PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE October 6, 1996 Transcript

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JIM LEHRER: Senator Dole, we've talked most now about differences between the two of you that relate to policy, the issues, and that sort of thing. Are there also significant differences in the more personal area that are relevant to this election?

MR. DOLE: Let me say first on the president's promise for another tax cut, I mean, I've told people as I travel around all you who got the tax cut he promised last time vote for him in '96. And not many hands go up. So the question would you buy a used election promise from my opponent?

The people want economic reform. They're having a hard time making ends meet. You've got one parent working for the government, the other parent working for the family. And this is important business. This is about getting the economy moving again. This is about American jobs and opportunities. It's about the government, as I said before, pinching its pennies for a change, instead of the poor taxpayer. When they raise your taxes, nobody runs around asking people, ``Where are you going to get the extra money?'' I think the government can do better.

JIM LEHRER: Are there personal differences? That are relevant to this --

MR. DOLE: Well, my blood pressure's lower, and my weight, my cholesterol, but I will not make health an issue in this campaign. (Laughter.) I think he's a bit taller than I am, but I think there are personal differences. I mean, I'm not -- I don't like to get into personal matters. As far as I'm concerned, this is a campaign about issues. It's about my vision for America and about his liberal vision for America and not about personal things.

And I think his liberal vision is a thing of the past. I know he wants to disown it. I wouldn't want to be a liberal either, Mr. President, but you're stuck with it because that's your record. It's your record in Arkansas, the biggest tax increase in history, the biggest crime increase in history, biggest drug increase in history in Arkansas.

JIM LEHRER: Mr. President.

PRESIDENT CLINTON: Well, just for the record, when I was governor, we had the lowest -- second lowest tax burden of any state in the country, the highest job growth rate of any state when I ran for president, and were widely recognized for a lot of other advances.

But the important thing is, what are we going to do now? I think a targeted tax cut is better for our future, targeted to education and child rearing, with the rest of the education plan -- hooking up all of our classrooms to the Internet by the year 2000, making sure we've got an army of reading volunteers, trained people to teach with parents and teachers so that our 8-year-olds can learn to read, investing in our environment, cleaning up 2/3 of the worst toxic waste dumps. Those plans are better than this $550 billion tax scheme.

Now, remember, folks, even Senator Dole's campaign co-chair, Senator D'Amato, says he's got to cut Medicare to pay for this. Everybody who's looked at it, 500 economists, seven Nobel prize winners, say it's bad for the economy. It's going to blow a hole in the deficit, raise taxes on 9 million people and require bigger cuts than the one I vetoed. Our plan is better. It will take us into the future with a growing economy and healthier families.

MR. DOLE: Well, I'm really encouraged to know of your renewed friendship with Al D'Amato and I know he appreciates it.

You didn't even have tax cuts in your budget Mr. President first two years you were president. It wasn't until we had a Republican Congress that you'd even thought about -- you talked about tax cuts.

And getting back to personal differences. I don't -- you know, if, Jim, if you're a little more specific. But I think the president could clarify one thing tonight and that's the question of pardons. I know you talked about it on the Jim, the Jim Lehrer, on the PBS show and I've never discussed Whitewater, as I've told you personally. I'm not discussing Whitewater now. But I am discussing a power the president has to grant pardons and, hopefully, in the next segment you could lay that to rest.

JIM LEHRER: Mr. President?

PRESIDENT CLINTON: Well, first of all, you know, he made that remark about Senator D'Amato. He's arranged for me to spend a lot more time with Senator D'Amato in the last couple of years, and so I'm more familiar with his comments than I used to be.

I -- let me say what I said already about this pardon issue. This is an issue they brought up. It's under -- there has been no consideration of it, no discussion of it.

I'll tell you this: I will not give anyone special treatment, and I will strictly adhere to the law. And that is what every president has done, as far as I know, in the past. But whatever other presidents have done, this is something I take seriously, and that's my position.

MR. DOLE: But it seems to me the president shouldn't have any comment at all, particularly where it's someone where you've had business dealings. I mean, you may be sending a signal. I don't know. I'm not questioning anybody. But as the president of the United States, when somebody asks you about pardons, you say, ``No comment.'' Period.

And I think he made a mistake. And I think when you make a mistake, you say, ``I made a mistake.'' But apparently his position hasn't changed. If there are other specific areas -- but beyond that, I haven't gotten into any of these things, as the president knows.

We've had that discussion. And, again, I know Senator D'Amato, I think, may have had a hearing or two on Whitewater; I can't remember. But -- he's not my general chairman. He's a friend of mine. And so is Senator Kennedy a friend of yours. And --

PRESIDENT CLINTON: You bet.

MR. DOLE: I remember one day on the floor I said, ``Now, gentlemen, let me tax your memories,'' and Kennedy jumped up and said, ``Why haven't we thought of that before.'' You know? So one of your liberal friends.

JIM LEHRER: Mr. President, 30 seconds.

PRESIDENT CLINTON: No comment.

MR. DOLE: What's the subject matter?

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