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Transcript: Inside Politics interviews Jesse VenturaAired October 26, 1998 - 5:22 p.m. ETJUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: Joining us now, the Minnesota candidate who is taking his opponents in the governors to the mat, from Minneapolis, Jesse Ventura. Thank you for joining us. Hubert Humphrey, Mr. Ventura, says you are a protest candidate. Are you? JESSE VENTURA (I), MINNESOTA GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE: No, I don't think so at all. I think I'm a third party Reform Party candidate. We here in the Reform Party in Minnesota have major party status and I am the nominated candidate from the Reform Party. I won with 109 delegates voting for me, one abstained that was myself. So, no I don't consider I'm necessarily a protest candidate. I just offer a third option to Democrats and Republicans. And it's kind of ironic; 150 years ago Abraham Lincoln was a third party candidate. And if that mind-set had prevailed then as they want to today, Abraham Lincoln, never would have been the president. WOODRUFF: Well, Mr. Humphrey is the one who has been hurt the most by your presence in the race. He's dropped anywhere from 15 to 20 points in the polls. Is it your intention to keep him out and perhaps to help Mr. Coleman? VENTURA: You know that's amazing, because one month ago all the Republicans were accusing me of the same thing. They were saying because I'm fiscally conservative that I was taking all the Coleman votes and that I was going to elect Humphrey. A vote for Jesse Ventura is just that, is a vote for Jesse Ventura. It not a vote for either of the two other candidates, and I find that almost laughable because the exact opposite was being said one month ago when Humphrey had a huge lead. Humphrey has fallen because we've had debates and Jesse Ventura is defeating both of them in debates. Why do you think they've both canceled 14 debates now -- because they want to win this election with little sound bites and TV ads. WOODRUFF: The editorial page of I believe the states largest newspaper, "The Minneapolis Star Tribune" said, and I'm quoting, "your experience is to limited, and your ideas on basic issues are too uninformed." VENTURA: Well, first of all that's a paper with a political agenda. You know, they have misrepresented themselves throughout this candidacy. It's no doubt for many, many years they have supported the liberal position totally, and that's what's wrong with the news media especially the written media here in Minnesota. They're trying to control this election, rather than simply reporting which is what they should be doing, they're opinionizing in there and trying to control voters and it's not working because "The Minneapolis Star Tribune,"truthfully, to me, doesn't have a whole lot of credibility. WOODRUFF: Mr. Ventura, you talked both about cutting taxes and about reducing the pupil-teacher ratio. How can you do the latter, if you do the former? How do you afford it? VENTURA: Very simple. Minnesota has allocated over the last four to five years over $400 million by law to do just that. The problem is the career politicians and the legislature allowed loopholes in this law. So the money is being sent to the local school boards; it's just not being used for what it was supposed to be used for and that is cutting class sizes down to a 17-1 ratio. So it can be done, simply by using the money that's supposed to be allocated to do so that is not being done at this time. WOODRUFF: Why did you raise the prospect or why do you say you believe that the state of Minnesota should consider legalizing prostitution? VENTURA: I did not say that. I was asked the question they said Mr. Ventura, a woman asked me you are socially moderate to liberal. There has been rumor you want to legalize drugs and prostitution, is that true? I answered absolutely not. Now is that clear? I think that's fairly clear. Yet the same "Minneapolis Star Tribune" newspaper chose to forget that answer. All I did from there was state that I am very open minded, and when I see things that are not working I have the ability -- I'm open-minded enough to look at other alternatives. I did not say that that was the case whatsoever, but I will look at other alternatives if things aren't working. WOODRUFF: I was told in a forum with all three candidates the three of you were asked, among other things, what's the price per pound of a frozen turkey. Have you since boned up on that? Do you know what the answer is? VENTURA: It's about a buck and a quarter, I think, depending where you buy it. But in my case, you know, I won one this year, so I'm getting mine free. (LAUGHTER) I was the master of ceremonies at Worthington, Minnesota for turkey days when they have a race between a Minnesota turkey and a Texas turkey. So they gave me a coupon. I get my turkey free. So the price of turkey this year for Jesse Ventura is zero. WOODRUFF: Do you believe you have a real shot at winning Mr. Ventura? VENTURA: Absolutely. Because when I ran for mayor of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, the Democrats and Republicans had turned off the voters so bad. There was so much apathy in that city, that only 2500 people turned out to vote in a city of 56,000. When I ran, it increased 9 times. It went from 2500 up to 20,000 in one election. Fifty percent of Minnesotans don't vote they are turned off by the process. I have people coming up to me daily saying Jesse I haven't voted in 20 years, but I'm coming back to vote for you. So if I can get 15 to 20 percent of that 50 percent that has quit voting, to come back and vote, I will win governor of Minnesota. Now if it's a small voter turnout, absolutely then I will not win, `cause then you'd just have your hard-core Democrats and Republicans. But if it's a large turnout, Jesse Ventura has a great chance to win. WOODRUFF: Well, Jesse Ventura we thank you very much for joining us. VENTURA: Thank you very much. My pleasure. MORE STORIES:Tuesday, October 27, 1998
• McDougal fiancé scolded over Whitewater mention • Farmhand saw suspect with murdered state senator, heard 'pop' • Burton asks FEC to review Democratic funds • Bennett tried to protect Jones case information from Starr • Women discuss Social Security • Witness in Espy trial says she was asked to delete details from trip itinerary • First lady celebrates 51st birthday • Man in Clinton threat makes a plea
• Democrats on the decline in Kentucky • Feiger forces Democratic defections in Michigan governor's race • Jesse "The Body" Ventura plays the spoiler in Minnesota gov. race • S.C. Senate race pits old South against new • Both parties eye no-incumbent races • Paper: Democrats fighting over elections • Election ads outnumber news stories • California candidate signs gay pledge • Techniques to raise voter turnout • Texas' Stenholm has a tough fight • California candidate has military record |
