Borg: IOWA DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL PREFERENCE CAUCUS PROMISES TO BE A CLOSER CONTEST THAN MANY EXPECTED. WE'LL DISCUSS THE CAMPAIGN WITH THE DEMOCRATIC FRONT-RUNNER, VICE PRESIDENT AL GORE ON THIS EDITION OF IOWA PRESS.
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THIS IS THE SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 14th EDITION OF IOWA PRESS. HERE IS DEAN BORG.
Borg: A LITTLE MORE THAN TWO MONTHS NOW REMAIN UNTIL THE IOWA CAUCUSES OF 2000. PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES FROM BOTH MAJOR POLITICAL PARTIES ARE SPENDING A LOT OF TIME AND A LOT OF MONEY IN IOWA, ANTICIPATING IN THE JANUARY 24th INDICATION OF WHO THE POLITICAL PARTIES WILL CHOOSE TO BE THEIR PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEES. AND THAT INCLUDES OUR GUEST TODAY, VICE PRESIDENT AL GORE, WHO BEGAN HIS RUN FOR THE WHITE HOUSE AS THE ODDS-ON FAVORITE TO CAPTURE THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION. TODAY WITH A DECISIVE EDGE IN THE POLLS AND IN ORGANIZATIONAL STRENGTH, MR. GORE CONTINUES AS THE HEAVY FAVORITE. BUT THERE ARE FOOTSTEPS TO BE HEARD. SPECIFICALLY, THOSE OF FORMER SENATOR BILL BRADLEY, WHO HAS DEMONSTRATED THAT IT IS A TWO-MAN RACE. VICE PRESIDENT GORE, WELCOME BACK TO IOWA PRESS.
Gore: GREAT TO BE BACK, THANK YOU.
Borg: NICE TO HAVE YOU. ALSO WITH US REPORTERS DAVID YEPSEN OF THE DES MOINES REGISTER AND MIKE GLOVER OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS.
Glover: MR. VICE PRESIDENT, WE SHOULD POINT OUT THAT WE'RE TAPING THIS ON VETERANS DAY, AND YOU'RE USING THAT PLATFORM TO ARGUE FOR AN INCREASE IN MILITARY SPENDING. WHAT'S WRONG WITH SENATOR BRADLEY'S ARGUMENT THAT THE MILITARY IS GETTING ENOUGH MONEY RIGHT NOW AND OUGHT TO LIVE WITHIN ITS MEANS?
Gore: WELL, THE SPEECH THAT I MADE TODAY, VETERANS DAY, WAS NOT FOR AN INCREASE IN MILITARY SPENDING BUT AN INCREASE IN DIPLOMACY, TO PAY OUR U.N. DUES, TO RATIFY THE COMPREHENSIVE TEST-BAN TREATY, TO INVEST IN OUR FOREIGN POLICY STRATEGY THAT CAN HELP TO PREVENT CONFLICT AND AVOID THE NECESSITY FOR GETTING INVOLVED IN THE CONFLICT. NOW, WHEN WE ARE INVOLVED IN A CONFLICT, WHEN DIPLOMACY FAILS, AS IT SOMETIMES DOES, I FAVOR A STRONG NATIONAL DEFENSE. BUT I THINK IT'S OBVIOUS THAT WE HAVE TO ADJUST TO THE POST-COLD-WAR WORLD, AND FOCUS ON THE NEW THREATS WE FACE, SUCH AS, TERRORISM, THE PROLIFERATION OF NUCLEAR, CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS. AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT. BUT IN THE AFTERMATH OF WORLD WAR II, MIKE, THE VETERANS WHO CAME HOME SUPPORTED PRESIDENT TRUMAN AND SECRETARY GEORGE MARSHALL, REPUBLICAN SENATOR ARTHUR VANDENBURG, IN A VERY VISIONARY FOREIGN POLICY THAT EMPHASIZED DIPLOMACY, AND THE MARSHALL PLAN, AND THE CREATION OF NATO, AND WORKING WITH OUR ALLIES. WHAT WE'VE GOT NOW IS A CONSENSUS, A PRETTY STRONG CONSENSUS, ON MAKING SURE WE HAVE AN ADEQUATE NATIONAL DEFENSE. BUT WE HAVE SEEN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY TAKE STEPS THAT ARE REALLY INCONSISTENT WITH THE NEED OF OUR COUNTRY TO HAVE A STRONG CONSENSUS ON DIPLOMACY. WHY SHOULDN'T WE PAY OUR U.N. DUES? WHY SHOULD WE BEHAVE LIKE A DEADBEAT NATION? IT'S RIDICULOUS. WHY SHOULDN'T WE RATIFY THE COMPREHENSIVE TEST-BAN TREATY? WE WROTE IT IN THE U.S. WE PERSUADED 154 OTHER NATIONS TO SIGN IT. THEY DIDN'T EVEN HAVE HEARINGS ON IT. IT WAS REALLY BREATHTAKINGLY RECKLESS.
Glover: LET'S STEP BACK THEN. IS THERE A NEED FOR AN INCREASE IN DEFENSE SPENDING AND, IF SO, WHAT PERCENTAGE?
Gore: I THINK THAT THE READINESS ACCOUNTS, AND THE MODERNIZATION EFFORT, IS ONE THAT NEEDS ATTENTION. BUT I THINK THAT THERE'S ALSO AN AWFUL LOT OF UNJUSTIFIED PORK IN THE BUDGET THAT NEEDS TO BE CUT OUT. THERE ARE WEAPON SYSTEMS AND PLANES AND SHIPS THAT THE PENTAGON HAS SAID IT DOESN'T NEED AND DOESN'T WANT, BUT SOME MEMBERS OF CONGRESS HAVE FORCED THE PENTAGON TO ACCEPT THEM INTO THE BUDGET. AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A SHIP IN -- MADE IN SENATOR LOTT'S HOME STATE -- THAT NOBODY WANTS, NOBODY NEEDS, BUT WE'RE SPENDING A HUGE SUM OF MONEY, IF HE GETS HIS WAY, JUST FOR PURELY POLITICAL REASONS. I THINK THAT STUFF OUGHT TO BE CUT OUT OF THE DEFENSE BUDGET ENTIRELY.
Yepsen: WELL, MR. VICE PRESIDENT, IF WE HAVE THESE REPORTS, AS YOU'VE ACKNOWLEDGED, THAT U.S. MILITARY READINESS IS LACKING IN SOME INSTANCES, NAVY DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH SHIPS, -- YOU'VE HEARD THESE CRITICISMS -- WHAT DOES THAT SAY ABOUT THE STEWARDSHIP OF OUR NATION'S MILITARY? WHAT DOES THAT SAY ABOUT THE STEWARDSHIP THAT YOU AND PRESIDENT CLINTON HAVE DONE WITH OUR NATION'S MILITARY THAT WE HAVE THESE CRITICISMS TODAY THAT WE'RE WEAK, THAT WE HAVE SOLDIERS ON FOOD STAMPS, AND ALL THIS SORT OF THING?
Gore: WELL, WE'RE NOT WEAK. WE'RE THE STRONGEST NATION ON EARTH. AND THE DISPARITY BETWEEN OUR MILITARY STRENGTH AND THAT OF ANY OTHER NATION IN THE WORLD HAS GROWN, NOT NARROWED. AND AS FOR SOLDIERS' PAY, YES, WE'VE SUPPORTED AN INCREASE IN SOLDIERS' PAY, SAILORS AND AIRMEN, AND WE JUST GOT PASSED THE LARGEST INCREASE IN MILITARY PAY, ESPECIALLY FOR ENLISTED PERSONNEL, IN FIFTEEN YEARS. SO THAT'S BEING ADDRESSED. NOW THE READINESS CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE FACED HAVE COME, IN PART, BECAUSE OF THE QUICK ROTATIONS FOR THE EFFORTS THAT WE'VE MADE IN BOSNIA AND KOSOVO, WHICH HAVE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL AND ARE STRONGLY SUPPORTED BY AMERICANS ACROSS THE SPECTRUM. WE'VE HELPED TO BRING PEACE TO THOSE AREAS. AND THOSE ARE AREAS OF THE WORLD WHERE, IN THE PAST -- YOU KNOW, WORLD WAR I STARTED RIGHT IN THAT AREA. IT'S WHERE DIFFERENT POLITICAL SYSTEMS AND RELIGIOUS SYSTEMS ALL CONVERGE, AND IF IT'S UNSTABLE IN THE BALKANS, THEN THAT HAS THE POTENTIAL FOR WHAT HAPPENED IN WORLD WAR I, WHERE EVENTUALLY WE WERE DRAWN IN. SO AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION REALLY IS WORTH A POUND OF CURE.
Yepsen: AND IN YOUR MIND, THE NATION'S DEFENSE POSTURE IS SOUND AND AMERICANS OUGHT NOT TO WORRY ABOUT THESE VENUES.
Gore: YEA. OH, SURE, BUT, I THINK FINE-TUNING IS NEEDED, AND I THINK THAT WE NEED TO MODERNIZE IT IN SOME AREAS. I THINK WE NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO READINESS. YES. BUT I AM OPPOSED TO THE KINDS OF INCREASES THAT THE REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN ARGUING FOR. I THINK THAT'S ENTIRELY UNJUSTIFIED.
Glover: IN THE NOT-TOO-DISTANT FUTURE, YOU'RE SCHEDULED TO TRAVEL THE WEST COAST IN A VISIT TO MICROSOFT CORPORATION. WHAT SORT OF A SIGNAL SHOULD THAT SEND ABOUT A PRESIDENT AL GORE'S ENFORCEMENT OF THE ANTITRUST LAWS AGAINST THAT COMPANY?
Gore: NONE, NONE. I STRONGLY SUPPORT VIGOROUS ENFORCEMENT OF THE ANTITRUST LAWS. I DO NOT COMMENT ON SPECIFIC CASES. MICROSOFT IS THE LARGEST EMPLOYER IN THE STATE OF WASHINGTON. EVERY PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE IN BOTH POLITICAL PARTIES HAS SPOKEN TO THE EMPLOYEES OF MICROSOFT. I'M NOT GOING TO MEET WITH THE EXECUTIVES. I'M NOT GOING TO HAVE ANY DISCUSSIONS OF THE CASE. OBVIOUSLY, I'D NEVER DO THAT BUT IN TERMS OF DOING WHAT EVERY OTHER CANDIDATE HAS DONE AND THAT IS MEETING WITH THE EMPLOYEES OF THE LARGEST EMPLOYER -- I'VE MET WITH THE BOEING EMPLOYEES. THIS WAS SCHEDULED LONG BEFORE THE COURT ACTION OCCURRED AND WAS ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE, I DON'T KNOW, A MONTH AGO OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, AND HAD TO BE RESCHEDULED BECAUSE OF A CONFLICT THAT THEY HAD ON THE TIME ON IT. AND SO, NO, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING SHOULD BE READ INTO THAT. I'M A STRONG SUPPORTER OF THE ANTITRUST LAWS. AND WHILE I DON'T COMMENT ON INDIVIDUAL CASES, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I THINK THE TREND TOWARD CONCENTRATION IN SOME AREAS -- AND I HAVE AGRICULTURE ESPECIALLY IN MIND -- HAS BEEN VERY TROUBLING. AND I THINK WE NEED TO BE VIGOROUS IN ENFORCING THE ANTITRUST LAWS.
Yepsen: WE WANT TO GET TO THE AG THING IN A MINUTE BUT, FIRST, BEFORE THAT, ANOTHER EDGE IN THE NEWS ISSUE INVOLVES NAOMI WOLFE. YOU'RE CATCHING A LOT OF GRIEF FOR HAVING HIRED THIS FEMINIST CONSULTANT AT $15,000 A MONTH, AND NOW IT'S 5, TO GIVE YOU ADVICE. WHAT DO YOU SAY ABOUT THAT? WHAT'S YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT?
Gore: SHE'S A VALUED ADVISOR AND SHE'LL REMAIN ONE.
Yepsen: DESPITE THE CRITICISM?
Gore: WELL, I'VE ALWAYS REACHED OUT FOR A DIVERSITY OF ADVICE, AND IF SOMEBODY HAS VIEWS THAT ARE CONTROVERSIAL ON SOMETHING THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT HE OR SHE IS ADVISING ME ON, THEN I'M -- YOU KNOW, I GUESS THAT'S THE COST YOU PAY FOR REACHING OUT FOR DIVERSE OPINIONS. BUT I'M -- YOU KNOW, I VALUE HER ADVICE AND SHE'S ONE OF MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE ON THE CAMPAIGN TEAM WHO ARE HELPING US WITH THE CAMPAIGN.
Borg: I'D LIKE TO BROADEN THE PERSPECTIVE HERE. YOU'VE LEAD US INTO THAT. WHY ARE YOU THE BEST PRESIDENT -- THE BEST CANDIDATE FOR THE DEMOCRATS TO CHOOSE TO NOMINATE?
Gore: I WAS GOING WITH THAT SLIP OF THE TONGUE THERE FOR A MINUTE. I'M -- I WANT TO FIGHT FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, AND I HAVE A 23-YEAR RECORD OF EXPERIENCE IN WINNING FIGHTS FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. I HAVE A VERY STRONG FEELING IN MY HEART ABOUT THE WAY THIS COUNTRY IS SUPPOSED TO BE. AND THE WAY IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE, FARMERS AREN'T GOING BROKE, AND PARENTS ARE NOT STRUGGLING TO BALANCE WORK AND FAMILY AND FEELING EXHAUSTED AT THE END OF THE DAY, AND THE ENVIRONMENT'S NOT BEING POLLUTED. PEOPLE DON'T LIVE IN COMMUNITIES WHERE THE ODORS IN THE AIR ARE SO HORRIBLE THAT THEY FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE TO CONSIDER SELLING THEIR HOMES, AND THE WATER ISN'T POLLUTED. AND I KNOW FROM MY EXPERIENCE HOW A LEADER CAN BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER TO CREATE THE NATION WE DREAM ABOUT. THIS IS THE GREATEST NATION ON THE FACE OF THIS EARTH, BUT WE'RE ONLY BEGINNING TO REALLY IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE THE WAY WE SHOULD, AND WE'VE GOT MANY CHALLENGES. I FEEL LIKE I KNOW A LOT ABOUT HOW WE CAN SUCCESSFULLY CONFRONT THOSE CHALLENGES. I WANT -- WE'RE GOING THROUGH A LOT OF CHANGES, AND THAT GOES WITH THE TIMES THAT WE'RE LIVING IN. I WANT TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES WORK FOR US INSTEAD OF AGAINST US. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP OUR PROSPERITY GOING AND I KNOW -- I FEEL LIKE I KNOW A LOT ABOUT HOW TO HAVE FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND SIMULTANEOUSLY INVEST IN THE FUTURE. I DON'T WANT TO RISK OUR PROSPERITY. I WANT TO CONTINUE IT, ACCELERATE IT, MAKE SURE NOBODY IS LEFT BEHIND, AND USE IT AS THE FOUNDATION FOR SWEEPING CHANGES, LIKE BRINGING REVOLUTIONARY IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Glover: IF WE COULD STEP BACK FOR A SECOND AND TAKE A LOOK AT THE POLITICS OF THE MOMENT, GIVE US A STATUS REPORT ON THIS CAMPAIGN. THERE ARE SOME WHO SUGGEST THAT YOU'VE STABILIZED YOUR CAMPAIGN AND HAVE BEGUN TO PULL AWAY AND RIGHT THE SHIP AGAINST SENATOR BRADLEY. WHAT'S THE STATUS OF THAT RACE?
Gore: WELL, I THINK IF THIS CAMPAIGN 2000, ON BOTH THE DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN SIDE, WERE A BOOK, WE WOULD JUST BE FINISHING THE INTRODUCTION, AND WE'D BE TURNING THE PAGE TO BEGIN CHAPTER ONE. I THINK MOST PEOPLE ARE JUST NOW DIGGING IN TO WHAT THEY FEEL ABOUT THESE CANDIDATES, AND THE DIALOGUE ABOUT OUR FUTURE, AND I THINK THAT'S AS IT SHOULD BE. AND, OF COURSE, THE PEOPLE OF IOWA PLAY A KEY ROLE, OBVIOUSLY, AND I'D LIKE TO TAKE THIS CHANCE TO EXPRESS GRATITUDE FOR THE RECEPTION I'VE HAD, FOR THE TRULY MEANINGFUL DIALOGUE THAT I'VE HAD WITH THE PEOPLE OF IOWA. JUST HAD AN OPEN MEETING AT THE ISAAC WALTON CENTER NEAR HERE, AND IT WAS JUST TERRIFIC. AND I'M ENJOYING THESE KINDS OF CONVERSATIONS ALL OVER THE STATE. NOW, I THINK WHERE MY CAMPAIGN, IN PARTICULAR, IS CONCERNED, WHICH I GUESS YOU'RE KIND OF ASKING ABOUT HERE, I THINK STARTING A COUPLE MONTHS AGO -- I STARTED TO SAY COUPLE OR THREE MONTHS AGO -- I BEGAN TO CONNECT WITH THE GROUPS I WAS MEETING WITH, AND THE INDIVIDUALS I WAS MEETING WITH, IN A NEW WAY. IT STARTED OUT, I THINK, 'ROUND ABOUT THE TIME I STARTED SPENDING THE NIGHT WITH FARM FAMILIES IN IOWA AND IN THE SMALL TOWNS WITH FAMILIES HERE, AND REALLY IMMERSING MYSELF IN THE -- WHAT YOU MIGHT CALL THE MUSIC OF CAMPAIGN 2000. AND REALLY HEARING, NOT JUST WITH MY EARS BUT WITH MY HEART, WHAT PEOPLE ARE DREAMING ABOUT, WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE HAPPEN IN THIS COUNTRY. AND WHEN I STARTED CONNECTING IN A NEW WAY, I WENT THROUGH SOME CHANGES, MIKE. ONE OF THEM WAS THIS -- INSTEAD OF THINKING LIKE A VICE PRESIDENT, WHICH MEANS THINKING HOW AM I GOING TO ADVANCE THE ADMINISTRATION'S GOALS AND HELP THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION, I STARTED THINKING LIKE SOMEONE WHO IS ASKING THE PEOPLE FOR THEIR IDEAS ON HOW TO MAKE THIS A BETTER COUNTRY AND THEN RESPONDING SPONTANEOUSLY FROM THE HEART ABOUT WHATEVER THEY'RE WANTING TO TALK ABOUT. AND ONCE THAT HAPPENED, THEN I SAID, HEY, I GOTTA MOVE MY CAMPAIGN OUT OF WASHINGTON AND MOVE IT TO NASHVILLE. WE CUT THE CAMPAIGN STAFF 50 PERCENT. I STARTED HAVING THESE OPEN MEETINGS. I CHALLENGED BILL BRADLEY TO A DIFFERENT DEBATE EVERY SINGLE WEEK ON DIFFERENT ISSUES. HE STILL HASN'T ACCEPTED, INCIDENTALLY. AND I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO FORMALLY CHALLENGE BILL BRADLEY TO COME TO THIS PROGRAM AND DEBATE ME, RIGHT HERE THIS YEAR, ON AGRICULTURE. OR IF SOME OTHER TOPIC MIGHT CONVINCE HIM TO ACCEPT THIS DEBATE, LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT. BUT I'D LIKE TO SEE AGRICULTURE BE A MAJOR PART OF THIS CAMPAIGN. AND SINCE FARMERS ARE HURTING, AND IOWA IS THE FIRST IN THE NATION, AND WE'VE ONLY GOT TWO CANDIDATES ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE, WHAT IS THE POSSIBLE JUSTIFICATION FOR HIM REFUSING TO DEBATE ME ON AGRICULTURE HERE IN IOWA?
Yepsen: MR. VICE PRESIDENT, ONE THING THAT, WHEN I TALKED TO BRADLEY PEOPLE, THAT KEEPS COMING UP ALL THE TIME IS THAT THEY'RE WORRIED THAT YOU'RE NOT ELECTABLE. THEY SAY THINGS LIKE, YOU KNOW, WE LIKE AL GORE, HE'S A NICE GUY, BUT WE'RE JUST NOT SURE HE CAN WIN. SOME OF THEM POINT TO POLLS. THEY'RE JUST CONCERNED THAT YOU COULDN'T BEAT THE REPUBLICAN IN THE FALL. SO WHAT DO YOU SAY TO A CAUCUS-GOING DEMOCRAT WHO WANTS TO KEEP THE WHITE HOUSE ABOUT WHY YOU OUGHT TO BE THE DEMOCRATS' HORSE?
Gore: WELL, THEY SAID THAT ABOUT JOHN KENNEDY IN 1960, AND REPUBLICANS SAID THAT ABOUT RONALD REAGAN IN 1980. AND THE IDEA THAT A CANDIDATE IN THE PRIMARIES IS UNELECTABLE IN THE FALL IS JUST ABOUT THE OLDEST SHOP-WORN CAMPAIGN SAW IN THE BOOK. AND THE REASON'S VERY SIMPLE, DAVE -- THE PUNDITS AND THE POLLSTERS DON'T PICK THE NEXT PRESIDENT, THE PEOPLE DO. AND WHAT CAMPAIGNS ARE ALL ABOUT IS THE DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE CANDIDATES AND THE PEOPLE. AND YOU KNOW WHAT? IT'S ALSO A LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR CANDIDATES. AND IF IT'S DONE CORRECTLY, IT'S A GROWTH EXPERIENCE FOR CANDIDATES. AND IF THE PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO TELL YOU WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW AND IF YOU'RE LISTENING WITH YOUR HEART, YOU CAN REALLY LEARN A LOT. AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW, I'VE BEEN LEARNING A LOT AND I HAVE REALLY BEEN ENJOYING IT. SIX MONTHS AGO, IF I TOLD YOU I WAS ENJOYING IT, I'M NOT SURE THAT I REALLY WAS THAT MUCH. WHEN I TELL YOU I'M ENJOYING IT NOW, YOU BELIEVE IT. I'M HAVING A GREAT TIME OUT HERE.
Glover: HAS THIS CONTEST FORCED YOU TO MOVE TO THE LEFT?
Gore: NO. IN FACT, I HAVE BEEN VERY CAREFUL TO FIT EVERY PROPOSAL I'VE MADE WITHIN A BALANCED BUDGET. AND YOU CAN FIND MY PROPOSALS WITHIN A BALANCED BUDGET ON THE INTERNET AT ALGORE2000.COM. IN CASE YOU DIDN'T HEAR THAT LET ME REPEAT THAT... ALGORE2000.COM.
Glover: DO YOU HAVE A MONEY PROBLEM?
Gore: NO, I DON'T.
Glover: THE LEADING REPUBLICAN HAS RAISED A TON OF MONEY. ONE OF THE REPUBLICANS HAS GOT A TON OF MONEY OF HIS OWN. DO YOU RISK ENDING THE PRIMARY PROCESS BROKE AND VULNERABLE?
Gore: NO, FIRST OF ALL, OUR EXPENSES WERE WAY TOO HIGH IN THE FIRST PART OF THE CAMPAIGN. AND WHEN I MOVED THE CAMPAIGN TO NASHVILLE, THAT WAS MORE THAN A SYMBOLIC SHIFT. IT WAS REALLY A COMPLETE CHANGE IN THE CULTURE. THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO'VE PULLED UP THEIR STAKES AND MOVED THEIR FAMILIES TO NASHVILLE, WERE THOSE WHO WERE COMMITTED HEART AND SOUL TO THE SINGLE-MINDED PURPOSE OF WINNING THIS CAMPAIGN. AND THAT'S RESULTED IN A 50-PERCENT CUT IN THE CAMPAIGN STAFF. WE HAVE -- WE'VE REALLY CUT WAY BACK ON EXPENSES. BUT BEYOND ALL THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE IS A BUILT-IN REACTION ON THE PART OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ANY TIME THEY SENSE SOMEBODY IS TRYING TO BUY THE PRESIDENCY.
Borg: A MOMENT AGO YOU COMMENTED ON THIS STYLE THAT CHANGED ABOUT SIX WEEKS AGO OR SIX MONTHS AGO.
Gore: YEAH, I DON'T THINK I USED THE WORD STYLE BUT --
Borg: NO, YOU DIDN'T, BUT I INTERPRETED IT AS STYLE: NOT CAMPAIGNING AS THE VICE PRESIDENT ANY LONGER, BUT AS AL GORE. PHILOSOPHICALLY, HOW DO YOU DISTANCE YOURSELF FROM THE VICE PRESIDENCY AND THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION?
Gore: WELL, IT'S NOT ABOUT -- IT'S NOT ABOUT DISTANCING. I'LL TELL YOU EXACTLY WHAT IT'S ABOUT. IT'S ABOUT PRIORITIES. AND FOR ME, IF YOU ASKED ME A QUESTION ON THIS PROGRAM SIX MONTHS AGO, WITHOUT EVEN REALIZING THAT I WAS DOING IT, I THINK THAT I WOULD HAVE SPENT A SPLIT SECOND THINKING TO MYSELF, OKAY, HOW'S THIS GOING TO HELP THE ADMINISTRATION THAT I'M A PART OF NOW. BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN THIS ADMINISTRATION. I'M REALLY PROUD OF WHAT WE'VE DONE. I THINK WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED A GREAT DEAL. AND THE EFFORT TO RECONCILE ALWAYS THE SPONTANEOUS RESPONSE WITH WHAT THE MESSAGE OF THE DAY, OR THE PRIORITIES OF THE MONTH, OR THE GOALS FOR THE ADMINISTRATION WERE, IS HONORABLE, AND THAT'S WHAT A VICE PRESIDENT SHOULD DO. AND IT'S BEEN A GREAT PRIVILEGE TO SERVE AS VICE PRESIDENT FOR A VERY FULL SEVEN YEARS. BUT THE SHIFT IN PRIORITIES THAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, IN PERSONAL TERMS, HAD TO DO WITH ELIMINATING THAT STEP. AND INSTEAD WHEN YOU ASK ME A QUESTION, WITHOUT HESITATION, I TELL YOU EXACTLY WHAT'S IN MY HEART SPONTANEOUSLY, HERE'S WHAT I FEEL ABOUT IT. AND IF THAT CONFLICTS WITH WHAT THE ADMINISTRATION'S PRIORITIES ARE, I DON'T WANT IT TO, BUT IF IT DOES, SO BE IT.
Yepsen: HELP THE CAUCUS-GOER OUT. WHAT ARE YOUR BIGGEST DIFFERENCES WITH BILL BRADLEY?
Gore: OH, THERE ARE QUITE A FEW OF THEM, BUT I'D LIKE TO PREFACE --
Yepsen: GIVE US MAYBE ONE OF THEM, THEN, THE BIGGEST ONE THAT YOU FEEL YOU HAVE.
Gore: SURE, SURE, BUT LET ME PREFACE IT BY SAYING THAT I GENUINELY LIKE BILL BRADLEY. I RESPECT BILL BRADLEY. IT'S AN HONOR TO BE A PART OF A RACE WHERE THE TWO OF US HAVE A CHANCE TO DEBATE THE ISSUES. I HOPE THAT HE WILL DECIDE TO DEBATE. AND MY DIFFERENCES ARE NOT IN ANY WAY PERSONAL. I WILL NEVER LAUNCH A NEGATIVE PERSONAL ATTACK ON HIM. BUT ON THE ISSUES WE HAVE A LOT OF PROFOUND DIFFERENCES. FIRST OF ALL, HE VOTED IN THE SENATE TO SUPPORT A MEASURE THAT WOULD RAISE THE RETIREMENT AGE FOR SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE FROM 65 TO 70. HE HAS PUT OUT A HEALTH CARE PROPOSAL THAT WOULD ELIMINATE MEDICAID ON WHICH 40 MILLION, MOSTLY LOWER INCOME AND DISABLED AMERICANS, RELY HEAVILY. HE WOULD UNDERMINE MEDICARE BY NOT SAVING ONE PENNY IN ORDER TO STABILIZE AND FIX MEDICARE. HE HAS SUPPORTED VOUCHERS FOR PUBLIC TO TAKE MONEY AWAY FROM PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR PRIVATE SCHOOLS. AND HE DIDN'T JUST SUPPORT SOME EXPERIMENTAL VOTE. FOR 18 YEARS, FROM THE FIRST TIME HE STARTED RUNNING FOR THE SENATE UNTIL THE LAST YEAR HE WAS IN THE SENATE, EVERY SINGLE TIME VOUCHERS CAME UP FOR A VOTE, HE SUPPORTED VOUCHERS. HE WAS -- HE HAS BEEN OPPOSED TO THE ETHANOL PROGRAM FOR 18 YEARS IN THE SENATE. HE SUPPORTED THE CONTRAS, WHICH I THINK WAS A MISTAKEN APPROACH TO OUR FOREIGN POLICY IN LATIN AMERICA. THESE ARE THE KINDS OF PROPOSALS THAT I THINK REALLY WOULD NOT HELP THIS COUNTRY IN THE CASE OF ELIMINATING MEDICAID, FOR EXAMPLE -- OR RAISING THE RETIREMENT AGE TO SEVENTY, I THINK, WOULD BE CONTRARY TO BASIC DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES.
Glover: ON HEALTH CARE, IF YOU LOOK AT THAT FOR A MOMENT, SENATOR BRADLEY SAYS THAT YOUR PROPOSAL ON HEALTH CARE IS TOO TIMID; HIS COVERS MORE PEOPLE, IS BROADER, MORE AGGRESSIVE. AND HE HAS ASKED THE QUESTION, IF NOT NOW, WHEN. IF NOT IN A TIME OF A BOOMING ECONOMY, WHEN SHOULD WE MOVE TO UNIVERSAL COVERAGE?
Gore: THE PROPOSAL FOR HEALTH CARE THAT I HAVE MADE, MIKE, IS THE BOLDEST NEW HEALTH CARE INITIATIVE SINCE THE PASSAGE OF MEDICARE AND MEDICAID. IT IS A HUGE NEW INITIATIVE, OVER $300 BILLION OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS, WHICH WILL DO THE FOLLOWING: IT WILL GIVE FULL ACCESS TO FULLY-AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE TO EVERY SINGLE CHILD IN AMERICA, AND TO THE PARENTS OF THOSE CHILDREN WHEN THE FAMILY INCOME IS UP TO 250 PERCENT OF THE POVERTY RATE. IT WILL GIVE INDIVIDUALS WHO DON'T GET INSURANCE AT WORK, AND SMALL BUSINESSES WHO WANT TO INSURE THEIR EMPLOYEES, A 25 PERCENT TAX CREDIT AND SPECIAL ADVANTAGES IN BUYING HEALTH INSURANCE THAT THEY HAVEN'T HAD IN THE PAST. IT INCLUDES A COMPREHENSIVE WAR AGAINST CANCER THAT QUINTUPLES THE NUMBER OF CLINICAL TRIALS, MULTIPLIES IT BY FIVE, DOUBLES THE RESEARCH FUNDING TO FIND CURES FOR DISEASES LIKE CANCER AND HIV/AIDS. THIS IS THE BOLDEST PROPOSAL THAT WE'VE HAD IN A GENERATION, BUT IT'S AFFORDABLE AND FITS WITHIN A BALANCED BUDGET, AND IT DOESN'T UNDERMINE MEDICARE, MUCH LESS DESTROY MEDICAID. HERE'S THE SIMPLE FACT: YOU CANNOT FIX OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM BY ELIMINATING MEDICAID AND UNDERMINING MEDICARE.
Yepsen: MR. VICE PRESIDENT, ANOTHER ISSUE OF CONCERN TO A LOT OF AMERICANS IS SOCIAL SECURITY. HOW WOULD PRESIDENT AL GORE KEEP SOCIAL SECURITY SOUND?
Gore: WELL, FIRST OF ALL IN MY BUDGET PLAN, DO YOU REMEMBER THAT WEBSITE DESIGNATION?
Yepsen: IS THIS A QUIZ?
Gore: YEAH, POP QUIZ. ALGORE2000.COM IS THE ANSWER. I HAVE SET ASIDE $1.8 TRILLION IN THE UNIFIED SURPLUS OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS FOR STABILIZING, ENHANCING, AND STRENGTHENING SOCIAL SECURITY. NOW, THERE IS A DEBATE ON RAISING THE RETIREMENT AGE, AND THERE IS A STRONG OPINION AMONG SOME OF THE ELITE GROUPS THAT SAYS SINCE THE LIFE SPAN IS INCREASING -- AND, OF COURSE, IOWA HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST AVERAGE AGES OF ALL -- THAT BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE LIVING LONGER, WE SHOULD CONSIDER RAISING THE RETIREMENT AGE. HERE'S THE FLAW WITH THAT. SOMEBODY WHO'S A STEEL WORKER OR A WAITRESS WORKING IN A TRADE, WORKING IN A HARD JOB THAT TAKES A TOLL ON THE BONES AND THE MUSCLES, WHEN THAT PERSON REACHES THE AGE OF 65, I DON'T CARE WHAT THEIR AVERAGE LIFE SPAN IS, OR WHETHER OR NOT IT'S INCREASED, THEY'RE READY TO RETIRE. AND SENATOR BRADLEY VOTED TO SUPPORT A MEASURE THAT WOULD HAVE INCREASED THE RETIREMENT AGE TO 70. I THINK THAT WE CAN FIX SOCIAL SECURITY, AND STABILIZE IT TO WELL IN ADVANCE OF THE RETIREMENT OF THE BABY-BOOM GENERATION, BORN AFTER WORLD WAR II, WITHOUT RAISING THE RETIREMENT AGE. I THINK THAT WE CAN USE THIS HUGE SURPLUS THAT'S BEEN GENERATED, BUT WE HAVE TO BE WILLING TO DEVOTE THIS SURPLUS TO SAVING SOCIAL SECURITY FIRST. IT HAS TO BE OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.
Glover: YOU MENTIONED IT EARLIER, AND WE'VE GOT JUST A FEW MINUTES AND WAY TOO MANY ISSUES, YOU TALKED ABOUT FARM POLICY. YOU HAVE PUT OUT A DETAILED FARM POLICY, AND SENATOR BRADLEY'S GOT A DETAILED FARM POLICY. WHAT'S GOOD ABOUT YOURS AND BAD ABOUT HIS?
Gore: WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I HAVE SUPPORTED A SOUND, SENSIBLE FARM POLICY FOR A LONG TIME. I'VE WORKED CLOSELY WITH SENATOR HARKIN, WITH LEONARD BOSWELL, WITH THE IOWA FARM GROUPS, AND INDIVIDUAL FARMERS FOR A LONG TIME. I THINK THAT WE'VE GOT TO HAVE CHANGES IN THE SO-CALLED FREEDOM TO FARM ACT, AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT ON MANY OCCASIONS. I DON'T THINK THAT WE CAN AFFORD TO CONTINUE GOING FROM CRISIS TO CRISIS, WITH BAILOUT AFTER BAILOUT, WHICH IS WELCOME AND, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY REALIZES THAT THAT'S GREATLY NEEDED AND IT WILL BE NEEDED AGAIN. BUT IN ANTICIPATION OF THE FACT THAT IT'S GOING TO BE NEEDED AGAIN, LET'S CHANGE THE POLICY TO PUT BACK IN PLACE A SAFETY NET THAT WORKS, AND RECOGNIZE THAT THE COST OF PRODUCTION FOR BEANS, FOR CORN, FOR HOGS, FOR CATTLE EXCEEDS THE SELLING PRICE FOR ALL FOUR OF THOSE THINGS NOW, AND WE HAVE GOT TO HAVE CHANGES. WE ALSO NEED MORE FARMER-OWNED ON-FARM STORAGE. WE NEED A MORE AGGRESSIVE POLICY TO DEAL WITH CONCENTRATION IN THE SECTORS THAT SELL TO FARMERS AND BUY FROM FARMERS. WE NEED TO EXPAND THE CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM. WE NEED TO DEVELOP NEW SOURCES OF INCOME WITH RURAL DEVELOPMENT THAT TAKES ADVANTAGE OF SOME OF THE NEW POSSIBILITIES WITH THE INTERNET JUST TO CITE ONE EXAMPLE. AND WE NEED TO SUPPORT ETHANOL. NOW SENATOR BRADLEY WAS ALWAYS THE LEADING -- ONE OF THE LEADING CRITICS AND OPPONENTS OF THE ETHANOL PROGRAM AND OF FARM LOANS. AND IF YOU LOOK -- I MEAN I DON'T THINK IT'S ANY MYSTERY WHY HE DOESN'T WANT TO DEBATE ON AGRICULTURE POLICY IF YOU LOOK AT THE 18 YEARS. I MEAN IT'S NOT A BIG MYSTERY.
Yepsen: VERY QUICKLY. IS THERE A FEDERAL ROLE IN THE REGULATION OF LARGE HOG CONFINEMENTS?
Gore: I SUPPORT SENATOR HARKIN'S APPROACH. I THINK THAT THE FEDERAL ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS DO APPLY, BUT I WANT TO COMPLIMENT THE PORK PRODUCERS HERE IN IOWA WHO HAVE WORKED WITH ME AND WITH OTHERS TO COME UP WITH SOME INITIATIVES THAT, I THINK, ARE VERY RESPONSIBLE AND FORWARD LEANING. AND I THINK THAT THE PEOPLE IN COMMUNITIES WHO HAVE REALLY FELT AN UNFAIR IMPACT FROM SOME OF THE LARGER CONFINEMENTS THAT DON'T HANDLE THE WASTE RESPONSIBLY DESERVE TO GET SOME RELIEF.
Yepsen: MR. VICE PRESIDENT, WE'VE GOT ABOUT 30 SECONDS LEFT. I WANT TO GIVE IT TO YOU TO TALK TO THE CAUCUS-GOER. WHAT FINAL THOUGHT DO YOU WANT A DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS-GOER TO CARRY INTO THAT CAUCUS SITE ON JANUARY 24th ABOUT YOU?
Gore: I KNOW IN MY BONES WHAT THE PRESIDENCY IS ALL ABOUT. IT'S THE ONE POSITION IN OUR CONSTITUTION WHERE THE INDIVIDUAL IS EMPOWERED TO FIGHT FOR ALL OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, NOT JUST ONE STATE OR ONE DISTRICT, ALL OF THE PEOPLE. NOT FOR THE SPECIAL INTERESTS, OR THE ONES THAT HAVE MONEY AND LOBBYISTS AND POWER, BUT FOR THOSE WHO DON'T HAVE ANYBODY ELSE WILLING TO STICK UP AND FIGHT FOR THEM. SOMEBODY WHO'S A FARMER WHO'S STRUGGLING. SOMEBODY WHO'S A PARENT WHO CAN'T BALANCE WORK AND FAMILY. A STEEL WORKER WHO IS WORRIED ABOUT LOSING WORK. I WILL FIGHT FOR YOU. AND I WILL FIGHT FOR THE MIDDLE-INCOME FAMILIES WHO APPRECIATE THE PROGRESS WE'VE MADE BUT KNOW THAT WE'VE BARELY SCRATCHED THE SURFACE, AND THAT THE BEST TIMES WE HAVE ARE AHEAD OF US. I WILL FIGHT TO MAKE THEM COME TRUE.
Borg: THANK YOU, MR. VICE PRESIDENT.
Gore: THANK YOU.
Borg: ON OUR NEXT EDITION OF IOWA PRESS WE SHIFT FROM THE POLITICS OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH TO THE POLITICS OF THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH, FOCUSING ON THE FEDERAL BUDGET EMERGING FROM THE U.S. CONGRESS. REPRESENTATIVE LEONARD BOSWELL OF IOWA'S THIRD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT JOINS US TO DISCUSS THE BUDGET AND OTHER FEDERAL ISSUES, NEXT SUNDAY AT NOON AND 7:00 HERE ON STATEWIDE IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION. AND THAT'S IT FOR THIS WEEK'S EDITION. I HOPE YOU'LL WATCH NEXT WEEK. UNTIL THEN, I'M DEAN BORG. THANKS FOR BEING WITH US TODAY.
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