Women's Issues in the Debate
Presidential Debate 2 Excerpt: Gay/Lesbian Rights
The complete transcript of this debate is available from the Commission on Presidential Debates
Mr. Lehrer:
New subject, new question. Another vice presidential debate follow-up.
Governor, both Senator Lieberman and Secretary Cheney said they were
sympathetically rethinking their views on same sex relationships. What's
your position on that?
Governor Bush
I'm not for gay marriage. I think marriage is a sacred institution
between a man and a woman. And I appreciated the way the administration
signed the Defense of Marriage Act. I presume the Vice President
supported it when the President signed that bill and supports it now.
But I think marriage is a sacred institution. I'm going to be respectful
for people who may disagree with me. I've had a record of doing so in
the State of Texas. I've been a person that had been called a uniter,
not a divider, because I accept other people's points of view. But I
feel strongly that marriage should be between a man and a woman.
Vice President Gore
I agree with that, and I did support that law. But I think that we
should find a way to allow some kind of civic unions, and I basically
agree with Dick Cheney and Joe Lieberman. And I think the three of us
have one view and the Governor has another view.
Mr. Lehrer:
Is that right?
Governor Bush
I'm not sure what kind of view he's describing to me. I can just tell
you, I'm a person who respects other people. I respect their -- I
respect -- on the one hand he says he agrees with me and then he says he
doesn't. I'm not sure where he's coming from. But I will be a tolerant
person. I've been a tolerant person all my life. I just happen to
believe strongly that marriage is between a man and a woman.
Mr. Lehrer:
Do you believe in general terms that gays and lesbians should have the
same rights as other Americans?
Governor Bush
Yes. I don't think they ought to have special rights, but I think they
ought to have the same rights.
Vice President Gore
Well, there's a law pending called the Employment Non-Discrimination
Act. I strongly support it. What it says is that gays and lesbians
can't be fired from their job because they're gay or lesbian. And it
would be a federal law preventing that. Now, I wonder if the -- it's
been blocked by the opponents in the majority in the Congress. I wonder
if the Governor who lend his support to that law.
Governor Bush
Well, I have no idea. I mean, he can throw out all kinds -- I don't
know the particulars of this law. I will tell you I'm the kind of
person, I don't hire or fire somebody based upon their sexual
orientation. As a matter of fact, I would like to take the issue a
little further. I don't really think it's any of my -- you know, any of
my concerns what -- how you conduct your sex life. And I think that's a
private matter. And I think that's the way it ought to be. But I'm
going to be respectful for people, I'll tolerate people, and I support
equal rights but not special rights for people.
Mr. Lehrer:
Special rights, how does that affect gays and lesbians?
Governor Bush
Well, it would be if they're given special protective status. That
doesn't mean we shouldn't fully enforce laws and fully protect people and
fully honor people, which I will do as the President of the United
States.
More Excerpts:
Environment
Gun Control
Health Care
Racial Discrimination/Hate Crimes
Back to Women's Issues Debate Index
Discuss the debate in the forum, or join one of the other current discussions:
