Final Debate Is Bare-Knuckles

Candidates Clash More In Third Round

Kirk Enstrom
October 18, 2000, 4:12 p.m. EDT

ST. LOUIS -- The presidential candidates went head-to-head on the major issues in Tuesday night's debate, in the most aggressive showing for both candidates.

Jabs flew in the final debate Click quote for video clip

Gore: "(Bush) believes that we were better off eight years ago ..."

Bush: "You heard what I was for."

Gore: "Which one of those promises will you keep?"

Bush: "There's a lot of bickering in Washington, D.C."

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The concerns of real voters became the centerpiece of the town-meeting style debate at Washington University, with questions coming from a group of undecided voters. Many of the questions came on the issue of health care and the role of HMOs in the plans of of Democratic candidate Al Gore and his Republican rival George W. Bush.

Gore told the audience that he wanted a patients' bill of rights, saying that he differed from his opponent on the issue.

"Doctors are giving prescriptions, they recommend treatments and then their recommendations are being overruled by HMOs and insurance companies," Gore said. "That is unacceptable."

Bush said that he supported a patients' bill of rights and that he had signed one in Texas.

"The difference is that I can get it done," Bush said. "I can get something positive done on behalf of the people."

Gore is a supporter of the Dingell-Norwood bill, which Gore said would limit the power of HMOs and provide for patients' rights. Bush refused to say whether he would support that bill or another one being proposed that Gore said was more favorable to HMOs and drug companies.

"I talked about the principles and the issues that I think are important in a patients' bill of rights," Bush said. "If I'm the president, you'll have emergency room care, we won't have gag orders, there'll be direct access to your OBGYN."

Moderator Jim Lehrer said that the audience members proposed 19 questions about health care. Gore jumped on the issue, saying that Bush would not support bills that would decrease the power of drug companies.

One questioner asked Bush about his stance on the death penalty, saying that he appeared to be proud of the executions under his administration in Texas. Bush said that he was not proud of the executions, but he supported the death penalty.

"Those are some of the toughest moments since I've been (governor of) Texas," Bush said. "But when you're governor, you have to make those tough decisions.

"I'm proud that violent crime is down in the state of Texas. I'm proud that we've held people accountable."

The death penalty was one of the few issues both Gore and Bush agreed on. Gore said that he would rely on DNA evidence to help make sure the guilty party is punished.

Another prime concern of the audience members was education. Bush, as he has done in previous debates, pushed his policies as governor of Texas. He said that he wanted more local control of schools, with the federal government providing appropriate financing.

"The federal government puts up 6 percent of the money; they put up about 60 percent of the strings you have to get through," Bush said. "I'd worry about federalizing education if I were you."

Bush said that he favored teacher accountability and protecting teachers from malicious lawsuits.

Gore countered Bush's assessment that the federal government would take over too much of the educational system under his plan. Bringing up the tax cuts the two candidates have proposed, Gore said that he would have a smaller federal government while providing tax cuts to the middle class.

"The problem is that under Governor Bush's plan, he has a $1.6 trillion tax cut, mostly to the wealthy," Gore said. "He proposes spending more money for a tax cut just to the wealthiest 1 percent than all his extra spending on education, health care and the military combined."

While Bush said that he would cut taxes for the wealthy, he said that they would still share a higher burden for paying for education and other federal programs.

"The top 1 percent will end up paying one-third of the taxes in America and will get one-fifth of the benefits," Bush said. "I believe that the people who pay the bills ought to get some money back."

In response to a questioner who asked how the tax plans would help her, a 34-year-old, unmarried, middle-income woman with no children, Bush said that his policies would provide better benefits, rather than direct tax relief.

"Think about not the immediate, but, what about Medicare?" Bush said. "You need a plan that will give you options."

Gore attacked Bush's plan to eliminate the estate tax entirely. Gore supports a proposal to reduce the tax by 80 percent, which he claimed would be fair to more people.

"The vast majority of all family businesses would be completely exempt," Gore said.

Bush responded that the estate tax is inherently unfair.

"People shouldn't be taxed twice on their assets," he said. "It's either unfair for some or unfair for all."

Both candidates stressed their commitment to diversity, but differed on the semantics. Bush said he did not like quotas and preferred a system of "affirmative access" to provide more opportunities for minority-owned businesses.

"I want a diverse administration; I think it's important," Bush said. "Quotas are bad for America."

Gore said that the Clinton administration was the most diverse in history, and that he would continue to press for minority involvement. In a pointed exchange, Gore asked Bush if he was in favor of affirmative action. Bush responded that he was not in favor of it as Gore defined it.

Gore continued to press the issue, but Bush refused to comment, falling back on the debate rules, which limited direct exchanges between the two candidates.

Although a town-meeting format might be expected to focus on domestic issues, foreign affairs questions were raised in light of events in the Middle East in the past week. Bush, as he said he would before the debate, praised the Clinton administration's actions in getting a cease-fire in Israel that day.

Bush said that he wanted to build up the U.S. military.

"Spending money without a strategic plan can often be wasted," Bush said. "We need to make sure we're not spending our money on political projects, but spending to make sure our soldiers are well-paid and well-housed and have the best equipment in the world."

The candidates were challenged on their gun-rights views. Both said that they wouldn't take away rights from legitimate gun owners, with Gore calling for new measures, and Bush saying he would like to see existing laws enforced.

"We ought to enforce the laws on the books," Bush said. "Hold people accountable for breaking the law."

Gore said new, "common-sense" laws should be enacted to make neighborhoods safer.

The debate brought up issues that hadn't been raised in previous debates. One questioner asked about help for U.S. farmers. Gore pushed for better environmental and conservation programs and bringing high-tech infrastructure to rural areas.

"Many here not involved in farming don't follow this, so forgive me. The 2 percent that do are important," Gore said. "You guys have been having a hard time, and I want to fight for you."

Bush said that opening up international markets would help American farmers, whom he called "the best in the world."

Gore seemed to be more aggressive during Tuesday's debate than in previous debates. He often asked Lehrer for time to refute statements made by Bush.

"All right, here we go again. If you want someone to spin a lot of convoluted words about a complicated (health) system … (Bush) is your man," Gore said. "If you want someone who will fight for you and fight for the working men and women of the United States … then I want to fight for you."

The night began in silence, a moment of tribute to Gov. Mel Carnahan of Missouri, killed in an airplane crash the night before as he campaigned for Senate.

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