December 14, 1999
By
Kari Linder
CyberCaucus 2000 News Service
Drake University
DES MOINES, IOWA--Arizona Sen. John McCain and Texas Gov. George W. Bush clashed over the issue of ethanol tax breaks during Monday night's Republican debate--the first in Iowa.
This clash--along with ones about tax cuts, campaign finance reform and the admittance of China into the World Trade Organization--came in a 90-minute debate among the six Republican presidential candidates at the Des Moines Civic Center. The nationally televised debate was sponsored by WHO-TV and MSNBC.
Through his lack of support for ethanol, a fuel made from corn that benefits Iowa's farm economy, McCain, who has not campaigned in Iowa, made it clear he would take a stand for his issues. This was true whether or not the issues favored Iowa--making him look as if he was trying to appeal to his New Hampshire supporters more than gain the support of Iowans.
"I'm here to tell you that I'm going to tell you the things that you don't want to hear, as well as the things you want to hear, and one of those is ethanol," McCain said. "Ethanol is not worth it. It does not help the consumer."
"Those ethanol subsidies should be phased out, and everybody here on this stage, if it wasn't for the fact that Iowa is the first caucus state, would share my view that we don't need ethanol subsidies. It doesn't help anybody," McCain said.
Bush and Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch expressed their support for ethanol and other resources that would benefit the environment.
"I can tell you it's crazy for us not to do everything we can to develop renewable resources that help farmers and that help everybody," Hatch said.
Bush stressed his support for ethanol, adding that it lowers dependence on foreign oil.
Publisher Steve Forbes stood on safe ground with the issue, saying he'd give ethanol the test until 2007.
"When this current program expires, if it can't stand on its own two feet, then it ought to go," Forbes said.
In another confrontation between Bush and McCain, the senator asked Bush to commit to stop accepting "soft money" donations from special interest groups. Bush refused, saying the Republican Party would be hurt if McCain's suggestion was accepted.
Candidate Alan Keyes entered into the campaign finance reform debate, saying that just as the government has no right to restrict free speech, the government also has no right to restrict donations or the use of money.
Bush was confronted by candidate Gary Bauer, who asked the Texas governor to pledge to appoint an anti-abortion running mate if he were to win the nomination. Bush declined. Bauer said he would make such a choice.
Bush replied, "I think it's incredibly presumptive for someone who has yet to earn his party's nomination to be picking vice presidents. I'll tell you what I will do. I'll name somebody who can be president. That ought to be the main criteria for any one of us who has the opportunity to pick a vice president, Gary."
Hatch brought up another heated issue, asking about the admittance of China into the World Trade Organization. Hatch said China should be admitted so it has to live up to the norms of the rest of the world, adding if we were to isolate China, it would withdraw.
Disagreeing with Hatch, Bauer exchanged words once more with Bush on this subject.
"Opening up Chinese markets is good for Iowa farmers," Bush said.
He added that admittance to the WTO would ensure that China would keep trade agreements.
"You believe the Chinese government will keep its agreements," Bauer shot back. "They haven't kept their agreements for 20 years."
Saying that every country should be open to American products, McCain was in agreement with Bush on this issue. "The people in Beijing and Bangkok and Paris will be eating Iowa pork, and they will love every minute of it when I'm president of the United States," McCain replied.
This was an important debate prior to the Jan. 24 Iowa caucuses. Although Bush leads in most polls, McCain holds strong ground in some polls, especially in New Hampshire--the site of the first primary, one week after the Iowa caucuses.
Even after his heavy criticism aimed at Iowa's ethanol development and with no plans to campaign further in Iowa, McCain made his final plea of the night to the Iowa Republican voters.
"I will be on the ballot," McCain said. "I hope that a hearty band of brave souls will go out and vote for me."