Charges Hot Off the Griddle : Zschau and Cranston Sling Words, Waffles and Flapjacks on Campaign Trail

Democratic Sen. Alan Cranston says his Republican opponent, Rep. Ed Zschau, “flip-flops like a flapjack” on major issues.

Zschau says Cranston has often “waffled” during his three terms in the Senate.

So what did these two politicians serve at outdoor breakfasts on Monday?

That’s right.

In two of the more obvious media events in California political history--not an easy category to crack--Zschau served up a stack of waffles, as he attacked Cranston at a Rancho Park press conference, while 30 minutes later and 300 yards away, Cranston cooked flapjacks as he ridiculed Zschau.

Moments Recorded

A gaggle of television cameras recorded these moments for posterity--actually, both camps were hoping for a minute each on the evening news.

“Over the last 18 years, Sen. Cranston has developed quite an expertise in waffling,” Zschau said as a mischievious grin destroyed his businesslike demeanor.

“First of all there is the open-faced waffle,” Zschau said. “This is when Sen. Cranston refuses to take a position at all, such as on the issue of Rose Elizabeth Bird--whether or not he supports or opposes the reconfirmation of California’s chief justice.

“Then, on economic issues, you have the razzle-dazzle waffle, in which Sen. Cranston fakes right and then runs left. On the one hand, he says he supports balancing the federal budget, but then he votes against the balanced budget amendment.”

Zschau also recalled how Cranston said of a 1979 farm worker boycott against bananas: “I’m not supporting it, but I’m not opposing it.”

That was the “banana waffle.”

And then there was . . . well, it was a long menu.

Cranston, meanwhile, fairly chortled as he served up a bunch of “Zschau flapjacks,” saying:

- Zschau, a Los Altos congressman, came out in favor of protecting federal nutrition programs from further budget cuts and then turned around and voted against improving nutrition programs for the poor on numerous occasions.

- Zschau co-sponsored a bill urging a ban of nuclear testing, then tried to defeat his own resolution a year later.

- The congressman opposed funding for Metro Rail, the Los Angeles subway project, then voted for the bill on the House floor--then returned to opposing Metro Rail funds after that.

“Mr. Zschau even flip-flops underground,” Cranston shouted.

Each politician provided documentation of his allegations.

Both the public officials acknowledge that they are vulnerable to the charge that they change their minds a lot. And each has his rationale.

Zschau says he changes his votes on some bills because the legislation is often altered as it moves through the House, removing the problems he objected to.

Final Product

Cranston likes to talk about how he will try everything he can to amend a bill he doesn’t like, but even if he fails, will vote for the final product if he determines that it is satisfactory overall.

Critics of both men explain it another way: They say it’s what you get when two politicians who are difficult to label battle it out for what each likes to refer to as the “great center” of the California electorate.

The flapjack gimmick was Cranston’s idea. But like the pig who got up early to outsmart the wolf, Zschau quickly scheduled his own event for earlier in the morning.

Cranston the Democrat helped cook his own flapjacks. Zschau the Republican called a caterer.

But if Zschau ripped off Cranston’s idea, the senator got the last word. Late in the day, he sent a box of glazed doughnuts to Zschau with this message:

“Those of us familiar with Ed Zschau’s record in Congress are reminded that these doughnuts are sugar-coated on the outside, full of air on the inside . . . and have holes in the middle.”