Politics

Bush: Don't Ditch 'Don't Ask'

By CBSNews.com staff CBSNews.com staff

December 13, 1999 / 7:42 AM EST / CBS

Another day, another issue. The morning after his feisty showing at the Iowa debate, Republican presidential frontrunner George W. Bush, the man who declined to meet with gay Republicans, endorsed the controversial Clinton administration "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy toward gays in the military.

"I think it ought to be made to work," Bush said. "I think it could be made to work."

It was the same feistier frontrunner who emerged on stage Monday night in a spirited presidential campaign debate, reports CBS News Correspondent Bill Whitaker. Bush and Sen. John McCain fought over tax policy and farm subsidies, while McCain was pushed to defend his centerpiece campaign finance proposals. Bush, who had been under pressure to improve upon previous performances, showed a new assertiveness.

Bush challenged McCain to include working women in his tax cutting plans, while McCain asked Bush to join in on campaign finance reform.

"We can commit to having nothing to do with soft money," McCain told Bush. "I hope you'll make that commitment right here tonight."

"I don't think that's fair, I think that's unilateral disarmament," Bush said. Looking to McCain, he said "It's going to hurt the Republican Party, John."

"We have a flawed campaign finance system ... that (has) given the megaphone to the big-money people," retorted McCain, of Arizona.

For his part, Bush questioned McCain directly on taxes, saying his plan did little for working women. "I'm wondering why," Bush asked.

The exchange was their most intense in the race for the Republican presidential nomination, reflecting a campaign where Bush's once commanding lead has begun to erode in some important early states.

Their rivals -- Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah, millionaire publisher Steve Forbes, former State Department official Alan Keyes and former Reagan administration official Gary Bauer -- tried hard but had difficulty injecting themselves into the mix.

Bush is the front-runner by far in national polls, and is rated a solid favorite in Iowa, where the first delegates will be picked in precinct caucuses on Jan. 24. McCain has no organized effort in Iowa, but has pulled even -- or slightly ahead -- in New Hampshire, the leadoff primary state, according to the most recent soundings. His rise there presents a challenge to Bush's effort to march unfettered to the nomination.

Looking to buck the tide, McCain clashed with his rivals by going out of his way to trash subsidies for ethanol, a gasoline additive made from corn, which are very popular in Iowa.

"I'm here to tell you things you don't want to hear as well as things you want to hear," said McCain. "Everybody here on this stage, if it wasn't for the fact that Iowa has the first caucuses, would share my view that we don't need ethanol subsidies."

Bush quickly countered that "I'd support ethanl whether I was in Iowa or not."

Bush, whose performances in two debates earlier this month were seen as lackluster, seemed more forceful and willing to engage his foes in the debate Monday night, which was televised on MSNBC.

"Tonight, he stepped up," one party supporter said.

For his part, McCain was seeking to polish his image as a maverick willing to take on special interests, even when they are popular with the local audience.

Bauer sought to make points on abortion, pushing Bush to pledge not to pick an abortion rights supporter as a running mate -- an invitation Bush declined to accept.

Bush said only that he'd pick a running mate who shares his "conservative views."

Bush, who has come under fire for refusing to toughen gun control laws as governor of Texas, argued that there are already adequate state and federal gun laws. He said what was needed was better enforcement to keep guns out of the wrong hands, particularly at the federal level.

"We need to send the signal -- don't be illegally selling guns and don't be illegally using guns," Bush said. "I think the best accountability for somebody who breaks the law with a gun is called jail -- certain jail."

There were also moments of humor.

When Forbes at one point said he was nervous about a question from Hatch and thinking of holding onto his wallet, Hatch joked: "Steve I couldn't even lift your wallet."

The next debate will be held Jan. 6 in New Hampshire, which will hold the first-in-the-nation presidential primary on Feb. 1.