[ cheers and applause ] for the next 90 minutes we will be questioning the candidates following a format designed and agreed to by representatives of the two campaigns. However, there are no restrictions in the questions that my colleagues and i can ask this evening, and the candidates have no prior knowledge of our questions. By agreement between the candidates, the first question goes to governor dukakis. You have two minutes to respond. Governor, if Kitty Dukakis were raped and murdered, would you favor an irrevocable Death Penalty for the killer . No, i dont. I think you know i opposed the Death Penalty during all of my life. I dont see any evidence that its a deterrent. I think there are per and more effective ways to deal with violent crime. We have down so in my own state. Its one of the reasons why we have had the biggest drop in crime of any industrial state in america, why we have the lowest murder rate in any industrial state in america. But we have work to do this nation. W
Michael dukakis. Candidates took questions on taxes, the budget deficit, defense spending, and each candidates choice of running mate. Good evening, on behalf of the commission on president ial debates, i am pleased to welcome you to the second president ial debate. Im bernard shaw of cnn, cable news network. My colleagues on the panel are and cotton of abc news. Margaret warner of newsweek magazine. And Andrea Mitchell of nbc news. The candidates are Vice President george bush, the republican nominee, and governor michael dukakis. [applause] for the next 90 minutes will be questioning the candidates in a format designed and agreed to by representatives of the two campaigns. However, there are no restrictions on the questions that my colleagues and i can ask this evening. And the candidates have no prior knowledge of our questions. By agreement between the candidates, the first question goes to governor dukakis. You have two minutes to respond. Governor, if Kitty Dukakis were raped and
A 90second answer, a 60second rebuttal, and a 30second response. I will assist the candidates in adhering to those time limits with the help of a series of lights visible to both. Under their rules, the candidates are not allowed to question each other directly. I will ask the questions. There are no limitations on the subjects. The order for everything tonight was determined by coin toss. Now, to the Opening Statements and to president clinton. Mr. President. Thank you, jim. And thank you to the people of hartford, our hosts. I want to begin by saying again how much i respect senator dole and his record of Public Service and how hard i will try to make this campaign and this debate one of ideas, not insults. Four years ago i ran for president at a time of high unemployment and rising frustration. I wanted to turn this country around with a program of opportunity for all, responsibility from all, and an American Community where everybody has a role to play. I wanted a government that w
There will be twominute opening and closing statements. In between, a series of questions, each having three parts. A 90second answer, a 60second rebuttal, and a 30second response. I will assist the candidates in adhering to those time limits with the help of a series of lights visible to both. Under their rules, the candidates are not allowed to question each other directly. I will ask the questions. There are no limitations on the subjects. The order for everything tonight was determined by coin toss. Now, to the Opening Statements and to president clinton. Mr. President. Pres. Clinton thank you, jim. And thank you to the people of hartford, our hosts. I want to begin by saying again how much i respect senator dole and his record of Public Service and how hard i will try to make this campaign and this debate one of ideas, not insults. Four years ago i ran for president at a time of high unemployment and rising frustration. I wanted to turn this country around with a program of opport
Candidate has the opportunity to make a one minute Opening Statement from their each have 90 seconds to answer questions and if necessary i will allow for a 62nd rebuttal they drew starting order when they arrived congressman cunningham we start with you. Thank you for joining us here tonight and for congress because if l the one was willing to put the country over party or people politics. But the fact is the first day of my campaign that i was not support the speaker of the house and the very first one was for pelosi for speaker just like i said i would i pass the bill like i said they would have worked across the aisle like is that i would. Voters on november 3rd have a clear choice if you want politics to be more partisan and toxic and divisive then nancy mays is probably a candidate but to achieve results im asking you to stand with us am Joe Cunningham and im asking for your vote then nancy mays is probably a candidate but to achieve results im asking you to stand with us am Joe