Women's Issues in the Debate
Presidential Debate 3 Excerpt: Affirmative Action
The complete transcript of this debate is available from the Commission on Presidential Debates
Mr. Lehrer:
Governor Bush, Norma Curby has the next question. And it's for you.
MEMBER OF AUDIENCE:
Hi. How will your administration address diversity, inclusiveness, and
what role will affirmative action play in your overall plan?
Quotas are bad for America.
But policies that give people
a helping hand so they can help
themselves ... I called it
affirmative access.
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Governor 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'm
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 our institutions 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 Republicans and
Democrats, to pass a law that said if you come in the top 10% of your
high school class, you're automatically admitted to one of our higher
institutions of learning, college. And as a result, our universities are
now more diverse. It was a smart thing to do. 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 be -- 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 an
opportunity for people to realize their potential. So to answer your
question, I support, I guess the way to put it, is affirmative access.
I'll have an administration that will make you proud. Thank you.
I don't know what
affirmative access means.
I do know what affirmative
action means. ... and I know
that I'm for it.
|
Vice President Gore:
I believe in this goal and 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. 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 is 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
in 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 benefitting.
Mr. Lehrer:
Governor, what is your -- are you opposed to affirmative action?
Governor Bush:
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.
Mr. Lehrer:
What about -- Mr. Vice President, you heard what he said.
Vice President Gore:
He said if affirmative action means quotas, he's against it.
Affirmative action doesn't mean quotas. Are you for it without quotas?
Governor Bush:
I may not be for your version, Mr. Vice President, but I'm for what I
just described to the lady.
Vice President Gore:
Are you for what the Supreme Court says is a constitutional way of having
affirmative action?
Mr. Lehrer:
Let's go on to another --
Vice President Gore:
I think that speaks for itself.
Governor Bush:
No, it doesn't speak for itself, Mr. Vice President, it speaks for the
fact that there are certain rules in this that we all agree to, but
evidently rules don't mean anything.
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