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NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
March 2, 2000 Vol. CXXXIX, No. 33
Candidates debate role of president
Event: Discussion between Vice President Al Core und former Sen. Bill Brudley ulso uddressed religion
Hy KIMBEKI.Y TABA
Alignment lUlilor
Campaign finance reform, congressional records and the role of the president were the recurring topics between Vice President Al Gore and former U.S. Sen. Kill Bradley at the Los Angeles 'D'mcs/CNN democratic debate Wednesday at Ihe I lurry Chandler Auditorium.
Much of the debate centered around agreement on issues between the Democratic candidates and criticism of the Republican candidates, However, the discussion heated up in the last 10 minutes when the ongoing issue of Gore's congressional record was raised.
“What I'm saying is that when you run for president, your public record is important,” Bradley said. “It defines who you are; it defines what fights you’ve made."
Bradley added that iu the course of the campaign, Gore's positions on the NRA, tobacco and abortion 11uvc ciiuuged. Gore icw|x,inJcU wilh u wiuriAuiliuii of
his stance - against the NRA and pro-choice.
“In his congressional career, Al voted five times to support the tax exempt status for schools that practice racial discrimination, such as Bob Jones," Bradley said.
"Well, I’m sorry you brought that up again," Gore replied, "because I disposed of that in the last debate by pointing out that Bob .Jones University still does not have its tax exemption because it lost its tax exemption under the law that I supported.”
Another recent issue has been whether Bradley will stay in the race for the Democratic nomination.
“Next Tuesday, 8.5 million people will vote and a third of delegates will be selected,” Bradley said. “I’m looking to next Tuesday as a take off day for me,” Bradley said, denying that his recent statement that he would support Gore was a concession.
While Gore relied on his past achievements, actions and experiences in answering the questions that the panel of democratic audience members posed, questions submitted through the CNN web site and from media panelists for the 90-minute debate, Bradley focused on why he entered the presidential race and how politics need to be changed.
Each candidate had the opportunity to answer the question, hear the other side and respond to the opponent’s comments.
Religion should not be a part of politics, Bradley began, answering a question from the audience about
I see Debate, page 15 I
McCain urges political, party reform
Speech: Broudcast of MSNBC program brings presidential candidute to USC campus
BY JENNIFER MEDINA
Projects/Training Kditor
Politics and the Republican Party must undergo reform in order to attract young voters, John McCain said during a live broadcast of MSNBC’s Hardball in Bovard Auditorium on Wednesday afternoon.
“We are perceived as a exclusionary party,” McCain said. “Ask any Hispanic in this state. We want to reach out to young people. That’s what this campaign is all about...This is about giving (young people) back the government.”
The Arizona senator said he would support projects such as Head Start that would put all children on an equal play-
ing field for learning.
"We want to connect young people to government again,” he said. "We want them to be interested in a cause greater than self interest...We want to energize young people.”
Hundreds of students packed Bovard Auditorium to listen to host Chris Matthews’ questions and pose questions themselves. The Annenberg School for Communication sponsored the event as part of Hardball's College Tour.
McCain has repeatedly criticized opponent George W. Bush for speaking at South Carolina’s Bob Jones University, which is reputed to be anti-Catholic and prohibits interracial dating.
“I want everyone to have the opportunity to be educationally qualified to go wherever you want to go," McCain said.
Parents from all income levels have a desire to obtain a high-quality education for their children and there is still a
growing gap between the have and have-nots, McCain said.
The Boys and Girls Club and other youth organizations help to eradicate discrimination, which is still a problem in America, McCain said.
Regardless of the polls, McCain said he w ill not change his principles to conform to popular opinion.
‘The one thing I cannot be is afraid to lose," McCain said. “It will distort everything I do.”
Voters should not choose or eliminate any candidate based on one issue, McCain said referring to his stance against abortion.
“I respcct the pro-choice opinion," he said “I also happen to be pro-life and proud of it. I also believe adoption should be much easier in America.” Dozens of students held banners reading phrases such as “Integrity —
I	see McCain, page 8 I
Sometimes ‘free’ things are anything but
YOUR
MONEY
A column appearing every Thursday that examines student finance
By COLIN D. SMITH
Managing Kditor
There’s no such thing as free money — or a free car, for that matter. With Student Senate about to announce its Ford Focus winner and ThinkLink Ink., an internet messaging service, still taking entries for its Honda Civic raffle in Hahn Plaza, most students forget that free doesn’t always mean free.
In the case of ThinkLink, wherein the winner actually owns the car, the federal taxes, as well as registration and licensing costs, must be paid by the student.
“We wanted to pay the taxes, but were legally not able to,” said Rachel Polish, a public relations manager at ThinkLink. “By law the student has to pay taxes and licensing on the vehicle.” Federal taxes on the car, valued at
$14,095, could reach at least $2,114.25 if the student is ranked in the lowest income bracket.
“(Students) should be at a very low tax bracket,” said Thomas Griffith, a professor of taxation at the law school. ‘Their taxes will be quite minimal because you have your own personal tax deduction and, at 15 percent, wouldn’t end up paying more than $2,000.”
In addition to writing off the tax burden, winning the car through another organization, vs. purchasing the car yourself, has some added benefits.
“If it’s a gift or a prize they would incur no (California) sales tax liability,” said Vic Anderson, a supervising tax auditor for the State Board of Equalization. “If the dealership is registering it, they can take care of the (registration) taxes at that time.”
ThinkLink has chosen to use a third
party sweepstakes specialist, Solution Group, to handle the raffle’s legal details.
“We use the third party to make it legal,” said Danielle Incorvaia, ThinkLink assistant promotions manager. “When Solution Group picks the winner, they contact them and handle everything.”
Automobile registration is handled at Kaiser Brothers Honda, the dealership that sold the car for the raffle, but the student still needs to pick up the tab.
While ThinkLink can purchase the car, thus paying all necessary state sales tax, the act of doing so would render it used — making the phrase “Win a brand new Honda Coupe,” as is in their promotional materials, fraudulent.
Some students find the hidden costs of a free car, whether necessary or not, misleading.
“I thought about (registering at
I	see Money, page 18 I
Initiative to ease school bond passage
Election: Prop. 26 will lessen percentage that is needed for approval from 2/3 to 1/2 of votes
By JENNY J. LIN
Staff Writer
While voting yes on Prop. 26 on March 7 will make school tends easier to be approved by local voters with a majority vote instead of a two-thirds vote, some fear that the proposition will result in a
I	see Proposition, page 2 I
Jowiou Nilkk I Daily Trajnn
Political principle*. Hardball float Chris Mattfxiws and Hepubllcan praaldontlul hopotul John McCain broadcast a livo afiuw Wvdnasday.