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Bradley, Gore offer subtle differencesBy Bill Schneider/CNN
October 27, 1999 WASHINGTON -- Two Democrats, both moderately liberal. What's to choose? On the issues, there's no big difference of kind between Al Gore and Bill Bradley. But there are differences of degree. After all, they both have long voting records in Congress. Gore served eight years in the House and eight in the Senate. Bradley served 18 years in the Senate. As Al Smith used to say, let's look at the record. Abortion: Both candidates are strong supporters of abortion rights. However, Gore used to be more conservative on this issue. As a House member from 1977 to 1985, Gore opposed Medicaid funding of abortions for poor women. Bradley favored abortion rights, including Medicaid funding, throughout his years in the Senate. Education: Both candidates want to expand funding for public education. Both have plans to recruit new teachers. However, Bradley once voted in favor of tax credits for tuition payments to private schools, and for an experimental voucher program. Gore voted against both. Health care: Both candidates have offered detailed proposals to reform the health care system and expand coverage. However, Bradley's plan is bigger. It guarantees coverage for all children and offers universal access to adults at a cost of $55 billion to $65 billion a year. Gore's plan would expand coverage for children and working parents without guaranteeing it for all -- but at a lower cost estimated at $10 billion to $15 billion a year. Economy: Both candidates have supported the Clinton economic program and both favor free trade measures like NAFTA. However, back in 1981, Bradley voted in favor of President Ronald Reagan's budget cuts. Gore voted against them. On the other hand, in 1985, Gore voted in favor of the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings bill that mandated across-the-board spending cuts if Congress and the White House failed to reduce the deficit by a targeted amount. Bradley voted no. In 1986, Gore supported a constitutional amendment to require a balanced budget. Bradley opposed it. Civil rights and gay rights: Both candidates strongly defend civil rights, affirmative action and gay rights. Both favor legal protections for domestic partnerships. Both oppose gay marriage. However, Bradley would allow gays to serve openly in the military, while Gore calls for a more compassionate application of President Bill Clinton's "Don't ask, don't tell" policy. Bradley favors amending the 1964 Civil Rights Act to include gays. Gore has not endorsed that proposal. Welfare reform: Probably the biggest issue difference between the two candidates came on the defining issue for President Bill Clinton as a New Democrat. In 1996, Gore supported the welfare reform bill. Bradley voted against it. Is one candidate consistently more liberal than the other? No. It varies by issue. Sure, Gore can drag out old votes where Bradley voted with conservatives on Reaganomics and school vouchers. But Bradley can do the same to Gore on abortion rights and the balanced budget amendment. In the end, voters are not going to judge these candidates on political correctness. They're going to want to know, "What have you done for us lately, and what are you going to do for us now?" |
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MORE STORIES:Wednesday, October 27, 1999
• GOP candidates, sans Bush, prepare for forum • Bradley, Gore offer subtle differences • Des Moines Register: Forbes objects to content of Bush campaign ads • McCain television ads to begin Friday in New Hampshire • Fords receive congressional gold medal • House tries to limit Oregon's assisted suicide law • Clinton announces larger-than-expected surplus • Four former first ladies make rare joint appearance • Ventura pushes for single-house legislature in Minnesota • Congress votes to rename building for Eisenhower • California voters get crack at ATM fees • Helms has congresswomen removed from hearing • Republicans unmoved by White House revival of Social Security plan • Florida state senator gets two years for plea in Medicare case • Former mayor convicted of indecent exposure • Clinton signs law establishing 911 nationwide, promoting locators • Lawmakers negotiating multimillion-dollar purchase of King papers • Clinton library raising money in secret • House passes bill to protect domain names | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
