Live Chat: John Kasich
Aug. 1, 2000 -- — Rep. John Kasich of Ohio, who was part of the first wave of contenders for the party's nomination, joins his fellow Republicans this week to support George W. Bush.
Kasich, a member of the House since 1982, rose quickly in stature and became chairman of the House Budget Committee in 1994, beating out senior Republicans for the slot. Known as a politician who understands the meaning of compromise, Kasich worked closely with Minnesota's Tim Penny on the issue of government waste. Kasich took questions from ABCNEWS.com viewers in a live chat from the GOP convention. The chat was moderated by ABCNEWS correspondent Bettina Gregory. Look below for a transcript.
ABCNEWS' Bettina Gregory at 3:33pm ET
John Kasich joins us live from our RNC studio in Philly. Thanks for being here.
Rep. John Kasich at 3:34pm ET
What a pleasure it is to be with Bettina Gregory, who is such an important part of the culture of the media in America.
ABCNEWS' Bettina Gregory at 3:34pm ET
Congressman Kasich, can the GOP beat Al Gore in the fall?
Rep. John Kasich at 3:35pm ET
I think this is going to be a very close race, but I think the message of this convention, which is one of inclusion, and the message of bottom-up, will be very helpful to us. I think that the debates are going to be critically important.
ABCNEWS' Bettina Gregory at 3:35pm ET
We've had some email from a lot of your supporters, disappointed that your presidential bid didn't go any further. And, more than that, that you weren't selected to be Gov. Bush's running mate. How do you feel about the selection of Dick Cheney?
Rep. John Kasich at 3:36pm ET
Let me comment about my own situation: Running for president, I got a part in my hair, and being considered for vice president got me the physical I've been putting off for a long time. So I've had a great experience in the last two or three years, and while I am retiring from active politics, like the Terminator says, "I'll be back."
As for Dick Cheney, he is a partner that George Bush feels very comfortable with. That's what's most important when you select a running mate.
ABCNEWS' Bettina Gregory at 3:37pm ET
Congressman, you're leaving Congress. Does this mean you're leaving politics? What do you plan to do now?
Rep. John Kasich at 3:37pm ET
I'm going to move into the private sector. I'm very hopeful that I will still be able to communicate my views to the country, just in different ways.
ABCNEWS' Bettina Gregory at 3:37pm ET
Here at the convention, Republicans are trying to put forward a "kinder, gentler" image. Is it just window dressing, or has the GOP undergone a genuine transformation?
Rep. John Kasich at 3:38pm ET
Well, this is George Bush. George Bush is an inclusive man. That does not mean mush, or all things to all people, but it does mean that we can solve our problems best from where we live to the top, rather than from the top down. That means that issues like school choice and tax cuts are a very important part of giving power to people.
ABCNEWS' Bettina Gregory at 3:38pm ET
Four years ago, General Colin Powell was booed when he called for abortion rights and affirmative action at the 1996 Republican convention in San Diego. Last night he challenged the Republican party not just to talk about equal opportunity but to actually do something about it, and not just in an election year. What's changed?
Rep. John Kasich at 3:39pm ET
I think affirmative action is good. I think quotas are not. Affirmative action is that we must make positive movements to make sure everyone has an equal chance. Quotas are an artificial category that's established that denies opportunity to some.
I think we also realize that polarizing Americans isn't going to fix any of our deep problems, because even though we're richer, in many respects we're poorer in spirit.
ABCNEWS' Bettina Gregory at 3:40pm ET
Julie writes: With the talk of increasing inclusivity at the Republican convention, at what cost will the Republican party court the gay vote? Will Republicans actually support pro-gay legislation?
Rep. John Kasich at 3:40pm ET
I don't think we're going to support any special rights for any group. We have a program and it's a program that you can support regardless of your sexual orientation or race or national origin.
ABCNEWS' Bettina Gregory at 3:41pm ET
Peter Orvetti asks: Congressman Kasich, if you could take your pick of any job in a potential Bush Administration, what would it be? Head of OMB? Treasury Secretary? Something else?
Rep. John Kasich at 3:41pm ET
President of a nice dot-com. I'm going into the private sector in the beginning of the next year.
ABCNEWS' Bettina Gregory at 3:42pm ET
Jude Besant writes: Mr. Kasich, I was an early and ardent supporter of your presidential campaign, even though I'm not a Republican. I'm curious: What's the "K2K Expedition"? Your ex-campaign Web site has been teasing it for months.
Rep. John Kasich at 3:43pm ET
Hey, Jude. Check our new Web site at www.newcenturyproject.org. We would like you, Jude, to become a team member. I think it will be interesting to see whether a man with passion for ideas can continue to shape public policy from the outside, and not just from the inside.
CJK from as13.nwbl0.wi.voyager.net at 3:43pm ET
Rep. Kasich, saw you on O'Reilly last night, great job! My question is this: As a McCain, moderate voter, why exactly should I vote for Gov. Bush?
Rep. John Kasich at 3:44pm ET
I think that John McCain is trying to reach those disaffected by the process. I believe the real message of George Bush about the sanctity of the individual is designed to break down the power of elites. John McCain is anti-elite, John Kasich is anti-elite, and so is George Bush.
John D. from epix.net at 3:45pm ET
Will Republicans in general pick up the ball, with Rep. Linder and Rep. Tauzin, to finally do away with the tax code as we know it? What are our chances for a national retail sales tax?
Rep. John Kasich at 3:45pm ET
I think we should have a consumption tax that is consistent with the new economy, a consumption tax that will encourage investment and savings. The greatest fear I have of government today is that it will destroy the new economy. A new tax system would reduce that fear. The consumption tax would eliminate the current tax system — a system that should be replaced.
ABCNEWS' Bettina Gregory at 3:46pm ET
Does that include taxing Internet business and sales?
Rep. John Kasich at 3:47pm ET
I've led the effort in Congress and at the national level to prevent the taxation of the Internet. The Internet is still a baby in the crib, and this baby needs to grow. Taxation will choke it. And frankly, I'm outraged by politicians who see the Internet as a cash cow that can be used to buy votes and play Santa Claus, at the expense of our future.
James Welsh from bot.zaz.com.br at 3:47pm ET
Hi, John. If you leave Congress, then who in your Party will oppose corporate welfare? How can anyone who advocates corporate welfare claim to be a real conservative who believes in limited government?
Rep. John Kasich at 3:49pm ET
I have built a team to fight corporate welfare. Probably the most effective leader of the new team will be John E. Sununu. But there are others, and I believe that we have created a permanent coalition that will fight to end corporate welfare. That's been a project worth sinking my teeth into.
The other issue that I feel very strongly about is debt relief to the poorest countries on Earth. We need to guarantee accountability from the leaders of these countries, but America must share its bounty with those who have nothing.
Howard C from maine.rr.com at 3:49pm ET
The economy is humming right now. Why should we entrust it to Bush / Cheney and the GOP Congress?
Rep. John Kasich at 3:50pm ET
As the chief architect of the fiscal policy for our government in Congress for the last six years, I think Republicans have been the major players in this accomplishment.
tom from inst-euro-history.uni-mainz.de at 3:50pm ET
Does it really make sense to call Bush "anti-elite"? A lot of very rich and powerful people just raised an incredible amount of money to put him in office. Will he really oppose their interests on any serious issue?
Rep. John Kasich at 3:51pm ET
Elite is a state of mind. George Bush is, as Mick Jagger describes, a street-fighting man. I think his faith is for real, and he recognizes the wonderful value of every human being. I would not support an elitist who thinks they know better for all of us.
Thank you.
ABCNEWS' Bettina Gregory at 3:51pm ET
Congressman Kasich, thank you for joining us today.