Description: Meg Vaillancourt reports that Jesse Jackson has released position papers detailing his stance on domestic issues. Vaillancourt reviews Jackson's positions on the economy, trade, employment, social programs, defense spending, and taxes. Interview with labor union leader Domenic Bozzotto and Harvard professor Roger Porter about Jackson's positions on the issues. Bozzotto defends Jackson's platform while Porter criticizes it. Vaillancourt notes that Jackson would support his social programs through cuts in defense spending and increased taxes on wealthy Americans. Vaillancourt reports that Jackson's position as the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination challenges other candidates to defend their positions on the issues. This edition of the Ten O'Clock News also included the following item: James Farmer speaks at a ceremony in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr.
1:00:07: Visual: C-Span footage of Jesse Jackson (US Democratic Presidential Candidate) addressing the Democratic Convention in 1984. The audience cheers for Jackson. Footage of Jackson quoting poetry to a reporter. On-screen visuals list details about Jackson's position on the economy. On-screen text reads, "Invest pensions in America." Meg Vaillancourt reports that Jackson has a stack of position papers on economic issues. Vaillancourt notes that Jackson advocates the investment of pension funds in federally-guaranteed securities; that Jackson would use the capital to fund public housing, roads, and other public works projects; that the investment of 10% of US pensions would yield $60 billion for projects. V: Shot of Jackson talking about his positions at a forum; of Jackson addressing supporters at a campaign rally. Footage of Domenic Bozzotto (President, Hotel Workers Union) that he likes Jackson' s idea of putting pension money to work for social good; that Jackson's plan also gives a fair return on the investment. Footage of Roger Porter (Harvard University) being interviewed by Vaillancourt. Porter says that Jackson's plan calls for government guarantees on pension investments; that the government could end up paying the difference on a poor investment. Vaillancourt says that trade issues are another important issue in the election. V: On-screen visuals list details about Jackson's position on trade issues. On-screen text reads, "Adopt 'corporate code of conduct'." Footage of Jackson saying that General Electric is the number one exporter from Taiwan. Vaillancourt reports that Jackson believes that cheap overseas labor is the main cause of the US trade deficit. Vaillancourt reports that Jackson would abolish tax incentives for US companies abroad; that Jackson would insist that America's trading partners pay the same wages as those earned by US workers. V: Shots of Jackson marching with union workers. Footage of Bozzotto saying that "slave wages" paid to workers abroad will undercut organized labor in the US. Footage of Porter saying that the US cannot impose these policies on its trading partners. Vaillancourt reports that Jackson is a populist on employment issues. V: On-screen visuals and text detail Jackson's position on employment. Vaillancourt reports that Jackson supports an increase in the minimum wage; that Jackson supports the passage of a worker bill of rights; that Jackson supports the plant closing law; that Jackson supports comparable pay for jobs of comparable worth. V: Footage of Jackson addressing supporters. On-screen visuals detail Jackson's positions on social programs. Vaillancourt talks about Jackson's position on social programs. Vaillancourt reports that Jackson supports universal day care and national health care; that Jackson would double spending on education; that Jackson would focus on combatting drugs. V: Footage of Porter saying that the government cannot support the increase in spending required by Jackson's social programs. Footage of Bozzotto saying that Jackson's programs would get the average person involved in the economy. Vaillancourt reports that Jackson believes that social programs can be paid for through cuts in the defense budget. V: On-screen visuals and text detail Jackson's position on defense issues. Vaillancourt reports that Jackson would eliminate the MX, the Midgetman and the Trident missiles; that Jackson would eliminate the F-15 fighter plane, the stealth bomber, and the Strategic Defense Initiative. V: Footage of Bozzotto saying that there is "fat" to be cut out of the defense budget. Footage of Porter saying that Jackson is misguided in thinking that cuts in the defense budget will yield great savings. Vaillancourt reports that Jackson is the only current Democratic candidate who has talked about taxes. V: Footage of Jackson saying that "Reaganomics" exempted some people from paying taxes. On-screen visuals and text detail Jackson's position on taxes. Vaillancourt reports that Jackson would increase the corporate tax rate to 46%; that Jackson would raise the tax rate to 38.5% for residents with incomes above $100,000; that Jackson would impose an oil import fee. V: Footage of Porter saying that Jackson's tax policy would rob the private sector of money for productive investment. Footage of Bozzotto saying that Jackson is not afraid of the American people; that Jackson is not afraid to advocate change. Vaillancourt reports that the media and the public are now paying attention to Jackson's positions on the issues; that Jackson's position as a frontrunner challenges other candidates to defend their own positions.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 04/04/1988
Description: Deborah Wang reports on the vice-presidential debate between Lloyd Bentsen and Dan Quayle. Wang reports that the candidates failed to debate any issues related to the African American community and minority voters, and there was no discussion of drugs, urban unemployment, housing, or discrimination. Footage from the vice-presidential debate. The African American community leaders were disappointed in the debate because there were no minorities represented on the panel of questioners. Interview with Dr. Kenneth Edelin, of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, and Mickey Leland, US Congressman from Texas, about the lack of minority participation in the debate. Wang reports that the many leaders at an NAACP Legal Defense Fund luncheon were dissatisfied with the Dukakis campaign. Interview with City Councilor Bruce Bolling about the need for the candidates to address urban issues. Many minority voters supported Jackson for president. Wang notes that Dukakis will have to make an effort to bring minority voters to the polls on election day.
1:00:09: Visual: Footage from the vice-presidential debate between Lloyd Bentsen (Democratic vice-presidential candidiate) and Dan Quayle (Republican vice-presidential candidate) on October 5, 1988. The candidates shake hands and stand behind podiums. Deborah Wang reports that the candidates debated the federal deficit, farm subsidies, social security, campaign contributions, and other subjects. V: Footage of the candidates, the panel of questioners and the audience at the debate. Wang reports that the candidates failed any issues related to African American and minority voters. V: Footage of Dr. Kenneth Edelin (NAACP Legal Defense Fund) saying that some voters are frustrated because substantive issues are not being discussed in the campaign. Edelin says that issues of importance to minority voters are not being discussed. Wang reports that there was no discussion of drugs, urban unemployment, housing or discrimination; that the candidates had one exchange about the issue of poverty. V: Footage of Quayle and Bentsen at the debate. Quayle says that the administration of George Bush (Republican US presidential nominee) would be committed to eradicating poverty. Bentsen notes that the Reagan administration has not supported the passage of a sweeping welfare reform bill. Shots of the members of the panel of questioners at the debate. Wang reports that African American leaders were unsatisfied with the debate because there were no minorities on the panel of questioners. Wang notes that there were no minorities on the panel of questioners at the debate between Bush and Michael Dukakis (Democratic US presidential nominee). V: Footage of Dukakis and Bush at the presidential debate on September 25, 1988. Shots of the panel of questioners. Footage of Mickey Leland (US Congressman from Texas) being interviewed by Wang. Leland says that he is upset about the lack of minority participation in the debates. Leland says that the issues of concern to minority voters need to be discussed. Wang reports that the NAACP Legal Defense Fund met today for a luncheon; that the NAACP is an overwhelmingly Democratic organization. Wang reports that African American leaders are unsatisfied with the organization of the Democratic campaign. V: Shots of the crowd at the NAACP luncheon. Footage of Bruce Bolling (Boston City Council) saying that the candidates need to address issues of economic development and expanded job creation. Bolling says that the candidates should address the needs of urban America. Footage of Jesse Jackson (African American political leader) at a campaign rally in Wisconsin. Shots of the audience at the rally. Jackson pulls on a T-shirt over his dress shirt. The crowd cheers for Jackson. Wang reports that Jackson had been the candidate of choice for many minority voters; that Jackson is campaigning for Dukakis. Wang reports that Jackson supporters say that Dukakis needs to make an effort to bring African American voters to the polls. V: Footage of Edelin saying that Dukakis's strategy involves pursuing the "Reagan Democrats." Edelin says that the Democratic Party cannot win without the African American vote. Shots of the crowd at the NAACP luncheon.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 10/06/1988