ON THE STUMP

	November 3, 2000
	A continuing series of excerpts from campaign speeches by the leading presidential candidates.

JIM LEHRER: Campaign speeches by the two leading Presidential candidates. Here is Vice President Gore speaking this morning in Kansas City, Missouri. VICE PRESIDENT AL GORE: Yesterday, Governor Bush said that Social Security was not a federal program. I am not sure what he meant. But if you read the transcript, he was... he was attempting to defend his proposal to take a trillion dollars out of Social Security, and he's promised it to two different groups of people. Now, he's been put on the defensive about this, because the people who understand how Social Security operates and the families that know why it is so important to ensure the dignity of life for those who are in their later years, have tried to add the numbers up, and the numbers do not add up. I know that one plus one equals two. But one trillion promised to two different groups of people doesn't add up unless you are using what kind of math? CROWD: "Fuzzy math!" VICE PRESIDENT AL GORE: Well, if you want fuzzy math, then he's your guy, but if you want someone who will fight to defend Social Security, who will give a new incentive for savings to young workers on top of Social Security, not at the expense of Social Security, then that's what I'm proposing. I'll put Social Security in a lock box, and I'll veto anything that takes the money out of Social Security, for anything other than Social Security (applause). But here is the point I am making: Governor Bush is on the defensive about Social Security. And so when he was trying to explain it he got carried away in one of his rallies and he said "they're scared of my plan. What do they think Social Security is, some kind of federal program?" Yeah -- (Cheers and applause) -- and a damn good one, too. (Applause) I believe we ought to raise minimum wage a dollar an hour for those who most need help. I think we ought to get rid of permanent striker replacement and protect the right to organize. I think that the time has come to say loudly and clearly that women who work just as hard as men in jobs today, and come home often and do a second shift, should not be given on average only 76 cents of every dollar a man earns. (Cheers and applause) I am for equal day's pay for an equal day's work. Are you with me? (Cheers and applause) So I ask you to go and win this election in Missouri, where the balance lies. I need your help. Let's vote on Tuesday for the kind of change we need. God bless you. Thank you very much. Let's win. (Cheers and applause) JIM LEHRER: Now Governor Bush speaking this morning in Grand Rapids, Michigan. GOV. GEORGE W. BUSH: I think you'll find it interesting, for my opponent in his closing hours will be asking for the vote in Tennessee. (Laughter) I don't know if you remember... I don't know if you remember when he was saying he was trying to escape from the shadow of the President. Well, guess what? The shadow is back. (Cheers) The President will be flying into Arkansas tomorrow to try a last-minute rescue mission. But you need to know something: I'm not worried; I'm flattered. I figure this: If we've got President Clinton back in Arkansas and Al Gore back in Tennessee, we must be doing something right. (Cheers and applause) The Clinton-Gore administration has allowed spending on defense research to decline in real terms, despite warnings even from fellow Democrats. Last summer, one Senator wrote the White House that cuts in defense research were, in his words, "real and dangerous," and have slowed the development of a number of capabilities that will be needed by our war-fighters in their near future. This Senator wasn't running down the military when he wrote the letter. He was pointing out a mistake in policy and failed leadership. And who was that worried Senator? Well, it was Joe Lieberman. He was right then, and his running mate is wrong now. Two decades ago we had a similar debate in this country. The Republican challenger said we were not fully prepared for the threats and opportunities that lay ahead. It's a good thing we had that debate in 1980, because we know that challenger was right. We needed the leadership of Ronald Reagan. (Cheers and applause) His leadership... His leadership not only prepared us for victory in the Cold War, but gave us the force that won the Gulf War. A leader's responsibility is to understand that if he happens to hold the highest office of the land, there is an important responsibility with the office, so important in our lives to learn. It's become clear to America over the course of this campaign that I've made mistakes in my life. But I'm proud to tell you I've learned from those mistakes. (Cheers and applause) And that's the role of a leader, is to share wisdom, to share experience with people who are looking for somebody to lead.