Political faithful divided over who won

This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press October 4, 2000
By SAL CHAVEZ
and BRENDA ZAHN
Valley Press staff writers

PALMDALE - Valley politicos clashed as to who took control of the issues and who talked the straighter line during Tuesday night's first of three presidential debates between Al Gore and George W. Bush.

Democrats got together at the Yucca Avenue headquarters of the Democratic Club of the High Desert in Lancaster, while Republicans met at the Palmdale home of Dean Henderson, Antelope Valley co-chairman for the Bush-Cheney campaign.

Both sides accused the other of "stuttering" on some points and skirting the issues during the 90minute debate.

About 25 people watched the debate at the Democratic Club headquarters, where they sat in folding chairs and dined on pizza and cake. Across the Valley, about 20 people ate a potluck meal at Henderson's home.

Sandy Corrales, a member of the Democratic Club and a candidate for a vacated three-year seat on the Palmdale City Council, said, "Bush looked a little not ready for prime time."

And Democratic Club President Robert Alvarado said he liked the fact that Gore stuck to the issues and didn't resort to negative tactics.

"A president of the United States should not engage in activities like that," Alvarado said.

Frank Visco, an Antelope Valley businessman who serves on the California steering committee for the George W. Bush presidential campaign, said, "It was Gov. Bush's moment to articulate" his position, whereas Vice President Gore "still has to promise things that haven't been done after eight years."

Henderson said everyone thought Gore would dominate the debate because he's recognized as one of the foremost debaters.

"But Bush was more comfortable," Henderson said.

Gore spoke out against school vouchers, which give parents money to send their children to private schools.

"Gov. Bush is in favor of vouchers, which take tax dollars away from public schools," Gore said in the debate. "I went to a school in Dade County, Fla., where the schools are so overcrowded that children have to eat lunch in shifts."

Bush maintains that parents of children in failing public schools should have a choice of better schools with federal aid. "We should have a system in place that leaves no child behind," Bush said.

Reaction to the national issue varied, and even clashed.

Alvarado said it is telling that Gore has won the support of those involved in the educational process.

"A good symbol of how good a candidate is, is that virtually every teachers union is endorsing Al Gore," he said.

But Republican Vonda Simpson said she believes things are the same as they were eight years ago when it comes to the education system.

"I think we ought to make schools accountable. Gore should have done something by now," she said.

Richard Loa, a Republican and a candidate for the vacated oneyear Palmdale City Council seat, said school systems should take responsibility for the education of their students.

"They have to be tested to prove they are learning. It's abysmal; we are putting out people from high school who can't read or write," Loa said.

Republican Lon McCracken, president of the Greater Antelope Valley Chamber of Commerce, said he doesn't believe either candidate made headway on the issue of education.

In a Valley with a longstanding defense-related history, many people were listening to the debate for the candidates' stands on defense spending and the role of the nation's armed forces in world conflicts.

Alvarado said he believes both candidates support the military and defense spending. He said he agrees with Gore that the United States should get involved in conflicts that protect humanitarian interests around the world.

But at the Republican gathering, Ron Smith, president of the Association of Los Angeles Sheriffs in the Antelope Valley, said the United States "shouldn't be the police for the world."

The country should remain neutral until officials see how a situation will affect national security and the security of allies, he said.

During the debate, Gore mentioned 11 times that Bush's proposed tax cut would provide the greatest benefits to the wealthiest citizens of the country - the nation's "wealthiest 1%."

Camille Dunn, an observer at the Democratic headquarters, said Bush's failure to defend himself on the tax-cut plan proved his guilt on the issue.

"Bush didn't deny it, so obviously it's true," she said, adding, "The American people need to know the truth about who's going to get these tax cuts."

"Gore gave Bush several chances to say yes or no," Alvarado added.

Smith, who attended the Republican event, said he "noticed Gore had to keep harping on the 1%."

He added that he would like to see a nonpartisan group assembled to look objectively into the tax situation.

Republican John Alesso expressed skepticism that Gore could get the job done on cutting taxes. Gore and Clinton promised tax cuts in 1992, he pointed out, and, "We've seen honesty from Bill Clinton and Al Gore's point of view."

The next presidential debate is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 11, at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C. A vice presidential debate between Gore running mate Joseph Lieberman and Bush running mate Dick Cheney is set for Thursday, Oct. 5.