Third Debate Transcript: Page 9

Oct. 17, 2000 -- QUESTION: It seems that when we hear about issues of thiscampaign, it’s usually Medicare, Social Security or prescriptiondrugs. As a college professor, I hear a lot of apathy amongst youngpeople …

GORE: Yes.

QUESTION: … who feel that there are no issues directed tothem.

GORE: Yes.

QUESTION: And they don’t plan to vote. How do you address that?

GORE: We’ve got to change it. I spend a good deal of timetalking to young people. And in my standard speech out there on thestump, I usually end my speech by saying I want to ask you forsomething and I want to direct it especially to the young people inthe audience.

And I want to tell you what I tell them: Sometimes peoplewho are very idealistic and have great dreams, as young people do, areapt to stay at arm’s length from the political process because theythink their good hearts might be brittle, and if they invest theirhopes and allow themselves to believe, then they’re going to be letdown and disappointed.

But thank goodness we’ve always had enough people who have beenwilling in every generation to push past the fear of a broken heartand become deeply involved in forming a more perfect union. We’reAmerica. And we believe in our future, and we know we have theability to shape our future.

Now, we’ve got to address one of the — one of the biggestthreats to our democracy and that is the current campaign financingsystem. And I know they say it doesn’t rank anywhere on the polls. Idon’t believe — I don’t believe that’s a fair measure.

I’m telling you, I will make it — I will make the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform bill the very first measure that Isend to the Congress as president.

Governor Bush opposes it. I wish that he would consider changinghis mind on that because I think that the special interests have toomuch power, and we need to give our democracy back to the Americanpeople.

Let me tell you why. Those issues you mentioned, SocialSecurity, prescription drugs, the big drug companies are against theprescription drug proposal that I have made. The HMOs are against thepatients’ rights bill — the Dingell-Norwood bill that I support andthat Governor Bush does not support. The big oil companies areagainst the measures to get more energy independence and renewablefuels.

They ought to have their voices heard, but they shouldn’thave a big megaphone that drowns out the American people.

We need campaign finance reform, and we need to shoot straightwith young and old alike, and tell them what the real choices are.And we can renew and rekindle the American spirit and make our futurewhat our founders dreamed it could be. We can.

LEHRER: Time.

Governor Bush, two minutes.

BUSH: I’ll tell you what I hear. A lot of people are sick andtired of the bitterness in Washington, D.C., and therefore they don’twant any part of politics. They look at Washington and see peoplepointing fingers and casting blame and saying one thing and doinganother. There are a lot of young folks saying, you know, “Why do Iwant to be involved with this mess?”

And what I think needs to happen, in order to encourage the youngto become involved, is to shoot straight, is to set aside the partisandifferences and set an agenda that will make sense.

Medicare — I know you talked about it, but Medicare is relevantfor all of us, young and old alike. We better get it right now. Taxreform is relevant for old and young alike. I don’t think it’s theissues that turn kids off. I think it’s the tone. I think it’s theattitude. I think it’s a cynicism in Washington, and it doesn’t haveto be that way.

Before I decided to run, I had to resolve two issues in my mind:One, could our family endure all this business. And I came to theconclusion that our love was strong enough to be able to do it. Andthe other was, could an administration change the tone in Washington,D.C.

And I believe the answer is yes. Otherwise, I wouldn’t beasking for your vote.

That’s what happened in Texas. We work together. There’s a man here in this audience named Hugo Belaga (ph). He’s the chairman of the health committee. He came here for a reason, to tell our record on health inTexas. He’s a Democrat. I didn’t care whether he a Republican or Democrat, what I cared about is could we work together? That’s whatWashington, D.C., needs.

And finally, sir, to answer your question, it needs somebody in officewho’ll tell the truth. That’s the best way to get people back in thesystem.

LEHRER: Governor Bush, Norma Kirby (ph) has the next question. Andit’s for you.

Norma Kirby (ph), where are you?

BUSH: Hi, Norma.

QUESTION: Hi. How will your administration address diversity,inclusiveness? And what role will affirmative action play in your overallplan?

BUSH: I’ve had a record of bringing people from all walks of lifeinto my administration, and my administration is better off for it inTexas. I going to find people that want to serve their country, but I wanta diverse administration. I think it’s important.

I’ve worked hard in the state of Texas to make sure institutions are— reflect the state, with good, smart policy, policy that rejects quotas.I don’t like quotas. Quotas tend to pit one group of people againstanother. Quotas are bad for America. It’s not the way America is allabout. But policies that give people a helping hand sothey can help themselves.

For example, in our state of Texas, I worked with thelegislature, both Republican and Democrats, to pass a law that said ifyou come in the top 10 percent of your high school class, you’reautomatically admitted to one of our higher institutions, higherinstitutions of learning — college. And as a result, ouruniversities are now more diverse. It’s a smart thing to do. It’swhat I called it — I labeled it affirmative access.

I think the contracting business in government can help, not withquotas, but help meet a goal of ownership of small businesses, forexample. The contracts need to be smaller. The agencies need torecruit and to work hard to find people to bid on the state contracts.I think we can do that in a way that represents what America is allabout, which is equal opportunity and the opportunity for people torealize their potential.

So to answer your question, I support — I guess the way to putit is affirmative access. And I’ll have an administration that willmake you proud. Thank you.

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