Third Debate Transcript: Page 10

Oct. 17 --

LEHRER: Vice President Gore?

GORE: I believe in this goal and this effort with all my heart.I believe that our future as a nation depends upon whether or not wecan break down these barriers that have been used to pit group againstgroup and bring our people together. How do you do it? Well, youestablish respect for differences. You don’t ignore differences.It’s all too easy for somebody in the majority in the population tosay, “Oh, we’re just all the same,” without an understanding of thedifferent life experience that you’ve had, that others have had.

Once you have that understanding and mutual respect, thenwe can transcend the differences and embrace the highest commondenominator of the American spirit.

I don’t know what affirmative access means; I do know whataffirmative action means. I know the governor’s against it and I knowthat I’m for it.

I know what a hate crime statute pending at the national level isall about, in the aftermath of James Byrd’s death. I’m for thatproposed law; the governor is against it.

I know what it means to have a commitment to diversity. I ampart of an administration that has the finest record on diversity and,incidentally, an excellent — I mean, I think our success over thelast eight years has not been in spite of diversity, but because ofit, because we’re able to draw on the wisdom and experience fromdifferent parts of the society that hadn’t been tapped in the same waybefore.

And, incidentally, Mel Carnahan in Missouri had the finest recordon diversity of any governor in the entire history of the state ofMissouri, and I want to honor that, among his other achievements here.

Now, I just believe that what we have to do is enforce the civilrights laws. I’m against quotas.

This is — with all due respect, Governor, that’s a red herring.Affirmative action isn’t quotas. I’m against quotas. They’re illegal. They’re against the American way.

Affirmative action means that you take extra steps to acknowledgethe history of discrimination and injustice and prejudice, and bringall people into the American dream because it helps everybody, notjust those who are directly benefited.