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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 4, 2000)
Campaign-finance reform, tax plans top debate topics THE ASSOCIATED PRESS BOSTON - Vice President A1 Gore and Texas Gov. George W. Bush clashed over tax cuts, Medicare prescription drug bene fits and campaign finance Hiesday night in their first cam paign debate of the fall pivot point in the closest White House contest in a generation. Combative from the outset, Gore charged that his rival's tax plan would “spend more money on tax cuts for the wealthiest one percent than all of the new spend ing he proposes for education, health care, prescription drugs and national defense all com bined.” But Bush, standing a few feet away on a debate stage at the University of Massachusetts, said Gore's economic plan would offer tax cuts only to the middle class. "Everybody who pays taxes ought to get relief,” he said. At the same time, he said, Gore's blueprint would produce “dramatically” bigger government with 200 “new or expanded programs” and 20,0Q0 new bureaucrats. “It empowers Washington,” added the governor, who has tened to tell a national viewing audience he was from West Texas — not the nation's capital. Over and over, he accused Gore of “fuzzy math.” Gore and Bush met for the first of three presidential debates over the next two weeks, each man seeking advantage in a race so close that poll after poll shows them within a point or two of one another. Their vice presidential candidates, Democrat Joseph Lieberman and Republican Dick Cheney, debate Thursday in Kentucky. Jim Lehrer of PBS was the moderator, operating under strict rules negotiated in advance by the Gore and Bush camps. It was the first of three 90-minute debates between the two major party rivals — a format that excluded minor-party candidates Ralph Nader and Pat Buchanan. In a reprise of his acceptance speech at this summer’s Democratic National Convention, Gore said it was important to stand up to special interests, phar maceutical companies among them. “Big drug companies sup Students mirror support for candidates nationwide DEBATE from page! “Bush was too quick to react with his one-liners,” she said. "I think Gore went back to the issues and stayed with his pro posals to help citizens.” But in an age of media sound bites, Martin said, Bush’s quick-hitting attacks on Gore showed he could keep pace with vice president, who is known for his formidable debating skills. “Those are the things people remember from debates,” he said. “This is about issues, but at the same time you can’t bore your audience. It helps Bush create the impression that he’s a relaxed guy and fun to be around.” Mello praised Gore for sup porting tax-deductible college tuition for middle-income fami lies, and he said Bilsh did not address that issue. He said Gore spoke more impressively about education. “He made a lot of attacks on Gore, but on the biggest issue, he kind of sidestepped it,” he said. Martin, who supported Arizona Sen. John McCain dur ing the GOP primary, said he objected to Gore’s attempt to associate himself with McCain. Like McCain, Gore supports campaign finance reform, but he has little credibility on the issue because of his involve ment in past campaign finance scandals, Martin said. Aaron Scheibe, a senior political science, economics and international affairs major, said he supports Bush but was disappointed by Tuesday’s debate. "I think the thing that disap pointed me most was the lack of any questions or specifics that were directed to younger vot ers,” he said. “I want to know what they’re going to do to get me better student loans and grants. "Social Security is a long way off for me." Pi Sigma Alpha will gather to watch the next presidential debate on Oct. 11. Anyone inter ested in attending can e-mail Judd Choate at jchoate@unlserve. unLedu _ft; port Governor Bush’s prescription drug proposal," he said. "They oppose mine.” Bush made a sour face when he heard that, and in his next breath offered a swift rebuttal. “I’ve been standing up to Big Hollywood and Big Thai Lawyers,” he shot back, mentioning two groups that have lavished cam paign donations on Gore and Democrats. Each man came equipped with a refiain. For Bush, it was the accusation that Gore was practic ing "fuzzy math” with his attacks, sometimes rendered as “fuzzy Washington math.” For Gore, it was a loud, audible sigh, meant to convey profound skepticism over Bush’s claims about the economy, prescription drugs and other issues. The criticism grew sharper in the debate’s closing moments, when Bush criticized Gore over the fund-raising scandals of the Clinton era. He mentioned Gore’s controversial visit to a Buddhist temple, where robed priests later made donations, and said Gore needed to take responsibility for what went on in the White House. “You may want to focus on scandals. I want to focus on results,” Gore countered, maneu vering to turn the spotlight away from questions of his own fund raising activities. But when the vice president challenged Bush to support campaign finance legisla tion, the Texas governor said bluntly; “This man has no credi bility on the issue.” Shaolin Warriors Lied Center programming is supported by the Friends of Lied and grants from the National Endwvment for the Arts a federal agency: Heartland Am Fund, jointly Am Alliance; and Nebraska Am Council. All events in the Lied Center are made possible by the Lied Performance Fund vmich has been established in memory of Ernst F, Lied and his parents Ernst M. and Ida 1C Lied. University of Nebraska-Uncoln An equal opportunity educator and employer with a comprehensive £janferd«rsj|£_^^^^^ J The Shaolin monks refined martial arts training in feudal China as a precautionary defense nearly 1,500 years ago. The modern Shaolin monks still undergo intense training through Buddhist meditation, achieving extraordinary human physical ability and proficiency in the use of over 20 weapons. In ironic accordance with the Buddhist tradition of non-violence, the monks practice their remarkable art in silence, achieving an effective "stillness in movement." Tuesday, October 17,2000 7:30pm Lied Center for Performing Arts Lincoln, Nebraska Tickets: (402) 472-4747 or (800) 432-3231 Box Office: 11:00am - 5:30pm M-F www.liedcenter.org Jury members chosen for murder trial BY MARGARET BEHM With the jury selected Tuesday, the murder trial of Linh Bao begins today. The prosecution will begin its case against Bao at 9 a.m. Fifteen people were chosen as jury members Tuesday, and three of the 15 are alternate jurors. The jury hasn’t been informed who will be serving as alternate jurors. None of the jurors are Vietnamese. Bao was arrested in connec tion with the shooting of Vu Hoang La on Feb. 5. He was arrested on Feb. 6. He was charged with first degree murder and using a firearm to commit a felony. If convicted of murder, Bao could face the death penalty. The firearm charge carries a penalty of one to 20 years in prison. Sell any noncommercial item free in Daily Nebraskan Want Ads, FREE for three days. If the item doesn’t sell, contact us for another three days. Limited time only. 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