Wednesday | October 18, 2000
Transcript of Tuesday's debate: Part
Three
10/18/2000
QUESTION: Hi. How will your administration address diversity,
inclusiveness? And what role will affirmative action play in your overall
plan?
BUSH: I've had a record of bringing people from all walks of life into my
administration, and my administration is better off for it in Texas. I going
to find people that want to serve their country, but I want a diverse
administration. I think it's important.
I've worked hard in the state of Texas to make sure institutions are,
reflect the state, with good, smart policy, policy that rejects quotas. I
don't like quotas. Quotas tend to pit one group of people against another.
Quotas are bad for America. It's not the way America is all about. But
policies that give people a helping hand so they can help themselves.
For example, in our state of Texas, I worked with the Legislature, both
Republican and Democrats, to pass a law that said if you come in the top
10 percent of your high school class, you're automatically admitted to
one of our higher institutions, higher institutions of learning, college. And
as a result, our universities are now more diverse. It's a smart thing to do.
It's what I called it, I labeled it affirmative access.
I think the contracting business in government can help, not with quotas,
but help meet a goal of ownership of small businesses, for example. The
contracts need to be smaller. The agencies need to recruit and to work
hard to find people to bid on the state contracts. I think we can do that in
a way that represents what America is all about, which is equal
opportunity and the opportunity for people to realize their potential.
So to answer your question, I support - I guess the way to put it is
affirmative access. And I'll have an administration that will make you
proud. Thank you.
LEHRER: Vice President Gore?
GORE: I believe in this goal and this effort with all my heart. I believe that
our future as a nation depends upon whether or not we can break down
these barriers that have been used to pit group against group and bring
our people together. How do you do it? Well, you establish respect for
differences. You don't ignore differences. It's all too easy for somebody
in the majority in the population to say, "Oh, we're just all the same,"
without an understanding of the different life experience that you've had,
that others have had.
BUSH: Once you have that understanding and mutual respect, then we
can transcend the differences and embrace the highest common
denominator of the American spirit.
I don't know what affirmative access means; I do know what affirmative
action means. I know the governor's against it and I know that I'm for it.
I know what a hate crime statute pending at the national level is all about,
in the aftermath of James Byrd's death. I'm for that proposed law; the
governor is against it.
I know what it means to have a commitment to diversity. I am part of an
administration that has the finest record on diversity and, incidentally, an
excellent, I mean, I think our success over the last eight years has not
been in spite of diversity, but because of it, because we're able to draw
on the wisdom and experience from different parts of the society that
hadn't been tapped in the same way before.
And, incidentally, Mel Carnahan in Missouri had the finest record on
diversity of any governor in the entire history of the state of Missouri, and
I want to honor that, among his other achievements here.
Now, I just believe that what we have to do is enforce the civil rights
laws. I'm against quotas.
This is, with all due respect, Governor, that's a red herring. Affirmative
action isn't quotas. I'm against quotas. They're illegal. They're against the
American way.
Affirmative action means that you take extra steps to acknowledge the
history of discrimination and injustice and prejudice, and bring all people
into the American dream because it helps everybody, not just those who
are directly benefited.
LEHRER: Governor, what is your, are you opposed to affirmative
action?
BUSH: No. If affirmative action means quotas, I'm against it. If
affirmative action means what I just described, what I'm for, then I'm for
it. You heard what I was for.
The vice president keeps saying I'm against things. You heard what I was
for, and that's what I support.
LEHRER: What about, Mr. Vice President, you heard what he said.
GORE: He said if affirmative action means quotas, he's against it.
Affirmative action doesn't mean quotas.
BUSH: Good.
GORE: Are you for it without quotas?
BUSH: I may not be for your version, Mr. Vice President. But I'm for
what I just described to the lady. She heard my answer.
GORE: Are you for what the Supreme Court says is a constitutional way
of having affirmative action?
BUSH: Jim, is this...
LEHRER: Let's go on to another...
(LAUGHTER)
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