Second Debate Transcript: Page 9

Oct. 11 --

LEHRER: Vice President Gore, what would be on your racialdiscrimination elimination list as president?

GORE: Well, I think we need tough enforcement of the civilrights laws. I think we still need affirmative action. I would passa hate crimes law, as I said.

And I guess I had misunderstood the governor’s previousposition. The Byrd family may have a misunderstanding of it in Texasalso.

But I’d like to shift, if I could, to the big issue of education.

LEHRER: Well, no, hold on one second. What is themisunderstanding? Let’s clear this up.

GORE: Well, I had thought that there was a controversy at theend of the legislative session where the hate crimes law in Texas was— failed and that the Byrd family, among others, asked you to supportit, Governor, and it died in committee for lack of support. Am Iwrong about that?

BUSH: Well, you don’t realize we have a hate crime statute …

GORE: I’m talking about the one that was proposed to deal …

BUSH: Well, what the vice president must not understand is wegot a hate crimes bill in Texas. And secondly, the people thatmurdered Mr. Byrd got the ultimate punishment …

LEHRER: But they were …

BUSH: … the death penalty.

LEHRER: They were prosecuted under the murder laws, were theynot …

BUSH: Well …

LEHRER: … in Texas?

BUSH: In this case, when you murder somebody, it’s hate, Jim.

LEHRER: No, but …

BUSH: Crime is hate. And they got — and they got the ultimatepunishment. I’m not exactly sure how you enhance the penalty any morethan the death penalty. Well, we happen to have a statute on thebooks that’s a hate crimes statute in Texas.

GORE: May I respond?

LEHRER: Sure.

GORE: I don’t want to jump in.