majority leader of the Senate demonstrates their ability to accomplish their agendas.

One of those three will emerge. Why should people be for one of those three. Well you have to take them one by one is one of them stronger than the other in your book. Not my book No 10 a governor former lieutenant governor Bob Fulton who was governor for two weeks and I would told me last week that one of the troubles with the Iowa Democratic Party he's a former Democrat is a Democrat. Is that Terry Branstad is beating up on Ronald Reagan more than Democrats are. Mr. Davis are you not attacking enough. I think that I think that is a very good observation. I think the candidates are not attacking you know. And if I were a candidate for governor I would attack more I would attack the president more. I would tell you Governor Branstad to the president before I would attack the basic policies of Republicans the Republican Party. And if you have unloaded a pretty healthy attack on the legislature here today is that going to be the Republican line in 1906 to defend Branstad by attacking the Democratic legislation.

Why shouldn't they. I'm asking you for the right the governor. They can propose as we all know and he has had a program you're going to see a new program unfold in December. We've alluded to the reorganization of government. And I'm just saying the leaders are there I don't see them leading if they are leaders. I'd like to give Mr. Davis a chance to defend the Democratic legislature. Well first of all the governor is about to make. Great use of his plan for reorganization reorganization comes out of the Democratic lottery bill which sets up 15 economic development districts and requires the governor by December 1st to come with a plan of reorganization of government. The governor forgot to mention when he announced that he was going to do this reorganization plan it was required by the legislature the governor didn't pass didn't get rid of the manufacturing tax the legislature did. The governor in approaching

the World Trade Center For example comes to the legislature in 84 and it is the centerpiece of his economic package in 85 he comes and does mention it. There's no appropriation for it which is to say going back to the organization though ear saying that he stole that from the Democrats. But isn't that a pretty gutsy thing for a governor to do in an election year. He's going to put a lot of supporters technically out of business out of a job. Well I don't think it's gutsy when the law requires him to do it and I haven't see a thing that suggests he's put anybody out of a job. This investigate you had a comment I. Can't remember on which point we were let's go talk to Sean. Well let let me Broadnax add a little bit beyond that in advance Tad or Grassley and just ask you know I mean that's key and you're going to have most of you going to be out appealing to new voters. Right first time voters. Why should I vote to support the Republican Party. But what about here. Your principle in a nutshell the reason why.

Right I guess we get back to our basic philosophy or idiology or why were Republicans we believe that it doesn't take more government to govern best. It doesn't take taxes to improve an economy as a matter of fact it's never been proven that raising taxes has ever increased productivity or has ever brought business to a state and I think that those two basic philosophies are not. Mr. Davis Why should young voters before Democrats exactly the opposite of what he said the clarion call of the Republican Party always get government out of it when you take government out of things. Human beings suffer government attends to housing food to nutrition to helping you and me now. How do you pay for it as a second clarion call the Republican Party. Not by taxes certainly say the Republicans. You do it with taxes. We are one nation of people with many

many needs. The government has a role in perhaps being those people and they help by taxation. West gave us that this is very interesting coming from someone new chairman who's been criticized at a party even criticized for putting a rich Des Moines lawyer in his judgment and you mention the possibility of a rich demonic banker big candidate for the Senate and we hear they said concerned at the Democratic Party is swinging to the right is becoming more conservative is trying to out Republican the Republicans walk away from its whole new deal tradition. How do you respond to that. I respond to that that we can reach out and bring people back into the Democratic Party and are doing it without moving one inch to the right. I have no desire to see the party move one inch to the right. I believe it should stand on its principles.

How do you describe yourself and sat on that scale of the left or right. I'm one of the very few people John that that is not afraid to say I describe myself as a liberal and that's key. Ronald Reagan is on the ballot. In 1986. Other Republicans are nevertheless in 1900 he was elected president on a promise to eliminate the federal deficit. He now holds the record for the largest federal deficit. Why shouldn't voters vote against Republicans in 1986 because you failed to keep your promise on the deficit question. Well again the president can propose he can spend a dime of that but he never proposed a balanced budget. That's right neither has Congress proposed to eliminate programs or to drop the budget. There's a big fight over the social programs and a big fight over the military. It seems as though no one wants to give on that and tell Congress again decides that this is what they're going to do I you know it really is irrelevant unless Congress does something to decrease spending in our society and in our system of government the president proposes and

Congress disposes right. If Ronald Reagan wanted to balance budget why did he propose one. I can't answer that question why he did it to be fair here I called that Mr Davis. Which Democratic lawyer and you've been described by some people as a country club Republican and he defines himself to you anyway. Well here we are as you have a look at what he said he's not a base level and how do you describe yourself. I know I go back to Barry Goldwater in 1964 all the way to George Bush in 1980 I think you can best describe me I think I'm kind of a middle of the road or fiscal conservative. More into a moderate I vacillate pragmatic I really think I way issues look at issues and have very strong feelings about candidates. You said you vacillate you are far right in 1964 with Barry Goldwater to realize I was.

Right. He's still my idol. Well today you said awhile ago you've managed productivity and business objectives of the party and Mr. Davis pounced on that and said that that showed a lack of humanitarian aid. OK. I just found You're very brave to say that because I remember when Mondale said that he was going to raise taxes and that was the end of a presidential candidate Mondale. So if the prediction holds true and Chairman Davis is now saying that this is what he foresees for I why I think that you may be predicting what you say you don't take there's going to be any need for increased taxes to support schools a viable health program to take pollution growing and we can do that all without I'm not saying that you can do with any more taxes I think when we see reorganization of government when I see it when we see some of these consolidated where we can cut down on the budget we may be able to funnel some of these funds into that direction. Also what happened to the money from

lottery. Instead of expanding and starting 30 new businesses there are other places that you can get your tax money from for these programs there are enrichment taxes being voted in the various townships for schools coming more from the private sector there if you want to call it a tax it's coming from that community however not state tax. They've both done a pretty good job of attacking the other party here today and I've helped you along in that. But yet arm why are more voters saying a plague on both your houses because you're so negative about about one another and don't stand for things why how do you explain Mr. Davis why more people are becoming independents and not fooling around with either one because they don't believe in candidates. Sorry that makes a very good point when she brings the Mondale thing to the floor which Mondale said and that I was talking about federal taxes by the way not state when I made my state said they raised

federal taxes. I think he was right. The public was unwilling to accept it and said A pox on you simply for telling the truth. The public rejects many politicians because they are foolish and let me give you another example of a harsh example. BRANSTETTER administration is now saying to the public you know what when we promised you a hundred and eighty thousand new jobs in five years we meant to come out only using new ones and not subtract the ones that were lost in the public will say a pox on both your OSes to any politician who tries to tell them anything that food misses Levesque. Next time we have you back. Well let's get you to answer that but I can't right now because we're out of time. Thank you very much Dr. Davis and Sally diversity for being our guest today and I will press and I promise that we'll keep that promise and we'll be back with you in the coming campaign year next week. I will press is going to be on the road will be in Spirit Lake to interview

six district representative Berkley battaile a Democrat from Spirit Lake So we invite you to join us next week either at the taping of our program in Spirit Lake next Saturday or right here on live a public television next Sunday night at 7:00 in the mean time for a panelist today Dave yaps and John McCormick. I'm Dean Borg. Thanks for joining us tonight stay tuned now for more than helping with take one. Good night. Major funding for this program was provided by friends of Iowa Public Television.