Al Vs. Dubya III
by by the Editors
Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2000 -- NEW YORK (AmpolNS) -- What a snooze: before the big show, CNN's less-than-perceptive Bill Schneider offered the same old lying "the pressure's on Al Gore" we've heard all day. Why can't CNN get some fresh faces to replace these second-stringers -- at 3PM, they had liberal Joe Conason and some Republican verbally duking it out, and bringing up points NONE of the resident pundits would.
At least the debate was no snooze -- Gore was far more animated and feisty than they were in the first two debates. Bush was shifting between "down-home" nice guy, stiff Rove marionette, and Mister One Syl-la-ble at a Time (so as not to go "subliminable") most of the evening
Jim Lehrer opened with a moment of silence in memory of Missouri Governor Mel Carnahan -- then apologized for saying that Gore had called Bush a bumbler.
The first question went to Gore: how does he feel about HMOs making medical decisions? Gore said he does not like it at all -- but before answering in full, said that he and Tipper are friends of the Carnahans and extended their sympathies, and the debate was a living tribute to a fantastic governor. He praised Carnahan's championing children's health insurance, then extended sympathies to families of victims of the USS Cole. Then Gore answered -- doctors' decisions are being overruled by HMOs -- and that's wrong. Gore supports the Dingell Patients' Bill of Rights.
Bush then stumbled over extending his sympathies to the Carnahans -- the guy can't speak off the cuff without stammering -- then gave a prepackaged denial that he is against HMOs, followed by some fuzzy facts about the so-called HMO "reform" he has championed. He talked about the appeal board in a new Texas law, then said "it's time for the nation to come together and do what is right for the people."
Do you two agree on a Patients' Bill of Rights? Gore said no -- he wants the Dingell-Norwood version , and the GOP bill which Bush supports does not allow the amount of choice that Dingell-Norwood does -- then for the first time in the evening challenged Bush to support it. Gore would taunt Bush with Dingell-Norwood all night. Bush said the difference is that he can get something done (huh?). Gore: What about the Dingell-Norwood Bill? Bush gave a muddy answer about women getting access to Ob-Gyn, and other minor points.
For Bush: Are either of you concerned with finding a feasible way to lower pharma drug prices, including streamlining approvals? Bush talked about reforming Medicare and making drugs more affordable for seniors "once and for all" -- but never specified how. He claimed that there's "a lot of bickering... it's kind of like a political issue instead of a [pause] people issue." He talked about seniors and the poor -- then an "immediate hand" that gives money to states! Hilarious -- considering Texas turned back money to help kids to eat! Bush said he is against price controls -- but began to lose coherence.
Gore: "Here we go again" -- how Reaganesque! Bush looked taken aback. Gore said that Bush was using convoluted language but would support the drug companies. Gore said he wants to fight for the people.
Thank God -- Gore was fired up and ready for a junkyard fight. He addressed the woman asking the question -- talking about that patent monopoly protection keeping prices high. He then went into detail about his plan for a real prescription benefit under Medicare for ALL seniors. "I f you pass the big drug companies' bill" (pointing at Bush), "NOTHING would happen."
Someone asked about universal health care. Gore said he supports it, but it should be achieved step-by-step -- and not be an all-government plan. The number of people without health coverage, he said, is a national outrage. Gore also said he wants mental illness and long-term care covered by government program. He said he intends to see to it that all kids are covered within four years, then pointed out that Bush is different -- Texas has sunk to 50th out of 50 for health care for citizens.
Bush said he is opposed to a national health care plan, saying so in an ominous, stingy- old- fogey, "you ain't earn'd it" voice. He said he does not want government making health decisions. He called "IN-shur-ince... Washington talk." Bush claimed that the number of uninsured has gone up (but as a percentage of population? What kind of insurance?) and that health coverage has to be affordable and available. People who work for "the US Congress and the US Senate" (isn't the Senate part of Congress?) get coverage.
A woman asked Bush about education and the need to hold teachers accountable -- BUT when parents are unresponsive or uninvolved, how does he plan to make THEM accountable, too? Bush was NOT ready for the question -- he talked about "the children" -- loving the children, posting results of school testing on the Internet. He's for accountability, he said -- but NEVER answered the woman's question about unaccountable parents. He said, "We got strong accountability in Texas... you can't cure unless you know ... I support a teacher liability act ... they can't be sued [if they beat the kids]." He did say that it was important to get parents involved when their classes are secure (like most of them aren't?) and THEN used his "soft bigotry of low expectations" line (GOP-Speak for "We are bigots, but we are SOFT bigots").
Gore went to work -- saying that he envisions excellence in public education -- including hiring of new teachers, help for poor communities with interest-free bonds, paid time for teachers to learn new skills, a tax deduction for college tuition, and universal pre-school. Gore then talked about the Bush voucher plan draining tax dollars -- with only one in twenty being eligible. Bush said that he'd been attacked! Boo-hoo! He believes in local control of schools. "I don' like it when the Federal Govahment tells us what to do!" He talked about schools that do not improve or change. "There has to be a accountability program [GOP speak for BUST THE TEACHERS' UNIONS]."
Hey, guys -- what about the PARENTS who do not get involved?
Gore came back and said that the Bush plan is NOT the one Bush described a moment ago! He said that under Bush, states would be forced to pay for vouchers for failing schools -- Gore supports turnaround teams and fixing schools.
Gore was asked about crumbling school buildings, crowding, underfunding, low teacher pay -- what will Gore do for teachers? Gore asked him what grade he taught -- and Jim Lehrer stopped him -- it was a violation of the rules! BAD Gore! Gore said that it is not enough to leave the struggle to school districts in the information age. On accountability, Gore said that they essentially agree on testing students -- but Gore supports testing for new teachers.
Bush mentioned that the Feds only contribute 5.8% of all the money spent on education in the nation -- but he didn't explain that neither Bush nor Gore can do a damn thing about the states, run -- 34 of them -- by GOP garbage Governors that don't do a thing about education!
Oh, goody -- even the physically abusive ones?
Lehrer asked if Bush was right in saying it's the largest federal increase in years. Gore loved it -- he knocked down the myth, saying that it's Bush's tax giveback to the rich vs. Gore's budget balancing with the target being the smallest federal spending in half a century with a debt paydown plan. Bush snickered at Gore when Gore said that he is not a budget buster. Of course, Bush is the budget buster -- but for his friends: the Pharma companies, the aerospace industry, and, yes, the military-industrial complex which DID not cease to exist after the Feds murdered those kids at Ken State University. Talk about Tienanmen Square! Lehrer said the Veep says he's wrong -- that it's three times something -- when GORE CUT HIM OFF, saying that journalists had knocked down Bush's claim, made in one of his ads!
Bush: "Forget the journalists..." He looked angry!
Waytago Gore -- he threw Bush off his game!
Bush eventually did segue into his "I trust you with your own money." And when Lehrer said that Bush gives back to the rich, Bush agreed, still looking a little flustered, saying the rich pay the most taxes. Gore said that if you feel you're not better off than you were eight years ago and you want tax cuts for the rich, Bush is your man. BAM! If you want someone who will stick up for you, "I'm your man -- I want to be." Bush: "50 million people will not get tax relief under your plan.... We've dun enough fightin', we gotta get somethin' done.
What would make you the best person in office for a Middle East crisis? Bush said "I been a leader. I been the person to set a clear vision for people to follow. Our nation needs to speak with one voice. I got a plan for the Middle East. When we say we are someone's friend we mean it. We need to be patient -- we can't put the Middle East peace process on our timetable" -- yet he NEVER explained his "plan", let alone give it a theme -- but he applauded Clinton for "defusing tensions." Bush said Israel's our friend, and we have to reach out to Arab nations (so his buddies can steal their oil, no doubt). He talked about what a leader does, and how we must remain strong in times of peace. Bush talked about the anti-Saddam coalition "unraveling... Saddam is still a threat in the Middle East [b'cause uh my daddy]... It requires clear vision... When American says somethin' - we mean it."
Gore, on the other hand, said he sees the world at peace with America promoting the values of democracy and freedom. Even Iran has changed. Our military is the strongest in the world -- Gore pledged that he would keep it that way. Gore said "there were plenty of fancy ways of staying out of there --meaning Vietnam (and Bush's Guard flyboy days). Gore also recounted his experience on the Senate Armed Services Committee -- and that he and Joe Lieberman were the only two Dems on the Armed services Committee to back Bush Daddy on Saddam.
How will he handle forces stretched thin and select which missions the U.S. would participate in. Gore finished his answer to the previous question -- we need to continue improving readiness, making sure the forces are well-paid and can compete with the private sector. He supports modernization of tactical weaponry -- which Bush opposes.
Gore than pointed out that he charted the summit that Clinton returned to today from Egypt, but we feel this was a mistake by Gore -- news from the meetings show it to be essentially a pose. Gore should have said, what the hell do we need more weapons for when we have no enemies except lone terrorists working in twos and threes? Will China be our next mortal enemy? Russia? Austin? But Gore did make the point that our successes in Bosnia, Haiti and Kosovo were won with a technological edge. On readiness -- Gore argued that the number of personnel and divisions need to grow, and he's ready to allocate more funding to personnel. Gore pointed out that under Bush Daddy the size of the forces and the budget for the Pentagon was down.
Bush BLEW OFF THE MILITARY when he dismissed Gore's spending -- STUPID! He said that the "mission has become fuzzy" then repeated his assertion that "we fight wars to keep wars from happening" -- a stupid and belligerent spin line that has foreign powers VERY worried about Bush's fitness and motives. Spending without a strategic plan (as if Gore doesn't have one) is not good, Bush said.
Why does Bush oppose the Brady handgun bill -- the questioner mentioned a TV ad that said the NRA would be working out of his office. Bush lied and said that the NRA did not run that ad -- and suggested that Gore ran the ad! We laughed out loud -- this was A BIG MISTAKE on Bush's part. Bush talked about instant (WEAK) background check, his free (DEFECTIVE, EASY-TO-DEFEAT) trigger lock program in Texas, and that "there needs to be a consequence" for people who break gun laws. He then went into the tired old line that Janet Reno does not arrest all 350,000 people who violate state and federal gun laws! Ha, ha, ha, ha. What a moron. It is the state's responsibility to enforce these federal laws.
Gore then corrected the mistaken (or lying) Bush, saying that it was not a Gore commercial -- but that a top official of the NRA said that they'd set up shop in the Oval Office. Gore then turned to the issue of cheap handguns used by the wrong people. Gore's plan for registration is not aimed at hunters or sportsmen, he said -- and a three-day waiting period. Gore then took on Bush on his assertion that Gore wants bigger government -- and said that Gore, who has run the federal streamlining program, has overseen over 400,000 drop in headcount -- but Bush has added more people to Texas government! Talk about bloodying Bush's nose -- we loved it.
An audience member asked about the disappearance of family farms -- what would he do to protect them? Gore should have said, "WHAT FAMILY FARMS?" For all intents and purposes there aren't any left -- as a matter of fact, the United States Census has dropped the category (Family Farm) from its database. Gore said there's a bumper crop, but prices are low. Gore explained that the 2% of the nation involved in farming need a better safety net -- and farmers are in the forefront of environmental issues. Gore wants to reward farmers for sound land management. Internet-based services are needed in rural areas, and the information economy should benefit farmers.
Bush said he wants to fight for them. Bush probably wants to fight for Dwayne Andreas and Archer Daniels Midland, "Supermarket to the Congressional Campaign Wallet," and their ethanol - $1 billion a year to ADM alone, which is its entire gross profit. That comes from YOUR pocket, my friend. Bush said he wants more exports, fast-track deals, no more use of food as a diplomatic tool [AS HIS FATHER DID WITH IRAQ], research and development for new uses for farm products, an abolition of the "death tax." Bush said, "That's a bad tax. The president shoulda signed that bill." Bush means the Inheritance Tax, but he can't pronounce "Inheritance."
Lehrer asked about the inheritance tax. Gore said he wants to reform the estate tax so that 80% of farms would be exempt, and there would be across-the-board reductions -- but a full elimination would place the burden on the middle class. What's the case for eliminating the tax? Bush said people should not be "taxed twice." What a moron. You earn money, you pay tax on it. You spend it, you pay tax on it. You earn it in the stock market or the bank, and you pay tax on it. People are taxed twice and more in the USA all the time.
A woman asked about morality -- music and movies that kids are barraged with. Can anything be worked out with Hollywood to stop bad language? Bush said that he's a proud parent, and government ought to be at the side of parents (hold it -- isn't that MORE government?) -- he wants Internet filters (but they ALREADY EXIST!!!), character education (code for puttin' Christ in the schools) and "values," giveaways to faith-based programs. "I don't support sen-shor-ship." Bush wants TV technology that will block offensive programs -- BUT THEY ALREADY EXIST. Gore said it's not just movies, but TV, video games and the Internet, and that parents must now compete with mass culture. He talked about Karenna bringing home that notorious record that got Tipper on a roll to label records (hint: the labels WANTED these -- as a marketing tool). Gore slammed studios for saying to parents that some entertainment is not for kids -- then marketed it to kids. He and Lieberman have given the industry six months to clean up their act.
A college professor said that there are no issues addressed to Generation Y -- and their apathetic. Gore said that he tells young audiences that some young people stay at a distance from political activism because they'll have their hearts broken -- but that they have to move beyond that fear to shape our future. Gore then said that he will send McCain-Feingold to Congress. He then slammed insurers and big pharma for resisting Dingell-Norwood -- and said that politicians have to shoot straight with cynical youth. Bush said he hears people sick of bitterness in DC -- they see people pointing fingers and casting blame. Bush too wants to "shoot straight." Medicare is relevant for all people, he said, and so is tax reform. Bush blamed cynicism in Washington (but when will he blame the cynical right-spinners in think tanks and the press?) -- then talked about working together with Democrats in Texas. He concluded that you need someone in "office who will tell the truth."
How would Bush address diversity, and what role will affirmative action play in his plan? Bush said he's named people form all walks of life into his administration in Texas, and said he's worked to make sure that the government institutions reflect the state. Bush then talked about doing well in school to get state tuition in Texas. He calls it "affirmative access" ( even though white kids mostly benefit). He talked up a storm of vagaries and highlighted "affirmative access, I'll run an administration that'll make ya proud." Huh?
Gore said he supports affirmative action, and decried the lack of understanding between different ethnic. He then said he does not know what "affirmative access" means but he does know what affirmative action does -- and supports it. He decried Bush's rejection of the Byrd hate crime bill, and praised the late Gov. Carnahan for his civil rights record. Gore then blasted Bush for his "quotas" comment -- he too is against quotas. Bush was asked about whether he agreed with Gore on affirmative action -- and then Gore cornered him on whether he agreed with the Supreme Court's views on affirmative action. Bush would not answer.
A woman asked about how Gore's tax plan would benefit her. Gore went into detail on tuition tax credits, health credit, and expanded earned income tax credit. Tax relief in the Bush plan is targeted at the middle, including families that need to care for an older relative. Bush said everyone who pays taxes under his plan will get tax relief. Bush talked options and peace -- and FOREIGN POLICY and the MILITARY! The poor woman who asked the question must've been scratching her head.
A black man asked why Bush seemed so happy that Bush was glad to execute prisoners -- "Are you proud of that?" Bush looked taken aback -- he said he was not proud of it, and then went into standard boilerplate about the death penalty saving lives. he called the death warrants "some of the hardest cases that have come across my desk." Gore said he supports the death penalty, but it must be applied fairly -- he supports DNA evidence in all capital cases -- and alertness to having the wrong guy convicted. Lehrer asked if it deters crime. Bush said he believes it does, and so did Gore.
Gore was asked a question by a teacher of sixth graders -- they want to know if he'll keep all his promises. Gore said yes -- then lit into Bush's assertion that Clinton-Gore did nothing, recounting victories on the budget, deficit and debt. he promised to balance the budget, pay down the debt, grant middle-class tax cuts, improve education, and his other big platform points. Gore then talked about Bush having promised two different groups trillions in surplus money. Instead, Bush said Gore did an old "high school debate trick" by attacking him -- then attacked Gore for alleged non-accomplishments. Bush talked about his own all-too-familiar planks.
Why are people so skeptical about politics? Gore then said Bush never answered his question -- Bush cannot keep both promises. Gore then said the debate is not about debating tricks -- it is about your future. Bush, who hadn't answered Gore's question, blathered.
Gore got his closing statement -- he said that he's a man of his word, a man who has kept the faith to his country, a man who has taken an oath of office nine times and never broken it. He believes in standing up and fighting for people. He talked about the gains made by America in the last eight years -- and concluded by saying, "You ain't seen nothing yet."
Bush tried to cast himself as an outsider. He talked Medicare, "the young voices of Social security," rebuilding the military, public schools, giving the surplus back to the rich -- er, the taxpayers. He ended with the "honor and dignity" spin point.
| Al Gore revealed himself to be an intelligent, thorough and confident figure who one could imagine -- without much difficulty -- mastering the Oval Office. And George W. Bush revealed himself to be a shambling, evasive babbler. --Todd Gitlin, Salon |
The one noticeable Bush pattern -- he stammered a lot when he would go off rehearsed message. And his "endearing" Texas twang -- words like INN-shurance, puttin', makin -- may not play well in some swing states -- especially those that speak English. And thank the Lord Gore was not afraid to get tough tonight -- ready to hammer Bush on facts and contradictions, only to see Bush FAIL to respond or change the subject.
Clear win to Gore.