THE 3RD PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE
October 17, 2000

In the fifth part of the final presidential debate, Vice President Gore and Governor Bush discuss diversity, the youth and the impact on the individual.

Online Special: Election 2000 Oct. 15, 2000: Debate Night: National Congressional Debate Oct. 11, 2000: The Second Presidential Debate Oct. 5, 2000: The Vice Presidential Debate Oct. 3, 2000: The First Presidential Debate Browse the NewsHour's coverage of Politics and Campaigns, Shields and Gigot and Election 2000.     Debating Our Destiny Commission on Presidential Debates	Engaging the youth
	MR. LEHRER: Okay, Mr. Vice President. All right. Vice President Gore, the next question is for you, and it will be asked by Stephen Kusman (sp). Mr. Kusman (sp)? Where are you, sir? Right behind me, as well. There we go. VICE PRESIDENT GORE: Right next to the last one. MR. LEHRER: Yeah. Got it. Good planning. STEPHEN KUSMAN (sp): It seems that when we hear about issues of this campaign, it's usually Medicare or Social Security or prescription drugs. As a college professor, I hear a lot of apathy amongst young people who feel that there are no issues directed to them. VICE PRESIDENT GORE: Yeah. Yeah. MR. KUSMAN (sp): And they don't plan to vote. How do you address that? VICE PRESIDENT GORE: We've got to change it. I spend a good deal of time talking to young people, and in my standard speech out there on the stump, I usually end my speech by saying, "I want to ask you for something, and I want to direct it especially to the young people in the audience," and I want to tell you what I tell them. Sometimes people who are very idealistic and have great dreams, as young people do, are apt to stay at arm's length from the political process, because they think their good hearts might be brittle, and if they invest their hopes and allow themselves to believe, then they're going to be let down and disappointed. But thank goodness, we've always had enough people who have been willing in every generation to push past the fear of a broken heart and become deeply involved in forming a more perfect union. We're America, and -- and we believe in our future, and we know we have the ability to shape our future. Now, we've got to address one of the biggest threats to our democracy, and that is the current Campaign financing system. And I know they say it doesn't rank anywhere on the polls. I don'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 I send to the Congress as president. Governor Bush opposes it. I wish that he would consider changing his mind on that, because I think that the special interests have too much power and we need to give our democracy back to the American people. Let me tell you why. Those issues you mentioned, Social Security, prescription drugs, the big drug companies are against the prescription Drug proposal that I've made. The HMOs are against the patients' rights bill, the Dingell-Norwood bill, that I support and that Governor Bush does not support. The big oil companies are against the measures to get more energy independence and renewable fuels. They ought to have their voices heard, but they shouldn't have a big megaphone that drowns out the American people. We need campaign finance reform, and we need to shoot straight with young and old alike and tell them what the real choices are. And we can renew and rekindle the American spirit and make our future what our founders dreamed it could be. We can. MR. LEHRER: Time. Governor Bush, two minutes. GOV. BUSH: I tell you what I hear. A lot of people are sick and tired of the bitterness in Washington, D.C., and therefore they don't want any part of politics. They look at Washington and see people pointing fingers and casting blame and saying one thing and doing another. There's a lot of young folks saying, you know, "Why do I want to be involved with this mess?" (Laughs.) And what I think needs to happen in order to encourage the young to become involved is to shoot straight, is to set aside the partisan differences and set an agenda that will makes sense. Medicare, I know you talked about it, but Medicare is relevant for all of us, young and old alike. We better get it right now. Tax reform is relevant for old and young alike. I don't think it's the issues that turn kids off. I think it's the tone. I think it's the attitude. I think it's a cynicism in Washington, and it doesn't have to 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 the conclusion that our love was strong enough to be able to do it; and the other was could an administration change the tone in Washington, DC, and I believe the answer is yes -- otherwise, I wouldn't be asking for your vote. That's what happened in Texas. We worked together. There's a man here in this audience named Hugo Balanga (ph). He's the chairman of the Health Committee. He came here for a reason, to tout our record on health in Texas. He's a Democrat. I didn't care whether he was Republican or Democrat. What I cared about is could we work together. That's what Washington DC needs. And finally, sir, to answer your question, it needs somebody in office who will tell the truth. That's the best way to get people back in the system.
	Affirmative action and diversity
	MR. LEHRER: Governor Bush, Norma Kirby has the next question, and it's for you. GOV. BUSH: Okay. MR. LEHRER: Norma Kirby, where are you? NORMA KIRBY: Right here. GOV. BUSH: Hello. NORMA KIRBY: Hi. How will your administration address diversity, inclusiveness, and what role will affirmative action play in your overall plan? GOV. BUSH: I've had a record of bringing people from all walks of life into my administration, and my administration is better off for it in Texas. I'm going to find people that want to serve their country, but I want a diverse administration. I think it's important. I've worked hard in the state of Texas. to make sure our 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 against another, quotas are bad for America, it's not the way America is all about -- but policies that give people a helping hand so they can help themselves. For example, in our state of Texas., I've worked with the legislature, both Republicans and Democrats, to pass a law that said if you come in the top 10 percent of your high school class, you're automatically admitted to one of our -- one of our higher institutions -- higher institutions of learning -- college, and as a result, our universities are now more diverse. It was a smart thing to do, what I called it -- I labeled it "affirmative access." I think the contracting business in government can help -- not with quotas, but help meet a goal of ownership of small businesses, for example. The contracts need to be smaller. The agencies need to be -- you know, need to recruit 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 all about, which is equal opportunity, and an opportunity for people to realize their potential. So, to answer your question, I support -- I guess the way to put it is -- affirmative access. And I'll have an administration that will make you proud. MR. LEHRER: Vice President Gore? VICE PRESIDENT 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 we can break down these barriers that have been used to pit group against group, and bring our people together. How do you do it? Well, you establish respect for differences. You don't ignore differences. It's all too easy for somebody in the majority in the population to say, "Ah, we're just all -- all the same", without an understanding of the different life experience that you've had, that others have had. Once you have that understanding and mutual respect, then we can transcend the differences and embrace the highest common denominator of the American spirit. I don't know what "affirmative access" means. I do know what "affirmative action" means. I know that the governor is against it, and I know that I'm for it. I know what a hate crime statute pending at the national level is all about. In the aftermath of James Byrd's death, I'm for that proposed law. The governor is against it. I know what it means to have a commitment to diversity. I am part of an administration that has the finest record on diversity -- and, incidentally, an excellent -- I mean, I think our success over the last eight years has not been in spite of diversity, but because of it, because we're able to draw on the wisdom and experience from different parts of the society that hadn't been tapped in the same way before. And incidentally, Mel Carnahan in Missouri had the finest record on diversity of any governor in the entire history of the state of Missouri, and I want to honor that among his other achievements here. Now I just believe that what we have to do is enforce the civil rights 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 acknowledge the history of discrimination and injustice and prejudice, and bring all people into the American dream because it helps everybody, not just those who would directly benefit. MR. LEHRER: Governor, what is your -- are you opposed to Affirmative action? GOV. BUSH: No, I -- if affirmative action means quotas, I'm against it. If affirmative action means what I just described, what I'm for, then I'm for it. You heard what I was for. The vice president keeps saying I'm against things. You heard what I was for. And that's what I support. MR. LEHRER: What about -- Mr. Vice President, you heard what he said. VICE PRESIDENT GORE: He said if affirmative action means quotas, he's against it. Affirmative action doesn't mean quotas. GOV. BUSH: Good. VICE PRESIDENT GORE: Are you for it without quotas? GOV. BUSH: Well, I may not be for your version, Mr. Vice President, but I'm for what I just described to the lady. She heard my answer. VICE PRESIDENT GORE: Are you for what the Supreme Court says is a constitutional way of having affirmative action? GOV. BUSH: Jim, this -- MR. LEHRER: Let's go on to another -- another -- (laughter) -- VICE PRESIDENT GORE: I think that speaks for itself. MR. LEHRER: The question -- GOV. BUSH: No, doesn't speak for itself, Mr. Vice President; it speaks for the fact that there are certain rules in this that we all agreed to, but evidently rules don't mean anything.
	The impact on a 34-year-old woman
	MR. LEHRER: The question is for you, Vice President Gore. And Lisa Key (sp) will ask it. Lisa Key (sp), where are you? There we go, sorry. LISA KEY (sp): How will your tax proposals affect me as a middle class, 34-year-old single person with no dependents? VICE PRESIDENT GORE: If you make less than $60,000 a year, and you decide to invest $1,000 in a savings account, you'll get a tax credit, which means in essence that the federal government will match your $1,000 with another $1,000. If you make less than $30,000 a year and you put $500 in a saving account, the federal government will match it with $1,500. If you make more than 60,000, up to 100-, you'll still get a match, but not as generous. You will get access to lifelong learning and education, help with tuition. If you want to get a new skill or training, if you want to purchase Health insurance, you will get help with that. If you want to participate in some of the dynamic changes that are going on in our country, 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 at middle-income individuals and families. And if you have a -- if you have an elderly parent or grandparent who needs long-term care, then you will get help with that -- $3,000 tax credit to help your expenses in taking care of a loved one who needs long-term care. MR. LEHRER: Governor Bush? GOV. BUSH: Right. Let me just say, the first -- this business about the entitlement he tried to describe about savings -- you know, matching savings here and matching savings there -- if fully funded, it's 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 going to be targeted in or targeted out. Everybody who pays taxes is going to 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, a plan that will give you options. Now, I hope people understand that Medicare today is -- is -- is important, but it doesn't keep up with the new medicines. If you're a Medicare person, on Medicare, you don't get the new procedures. You're stuck in a time warp, in many ways. So it will be a modern Medicare system that trusts you to make a variety of options for you. You're going to live in a peaceful world. It'll be a world of peace, because we're going to have clearer -- clear-sighted foreign policy based upon a strong military, and a mission that stands by our friends; a mission that doesn't try to be all things to all people. A judicious use of the military which well help keep the peace. You'll be in world, hopefully, that's more educated, so it's less likely you'll be harmed in your neighborhood. See, an educated child is one much more likely to be hopeful and optimistic. You'll be in a world in which -- fits into my philosophy; you know, the harder work -- the harder you work the more you can keep. It's the American way. Government shouldn't be a heavy hand. That's what the federal government does to you. Should be a helping hand. And tax relief in the proposals I just described should be a good helping hand.

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