December 3, 1999
Web posted at: 10:36 a.m. EST (1536 GMT)

MANCHESTER, New Hampshire (NHPrimary.com) -- The state and national Democratic leaders lampooned Texas Gov. George W. Bush’s debate performance even before he gave it Thursday.

Democratic National Committee Chairman Joe Andrew and New Hampshire Democratic Chairwoman Kathy Sullivan mocked all rival party competitors with a mock game show, "Who wants to be a Republican presidential nominee?’’

The stunt was a takeoff on the immensely popular TV show "Who Wants to be a Millionaire,’’ in which host Regis Philbin quizzes people with each question leading up to a $1 million jackpot.

People get three lifelines to call a friend, eliminate two of four incorrect answers or poll the audience if they get stumped.

"Who wants to be the GOP nominee, a game show even George W. Bush can win,’’ Andrew quipped.

Sullivan attacked Bush’s proposed tax cut, which would sweeten tax brackets and child care credits so a family of four making $35,000 a year would pay no taxes.

"You will hear him talk about a tax plan that is new and fair, but when you tear away the flowery wrapping paper, the Bush tax plan is one present New Hampshire voters will be standing in line to return,’’ Sullivan said.

"New Hampshire voters remember all too well the last time a Bush came up here promising to cut our taxes. We’ve been there, we’ve done that and we still remember the five banks that closed during the last Bush presidency. New Hampshire doesn’t have enough banks to survive another Bush presidency.’’

But a Bush aide said the five-year $483 billion tax cut plan would mean 6 million people would no longer owe any income taxes and would give the biggest percentage break to those who owe the least, reducing the bottom tax bracket from 15 percent to 10 percent.

But Sullivan seized on an analysis by the liberal Citizens for Tax Justice that claimed the bottom 20 percent of taxpayers would get an average cut of $43 a year, while the wealthiest 1 percent would get an average break of $50,166.

"Read my lips, the richest 1 percent of taxpayers get 100 times more tax relief than do middle-income families, a $50,000 tax cut for the rich as opposed to only $500 for working-class families,’’ Sullivan said.

"New Hampshire voters can’t afford another Bush tax cut. We’ll need more than three lifelines to survive that.’’

Republican State Chairman Steve Duprey hit back, recalling it was Democratic candidate Bill Clinton who promised New Hampshire voters a middle-class tax cut and approved the largest tax increase in history.

"I remember the largest tax increase in history was passed under Bill Clinton with Al Gore’s tie-breaking vote,’’ Duprey said.

"If Kathy wants to hold the son guilty for the sins of the father, then Al Gore is to blame for Monica Lewinsky.’’

Friday, December 3, 1999

• Forbes raises questions about Bush's past; Texas governor calls for 'clean' campaign
• Appeals court judge questions court assignment rule
• Clinton raises money for outgoing Philadelphia mayor
• Analysis: The GOP debate
• Quick takes from the GOP candidates' forum
• Sen. Wellstone, two NH state senators scold Gore for 'distortion'
• Democrats make sport of Republicans before cameras start rolling
• Gore continues focus on Bradley
• Hillary Clinton names campaign manager

ARCHIVES