Oct. 28, 1999
By
Katie Weeks
CyberCaucus 2000 News Service
Drake University
DES MOINES, Iowa--Three months before the 2000 presidential primary elections, Vice President Al Gore and former Sen. Bill Bradley have completed the first of a series of early face-to-face sessions leading into next year.
The stand off was framed as a "town meeting," at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire Oct. 27, and nationally televised on Cable News Network. Although both survived without major scratches, the dividing lines of each candidate's health care plans were exposed.
Bradley, whose plan would offer health insurance to 95 percent of Americans, said Gore's plan, which would only cover children, is too cautious for an age with such prosperity in the economy. But Gore shot back, saying Bradley's plan would "shred the social safety net" by using up all of the country's budget surplus.
Gore cited a study, claiming that Bradley's plan would cost $1.2 trillion over 10 years. Bradley contended, "We each have our own experts. I dispute the cost that Al has used."
Gore said his plan would cost $146 billion over 10 years and twice cited his support of a bill of rights for HMO patients.
Bradley said the 44 million uninsured Americans pose, "Éa big problem, and it needs a big solution to that problem."
Despite the clash on health care plans, the two candidates said they support campaign finance reform, helping inner-city schools, and equal rights for homosexuals.
Speaking about gays and lesbians, Gore said he favors legal protections for "domestic partnerships," but, "Énot the same sacrament, not the same name, because I favor protecting the institution of marriage as it has been understood between a man and a woman."
Bradley asked, "If a gay can serve in the White House, in the Congress, in the courts, in the Treasury Department and in the attorney general's office, why can't they serve openly in the U.S. military?" "It doesn't make sense," Bradley said.
A New York City teacher in the audience asked the question, "Is it going to be more military spending, or are we going to begin building smart kids instead of smart bombs?"
Bradley said he wanted to improve education in the way Franklin D. Roosevelt improved the economy in the 1930s. Bradley spoke of spirit, ingenuity and resources in general but gave no specific solutions.
Gore said he would focus more on "Étougher teacher testing, peer evaluation, more one-on-one teaching and more focus on the preschool years." He also spoke of $10,000 hiring bonuses for teachers and said adamantly that he did not support school vouchers.
Twice, Bradley was cornered into discussion of why he left the Senate in 1996, a time that was crucial for Democrats. But Bradley said that decision was a turning point for him. He said it was then that he developed a grassroots organization dedicated to campaign finance reform.
"I don't think I'd be running for president of the United States if I had not taken those three years, had I not been able to get out of the private sector, encounter people where they live on an everyday basis and develop a sense of where I want to take the country," Bradley said.
When asked about the "essence of leadership," Gore said he could not think of another position that demonstrates just that. "[The president] is the only person that can fight for all of the people," Gore said. "That's what I want to do."