© National Journal Group Inc.
Friday, Feb. 1, 2008

“I don't want to have someone be president that is not concerned about the greenhouse gases and about global warming, and about the environment.” — Arnold Schwarzenegger

With California's presidential primary just around the corner, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger talked with Linda Douglass from National Journal on Jan. 29 about the candidates and whether their messages will appeal to his state -- and to him. The governor finally endorsed John McCain two days later.

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Schwarzenegger: I wish I could give you an answer, but I really don't [have one]. This is a marathon, and we are on the last stage of the marathon. And it's a bump in the road, and it doesn't mean that it will not get done.

Schwarzenegger: The next step is to regroup, not to give up. I think that everyone understands that this is a huge undertaking. Some people in speeches compare it to the Civil Rights Act. It is something that has never been done before anywhere outside of Massachusetts. They came close to it, but ours went even beyond that.... Teddy Roosevelt talked about it in 1912, and since then everyone has tried. But no one has been able to do it.

Schwarzenegger: No, I think it can be done. Look, on the federal level and on the state level, it all has to do with the will. Are the legislators doing what is best for the people? Or do they want to do what is best for the special interest? The reason why things don't get done in Washington is because people are not ultimately looking out for what is best for the people. You can see the very same people [in Washington] that couldn't get anything done this last year within a short time came up with this economic stimulus package. President Bush and [House Speaker Nancy] Pelosi sat down and negotiated, and they came up with an agreement because they knew this was urgent, and they knew the people wanted it. Both parties felt like they could benefit from that, so they jumped in there, and they did it.

Schwarzenegger: It means that you basically make every effort that you can to sit down with people that have an opposing point of view, and that you ultimately look for what is best for people rather than what is best for your party. And I think we have accomplished that.

Schwarzenegger: Well, I think there is a similarity in what he says and my approach. These are two different things.

Schwarzenegger: Well, because I haven't seen it. If you say to me, "Look, Senator Obama has accomplished this bill and this bill by reaching across the aisle and working with Republicans, and here are the team players on the Republican side that he has always worked with." When we see that, then I can say, "That's exactly what I am about." But right now, I only know what I hear. What I hear sounds really great. I'm very happy that he and McCain and people like that are now talking more and more about bringing people together.

Schwarzenegger: I saw the presidential debates that were several months ago, [and] I felt like it would be wrong to jump in and to start endorsing somebody. I thought that they should go out there and have honest debates and talk about the issues, and then I would go and listen to the debates and watch them and see who comes closest to what I represent and what I want to get done in California, and who could be my partner on a national level. Now that the debates have gone through their course and California is the top prize --

Schwarzenegger: No, [we are doing an event] together. I like to be helping him because he has helped me in my campaign tremendously.

Schwarzenegger: Well, first of all, let me just say, when you look at California voters, 70 or 80 percent of them agreed with rolling back greenhouse-gas emissions. To me, this is extremely important. I would not want to have someone be president where the next eight years go by and not do something about creating an energy agenda, and really setting goals of how much we will reduce fossil fuels in America, and to set an agenda about renewables and to set an agenda about what fuel efficiency ought to be in cars and also how to roll back greenhouse gases in the whole United States.

Schwarzenegger: I don't want to have someone be president that is not concerned about the greenhouse gases and about global warming, and about the environment, about energy policy, and how efficient the cars can be if you put your mind to it. You create a vision for the American people. By the year 2020, this is where we want to be. We want to have [for] cars, not just a reduction of 25 percent or 30 percent every 15 years. That is not enough. We have to make a much more aggressive move -- like [California] did, calling for carbon-fuel standards and making a commitment to rolling back greenhouse gases to the 1990 level by 2020, and having 20 percent of renewables by 2010, and having a solar initiative. All of those things the federal government has to jump in and do.

Schwarzenegger: Well, I think President Bush had a pretty good immigration reform package that was worked out. I understand you have to compromise on those things. The fact of the matter is, the idea is good that people have to earn their citizenship. I don't think we should create amnesty. I don't think we should give anyone citizenship just because they've been here for 15 years or because they've worked regularly or because they've paid their taxes. I think that people should earn their citizenship if they have come here illegally. I also think that companies in America, if they can't find the workforce in America, they should be able to go outside of the country and get the workforce there.

Schwarzenegger: I think that the tone ought to be always that America is inclusive, America is very tough on people that do things illegally. We have to protect our borders to the best of our ability. Not just say so but actually do it. That is why we have the National Guard at the border to help the federal government until they get enough of the Border Patrol. But the tone should always be that we are firm on national security and firm on border security, but that we should be inclusive with our policy of being able to bring people into the country legally if we need that workforce. We should always be inclusive when it comes to having someone be able to earn a visa, a temporary working permit, a permanent working permit, and, eventually down the line, citizenship.

Schwarzenegger: That is my intention right now.

Schwarzenegger: You mean for a Republican?

Schwarzenegger: Or an independent. OK. That is very hard to say. I think they are very good at communicating. One of them talks more about details, the other one is more 30,000 feet up, but they are both very talented.

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