September 9, 1999
Web posted at: 8:03 p.m. EDT (0003 GMT)

(CNN) -- The following is an edited transcript of a chat with Democratic presidential hopeful and former New Jersey Sen. Bill Bradley. Bradley joined us on Thursday, September 9, from the campaign trail in Missouri. CNN Interactive provided a typist.

Question from Chet Curry, a software manager: Why are the candidates so reluctant to be expressive early in the campaign? And what concise message do you hope to attach to your campaign?

Bill Bradley: I think that candidates are waiting for people to pay attention to the campaign itself. I began to roll out my specific proposals in the summer with an initiative to have common-sense gun control, registration and licensing of all handguns, and several other proposals, as well such as no gun dealers in residential neighborhoods. And second, I offered a specific proposal on campaign finance reform, one that would eliminate soft money and that would provide public financing of Senate and congressional elections, thereby eliminating the interests of special interests on the election process.

My concise message is that we need more economic growth that will be generated by the combination of globalization of the economy and technological change. And the growth that comes from this new economy in order to strengthen our social fabric by covering more Americans with health insurance and reducing childhood poverty.

Question from KP: I agree with you that the racial divide is the biggest problem in this nation. As an Asian American, I see this firsthand. How would you help solve the racial problem in this nation?

Bill Bradley: I would help solve the racial problem in the following ways:

First, by appointing people to my administration from diverse backgrounds that reflect the full talent of America.

Second, every administration has a tone set by the president. When Ronald Reagan was president, if you wanted to please the boss, you talked about increasing defense expenditures and fighting communism. If I am president and you want to please the boss, you'll have to show how in your life and business and in your department you have promoted racial understanding.

Third, I think there is the possibility for a multiracial coalition to reduce childhood poverty.

Fourth, I would not shy away from championing such things as affirmative action, which is simply a way of utilizing all the talent that is in our society.

Fifth, I would ask each American on a regular basis to look at themselves in the mirror and ask if each is able to see deeper than skin color or eye shape to the individual. I think if we did these things we'd be better able to lead the world by the power of our example of a multiracial society that works.

Question from BeckhamRD: Mr. Bradley: What is your stance on the pending GOP tax cut?

Bill Bradley: I do not support the GOP tax cut. Over 78 percent of the benefits go to people that make more than $100,000. I think that if we reduce the federal debt, we would assure lower interest rates, which would be a bigger tax cut.

I would hold some money back in the event the economy went into a downturn that I would use to provide a tax cut for those Americans who have not been on the prosperity train and who, when they got it, could use it in a way to help our economy to continue moving forward.

Question from MattGD: What is your plan for gun control and how does it differ from Vice President Gore's?

Question from Mary: What efforts will you propose to stop school violence?

Bill Bradley: My plan for gun control is to have mandatory registration and licensing for all 65 million handguns in America. If we can do it for automobiles we should be able to do it for handguns. The vice president does not support registration of all handguns.

Next I would take the following actions: No gun dealers in residential neighborhoods where kids can go down the block to a basement and buy guns from a residential gun dealer.

I would require mandatory background checks at gun shows.

I would ban Saturday night specials, which are the small handguns used only to kill another person. I would increase the punishment for selling a gun to a minor or a felon from a misdemeanor to a felony.

And last I would require trigger locks on all handguns.

This is a common sense policy that would make it more difficult for children to get access to guns and for law enforcement to trace the flow of illegally acquired handguns in our society

Question from Joel: Do you have a Web site?

Bill Bradley: Yes, I have a Web site www.billbradley.com

I encourage people to hit the site. It has a rich array of options. We have done campaign events entirely through our email connections. We have developed volunteer bases through the Internet. We raised more money than anyone else in politics on the Internet. If people would go to the community participation kit on the site, they will find 15 things they can do to become involved with our campaign. The site also has a rich menu of positions, biography, campaign updates and speeches that I have made.

The Internet provides for unfiltered communications. After having lived a year in Silicon Valley while I was a professor at Stanford, I came to believe that there would be, in the future, a presidential race that could be determined over the Internet. The year 2000 may be that year.

Question from Craig: What are your strategies for campaigning in the Southeast, especially the early primaries in Georgia and South Carolina?

Bill Bradley: Georgia and South Carolina are important primaries because they are on March 7th. The way to campaign there is in person, through representatives of your campaign, over the Internet, and by direct mail and television and radio advertising, and finally through a grassroots effort over the Internet. As people sign up in those states, they are contacted with specific things to do.

Question from Timor: If you were president, would you intervene in Kosovo and not in East Timor?

Bill Bradley: No, I think that E. Timor is a catastrophe brewing. It is the responsibility of the government of Indonesia to quell the violence. In the aftermath of a referendum that called for the establishment of democracy, the anti-democratic forces are using violence to achieve objectives that they failed to achieve at the ballot box. I believe that is wrong. Several countries -- Australia, New Zealand, Canada and others -- have offered to be a part of a multinational force that could be sent to E. Timor in order to quell the violence. And it should be done only with the direction of the U.N. Security Council. In the event that the Security Council takes action, the U.S. can be supportive. But I do not believe that U.S. troops will be needed.

Question from Karuna: Many Democrats I've spoken to have wanted to know what makes you a better presidential candidate than Al Gore. If you had to answer that question with two or three points, what would you say?

Bill Bradley: The first point would be issue differences, such as registration of handguns and campaign finance reform. The vice president wants to have equal treatment of evolution and creationism in public schools, and I believe that evolution should be taught in the schools because it is science.

The second major difference is that I believe we would be very different presidents because we have had very different life experiences. I grew up in a small town in Missouri and lived there for 18 years. It shaped my life. But I also represented one of the most diverse states in the union, New Jersey, for 18 years. I also have had a life before I got into the Senate and a life after I left the Senate. I have gone to work many years and never thought of the federal government. I was like millions of other Americans just trying to do my job, and that has given me a certain perspective on government. I think the vice president has had a life that has been primarily based in Washington. You cannot underestimate that difference.

Question from Mary: Sen. Bradley, if you are elected can you guarantee that there will be no investigations or allegations made against you?

Bill Bradley: Yes, I can guarantee that on the one hand, but you don't have any idea what people will say about you on the other hand. I can assure you there would be no investigations because I would avoid any context in which investigations might seem appropriate.

Chat Moderator: Would you consider running as an Independent if you do not win the Democratic nomination?

Bill Bradley: No, I would not. I am a Democrat, and I would always run within the Democratic Party. That is why I am contesting for the nomination.

Bill Bradley: Since January, thousands of people have told me that they are Independent or even Republican and that they would support me, but not the vice president.

Chat Moderator: Sen. Bradley is traveling in a caravan from Missouri to Iowa ... and we lost his cell phone connection.

Chat Moderator: As he was cut off, he was expressing his thanks to supporters of his campaign.

Chat Moderator: We thank everyone for joining us today, and we will extend an invitation to Sen. Bradley to join our chat again.