3/5/02

LC020305

VAL>> ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT --

TERM LIMITS, A CRUCIAL L.A. CITY COUNCIL RACE AND THE REPUBLICAN CONTEST FOR GOVERNOR. IT'S JUST PART OF WHAT'S AT STAKE AS THE CALIFORNIA PRIMARY ENTERS ITS FINAL HOUR.

CRUZ BUSTAMANTE>> IF IT WAS TRUE ALL THAT WAS SAID ABOUT RIORDAN, THEN IT'S NOT NEGATIVE CAMPAIGNING. IF IT'S NOT TRUE, THEN IT'S NEGATIVE. SOUNDS LIKE MOST OF IT WAS TRUE.

VAL>> IT'S THE BIGGEST POLITICAL FIGHT IN ORANGE COUNTY: THE BATTLE OVER EL TORO. WILL THE FATE OF THE OLD EL TORO MARINE AIR STATION FINALLY BE DECIDED? TONIGHT ECONOMIST, PETER NAVARRO, ANALYZES THE TWO OPTIONS. WILL THESE 4,700 ACRES BECOME A GREAT PARK OR A REGIONAL AIRPORT?

PLUS, WE'LL LOOK AT THE STRANGE HISTORY OF A RACIAL SLUR AND WE'LL MEET THE AUTHOR WHO'S CAUSED AN UPROAR BY PUTTING THE WORD ON THE COVER OF HIS NEW BOOK.

RANDALL KENNEDY>> I WANT "NIGGER" TO BE PRESERVED IN THE SENSE THAT I WANT THERE TO BE A DOCUMENTARY RECORD PRESERVED ABOUT THE HISTORY OF RACISM IN THE UNITED STATES.

VAL>> TONIGHT HARVARD LAW PROFESSOR, RANDALL KENNEDY, SPEAKS THE FORBIDDEN WORD THAT'S SUCH A PART OF AMERICAN HISTORY AND HE'S MAKING SOME PEOPLE VERY UNCOMFORTABLE, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY LAY EYES ON HIS BOOK COVER.

WE'LL HAVE THESE STORIES AND COMPLETE ELECTION ANALYSIS ALL COMING UP NEXT ON LIFE AND TIMES.

LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FOLLOWING FOUNDATIONS:

THE L.K. WHITTIER FOUNDATION
DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE BY SUPPORTING INNOVATIVE ENDEAVORS IN THE FIELDS OF MEDICINE, HEALTH, SCIENCE AND EDUCATION.

THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT
THE STATE'S LARGEST HEALTH FOUNDATION SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS THAT DIRECTLY IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF CALIFORNIA'S DIVERSE COMMUNITIES. THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT, A PARTNER FOR HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES.

VAL>> GOOD EVENING, I'M VAL ZAVALA. JESS MARLOW HAS THE NIGHT OFF.

VERY SOON, WE'LL HAVE ANSWERS TO SOME IMPORTANT POLITICAL QUESTIONS. HAS FORMER L.A. MAYOR, RICHARD RIORDAN, RUN HIS LAST RACE OR WILL HE BE THERE TO CHALLENGE GOVERNOR GRAY DAVIS IN THE FALL? AND WILL VOTERS GIVE CALIFORNIA POLITICIANS A BREAK ON TERM LIMITS? TONIGHT WE'LL TAKE ON ALL THE MAJOR ISSUES, BUT FIRST GAY YEE REPORTS ON TODAY'S TURNOUT AT THE POLLS AND THE FINAL PUSH FOR VOTES.

GAY>> FOR A BIG CHUNK OF LOS ANGELES, THE RACE FOR CITY COUNCIL HAS BEEN THE ONE TO WATCH. STATE ASSEMBLYMAN, TONY CARDENAS, WAS AT THE POLLS EARLY MEETING AND GREETING VOTERS WITH THE HELP OF SOME POLITICAL HEAVY HITTERS LIKE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, CRUZ BUSTAMANTE, AND ALEX PADILLA, THE NEW LATINO STAR AT L.A.'S CITY HALL.

TONY CARDENAS>> IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY. THAT ALWAYS HELPS TURNOUT AND, IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, THIS IS ABOUT AS GOOD A DAY AS WE CAN GET.

GAY>> ON THE OTHER END OF THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY, THE OTHER CANDIDATE IN THE RACE IS ALSO HARD AT IT. DREAMWORKS EXECUTIVE, WENDY GREUEL, A FORMER AID TO MAYOR TOM BRADLEY, KNOCKS ON DOORS. BUT UNLIKE CARDENAS'S EFFORT, THERE ARE NO POLITICAL PROS IN SIGHT, JUST GREUEL ON A SOLO MISSION TO GATHER LAST-MINUTE VOTES.

WENDY GREUEL>> AND YOU GO TO THE POLLS AND SEE WHO'S VOTED AND WHO HASN'T AND THEN GO KNOCK ON THEIR DOOR AND MAKE SURE THEY'VE GOTTEN TO THE POLLS.

GAY>> THERE WAS NO SHORTAGE OF HOT RACES TODAY. BESIDES BIG LOCAL CONTESTS, VOTERS ARE CONFRONTED BY A COMPLICATED BALLOT LOADED TO THE BRIM WITH PROPOSITIONS, AMONG THEM PROP 45, THE MEASURE THAT WOULD GIVE CALIFORNIA POLITICIANS A BREAK BY ALLOWING THEM TO SERVE AN EXTRA FOUR YEARS.

>> POLITICIANS WHO ARE IN OFFICE YEAR AFTER YEAR, IF THEY'RE DOING A GOOD JOB, SHOULD BE THERE.

>> TERM LIMITS ARE A GOOD WAY TO GET NEW BLOOD INTO POLITICS AND I FAVOR THEM.

GAY>> AND THEN THERE'S THE STAR ATTRACTION, THE REPUBLICAN RACE FOR GOVERNOR. AS FORMER L.A. MAYOR, RICHARD RIORDAN, HEADED INTO THE FINAL STRETCH, ALL EYES WERE ON HIM AND HIS METEORIC FALL FROM HAVING A LOCK ON THIS ELECTION. MOST POLLS SHOW RIORDAN TRAILING FELLOW REPUBLICAN AND FORMER FRIEND, BILL SIMON, WHO IN THE LAST DAYS FOUND THE CONSERVATIVE POUR OF MANY REPUBLICAN HEARTS. BILL JONES STILL CONTINUED TO LOOK LIKE THE THIRD MAN IN A TWO-WAY CONTEST, BUT JONES MADE IT CLEAR HE WAS IN THE RACE TO THE FINISH, POLLS BE DAMNED.

AND THEN THERE WAS THE DEMOCRAT WHO MAY HAVE HAD MORE IMPACT THAN ANY REPUBLICAN. THE ONLY QUESTION? WAS IT FAIR FOR GRAY DAVIS TO HIJACK THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY BY SPENDING $10 MILLION DOLLARS ON ATTACK ADS AIMED AT RIORDAN?

>> I LIKED GRAY DAVIS'S CAMPAIGN.

GAY>> DO YOU THINK IT WAS VERY EFFECTIVE?

>> IT WAS VERY CLEVER AND I WOULD HAVE DONE THE EXACT SAME THING.

GAY>> DIE-HARD DEMOCRATS CONSIDER IT A SHREWD MOVE AND, AS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, CRUZ BUSTAMANTE, PUTS IT, IT'S ONLY POLITICS.

CRUZ BUSTAMANTE>> I THINK SIMON CAN WIN A RACE AGAINST RIORDAN. I DON'T THINK HE CAN WIN A RACE AGAINST A DEMOCRAT. I DON'T THINK HE CAN RUN AND WIN AGAINST A DAVIS.

GAY>> FOR NOW, BUSTAMANTE'S MAIN CONCERN IS THE DISTRICT TWO L.A. CITY COUNCIL RACE WHERE HE'S BACKING TONY CARDENAS. THE TURNOUT OF POWER PLAYERS IN THAT RACE, INCLUDING LEADERS OF THE POLICE AND FIREFIGHTERS UNIONS, MAKES IT CLEAR HOW MUCH IS RIDING ON THE OUTCOME. THE WINNER IN THIS RACE COULD EASILY SHIFT THE BALANCE OF POWER AT CITY HALL WHERE LATINOS ARE ON THE RISE.

ALEX PADILLA>> YOU KNOW, GIVEN OUR HERITAGE, IT'S CERTAINLY A POINT OF PRIDE TO HAVE AN UNPRECEDENTED NUMBER OF LATINOS ON THE COUNCIL, BUT WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE IS THAT WHAT WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS IS TO MAINTAIN THE AMERICAN DREAM ALIVE.

GAY>> AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE COULD BE SEEING SOME VERY TIGHT RACES, THE KIND WHERE IT BECOMES QUITE OBVIOUS THAT EVERY VOTE DOES COUNT. UNFORTUNATELY, IN THIS ELECTION, NOT A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE ARE VOTING. TURNOUT IS EXPECTED TO BE ONE OF THE WORST IN STATE HISTORY.

FOR WENDY GREUEL, IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE WHY VOTERS WOULD SIT THIS ELECTION OUT, NOT WITH SO MUCH RIDING ON THE OUTCOME AND NOT AFTER SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE WORKED SO HARD TO GET THEIR ATTENTION.

WENDY GREUEL>> EVERYONE GO OUT AND VOTE TODAY. VERY IMPORTANT.

VAL>> AND JOINING ME NOW ARE TWO VETERAN POLITICAL OBSERVERS, OUR OWN REGULAR COMMENTATOR, PATT MORRISON, AND ALSO WITH US, JAMES HIRSEN. HE IS A LAW PROFESSOR AT TRINITY LAW SCHOOL AND A NATIONALLY SYNDICATED RADIO HOST. WELCOME, BOTH OF YOU.

JAMES HIRSEN>> GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.

VAL>> ALL RIGHT. L.A.'S HORSE IN THE RACE, MAYOR RIORDAN. IS HE SUNK?

PATT>> I THINK THE HORSE IS GOING TO BREAK HIS LEG BEFORE HE GETS TO THE POST AND HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE SHOT. (LAUGHTER) IT DOESN'T LOOK GOOD. THIS IS THE MOST SPECTACULAR POLITICAL DECLINE IN TERMS OF THE NUMBERS SINCE KATHLEEN BROWN RAN AGAINST PETE WILSON IN 1994.

VAL>> THAT'S RIGHT. HE STARTED OFF WAY AHEAD OF DAVIS EVEN.

PATT>> AND HERE, HIS NUMBER IS FLATTENING OUT TO BILL SIMON WHO HAS NEVER RUN FOR OFFICE BEFORE, WHO'S NOT VOTED IN CALIFORNIA IN THE LAST TEN YEARS. WHAT DOES IT SAY ABOUT THE POWER OF MONEY IN A RACE THAT GRAY DAVIS CAN DO WHAT HE DID TO HANDICAP RICHARD RIORDAN AND THAT BILL SIMON CAN COME ALONG WITH THE SAME KIND OF MONEY TO MATCH DICK RIORDAN AND BLOW BILL JONES, THE PUBLIC SERVANT OF LONGSTANDING, OUT OF THE WATER?

VAL>> THAT'S RIGHT, BUT IT WASN'T JUST MONEY BECAUSE RIORDAN WAS NO PAUPER. WHAT WAS IT THAT DID RIORDAN IN?

JAMES HIRSEN>> WELL, DAVIS SPENT $10 MILLION DOLLARS AND THERE'S DEFINITELY A POWER WITH THAT. BUT THERE'S MORE HAPPENING HERE THAN JUST THE MONEY. I THINK THE STRATEGY OF RIORDAN'S CAMPAIGN WAS WRONG FROM THE TOP. IT WAS LIKE A PLAYOFF TEAM THAT OVERLOOKS THE QUALIFYING ROUND. HE WAS LOOKING TO THE GENERAL ELECTION --

JESS>> -- YEAH, LIKE THOSE SUPER BOWL CHAMPION RAIDERS, RIGHT? (LAUGHTER)

JAMES HIRSEN>> (LAUGHTER) THAT'S RIGHT. BUT ALSO I THINK THAT THE RULES OF THE GAME WERE SO CONFUSING EVEN TO THE STRATEGISTS. THE FACT THAT WE'VE HAD FOUR DIFFERENT SETS OF VOTER RULES IN THE LAST FOUR ELECTIONS AND WE HAVE THIS HYBRID AFTER THE SUPREME COURT --

VAL>> -- YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE OPEN PRIMARY THAT'S NOT REALLY OPEN? IT'S SORT OF HALF OPEN, HALF CLOSED --

JAMES HIRSEN>> -- THAT'S RIGHT --

PATT>> -- AND THEN A DECLINE TO STATE REGISTRATION THAT'S ABOUT TWELVE PERCENT. YOU NEVER KNOW WHERE THAT TWELVE PERCENT IS GOING TO GO BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHICH ELECTION THEY'RE EVEN GOING TO CHOOSE TO VOTE IN, THE REPUBLICAN OR THE DEMOCRATIC OR SOMETHING ELSE.

JAMES HIRSEN>> THAT'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, SO THERE'S 2.2 MILLION VOTERS YOU CALL THE DECLINE TO STATEMENT. THE UNAFFILIATED VOTERS AND THE INDEPENDENT VOTERS WHO, IN MANY CASES, DON'T KNOW THAT THEY CAN IN FACT VOTE FOR THE PARTIES THAT HAVE AGREED TO ALLOW THEM TO VOTE, WHICH IS THE DEMOCRATS AND THE REPUBLICANS AND THE NATURAL LAW AND THE AMERICAN INDEPENDENT, AND I THINK THAT AFFECTED RIORDAN'S STRATEGY. I ALSO THINK THAT THE ATTACK ADS BY DAVIS DO NOT TOTALLY ACCOUNT FOR SIMON'S ACCELERATION BECAUSE HE WAS COMPLETELY DOWN BELOW JONES. SO SOMETHING THERE IS HAPPENING THAT IS ENERGIZING THE REPUBLICAN BASE AND CAUSING HIM TO ACCELERATE BASED ON HIS OWN CAMPAIGN AS WELL.

PATT>> BUT, JIM, WE'VE SEEN THE REPUBLICAN BASE ACCELERATE BEFORE. THEY PUT A GUN TO THEIR HEADS, THEY SAY DON'T COME ANY CLOSER OR I'LL SHOOT. THAT'S HOW WE ENDED UP WITH DAN LUNDGREN IN, WHAT, 1998 WITH A TWENTY POINT DEFICIT TO GRAY DAVIS, AND DAN LUNDGREN WAS AN EXPERIENCED POLITICIAN.

JAMES HIRSEN>> OH, THAT'S TRUE. BUT WE GO BACK EVEN FARTHER, 36 YEARS, AND PAT BROWN HAD A SIMILAR IDEA THAT DAVIS HAS. HE THOUGHT I'LL PICK A CANDIDATE THAT I CAN BEAT. THAT TURNED OUT TO BE RONALD REAGAN. NOW COULD IT HAPPEN AGAIN? WE HAVE SOME WILD CARDS. WE'VE GOT THE WILD CARD FROM NEW YORK, RUDY GIULIANI. I BELIEVE HE WILL CAMPAIGN IN A GENERAL ELECTION IF SIMON WINS.

PATT>> BUT HE STANDS FOR SO MANY THINGS THAT SIMON DOESN'T. HE'S PRO CHOICE, --

JAMES HIRSEN>> -- TRUE.

PATT>> -- HE'S PRO GUN CONTROL, HE'S PRO GAY RIGHTS. YOU KNOW, WATCH OUT --

VAL>> -- YEAH, BUT I THINK PEOPLE STILL LOVE HIM AND HE'S REVERED AND --

PATT>> -- AH, BUT YOU'VE GOT TO ACCOUNT FOR POLICY HERE. WHY IS HE ENDORSING HIM IF SIMON IS SAYING THIS IS WHAT OUR PARTY IS ABOUT AND IT'S NOT ABOUT RUDY GIULIANI?

VAL>> I WANT TO MOVE ON BECAUSE OF ANOTHER REALLY INTERESTING PROPOSITION, PROPOSITION 45, WHICH WOULD EXTEND TERM LIMITS FOR STATE-ELECTED OFFICIALS. WHAT'S YOUR SENSE? ARE THERE ANY POLLS OUT THERE THAT SAY IT'S GOING TO PASS OR NOT?

PATT>> I DON'T THINK PEOPLE ARE IN THE MOOD TO EXTEND TERM LIMITS. ALSO, THE AD THAT I SAW WAS "ENDORSE PROP 45. STOP WILLIE BROWN", WHICH IS TO KEEP WILLIE BROWN FROM RUNNING FOR STATE SENATE --

JAMES HIRSEN>> -- ISN'T THAT AMAZING, YEAH?

PATT>> (LAUGHTER) IT WAS THE MOST AMAZING WHIPSAW AD I THINK I'VE SEEN IN A LONG TIME.

JAMES HIRSEN>> AND YOU SEE -- AND SORT OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY APPEARS TO BE USING WILLIE BROWN AS A BOOGIE MAN AND REPUBLICANS WERE CHASTISED FOR THAT. THEY WERE CALLED RACISTS FOR THAT. AND ALSO PROPOSITION 45 HAS BEEN A KIND OF, YOU KNOW, A VERY DECEPTIVE CAMPAIGN BECAUSE IT'S BEEN ADVERTISED AS PROTECTING AND STRENGTHENING TERM LIMITS WHEN IT ACTUALLY DOES THE OPPOSITE.

PATT>> AND MORE MONEY HAS BEEN SPENT ON 45 THAN I THINK ALL OF THE OTHERS COMBINED? PERHAPS NOT -- 42.

JAMES HIRSEN>> ALMOST $10 MILLION DOLLARS PRO 45, ABOUT $1 MILLION DOLLARS ANTI-45.

VAL>> WOW. STICK AROUND. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE YOU COMMENT ON SOME OF THE LOCAL RACES IN JUST A MOMENT AND THERE ARE SOME CLOSELY WATCHED RACES TONIGHT IN ORANGE COUNTY AS WELL. WE'LL GET TO THEM IN A MOMENT.

TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES, A LOOK AT BIG MONEY IN CALIFORNIA POLITICS. WE'VE JUST SEEN THE MOST EXPENSIVE GUBERNATORIAL PRIMARY IN STATE HISTORY, BUT WAS IT FAIR FOR A DEMOCRAT, GRAY DAVIS, TO INFLUENCE THE REPUBLICAN VOTE BY SPENDING THAT $10 MILLION DOLLARS IN ATTACK ADS AIMED AT RICHARD RIORDAN? AND DID THAT SET THE TONE FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION IN NOVEMBER? A CLOSER LOOK AT MONEY AND POLITICS TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES.

ONE OF THE MOST CLOSELY WATCHED ELECTIONS TODAY IS TAKING PLACE IN ORANGE COUNTY. VOTERS ARE DECIDING THE FATE OF THE OLD EL TORO MARINE AIR STATION. WILL IT BECOME A PARK OR A REGIONAL AIRPORT? IN A MOMENT, WE'LL BE JOINED BY SOMEONE WHO KNOWS ALL THE INS AND OUTS OF THIS RACE, BUT FIRST GAY YEE PROVIDES SOME BACKGROUND ON THE BATTLE OVER EL TORO.

GAY>> THE FIGHT OVER EL TORO IS WORTHY OF THE OLD MARINE STATION'S SPANISH NAME, "THE BULL", AND SUGGESTING THAT IT BE TURNED INTO A CIVILIAN AIRPORT IS LIKE WAVING A RED FLAG IN THE FACE OF SOME ORANGE COUNTY RESIDENTS.

>> IT'S NOT NEEDED, IT'S NOT EFFICIENT AND IT'S NOT EFFECTIVE.

GAY>> BUT THE ALTERNATIVE, TURNING EL TORO INTO A GREAT PARK, HAS THE SAME RED FLAG EFFECT ON PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE ORANGE COUNTY NEEDS A NEW AIRPORT TO GROW.

>> THIS IS ANOTHER 5,000 ACRES THAT THEY WANT TO TURN INTO A GREAT PARK WHEN THEY'RE ALREADY OVER-PARKED.

GAY>> THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME THERE HAS BEEN AN EL TORO INITIATIVE ON THE BALLOT. THAT'S FOUR TIMES OVER SEVEN YEARS. BUT MANY PEOPLE SEEM TO FEEL, WITH MEASURE W, THIS ISSUE WILL FINALLY BE PUT TO REST MAINLY BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE TIRED AND BOTH SIDES ARE RUNNING OUT OF MONEY. IN ORANGE COUNTY, GAY YEE FOR LIFE AND TIMES.

VAL>> JOINING US NOW IS UC IRVINE ECONOMIST, PETER NAVARRO. WELCOME. HOW ARE YOU DOING THESE DAYS?

PETER NAVARRO>> ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

VAL>> BOY, THIS EL TORO ISSUE WILL NOT GO AWAY. ARE WE FINALLY GOING TO SEE SOME DECISIVE ACTION ON IT WITH THIS ELECTION?

PETER NAVARRO>> I THINK SO. THE POLLS ARE SHOWING THAT THERE'S BROAD SUPPORT FOR MEASURE W --

VAL>> -- WHICH IS?

PETER NAVARRO>> -- WHICH IS A VOTE AGAINST THE AIRPORT. BUT HERE'S THE KICKER. THE TURNOUT IS GOING TO BE SO LOW IN THIS ELECTION THAT THE PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY GO TO THE POLLS ARE GOING TO BE SKEWED FOR THE AIRPORT BECAUSE THE MESSAGE OF THE ANTI-W FORCES IS IT'S THE GREAT TAX. AND WHO'S GOING TO THE POLLS? IT'S GOING TO BE OLDER, MORE CONSERVATIVE VOTERS. THE REASON IS THAT'S WHO USUALLY GOES TO THE POLLS IN LOW TURNOUT RACES.

PLUS IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE, WHAT'S GOING ON? DAVIS IS UNOPPOSED ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE, BUT WE'VE GOT A VERY ENERGETIC BATTLE BETWEEN RIORDAN AND DAVIS THAT'S GOING TO BRING REPUBLICANS TO THE POLLS AND EVERYBODY WHO VOTES FOR SIMON IS PROBABLY GOING TO VOTE AGAINST MEASURE W BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ANTI-TAX CROWD. SO IT COULD GO FROM 66 PERCENT IN THE POLLS TO 51-49, SO IT MAY GO ON FOREVER.

VAL>> JAMES, THIS MEASURE W WOULD, IN ESSENCE, ZONE EL TORO FOR A GREAT PARK, AS THEY CALL IT. IS THAT A GOOD IDEA? IS THIS GOING TO WORK?

JAMES HIRSEN>> WELL, I THINK IT BEGS THE QUESTION IF IN FACT THE PUBLIC IS REALLY AGAINST THE AIRPORT, THEN WHY DO WE HAVE TO SORT OF OBFUSCATE IT WITH A GREAT PARK? IT SEEMS AS THOUGH -- AND PETER'S WRITTEN AN ARTICLE ON THIS -- THAT THAT'S A BIT DECEPTIVE. IF IN FACT THE ORANGE COUNTY VOTING PUBLIC FELT THAT THIS WAS A BAD THING, THEN IT SHOULD BE LAID OUT ON THE TABLE THAT MEASURE W IS IN FACT AN ANTI-AIRPORT MEASURE.

VAL>> SO YOU'RE SAYING WHY COMMIT TO A GREAT PARK? WHY NOT JUST OPEN IT UP TO OTHER OPTIONS, ANYTHING OTHER THAN AN AIRPORT?

JAMES HIRSEN>> WELL, IN THE END RESULT, I THINK THAT EVEN THE BACKERS OF THE GREAT PARK DON'T REALLY INTEND IT TO BE A GREAT PARK. IT'S A VERY GREAT PARK.

PETER NAVARRO>> IN FACT, IT'S A MISNOMER BECAUSE, IF YOU LOOK AT THE RESOURCES ON THE 4,700 ACRES, YES, THERE'S GOING TO BE A PARK ALA BALBOA PARK DOWN IN SAN DIEGO, BUT THERE'S ALSO AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT YOU CAN USE FROM THE BARRACKS. THERE'S ALSO A BUNCH OF BUILDINGS THAT YOU CAN USE FOR FAIRLY LUCRATIVE REVENUE-GENERATING COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT. THERE'S TALK OF EVEN DOWN THE ROAD MAYBE SOME KIND OF STADIUM OR SOMETHING FOR THE ORANGE COUNTY-ITES. SO IT'S MORE OF A LAND USE DECISION, A MULTI-PURPOSE AREA. IT'S A GREAT PARK? I MEAN, THE BIGGEST THING I'VE GOT A PROBLEM WITH IS THE NAME ITSELF. I MEAN, WHY DON'T THEY CALL IT, LIKE FOR THE TECH TYPES, PARK SQUARED OR SOMETHING --

PATT>> -- IT SOUNDS LIKE A DISNEYLAND ANNEX, DOESN'T IT? AND ORANGE COUNTY -- WITHIN A GENERATION, LAND HAS OPEN SPACES DISAPPEAR AND I THINK PEOPLE, IN VOTING ON THIS, WANT SOME KIND OF GUARANTEES ABOUT JUST WHAT IT IS THEY MAY BE SEEING THERE, SOME FRAMEWORK THAT THEY CAN WORK FROM, NOT JUST AGAINST THE AIRPORT --

PETER NAVARRO>> -- IT HAS GREAT IMPLICATIONS FOR LOS ANGELES AND SURROUNDING AREAS BECAUSE, IF THAT AIRPORT DOESN'T GO, IT'S GOING TO BE EITHER LAX OR ONTARIO OR PALMDALE, AND IT'S BASICALLY THE OLD NIMBY KIND OF WORD YOU PUT FOR THINGS. BUT, YOU KNOW, THE EVENTS OF SEPTEMBER 11 REALLY HAVE CHANGED THINGS IN A WAY WHERE ALL THOSE PROJECTIONS OF AIRPORT DEMAND THAT WERE SHOOTING TO THE STARS NOW ARE REALLY MORE OF A FLAT-LINE AND THERE MAY BE AN ISSUE OF HOW MUCH CAPACITY WE NEED.

VAL>> SO YOUR IMPRESSION IS, THOUGH, THAT THE ANTI-AIRPORT FORCES WILL WIN OUT?

PETER NAVARRO>> PROP W SHOULD PASS EXCEPT FOR THE FACT -- THE ONLY QUESTION HERE IS THIS LOW TURNOUT SKEWED TOWARDS THE ANTI-TAX CROWD.

VAL>> IS THAT LIKELY TO TRIGGER SOME LAWSUITS?

PETER NAVARRO>> OH, YEAH.

JAMES HIRSEN>> INEVITABLE.

PATT>> NOTHING EVER GETS SETTLED IN ORANGE COUNTY. (LAUGHTER) THE WETLANDS HAS BEEN IN COURT FOR THIRTY YEARS.

PETER NAVARRO>> THE IMPORTANT POINT, THOUGH, HERE AND I'M GLAD YOU RAISED THAT BECAUSE THERE'S ANOTHER RACE GOING ON BETWEEN SUPERVISOR CYNTHIA COAD WHO IS THE HEAD VOICE ON THE PRO AIRPORT FORCES AND THE HEAD OF THE THREE KEY MAJORITY ON THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. SHE'S BEING CHALLENGED BY CHRIS NORBY, A CITY COUNCIL PERSON FROM FULLERTON. IF NORBY BEATS COAD, THAT'S THE END OF THE AIRPORT TOO.

VAL>> THAT TIPS THE BALANCE --

PETER NAVARRO>> -- YEAH. IT'S REALLY KIND OF -- POLITICALLY, IT'S AN ANOMALY TO HAVE 65 PERCENT OF THE PEOPLE AGAINST SOMETHING AND THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FOR IT.

PATT>> WELL, ORANGE COUNTY IS LIKE A LITTLE POLITICAL SNOW DOME. YOU ALWAYS GET TO SHAKE IT UP AND EVERYTHING GETS FRENETIC FOR A WHILE (LAUGHTER) AND THEN IT SETTLES DOWN AND YOU SHAKE IT AGAIN. I LOVE WATCHING ORANGE COUNTY FROM THIS DISTANCE. (LAUGHTER)

VAL>> ANOTHER VERY INTERESTING RACE IN ORANGE COUNTY IS A JUDGE WHO'S RUNNING TO BE REINSTALLED, JUDGE KLEIN, EVEN THOUGH HE HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH CHILD PORNOGRAPHY ON HIS COMPUTER AND I THINK SOMETHING ELSE AS WELL THAT'S NOT VERY SEEMLY.

PETER NAVARRO>> CHILD MOLESTATION NOW.

VAL>> YET HE IS RUNNING FOR JUDGE.

PETER NAVARRO>> WELL, HE'S NOT RUNNING VERY FAR BECAUSE HE CAN'T LEAVE HIS HOUSE. (LAUGHTER)

PATT>> (LAUGHTER) HE'S GOT BAD ANKLE BRACELETS.

PETER NAVARRO>> (LAUGHTER) HE'S GOT THESE ANKLE BRACELETS. BUT THERE'S A GREAT WRITE-IN CANDIDACY NOW. THERE'S SOMETHING LIKE FOURTEEN CANDIDATES. THEY WON A ROUND IN COURT TO HAVE ALL OF THEIR NAMES DISPLAYED AT THE BALLOT AND YOU DO SEE A LOT OF SIGNS. MY FAVORITE CANDIDATE -- I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT HIM -- HIS NAME IS JOHN ADAMS. (LAUGHTER) HE'S GOT BIG SIGNS OUT.

PATT>> BUT IS THE JUDGE GOING TO WIN?

PETER NAVARRO>> WELL, IF HE DOESN'T GET FIFTY PERCENT AND THERE'S ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO GETS MORE VOTES, THEN IN THE RUNOFF THAT PERSON'S NAME WILL BE ON THE BALLOT AND THEN KLEIN LOSES, SO IT'S ALL ABOUT KEEPING HIM BELOW FIFTY PERCENT.

JAMES HIRSEN>> BUT THE CONVENTIONAL WISDOM IS SAYING THAT HE IS GOING TO WIN AND IT'S AN UNFORTUNATE THING, WITH HAVING THIS CLOUD OVER HIS HEAD, THAT HE'LL GET -- AS A MATTER OF FACT, THEY'RE PROJECTING HIM GETTING SIXTY PERCENT OF THE VOTE BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T LIKE TO WRITE IN CANDIDATES. THEY FORGET TO PUNCH --

PETER NAVARRO>> -- THEY DON'T HAVE TO WATCH THE CHAD EITHER.

JAMES HIRSEN>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT. THEY MAKE A MISTAKE AND THEY VOTE FOR PAT BUCHANAN. (LAUGHTER)

PATT>> (LAUGHTER) WE WON'T GO THERE.

VAL>> I WISH WE COULD GO ON, BUT WE'VE RUN OUT OF TIME. PETER NAVARRO OF UC IRVINE, JAMES HIRSEN OF TRINITY LAW SCHOOL, AND, OF COURSE, PATT MORRISON, THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE AND WEIGHING IN ON THE ISSUES.

JAMES HIRSEN>> PLEASURE.

PETER NAVARRO>> IT'S A PLEASURE.

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VAL>> WE'RE ABOUT TO EXPLORE THE HERITAGE OF A WORD THAT'S RARELY SPOKEN IN POLITE SOCIETY. IN FACT, IT'S SO OFFENSIVE THAT PEOPLE TEND TO ABBREVIATE IT RATHER THAN SAY IT. BUT TONIGHT YOU'LL HEAR THIS RACIAL SLUR SEVERAL TIMES AND YOU'LL MEET THE HARVARD PROFESSOR WHO'S WRITING ABOUT IT. AS PHILIP BRUCE REPORTS, RANDALL KENNEDY HAS CAUSED QUITE A STIR ALONG THE WAY.

PHILIP>> RANDALL KENNEDY IS A HARVARD LAW PROFESSOR, BUT LATELY HE'S BEST KNOWN FOR TRYING TO DE-FANG A POWERFUL OFFENSIVE WORD. EVERYBODY'S HEARD IT AND TOO MANY HAVE SAID IT. NOW IT BLAZES ACROSS THE COVER OF KENNEDY'S NEW BOOK. BY HIS OWN DESCRIPTION, IT'S AN EFFORT TO MAP THE STRANGE CAREER OF ONE OF AMERICA'S MOST TROUBLESOME WORDS.

RANDALL KENNEDY>> THIS PROJECT STARTED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WHEN I DECIDED TO TYPE IN N-I-G-G-E-R INTO THE LEXIS-NEXIS DATABASE AND I ASKED THAT DATABASE TO GIVE ME THE CITATION FOR EVERY FEDERAL COURT CASE AND STATE COURT CASE IN WHICH "NIGGER" APPEARED. I GOT OVER 4,000 CITATIONS. I STARTED READING THE CASES AND THEN I OPENED UP A FILE BECAUSE I THOUGHT THIS IS VERY INTERESTING. I FOUND THAT THE LEGAL SYSTEM HAD TO GRAPPLE WITH "NIGGER" IN ALL SORTS OF SETTINGS, IN THE LAW OF HOMICIDE, THE LAW OF EVIDENCE, FIRST AMENDMENT LAW, TORT LAW. ALL THESE ASPECTS OF LAW HAVE HAD TO GRAPPLE WITH THIS POWERFUL WORD.

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PHILIP>> IN TODAY'S URBAN CULTURE, AS ILLUSTRATED IN FILMS SUCH AS "MENACE II SOCIETY", THAT FORBIDDEN WORD EXISTS IN WHAT AMOUNTS TO A PARALLEL UNIVERSE. KENNEDY SAYS AFRICAN-AMERICANS LONG AGO TOOK WHAT WAS THE MOST DAMNING SLUR AND CO-OPTED IT, TURNING AN INSULT INTO A GREETING, EVEN A SIGN OF AFFECTION.

RANDALL KENNEDY>> THAT IS A USAGE THAT HAS A HISTORY WITHIN THE BLACK COMMUNITY, BUT I THINK FOR A LONG TIME IT WAS OUT OF SIGHT OF WHITES AND OTHERS. IT WAS AN IN GROUP JOKE, SO TO SPEAK, OR AN IN GROUP ACTIVITY. SINCE THE 1970'S, "NIGGER" AS SALUTATION WITHIN THE BLACK COMMUNITY HAS BEEN POPULARIZED. PEOPLE KNOW OF IT BECAUSE OF MEDIUMS LIKE RICHARD PRYOR OR THROUGH THE HIP-HOP CULTURE.

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PHILIP>> KENNEDY SAYS BLACK COMEDIANS SUCH AS RICHARD PRYOR, IN ESSENCE, LET WHITE AMERICA IN ON THE JOKE AND, FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE COUNTRY GOT A GLIMPSE OF HOW A RACIAL BLASPHEMY HAD BEEN TRANSFORMED BY THE VICTIMS.

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RANDALL KENNEDY>> I THINK RICHARD PRYOR IN HIS ALBUM, "THAT NIGGER'S CRAZY" OR SUBSEQUENT ALBUM, "BICENTENNIAL NIGGER", USED IT OPENLY, SHOWED I THINK BRILLIANTLY THE VARIOUS WAYS IN WHICH THIS WORD IS IN FACT USED. HE SHOWS IT BEING USED AS AN INSULT. HE SHOWS IT BEING USED AS A MATTER-OF-FACT TERM OF DESCRIPTION. HE SHOWS IT BEING USED AS A SALUTATION OF AFFECTION. HE REALLY PLAYS ALL THE CHANGES ON THIS WORD.

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PHILIP>> BUT EVEN AS WHITES LAUGH AT THE PUNCH LINES, MOST DARE NOT UTTER THE WORD ITSELF. TO PUT THAT THEORY TO THE TEST, WE TOOK KENNEDY'S BOOK TO THE CAMPUS OF USC AND ASKED STUDENTS THERE TO REACT TO ONE THING: THE TITLE.

LOOK AT THIS WORD. WHAT COMES TO MIND?

>> JUST EVERYTHING I WOULD WANT TO AVOID, ESPECIALLY BEING FROM THE MIDWEST. I FEEL LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THAT AREA WOULD MAYBE USE THAT EXTREMELY INAPPROPRIATELY, YOU KNOW? YEAH, IT MAKES ME VERY UNCOMFORTABLE.

PHILIP>> CAN A WHITE PERSON EVER SAY THAT WORD?

>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.

PHILIP>> CAN A BLACK PERSON?

>> AS MY FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE SAID, YOU KNOW, THAT'S USUALLY IN THE CONTEXT WHICH PEOPLE SEEM TO THINK IT'S ACCEPTABLE.

PHILIP>> SO WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS WORD?

>> I THINK IT'S A DEROGATORY WORD.

PHILIP>> WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT A DISCUSSION OF THIS WORD AND TALKING ABOUT ITS USAGE?

>> I THINK IT SHOULD BE DISCUSSED AND YOU SHOULD TALK ABOUT WHY IT'S USED BECAUSE I THINK SOMETIMES THE REASON WHY PEOPLE OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN CULTURE USE THE WORD IS MAYBE DIFFERENT THAN THE CONTEXT THAT IT WAS ACTUALLY USED DECADES AGO. BUT I STILL DON'T THINK IT'S A WORD THAT SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE USED, NO MATTER WHAT THE CONTEXT.

PHILIP>> EVEN IN THIS ACADEMIC SETTING, THE BOOK STILL CAUSES OBVIOUS DISCOMFORT AND EMBARRASSMENT. THE WORD HAS THAT MUCH POWER.

I'M JUST GETTING REACTION TO THE TITLE OF THIS BOOK AND WHAT PEOPLE THINK ABOUT IT. THIS IS THE WORD.

>> OH, I HAVE TO (LAUGHTER) --

PHILIP>> -- YOU DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT?

>> NO.

PHILIP>> WHAT DO YOU THINK OF WHEN YOU SEE THAT? I MEAN, IS THERE EVER ANY REASON TO USE THAT WORD?

>> NO, NO REASON.

PHILIP>> THANK YOU.

RANDALL KENNEDY>> THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE VOICED THEIR OPPOSITION TO THE TITLE OF MY BOOK WITH THE MOST FEELING HAS BEEN OLDER BLACK PEOPLE, OLDER BLACK PEOPLE WHO GREW UP IN AN ERA WHERE "NIGGER" AS INSULT HAD INSTITUTIONAL FORCE BEHIND IT, WHERE "NIGGER" WAS THE EMBLEMATIC WORD THAT STOOD FOR WHITE SUPREMACY, BLACK INFERIORITY.

PHILIP>> SO WHY WRITE ABOUT A SLUR THAT'S CAUSED SO MUCH PAIN? KENNEDY SAYS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW THE WORD HAS CHANGED AND HOW IT'S CHANGED US.

RANDALL KENNEDY>> IT'S A WORD THAT IS CONSTANTLY EVOLVING, SO YOU HAVE ASIAN-AMERICAN YOUNGSTERS IN SAN FRANCISCO THAT ARE GREETING ONE ANOTHER, CALLING ONE ANOTHER "NIGGER", AS A TERM OF SALUTATION. THEY ARE GIVING THIS TERM NEW MEANING AND THAT'S GOING TO CONTINUE.

VAL>> KENNEDY'S BOOK HAS BEEN OUT FOR SEVERAL WEEKS IN HARDBACK. IT'S SELLING WELL, BUT THE AUTHOR SAYS THAT MANY OF HIS READERS, ESPECIALLY THE WHITE ONES, HAVE FOUND INTERESTING WAYS TO CONCEAL THE COVER AND THAT INCENDIARY WORD THAT'S PART OF THE MAIN TITLE.

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