Third Debate Transcript: Page 10

Oct. 17, 2000 -- 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.

LEHRER: Governor, what is your — are you opposed to affirmativeaction?

BUSH: No. If affirmative action means quotas, I’m against it.If affirmative action means what I just described, what I’m for, thenI’m for it. You heard what I was for.

The vice president keeps saying I’m against things. You heardwhat I was for, and that’s what I support.

LEHRER: What about — Mr. Vice President, you heard what hesaid.

GORE: He said if affirmative action means quotas, he’s againstit. Affirmative action doesn’t mean quotas.

BUSH: Good.

GORE: Are you for it without quotas?

BUSH: I may not be for your version, Mr. Vice President. ButI’m for what I just described to the lady. She heard my answer.

GORE: Are you for what the Supreme Court says is aconstitutional way of having affirmative action?

BUSH: Jim, is this …

LEHRER: Let’s go on to another …

(LAUGHTER)

GORE: I think that speaks for itself.

BUSH: No. Doesn’t speak for itself, Mr. Vice President. Itspeaks for the fact that there are certain rules in this that we allagreed to, but evidently rules don’t mean anything.

LEHRER: The question is for you, Vice President Gore. And LisaKey (ph) will ask it.

Lisa Key (ph) where are you? There we go, sorry.

QUESTION: How will your tax proposals affect me as a middleclass 34-year-old single person with no dependents?

GORE: If you make less than $60,000 a year and you decide toinvest $1,000 in a savings account, you’ll get a tax credit whichmeans in essence that the federal government will match your $1,000with another $1,000. If you make less than $30,000 a year and you put$500 in a savings account, the federal government will match it with$1,500.

If you make more than $60,000, up to a $100,000, you’llstill get a match, but not as generous.

You will get access to lifelong learning and education, help withtuition, if you want to get a new skill or training. If you want topurchase health insurance, you will get help with that. If you wantto participate in some of the dynamic changes that are going on in ourcountry, you will get specific help in doing that.

If you are part of the bottom 20 percent or so of wage earners,then you will get an expanded Earned Income Tax Credit.

Now, the tax relief that I propose is directed specifically atmiddle income individuals and families. And if you have an elderlyparent or grandparent, who needs long-term care, then you will gethelp with that — a $3,000 tax credit to help your expenses in takingcare of a loved one who needs long-term care.

LEHRER: Governor Bush?

BUSH: Right, let me just say, the first — this business aboutthe entitlement he tried to describe about savings — you know,matching savings here, and matching savings there — if fully fundedis going to cost a whole lot of money, a lot more than we have.

You’re going to get tax relief under my plan. You’re not goingto be targeted in or targeted out. Everybody who pays taxes is goingto get tax relief. If you take care of an elderly in your home,you’re going to get the personal exemption increased.

I think also what you need to think about is not the immediate,but what about Medicare?

You get a plan that will include prescription drugs, aplan that will give you options.

Now, I hope people understand that Medicare today is — is — is— is important, but it doesn’t keep up with the new medicines. Ifyou’re a Medicare person, on Medicare, you don’t get the new — newprocedures. You’re stuck in a time warp in many ways.

So it will be a modern Medicare system that trusts you to make avariety of options for you.

You’re going to live in a peaceful world. It will be a world ofpeace, because we’re going to have a clearer — clear-sighted foreignpolicy, based upon a strong military, and a mission that stands by ourfriends, a mission that doesn’t try to be all things to all people —a judicious use of the military which will help keep the peace.

You’ll be in a world hopefully that’s more educated so it’s less likely you’ll be harmed in your neighborhood. See, an educated childis one much more likely to be hopeful and optimistic.

You’ll be in a world which fits into my philosophy, you know, theharder work — the harder you work, the more you can keep. It’s the American way. Government shouldn’t be a heavy hand. It’s what thefederal government does to you. It should be a helping hand. And taxrelief and proposals I just described should be a good helping hand.

LEHRER: Governor, the next question is for you. And LeoAnderson (ph) will ask it.

Mr. Anderson (ph)?

BUSH: Hi, Leo (ph). What, you want a mike?

QUESTION: In one of the last debates held, the subject ofcapital punishment came up. And in your response to the question you seemed tooverly enjoy, as a matter of fact proud that Texas leads the—ledthe nation in execution of prisoners.

Sir, did I misread your respond, and are you really, really proudof the fact that Texas is number one in executions?

BUSH: No, I’m not proud of that. The death penalty is veryserious business, Leo. It’s an issue that good people obviouslydisagree on. I take my job seriously, and I — if you think I wasproud of it, I think you misread me, I do.

I was sworn to uphold the laws of my state. During the course ofthe campaign in 1994 I was asked: Do you support the death penalty?I said I did, if administered fairly and justly, because I believe itsaves lives. Well, I do. I think if it’s administered swiftly,justly and fairly, it saves lives.

One of the things that happens when you’re a governor, oftentimesyou have to make tough decisions, and you can’t let public persuasionsway you, because the job’s to enforce the law. And that’s what Idid, sir.

Have been some tough cases come across my desk. Some of thehardest moments since I’ve been the governor of the state of Texas isto deal with those cases.

But my job is to ask two questions, sir. Is the person guilty ofthe crime? And did the person have full access to the courts of law?And I can tell you, looking at you right now, in all cases thoseanswers were affirmative.

I’m not proud of any record. I’m proud of the fact thatviolent crime is down in the state of Texas. I’m proud of the factthat we hold people accountable. But I’m not proud of any record,sir, no.

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