[ 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
Nominee. 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 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 gov. Dukakis. You have two minutes to respond. Governor, if Kitty Dukakis were raped and murdered, would you favor an irrevocable Death Penalty for he killer . No, i dont, bernard. And i think you know that ive opposed the Death Penalty during all of my life. I dont see any evidence that its a deterrent, and i think there are better and more effective ways to deal with violent crime. Weve done so in my own state. And 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 of any industrial state in america. But we have work to
Hold two hearings that focus on the two major pillars of our agenda. Tomorrow well hear from the Service Chiefs on repairing and rebuilding our military. Today, however, well concentrate on the other pillar, which is defense reform. Weve done a lot of reform over the past two years. That includes acquisition reform, a new military retirement system, major changes in military health care, commissary reform, a rewrite of the uniform code of military justice as well as significant organizational reform. While a lot has been done, however, a lot more needs to be done. The world around us is simply moving too fast for us to sit still and assume that the organizations and processes of the past will suffice for today and especially for tomorrow. Yes, we all have an obligation to see taxpayer dollars are spent as efficiently and effectively as possible, especially in fulfilling the first job of the federal government which is to defend the country. But we all know from the news and from our In
Program library and, i would like to welcome you all, the book is entitled on war and politics the battlefield inside washingtons beltway which i think the friends of the library. And the cheese and fruit, and the reception. When i asked about your cell phones, interrupt the presentation, tonight i have the introduction, the author talk and a question and answer session. There will be a mike set up in the center aisle to approach the make. After the program, and there are others who are interested. And have wine and cheese. This program will be taped by cspan and will be airing at a later date the next few weeks. I will turn the program over to longterm friend and colleague Major General Arnold Punaro. Please join me in a warm welcome. [applause] turn your cell phones back on while i am talking. It is an honor for me to be your mc and the role the author has seen me play a number of times in the days together, Science Application International corporation and this is the second time in