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by The Editors
Beat the Prez
Let's have a debate!
If your can believe this -- Russert held a Democratic presidential debate on Beat the Prez.
Bradley began by apologizing for calling Gore a liar about health care reform. This was an interesting start. Then Bradley launched into a whining speech of his own health care package. He said the will cover about 30 out of 44 million and GIVE ACCESS -- whatever that means.
Gore then interrupted him and asked "Who would you leave out?"
Bradley snipped back, "I think the question is, who would YOU leave out."
Russert ignored this exchange, then said, "Your plan would take care of about 12 million people out of 44 million."
Gore did not answer this -- instead pointing to Bradley's plan which allows the poor to deduct costs of private health care from their income tax -- "But they don't have any income tax for to deduct from!"
Gore said he wants Universal Health Care -- and he will do it by giving small employers a 25% tax credit for providing health care insurance or co-paying insurance costs.
Bradley just eliminates Medicaid and just gives these people $150 a month instead. He eliminates it and does not give any contributions to Medicare.
Russert then showed elements of the 1994 Gore plan IN AN AMBUSH -- because he pulled a quote out of context which said Medicare costs would go way down.
Bradley then was supposedly going to defend against Gore's supposed lie. He said he will keep the same amount of Medicaid as there is now -- and that Al does nothing for middle class Americans. Oh -- we see -- now this is a plan for Middle Class Americans! We thought this was for the poor.
Gore then pulled up Bradley's health care plan -- off Bradley's own website -- which said that the states would pay for these measures!
Russert then sort of attacked Bradley because his plan is more expensive. Bradley said Harvard and Yale say his plan is better. Gore said that they both capture about 88-89% of the people.
Both of them seemed to be talking hocus pocus.
Now Russert lectured us on Medicare and Social Security. He cited the Social Security Commission claim that by 2035 income taxes per family will have to go up $9,000 per family to pay for it.
Russert is pushing for a gradual increase in Social Security retirement age. What a putz.
Bradley said he would not propose that. Then he went on to say the same garbage about setting the SS trust fund aside and take it out of the budget -- which is what every candidate said. The only way we will go to the 75 number is "f we have a leader in the White House."
Russert then wanted to know if Bradley would consider making the cost of living increases more "accurate."
Gore said he opposes raising the retirement age -- ever. He added, "Your logic is that... life spans are increasing... but you forget the steelworker who works like a dog and cannot go on to 70 years old in this job." He added that we have to make sacrifices - but in an era of surpluses he would devote 1.8 trillion dollars to the SS trust fund -- and then devote all the interest saved from paying down the debt to the SS trust fund.
Russert then attacked Federal employees because they do not pay into the system -- and both Gore and Bradley -- because he is a moron and for nothing else.
Gore then said that Bush and the GOP take the entire surplus and give it away on risky tax plans. Good one. He added that by investing all the interest saved on paying off the debt we are making sacrifices.
Russert calls for a "Reality Check" -- what happens when there are no surpluses. Bradley said what happens then is that Gore's approach disappears and we need a leader.
Russert then said that everything is on the table except retirement age if the Gore plan fails.
Then they begin to argue with each other about Gore criticizing Bradley while he does the same thing.
Gore said whether we have a surplus or not is determined by what we decide to do with tax money today and tomorrow. THIS IS CORRECT. Russert then said, "What if there is a war!!!" Gore said, "Well of course not!" In a National crisis, he said, all bets are off for a time.
Gore said I am not going to tell hard working people that they have to wait until they 70 years old to collect Social Security.
Bradley laughed at all the "emergencies" that Congress declared last month -- and Gore laughed in his face.
Bradley is now NOT supporting vouchers. He did before. What happened? Is he going after the vote of the teachers' unions? He might as well forget that. It will never happen.
The answer, he said, is how do we improve public education -- not how we pay for it. No to tuition tax credits.
Both Gore and Bradley were wearing the exact same blue suits and the same red ties -- looking like a Club!!! Their handlers should be whipped for not having other jackets or ties to create at least the appearance of a sartorial difference between the two.
Bradley then kept interrupting Gore until Gore told him, nicely, to shut up.
Gore said he wants to invest money in public education in a revolutionary way. He attacked Bradley for his "nibbling" plans which solve nothing.
Russert then mentioned District of Columbia schools. He then pushes the Catholic School system where "most students are Black!!!" Another Russert lie. 99% of the Blacks going to Catholic School go on to college. "Why don't they deserve a break?" asks the VERY Catholic Russert.
Gore said that this is not the answer for everyone -- schools run by Jesuits.
Russert then began putting down Gore in favor of Catholic Schools -- it was simply unbelievable! Russert should be fired immediately for this alone.
Bradley just shut up -- and giggled behind his hands.
Bradley went on about Head Start.
The entire thing was a big bore -- except for Russert' s entirely unprofessional involvement in the debate.
One criticism of Gore -- he kept over-audibly SIGHING, which made him look like a teenager.
Russert then attacked Gore because one of his campaign staff said that Bradley's stance not to take soft money was a sham -- because it was unilateral.
Bradley has unilaterally surrendered -- NOT -- and IS taking soft money.
Gore said he has exactly the same position then -- he will refuse to take soft money as well. Gore did support public financing for federal races. He does not accept PAC money and has the smallest average contributor in he race.
Gore made a proposal to Bradley -- an offer to stop running all radio and television ads for the rest of this campaign if he agreed to do so.
Bradley -- the hypocrite -- said he wouldn't do it. It is ridiculous, he said. "I like to talk to people over the television and the radio." That is not difficult to do, he said, if you know what you believe. It is difficult when you only have a negative message.
Gore said he has not had to apologize for anything he did -- but Bradley started out this show by apologizing for his own lies against Gore.
Then Gore offered Bradley two debates every two weeks. Bradley said no, and then started to lecture Gore on what campaigns are "about." Bradley then said that Gore's offer is nothing but a ploy.
Gore and Bradley got into a verbal fight. Gore said that Bradley will not accept his challenge -- which is for real.
Russert then attacked Gore on phony campaign finance charges and started to sound JUST LIKE DAN BURTON!!! What a fraud Russert has become. He then showed a clip of McCain going over the litany of false charges against Clinton and Gore in this arena.
Gore said that what McCain left out was that every single Democratic Senator voted for the McCain-Feingold measure. The question is not that we didn't make mistakes -- everyone does -- the point is: do you learn from mistakes?
Russet -- trying to "get" a story -- kept pathetically pushing Gore, asking "What was the biggest mistake you made?"
Gore said, "Pushing the limits was a mistake -- and I would not do it again." Another good answer.
Gore said he will make broadcasters give free air time to preserve their licenses a ban on soft money.
Bradley said he thinks that all politicians were disgraceful in 1996. In Al's case, the Attorney General investigated him and found that an independent counsel was not needed. He follows with, "You've had seven years to do something -- and you have done nothing."
Gore said c'mon -- every single Democrat voted for campaign finance reform and every single Republican voted against it -- that's why!
Bradley pretended that the White House could have passed it on their own. More BS from Bradley, who might not mean to BS you -- but does it very well.
Bradley claimed that people have "given us a mandate" on campaign finance reform -- another lie. No appreciate ratio of voters cares about the issue.
Gore pointed out that Bradley's past campaign excesses were nauseating -- and that he has the largest average campaign contribution in the Democratic race. He again said he is willing to stop all ads and all big spending.
Russert then moved, with obvious delight, to the impeachment issue -- this time through the supposed application by the Clintons or reimbursement of their legal fees.
Gore cannot say he agrees. He said he would not do it. But that under the law the Clinton's can.
Bradley said that anytime the president "lies to the people" he should pay his own legal expenses.
Russert then attacked Gore outright by asking him, "Who else do you think were the greatest Presidents," making fun of his defense of Clinton after the Senate acquitted him of ALL charges made by the GOP's Nazi wing lynching party.
Gore stood by his phrase "greatest." Good for him. Gore doubts that Clinton well be remembered for his impeachment trial but for delivering the most competent and wealthy nation every seen on earth.
Bradley refused to attack Clinton - but snickered at the Clinton question.
Russert then turned to the Iraq war: when is the Administration going to get in there and start inspections again? Another blatant attack on Gore through Clinton.
Gore then attacked Bradley, saying that if he had his way, Saddam will still be in power in Kuwait.
Russert kept attacking Gore on the refusal of Clinton to go back and attack Iraq again.
He then yelled at Gore! "Will you force Saddam to let in the inspectors or not?"
Gore told the truth, asking back to Tim, "How can we do that?"
Bradley said the latest UN vote loosened the economic ties against Saddam instead of strengthening them and that was the mistake. In short, Bradley is for starving and killing more children and women from lack of food and medicine. He also said he would reserve the right to attack Iraq yet again.
Is this a schizophrenic Bradley or what? Is he a liberal on health care, a Mitch McConnell and John McCain puppet on campaign finance, a Hawk of a Dove on military action against our enemies? Who knows?
"What is the most defining moment in your life," asked the rotgut Russert.
Bradley: "To leave a small town in Missouri and go to Princeton."
Gore: "My decision to go into the Army in Vietnam."
You can watch the rerun of this this ridiculous Russert Circus thrice today, at 4, 6 and 10 PM EST on either MSNBC or CNBC. You should if you want to see what a despicable antagonist Russert truly is. Copyright © 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, American Politics Journal Publications. All rights reserved. ISSN No. 1523-1690