The Questions

20 questions plus closing statements during the 90-minute debate:

Introduction by Bernard Shaw

4 questions from members of the audience

2 Internet questions

3 questions from panelists and moderator

Commercial break

5 questions from members of the audience

2 Internet questions

1 question from member of the audience

3 questions from panelists and moderator

Commercial break

Closing statements

Audience Question 1: "...Many Americans were very happy to hear Sen. McCain condemn the Christian far right for their derisive effects on American politics.  Would you each be willing to echo what the Senator said about that and even take it a step further? Audience Question 2: "...If elected president, what criteria would you use to select the new Supreme Court justices?" Audience Question 3: "...with technology becoming more a part of our daily lives, the Internet specifically with e-mail, e-commerce, where do you find the government taking a role in that with either regulating or not regulating?  What's going to be happening?" Audience Question 4: "...When the Clintons were elected to office it was very much a team spirit.  And as a result Mrs. Clinton was put in some substantive roles.  How will you define the role for the first lady?" Internet Question 1: " We sent our armed forces to the Persian Gulf in 1991 to return a country to its owners.  Now we see higher gas prices.  What will you do to ensure this does not happen again?" Internet Question 2: "On California's ballot is Prop. 22.  If passed, only marriages between a man and a woman would be valid or recognized in California.  Do you support or oppose it?" Panel Question 1: (Question preceded by introductory remarks).  "...Today in light of the Diallo case, the Rampart scandal here, do you see a need for the federal government to take an active assertive role, systematically involving itself and intervening in cases of local police malfeasance?" Panel Question 2: (Question preceded by introductory remarks referring to Al Sharpton).  "...If the Republican candidates have an obligation to forcefully, unambiuously condemn extremists on their side, don't you have an obligation to be equally forthright in condemning such language by people who tend to be more on the Democratic side of things?" Moderator Question: "...If you were president, to what extent would you commit American military power to defend Taiwan?" Break Audience Question 1: (Question preceded by introductory remarks referring to recent incident of a seven-year old boy shooting a six-year old girl).  "...How will you ensure that our schools will be a safe haven for our children?" Audience Question 2: "...In your life, what mistake have you learned the most from?" Audience Question 3: "...I have recently read stories about military families who have qualified for and received welfare assistance.  As president, what would you do to support the people who risk their lives for our country?" Audience Question 4: (woman identifies self as an advocate for disabled people who is disabled herself)  "...My question to you both tonight is the plight of this big voting block of people who want to work and will lose their benefits if they do so.  Our health benefits are the most important things in our lives to keep us going..." Audience Question 5: "...Big money has big influence in Washington and that influence starts with election campaign financing.  What steps will you take to curb that influence, specifically with regard to campaign finance reform?" Internet Question 1: "Now that we have a shortage of workers do you think we should open our doors to more immigrants?" Internet Question 2: "What will you do as president to fix the corrupting power of the lobbyists and the special interests on our electoral process?" Audience Question 6: "...Do you belive that the American populace would be better served by a system in which all the states that have primaries had them at the same time?" Panel Question 1: (Question preceded by introductory remarks "...there's an elephant in this room...").  "...You haven't won a contest.  Washington state went badly.  And unless there is a miracle, it seems that this journey will end on Tuesday.  The simplest way I can ask this question is: How do you think you got here?" Panel Question 2: (Question preceded by introductory remarks about Bradley's recent questioning of Gore's congressional record). "...Are you saying that as president, you think he would revert to an agenda that would be sympathetic to the NRA, unsympathetic to federal regulation of tobacco, and questionable in its commitment to abortion.  Is that the indictment that you're leveling?" Moderator Question: "...At the Apollo Theatre last Monday in the debate you said you would support Vice President Gore if he wins your party's nomination.  Was that a concession to the inevitable?" Break Closing Statements

 
 

Copyright 1999, 2000  Eric M. Appleman/Democracy in Action.