7/31/03

LC030731

VAL ZAVALA>> TONIGHT ON LIFE AND TIMES --

GOVERNOR DAVIS SAYS HE'LL FIGHT THE RECALL LIKE A BENGAL TIGER, BUT WHAT HAS HE DONE TO MAKE CALIFORNIANS SO MAD?

>> HE HAS COST THE STATE SO MUCH AND I JUST DON'T THINK HE HAS THE RESPECT TO BE ABLE TO DO HIS JOB ANYMORE. THAT'S THE MAIN THING, THAT HE CAN'T FUNCTION.

VAL>> AND THEN, THEY'RE ALREADY ONE OF HOLLYWOOD'S HOTTEST COUPLES, BUT DO BEN AND J-LO BURN UP THE SCREEN IN THEIR NEW MOVIE? THAT'S ONE OF THE FILMS OUR CRITICS WILL REVIEW THIS WEEK.

ALL COMING UP STRAIGHT AHEAD ON TONIGHT'S LIFE AND TIMES.

LIFE AND TIMES IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF
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.

VAL ZAVALA>> HELLO, I'M VAL ZAVALA. WHY ARE CALIFORNIANS SO AGITATED AND ANGRY ENOUGH TO POSSIBLY DUMP THE GOVERNOR AFTER LESS THAN A YEAR OF HAVING RE-ELECTED HIM? GRAY DAVIS HAS PROMISED A TOUGH FIGHT AND REPUBLICANS ARE GEARING UP FOR AN EXPENSIVE AND NASTY RACE, BUT WHAT IS IT EXACTLY THAT CALIFORNIANS WANT AS THE STATE HEADS TOWARD THIS HISTORIC RECALL ELECTION? PHILIP BRUCE HITS THE STREETS TO FIND OUT AND HE STARTED IN A TOWN THAT'S SEEN IT ALL.

PHILIP BRUCE>> HERE IN THE FOOTHILLS OF THE SAN GABRIEL MOUNTAINS, SIERRA MADRE HAS HAD A FRONT ROW SEAT TO THE MANY BOOMS AND BUSTS THAT HAVE MADE CALIFORNIA WHAT IT IS. NOW THE TOWN IS AT THE CROSSROADS OF ANOTHER HISTORY-MAKING EVENT, THE POSSIBLE RECALL OF A GOVERNOR.

>> YOU KNOW, WAY TOO LATE. SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN ELECTED TO BEGIN WITH.

PHILIP BRUCE>> SIERRA MADRE HAS MORE REPUBLICANS THAN DEMOCRATS, BUT MANY VOTERS HERE DESCRIBE THEMSELVES AS MODERATES. THE TOWN WAS ALMOST EVENLY SPLIT BETWEEN BUSH AND GORE IN THE LAST PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. IT'S MIDDLE CLASS AND MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, PRECISELY THE KIND OF POLITICAL HODGEPODGE GRAY DAVIS USED TO COUNT ON, BUT MAYBE NOT ANYMORE.

>> WELL, I JUST HEARD HE REALLY SCREWED UP THE BUDGET BIG TIME. I DON'T KEEP UP WITH IT THAT MUCH, BUT THAT'S JUST WHAT I HEAR.

PHILIP BRUCE>> IT'S TIME TO GET RID OF HIM?

>> I'D LIKE TO SEE SOMEONE NEW, YEAH.

PHILIP BRUCE>> IF SIERRA MADRE IS ANYTHING CLOSE TO TYPICAL, THEN GRAY DAVIS HAS GOT SOME BIG PROBLEMS. IT'S NOT THAT PEOPLE HERE ARE ANGRY SO MUCH AS THEY ARE JUST PLAIN FED UP. BIG POLITICAL LESSONS CAN BE LEARNED IN SMALL TOWNS LIKE THIS AND THE BIGGEST ONE IS THAT, WHEN PEOPLE ON MAIN STREET GET THIS AGITATED, LOOK OUT. IF THE GOVERNOR WONDERS WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ON MAIN STREET, ALL HE HAS TO DO IS STOP BY THE NEIGHBORHOOD PHARMACY HERE IN SIERRA MADRE. PAUL MANSUER HEARS IT ALL FROM HIS CUSTOMERS AND HE HAS HIS OWN OPINIONS ABOUT WHY GRAY DAVIS IS IN SUCH HOT WATER.

PAUL MANSUER>> WELL, I THINK WITH THE WHOLE ENERGY CRISIS THAT TOOK PLACE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AND HIS HANDLING OF IT AND THE LONG-TERM ENERGY DEALS THAT WE GOT INTO, I THINK, YEAH, HE DEFINITELY BUNGLED THAT. HE DEFINITELY KIND OF FORCED US INTO MORE OF A DEFICIT. THEN ALSO, HE KIND OF LIED ABOUT THE SIZE OF THE DEFICIT PRIOR TO HIM GETTING ELECTED. HE MENTIONED THAT THE SIZE OF THE DEFICIT WAS LIKE $10 BILLION AND IT TURNED OUT IT WAS LIKE $40 BILLION, SO I THINK HE PROBABLY DID LIE TO THE PEOPLE.

PHILIP BRUCE>> SOME HAVE ARGUED THAT DAVIS JUST HAS THE MISFORTUNE OF BEING GOVERNOR AT A TIME WHEN THE GOLDEN STATE SEEMS MORE THAN A LITTLE TARNISHED. JACK PITNEY, POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR AT CLAREMONT MCKENNA COLLEGE AND A FORMER AIDE TO DICK CHENEY, SAYS THERE'S SOME TRUTH TO THAT.

JACK PITNEY>> I DON'T THINK EVEN HIS HARSHEST CRITIC WOULD SAY THAT GRAY DAVIS BEARS SOLE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SIZE OF THE STATE DEFICIT. A LOT OF IT REFLECTS THE STATE'S DEPENDENCE ON CAPITAL GAINS REVENUE AND THAT REVENUE VANISHED WITH THE SILICON VALLEY BUBBLE.

PHILIP BRUCE>> BUT PITNEY SAYS THERE'S MORE TO IT THAN THAT. LOTS OF GOVERNORS AROUND THE COUNTRY ARE RUNNING STATES WITH BUDGET PROBLEMS, BUT HE SAYS DAVIS STANDS OUT FROM THE PACK IN A WAY THAT MAKES HIM ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE IN THE RECALL.

JACK PITNEY>> MOST OTHER GOVERNORS HAVE SOMETHING THAT GRAY DAVIS LACKS, A PERSONAL BASE OF SUPPORT, A CORE OF PEOPLE WHO LIKE THEM PERSONALLY. GRAY DAVIS DOESN'T HAVE THAT AND THAT'S ONE OF THE POLITICAL PROBLEMS THAT BROUGHT HIM TO WHERE HE IS TODAY.

PHILIP BRUCE>> SO HOW CAN HE SURVIVE? IS THERE ANY SCENARIO BY WHICH HE CAN COME OUT OF THIS A WINNER?

JACK PITNEY>> OH, I THINK IT'S VERY POSSIBLE THAT GRAY DAVIS COULD SURVIVE USING THE STRATEGY HE'S USED IN THE PAST TO MAKE HIS OPPOSITION LESS POPULAR THAN HE IS.

PHILIP BRUCE>> BUT WILL THAT PLAY WITH THE FOLKS IN SIERRA MADRE? MANY TOLD US THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THEY DON'T LIKE ABOUT DAVIS IS HIS HABIT OF BASHING HIS OPPONENTS AND RUNNING NEGATIVE CAMPAIGNS. BUT ANOTHER THING THEY DON'T LIKE IS THE MONEY BEING SPENT ON THE RECALL.

>> WELL, IT'S GOING TO BE VERY COSTLY AND I DON'T THINK GOVERNOR DAVIS HAS DONE A VERY GOOD JOB, BUT I DON'T THINK THE LEGISLATURE'S DONE A VERY GOOD JOB EITHER.

PHILIP BRUCE>> BACK AT THE PHARMACY, PAUL MANSUER SAYS THE COST IS WHAT BUGS HIM MOST, THE MILLIONS CALIFORNIA TAXPAYERS WILL HAVE TO SPEND ON WHAT AMOUNTS TO A DO-OVER ELECTION.

PAUL MANSUER>> THE FACT THAT IT'S GOING TO ABOUT $35 MILLION DOLLARS AND, WHO KNOWS, HE MAY BE ELECTED AGAIN. I THINK IT'S KIND OF A WASTE OF MONEY TO DO ALL OVER AGAIN.

PHILIP BRUCE>> CONTRARY TO THE NOTION THAT NOBODY IN CALIFORNIA REALLY CARES ABOUT POLITICS, PEOPLE IN THIS TOWN CLEARLY ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO THE RECALL, ESPECIALLY THE ONES WHO'VE ALREADY FELT THE BITE OF CUTBACKS IN HEALTHCARE, SCHOOLS AND OTHER PUBLIC SERVICES.

>> WELL, I'VE NEVER BEEN PARTICULARLY IMPRESSED WITH GRAY DAVIS FROM THE VERY BEGINNING AND JUST THE WAY THE DEBACLE WITH ALL THE -- WE HAD A HUGE EXCESS OF MONEY IN THE STATE AND IT'S ALL GONE FROM THIS ENERGY THING AND I THINK A LOT OF THAT IS HIS DOING.

PHILIP BRUCE>> ARE YOU MAD AT HIM?

>> I'M NOT MAD AT HIM, BUT --

PHILIP BRUCE>> -- ARE YOU FED UP WITH HIM?

>> I'M FED UP WITH HIM, YES.

PHILIP BRUCE>> ENOUGH TO VOTE HIM OUT NOW IN A RECALL?

>> YES, I WOULD DEFINITELY DO THAT.

PHILIP BRUCE>> BUT WHAT ABOUT THE WHOLE IDEA OF A RECALL? I MEAN, IS BEING MAD AT HIM GOOD ENOUGH REASON TO GET HIM OUT?

>> WELL, I THINK THERE ARE CIRCUMSTANCES. I THINK IT'S A WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY IN A LOT OF SITUATIONS, BUT IN THIS PARTICULAR ONE, I THINK HE HAS COST THE STATE SO MUCH AND I JUST DON'T THINK HE HAS THE RESPECT TO BE ABLE TO DO HIS JOB ANYMORE. THAT'S THE MAIN THING, THAT HE CAN'T FUNCTION.

>> WELL, I'M A DEMOCRAT, BUT HE'S NOT MY FAVORITE DEMOCRAT.

PHILIP BRUCE>> WHY IS THAT?

>> I JUST THINK CALIFORNIA IS IN KIND OF A MESS.

PHILIP BRUCE>> BUT EVEN THE ONES WHO SAY IT'S TIME FOR DAVIS TO GO AREN'T CONVINCED THE NEXT GOVERNOR WILL DO ANY BETTER.

PHILIP BRUCE>> DO YOU GET THE SENSE THAT THINGS WILL BE BETTER IF WE GET RID OF GRAY DAVIS?

>> NO (LAUGHTER). NO, I DON'T. I THINK THAT THE BUDGET CUTS HAVE BEEN HURTFUL, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S THE IMMEDIATE SOLUTION. NO, I DON'T.

PHILIP BRUCE>> SO WHY DO IT?

>> GOOD QUESTION. A LOT OF ANGRY PEOPLE WHO THINK THAT, IF THEY CAN BE ANGRY AND GET THE OTHER PEOPLE ANGRY WITH THEM, SORT OF GET ON THE BANDWAGON, MAYBE THIS WILL DO IT, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE ANSWER.

>> I DON'T REALLY LIKE THE GUY, BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA BECAUSE IT WILL COST THE STATE TOO MUCH MONEY.

PHILIP BRUCE>> SO YOU WOULDN'T BE SAD TO SEE HIM GO?

>> NO, NOT AT ALL.

PHILIP BRUCE>> YOU JUST DON'T WANT TO PAY FOR IT.

>> NO.

PHILIP BRUCE>> THERE'S A FEELING HERE THAT NO MATTER WHO SITS IN THE GOVERNOR'S CHAIR, CALIFORNIA IS IN FOR SOME HARD TIMES THAT MAY REQUIRE DRASTIC SPENDING CUTS AND BIG TAX HIKES. JACK PITNEY SAYS IT'S THE MAIN REASON CALIFORNIA REPUBLICANS WILL HAVE TO GO IT ALONE WITH LITTLE HELP FROM THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION.

JACK PITNEY>> I THINK THE WHITE HOUSE IS KEEPING ITS DISTANCE FROM THE RECALL. FIRST, THEY GOT BURNED IN THE 2002 PRIMARY WHEN THEY GAVE TACIT SUPPORT TO RICHARD RIORDAN AND BILL SIMON WON THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY. SECOND, BUSH RUNNING IN CALIFORNIA IN 2004, IF THERE'S A REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR IN PLACE AND IF THAT GOVERNOR IS MAKING VERY UNPOPULAR DECISIONS, THOSE DECISIONS COULD DRAG DOWN PRESIDENT BUSH RATHER THAN LIFT HIM UP.

PHILIP BRUCE>> SOME SAY THE SMARTEST THING GRAY DAVIS COULD DO IS PACK IT IN AND RESIGN BEFORE THE ELECTION. AT LEAST THEN DEMOCRATS MIGHT HAVE A BETTER SHOT OF WINNING. BUT PITNEY SAYS DON'T HOLD YOUR BREATH FOR THAT ONE.

JACK PITNEY>> IT REALLY ISN'T IN GRAY DAVIS'S CHARACTER. SAY WHAT YOU WILL ABOUT GRAY DAVIS, HE'S NOT A QUITTER. HE IS A SURVIVOR. HE IS ONE OF THE GREAT SURVIVORS OF CALIFORNIA POLITICS. HE COULD ALSO CLAIM THAT QUITTING WOULD GIVE REPUBLICANS A SYMBOLIC VICTORY THAT WOULD ENABLE THEM TO NAIL A PELT TO THE WALL AND THAT WOULD BE HIS WAY OF TALKING DEMOCRATS OUT OF THE MOVEMENT. BUT THE THIRD THING IS, HE'S TAKING ADVICE FROM BILL CLINTON AND I SUSPECT THE LAST ADVICE THAT BILL CLINTON IS GOING TO GIVE IS TO RESIGN.

PHILIP BRUCE>> THROUGH IT ALL, SIERRA MADRE WILL BE WHERE IT'S ALWAYS BEEN, SITTING AT THE CROSSROADS, JUST A BLIP ON CALIFORNIA'S POLITICAL RADAR, BUT THE KIND OF PLACE WHERE THE BIGGEST RACE IN DECADES WILL BE DECIDED.

VAL>> WE MENTIONED HOW EXPENSIVE THE ELECTION IS, BUT IT'S ALSO POSSIBLE THAT GOVERNOR DAVIS COULD CHARGE TAXPAYERS FOR PART OF THE COST OF HIS CAMPAIGN. NOW EXPERTS SAY THAT'S NOT LIKELY, ESPECIALLY IF THE GOVERNOR IS INTERESTED IN RUNNING FOR ANY FUTURE OFFICE.

>> MY PERSONAL FEELING IS THAT GRAY DAVIS IS BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO A STANDARD THAT'S NOT REAL, THAT ALL POLITICIANS ARE IN SOME TROUBLE WITH THE PUBLIC ORDINARILY, SO IT'S EASY TO USE THEM FOR SCAPEGOATS. I DON'T THINK THE PROBLEMS OF THE STATE ARE NECESSARILY HIS PROBLEMS OR HIS FAULT.

>> I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD. I THINK THAT HE OUGHT TO JUST STAY IN THERE AND STEW IN HIS OWN JUICE AND SEE IF HE CAN GET IT TURNED AROUND.

>> I THINK THAT, NO MATTER WHO WE PUT IN, WE WOULD BE EXPERIENCING THE PROBLEMS THAT WE'RE HAVING TODAY. I THINK IF HE MADE A MISTAKE WITH THE ENERGY CRISIS, THEN THAT'S JUST BEEN COMPLICATING THINGS AND MANY OF THE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE.

>> I DON'T THINK THAT ANYTHING IS GOING TO BE WORKED OUT OR SOLVED BY RECALLING HIM. I THINK WE SHOULD STICK IT OUT. THIS IS WHAT THE VOTERS WANTED. YOU CAN'T CHANGE IN MID-STANCE AND CHANGE YOUR MIND AND DO SOMETHING ELSE.

VAL>> SOME OF THE MOST CONSERVATIVE VOTERS IN CALIFORNIA ARE BACKING THE RECALL EFFORT FOR REASONS THAT HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE BUDGET MESS. THEY'RE OPPOSED TO GRAY DAVIS AND MANY OTHER DEMOCRATS FOR WHAT THEY SEE AS LIBERAL POSITIONS ON SOCIAL ISSUES. TONI GUINYARD TAKES US TO ORANGE COUNTY FOR A CONVERSATION WITH BENJAMIN LOPEZ. HE IS HEAD OF THE STATE'S TRADITIONAL VALUES COALITION AND HE'S A MAJOR FORCE BEHIND THE RECALL.

TONI GUINYARD>> THE RECALL CAMPAIGN OF GOVERNOR GRAY DAVIS HAS BECOME A TOP PRIORITY HERE AT THE CALIFORNIA HEADQUARTERS OF THE TRADITIONAL VALUES COALITION. WE HAD THE CHANCE TO SPEAK WITH BENJAMIN LOPEZ, A LOBBYIST FOR THE GROUP. HE SAYS THEY ARE BUSY PUTTING TOGETHER VOTERS GUIDES THAT WILL LOOK SOMETHING LIKE THIS. HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF THEM WILL BE GOING OUT TO YOU IN THE MAIL AND RIGHT TO YOUR DOORSTEP.

MR. LOPEZ, THE TRADITIONAL VALUES COALITION IS FOCUSING IN ON THE RECALL OF GOVERNOR GRAY DAVIS. WHY HAS THIS BECOME A PRIORITY?

BENJAMIN LOPEZ>> WELL, YOU KNOW, JUST IN THE PAST THREE YEARS FROM 2000 TO TODAY, THE GOVERNOR HAS SIGNED NEARLY TWENTY PIECES OF LEGISLATION THAT WE FOUGHT AGAINST AND WE'RE OPPOSED TO THAT DEALT WITH BLATANT HOMOSEXUALITY AND BLATANT ABORTION AND THE LAW. I MEAN, THIS GUY CAME ACROSS AS A MODERATE DEMOCRAT CENTRIST NEW DEMOCRAT, BUT HE'S PROVEN BY HIS SIGNATURE ON BILLS THAT HE'S ANYTHING BUT. SO FOR THOSE REASONS, WE HAVE TO GET INVOLVED IN THIS RECALL. WE CAN'T LET OUR MEMBERSHIP DOWN AND WE HAVE TO REPRESENT THE PRO FAMILY CONSERVATIVE VOICE IN THIS RECALL ELECTION AND IN THIS POLITICAL, WHAT DO YOU CALL IT, TUMULTUOUS TIME IN CALIFORNIA, AND WE'RE DOING THAT.

TONI GUINYARD>> WELL, MORE THAN A COUPLE OF TIMES, I'VE HEARD THIS ENTIRE MOVEMENT, THIS RECALL MOVEMENT, BLAMED ON THE RIGHT WING ESTABLISHMENT. ARE YOU PART OF THAT ESTABLISHMENT? IS THIS OF YOUR DOING?

BENJAMIN LOPEZ>> NO, NO. IT'S NOT SOLELY OUR DOING. IN FACT, WE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH RESPECT TO GATHERING SIGNATURES AND PUTTING MONEY BEHIND THAT. BUT NO DOUBT, THERE ARE SOME CONSERVATIVE PEOPLE, LIKE-MINDED SUCH AS US, WHO ARE INVOLVED IN THIS RECALL WHO DID SIGN THOSE PETITIONS AND MADE SURE THAT THE RECALL OF THE GOVERNOR GOT ON THE BALLOT. BUT ONE-THIRD OF THE SIGNATURES CAME FROM LIBERAL LOS ANGELES COUNTY, SO THAT IS A MOOT ARGUMENT TO MAKE AND IT'S REALLY BOGUS TO SAY THAT IT'S JUST RIGHT WING CONSERVATIVES BEHIND THIS RECALL.

I MEAN, YOU HAVE SOME PEOPLE FROM LOS ANGELES COUNTY AND SACRAMENTO COUNTY WHO ARE, YOU KNOW, PRETTY MUCH FIFTY-FIFTY LIBERAL CONSERVATIVE UP THERE WHO SIGNED THESE RECALL PETITIONS, SO YOU HAVE A GAMUT OF POLITICAL VIEWS BEHIND THIS RECALL. I JUST DON'T BUY THE ARGUMENT FROM THE GOVERNOR'S CAMP AND FROM ANYONE ELSE WHO OPPOSES THE RECALL THAT IT'S JUST A RIGHT WING CONSPIRACY TYPE THING, TO QUOTE HILLARY CLINTON. I DON'T BUY IT. IT'S BOGUS.

TONI GUINYARD>> SO WHAT IS THE TRADITIONAL VALUES COALITION GOING TO DO NOW? THE SIGNATURES HAVE BEEN SIGNED, THE RECALL IS ON, WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP?

BENJAMIN LOPEZ>> WELL, ONE THING THAT WE ALWAYS HAVE BEEN DOING EVERY ELECTION IS PUTTING TOGETHER OUR VOTERS GUIDE. WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS SINCE THE FOUNDING OF THE ORGANIZATION. IT LISTS THE STANCES OF CANDIDATES. WE DON'T ENDORSE, BUT IT LISTS THE STANCES OF CANDIDATES ON ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO US, LIKE RELIGION LIBERTIES, ABORTION, HOMOSEXUALITY, DECENCY IN SOCIETY WITH RESPECT TO PORNOGRAPHY, AND WE ASK THEM WHERE THEY STAND AND, IF THEY WERE GOVERNOR, HOW WOULD THEY SIGN LEGISLATION THAT WOULD BE OF A PRO HOMOSEXUAL, PRO ABORTION SLANT. WOULD THEY VETO IT? WOULD THEY SIGN IT?

SO WHAT WE PLAN ON DOING IS DOCUMENTING THE GOVERNOR'S RECORD AND WE HAVE ALREADY BEGUN DOING THAT. THE GOVERNOR HAS COME ACROSS, WHEN HE CAMPAIGNED IN 1998 AND IN 2002, AS A CENTRIST NEW DEMOCRAT. HIS RECORD PROVES THAT HE'S JUST THE SAME OLD LIBERAL JERRY BROWN BREED THAT HE USED TO WORK FOR. HE'S FROM THE SAME LIBERAL WING OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY. LOOK AT THE BILLS HE SIGNED. I MEAN, HE SIGNED DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP LEGISLATION FOR UNMARRIED HOMOSEXUAL COUPLES AND DID THIS IN THE FACE OF VOTERS THAT VOTED OVERWHELMINGLY FOR PROPOSITION 22 WHEN THEY SAID THAT MARRIAGE SHOULD ONLY BE BETWEEN A MAN AND A WOMAN. BUT YET, HE AS GOVERNOR IS ARBITRARILY GIVING RIGHTS TO HOMOSEXUAL COUPLES. I MEAN, THAT'S JUST A SLAP IN THE FACE TO CALIFORNIA VOTERS.

TONI GUINYARD>> BUT A LARGE CONTINGENT OF CALIFORNIA VOTERS SUPPORT THAT LEGISLATION.

BENJAMIN LOPEZ>> WELL, IT DEPENDS ON WHAT POLL YOU WANT TO LOOK AT. I MEAN, AND HOW YOU PHRASE THE QUESTION WITH RESPECT TO POLLS AND ALL THAT. BUT A RECENT USA TODAY POLL THAT CAME OUT SHOWED THAT THERE IS A BACKLASH AGAINST THE "GAY MOVEMENT" THAT IS HAPPENING NOW. THE MAJORITY OF NOT JUST CALIFORNIANS, BUT AMERICANS OVERALL ARE TAKING A STEP BACK SAYING, WHOA, I MEAN, THIS IS TOO MUCH. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT AN INFILTRATION OF A FAMILY FROM THE HOMOSEXUAL COMMUNITY.

EVER SINCE THE SUPREME COURT RULING ON SODOMY HAS HAPPENED, THESE POLLS, THESE NEW STATISTICS, HAVE CHANGED IN FAVOR OF A MORE CONSERVATIVE PRO FAMILY MOVEMENT AND THEY'RE NO LONGER SANCTIONING HOMOSEXUALITY BECAUSE I THINK THE PUBLIC IS WAKING UP TO REALIZE THAT HOMOSEXUALITY HAS RUN AMOK NOT JUST IN CALIFORNIA, BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND THERE'S A BACKLASH. YOU KNOW, WE LOOK FOR A CANDIDATE WHO ISN'T GOING TO USE THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE TO CONDUCT HIS OWN PERSONAL LEFT WING AGENDA AND CRAM STUFF DOWN THE THROATS OF CALIFORNIANS. WE WANT SOMEONE WHO'S GOING TO ACTUALLY MAINTAIN THE FAMILY CORE AND FAMILY UNIT. WE WANT SOMEONE WHO'S GOING TO DEFEND THE ISSUE OF LIFE, WHETHER IT'S THE UNBORN OR THE AGED AND INFIRM.

EUTHANASIA IS AN ISSUE THAT'S BEEN BROUGHT UP IN MY DIFFERENT STATES AND I'M SURE IT WILL BE BROUGHT UP HERE IN CALIFORNIA EVENTUALLY IF THE LIBERALS HAVE THEIR WAY. BUT SOMEONE WHO IS GOING TO BASICALLY STICK TO THE CORE BELIEFS OF THE CONSTITUTION AND NOT LEGISLATE THEMSELVES FROM AN EXECUTIVE STANDPOINT. YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE KIND OF CANDIDATE WE'RE LOOKING FOR AND RIGHT NOW THERE AREN'T ANY DECLARED CANDIDATES OTHER THAN DARRELL ISSA WHO WOULD FIT THAT MOLD FOR US, BUT I'M SURE THOSE OTHER CANDIDATES ARE GOING TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE. I MEAN, THAT'S THE TYPE OF GOVERNOR WE'D LIKE.

TONI GUINYARD>> IS THIS RECALL THE BEST CHANCE THAT THE TRADITIONAL VALUES COALITION WILL HAVE TO GET THAT CANDIDATE IN SACRAMENTO AS GOVERNOR?

BENJAMIN LOPEZ>> WELL, I MEAN, IT'S NOT JUST AN OPPORTUNITY FOR TRADITIONAL VALUES TO BENEFIT. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE WHOLE STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO BENEFIT AND FOR THE AVERAGE WORKING CALIFORNIAN AND THE FAMILY THAT BENEFITS. IT'S NOT JUST SOLELY FOR OUR BENEFIT OVERALL. I MEAN, WE REPRESENT A WHOLE GAMUT OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE AND DIFFERENT FAITHS IN THIS STATE. WE REPRESENT 8,300 CHURCHES FROM BAPTIST TO CATHOLIC TO PROTESTANT TO PENTECOSTAL DENOMINATIONS. SO IT WOULD DEFINITELY BENEFIT US ON THE SOCIAL ISSUE CONCERN BECAUSE NOW WE CAN THEN HAVE A LIBERAL LEGISLATURE WHO WILL BE HELL-BENT ON PASSING ANYTHING LEFT WING AND WE COULD ACTUALLY HAVE SOME FAITH AND ASSURANCE KNOWING THAT THE GOVERNOR, SHOULD WE GET A GOVERNOR WHO'S CONSERVATIVE, WILL STOP IT.

IF HE WINS THE RECALL ELECTION AND HE'S IN OFFICE FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE TERM, I REALLY DON'T THINK THAT HE HAS MUCH CREDIBILITY BEHIND HIM THAT HE CAN COME OUT STRONGER BECAUSE ALL THIS HARM AND DAMAGE IS GOING TO BE CLEARLY IN THE HANDS OF THE DEMOCRATS. THEY CONTROL EVERY STATEWIDE OFFICE IN THE STATE AND THEY NEARLY HAVE A SUPER MAJORITY IN BOTH HOUSES OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY. SO IF HE'S IN, THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS AND, COME THE NEXT ELECTION, EVERYONE KNOWS WHO THE BLAME IS GOING TO LIE ON. IT'S GOING TO BE WITH HIM.

TONI GUINYARD>> BENJAMIN LOPEZ, LOBBYIST WITH THE TRADITIONAL VALUES COALITION, THANK YOU FOR SPENDING A LITTLE TIME WITH LIFE AND TIMES.

BENJAMIN LOPEZ>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. ABSOLUTELY.

VAL>> ONCE ALL THE CANDIDATES ARE ON THE BALLOT, LOPEZ'S GROUP SAYS IT WILL SEND QUESTIONNAIRES TO FIND OUT WHERE THEY STAND ON THE ISSUES HE MENTIONED. THEY'VE BEEN DOING THAT SINCE 1980 WHEN RONALD REAGAN RAN FOR PRESIDENT.

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LARRY MANTLE>> HI, I'M LARRY MANTLE OF 89.3 KPCC AND THIS IS FILM WEEK ON LIFE AND TIMES. OUR FIRST MOVIE OUT OF THE THREE WE'LL BE REVIEWING THIS WEEK IS "GIGLI" STARRING BEN AFFLECK AND JENNIFER LOPEZ.

[FILM CLIP]

LARRY MANTLE>> WELL, JOINING US THIS WEEK, FILM CRITICS PETER RAINER OF NEW YORK MAGAZINE AND ANDY KLEIN OF CITY BEAT AND VALLEY BEAT. PETER, WHAT DID YOU THINK OF "GIGLI"?

PETER RAINER>> WELL, "GIGLI" IS PRETTY TERRIBLE. IT'S A PURPORTED ROMANTIC COMEDY DRAMA. BEN AFFLECK PLAYS THIS LOW-LEVEL THUG, LARRY GIGLI, WHO IS HIRED TO TAKE CARE OF A PSYCHOLOGICALLY CHALLENGED KID THAT HE'S KIDNAPPED, AND JENNIFER LOPEZ PLAYS AN ENFORCER WHO IS BROUGHT IN TO HELP OUT AND MAKE SURE THAT HE DOES THE RIGHT THING. IT'S A VERY CONVOLUTED SETUP FOR A VERY BAD MOVIE. THE STAR CHEMISTRY BETWEEN THEM KIND OF ISN'T THERE. THERE'S A LOT MORE OF THIS PURPORTED CHEMISTRY IN THE TABLOIDS AND IN THE NEWSPAPERS THAN THERE EVER IS ON SCREEN.

JENNIFER LOPEZ CAN BE GOOD IN CERTAIN MOVIES WHEN SHE'S WELL CAST. SHE WAS TERRIFIC IN "OUT OF SIGHT", BUT IN THIS MOVIE, SHE JUST SEEMS TO BE PLAYING A LESBIAN HOOD WHO WON'T GIVE IN TO BEN AFFLECK'S ROMANTIC ADVANCES. OF COURSE, WE KNOW THAT, BY THE END, SHE SOMEHOW WILL. SO THERE ISN'T A WHOLE LOT OF SUSPENSE IN THIS OVER-LONG DRAMA TO BEGIN WITH. BEN AFFLECK LOOKS LIKE A MATINEE IDOL, BUT THERE'S NO THERE THERE, AT LEAST IN THIS MOVIE.

LARRY MANTLE>> ANDY KLEIN, WHAT DID YOU THINK OF "GIGLI"?

ANDY KLEIN>> WELL, I DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO THINK I'M SAYING THIS IS A GOOD FILM, BUT I REALLY THINK THAT PETE AND A WHOLE LOT OF OTHER CRITICS ARE OVER-REACTING. I DON'T THINK IT'S THE WORST FILM EVER MADE. IT'S GOT SOME FUNNY MOMENTS. IT'S TRUE THEY HAVE NO CHEMISTRY AND I HAVE TO ASSUME THAT THEY LEFT IT ON THE COUCH IN THE GREEN ROOM (LAUGHTER) BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING GOING ON BETWEEN THEM THERE. THE WHOLE SORT OF "RAINMAN" ELEMENT WITH THE AUTISTIC KID THEY'VE KIDNAPPED IS JUST REALLY IRRITATING LIKE WATCHING A BAD DUSTIN HOFFMAN IMITATION.

LARRY MANTLE>> WELL, THERE YOU'VE GIVEN THE BLURB FOR THE AD. IT'S NOT REALLY THE WORST MOVIE EVER MADE.

ANDY KLEIN>> THAT'S ABOUT AS GOOD AS THEY'RE GETTING.

PETER RAINER>> IT'S NOT JUST THAT THEY DON'T HAVE ANY CHEMISTRY. THEY DON'T HAVE ANY BIOLOGY IN THE FILM.

LARRY MANTLE>> OUR SECOND FILM IS "THE MAGDALENE SISTERS" FROM WRITER-DIRECTOR, PETER MULLIN. IT TELLS THE STORY SET IN THE 1960'S IN IRELAND WHERE SOME GIRLS WHO WERE SEXUALLY ACTIVE, WHO EVEN HAD BEEN SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIMS, FOUND THEMSELVES IN A KIND OF CONVENT AGAINST THEIR WILL.

[FILM CLIP]

LARRY MANTLE>> ANDY KLEIN, WHAT DID YOU THINK OF "THE MAGDALENE SISTERS"?

ANDY KLEIN>> THIS IS A REALLY POWERFUL FILM, LARRY, AND IT COMES AT A FUNNY TIME AFTER THERE HAVE BEEN ALL THESE SCANDALS IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH OVER CHILD MOLESTATION. THIS FILM BRINGS UP A WHOLE DIFFERENT ISSUE. THESE GIRLS WHO BASICALLY HAVE DONE TERRIBLE THINGS LIKE GET RAPED OR GET PREGNANT OUT OF WEDLOCK OR EVEN JUST TO BE A TEMPTATION TO BOYS WANDERING BY ARE PLACED IN THIS HORRIBLE FACILITY WHERE THEY ARE ESSENTIALLY USED AS SLAVE LABOR. IT'S CLOSE ON TO A CONCENTRATION CAMP AND THE WHOLE CULTURE SEEMS TO SUPPORT THIS AND THEY HAVE NO WAY OUT. DIRECTOR, PETER MULLIN, WHO'S BETTER KNOWN AS AN ACTOR, DOES A REALLY AMAZING JOB HERE OF KEEPING IT BRUTAL FOR ALMOST THE ENTIRE FILM. THIS IS NOT THE WORLD'S MOST PLEASANT MOVIE, BUT IT'S UNPLEASANT IN A REALLY GOOD WAY.

LARRY MANTLE>> SO STEEL YOURSELF IF YOU GO TO SEE THIS MOVIE?

ANDY KLEIN>> YEAH.

LARRY MANTLE>> PETER RAINER, "THE MAGDALENE SISTERS"?

PETER RAINER>> YES, IT'S QUITE POWERFUL. IT'S BASED REPORTEDLY ON A BRITISH TV DOCUMENTARY CALLED "SEX IN A COLD CLIMATE" WHICH OUTLINED A LOT OF THE INCIDENTS THAT ARE USED IN THIS FILM, SO THERE IS A REAL FACTUAL BASIS FOR THIS. WHAT'S SHOCKING IS WHEN YOU REALIZE THIS FILM IS BASED ON INCIDENTS THAT TOOK PLACE IN THE 1960'S AND WHEN YOU THINK WHAT ELSE WAS GOING ON IN THE COUNTRY OR EVEN IN IRELAND AT THAT TIME, WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THIS ASYLUM SEEMS ALMOST, YOU KNOW, FROM THE MIDDLE AGES. IT'S SO FAR REMOVED FROM WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THE WORLD. IT'S A KIND OF CLOISTERED DUNGEON. IT'S A HORROR MOVIE CROSSED WITH A PRISON MOVIE WHICH ULTIMATELY IS A KIND OF PRISON BREAK MOVIE AND QUITE POWERFUL.

LARRY MANTLE>> OUR THIRD FILM THIS WEEK STARS CAMPBELL SCOTT AND HOPE DAVIS. IT'S DIRECTED BY ALAN RUDOLPH AND TITLED "THE SECRET LIVES OF DENTISTS".

[FILM CLIP]

LARRY MANTLE>> "THE SECRET LIVES OF DENTISTS", PETER RAINER?

PETER RAINER>> WELL, THE IRONY IS THAT THIS IS A MOVIE ABOUT A DENTIST PLAYED BY CAMPBELL SCOTT WHO, IN HIS PROFESSION, GETS TO THE ROOT OF THINGS, BUT IN HIS REAL LIFE, CAN'T. HE REALIZES THAT HIS WIFE IS HAVING AN AFFAIR, BUT HE WON'T CONFRONT HER WITH THE AFFAIR. HE WON'T TRACK DOWN WHO SHE'S HAVING THE AFFAIR WITH. HE BASICALLY WANTS IT TO GO AWAY SO HE CAN RESUME HIS HAPPY, COMFORTABLE, SUBURBAN LIFE WITH HIS WIFE, PLAYED BY HOPE DAVIS, FELLOW DENTISTS, AND HIS THREE YOUNG DAUGHTERS.

IT'S A TERRIFIC MOVIE AND ONE OF THE RARE MOVIES, I THINK, THAT REALLY WORKS AS A PORTRAIT OF A MAN OF INACTION, AS SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T PRESS THE ISSUE, IS VERY SENSITIVELY PLAYED, BEAUTIFULLY ACTED BY CAMPBELL SCOTT AND HOPE DAVIS. NOT ONLY A KIND OF MURDER MYSTERY IN HIS FANTASIES, BUT ALSO A DOMESTIC DRAMA. IT HAS IT MADCAP MOMENTS TOO. IT'S A WHOLE MIXTURE OF TONES THAT WE DON'T NORMALLY SEE IN A FILM.

LARRY MANTLE>> "THE SECRET LIVES OF DENTISTS". WHAT DID YOU THINK, ANDY?

ANDY KLEIN>> YEAH, I'LL AFFIRM MOST OF WHAT PETE SAID THERE. I THINK CAMPBELL SCOTT GIVES AN AMAZING PERFORMANCE BECAUSE IT'S COMPLETELY RESTRAINED. I MEAN, HE'S TOTALLY HELD IN, WHICH IS WHAT THE CHARACTER IS SUPPOSED TO BE. THIS IS A FILM THAT ALMOST SEEMS TO COME OUT IN FAVOR OF, YOU KNOW, LET'S NOT BARE OUR SOULS, LET'S NOT CONFESS EVERYTHING TO EACH OTHER, LET'S KEEP OUR SECRET LIVES SECRET. IT'S A REALLY FIRST-RATE FILM AND DENNIS LEARY WHO PLAYS HIS SORT OF IMAGINARY ALTER EGO IS ALSO PERFECTLY CAST.

LARRY MANTLE>> SO DESPITE THE FACT THAT IT'S KIND OF WITHDRAWN IN A SENSE, IT ENDS UP WORKING IN FAVOR OF THE PICTURE NONETHELESS?

ANDY KLEIN>> ABSOLUTELY. I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT THIS FILM IS ABOUT, MAYBE KEEPING YOUR MOUTH SHUT NOW AND AGAIN.

LARRY MANTLE>> WELL, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AGAIN FOR THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF FILM WEEK ON LIFE AND TIMES. I'M LARRY MANTLE JOINED THIS WEEK BY CRITICS PETER RAINER OF NEW YORK MAGAZINE AND ANDY KLEIN OF CITY BEAT AND VALLEY BEAT. PLEASE JOIN US AGAIN NEXT WEEK AT THIS SAME TIME.

VAL>> JUST A REMINDER THAT YOU CAN CATCH THE ENTIRE HOUR OF FILM WEEK EVERY FRIDAY MORNING AT 10:00 A.M. ON KPCC RADIO 89.3

I'M VAL ZAVALA. FOR EVERYONE AT LIFE AND TIMES, THANKS FOR WATCHING.

LIFE AND TIMES WAS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF
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.

VAL>> TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES, A SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA LANDMARK HAS A LOT RIDING ON THE SUCCESS OF A NEW MOVIE. CAN "SEABISCUIT" RIDE TO THE RESCUE OF SANTA ANITA?

>> THE MOVIE IS GOING TO BE A GREAT SHOT IN THE ARM FOR RACING. IT WILL BRING PEOPLE TO THE FACILITY, BUT ONCE WE GET THEM HERE, WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE THEM HAPPY WHILE THEY'RE HERE.

VAL>> THAT'S TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES.