CNN LARRY KING LIVE

(page 1)

OCTOBER 6, 1996
SPEAKERS LIST: LARRY KING, CNN HOST
ROSS PEROT, REFORM PARTY PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE
RALPH NADER, GREEN PARTY PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE
HARRY BROWNE, LIBERTARIAN PARTY PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE
JOHN HAGELIN, NATURAL LAW PARTY PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE
HOWARD PHILLIPS, U.S. TAXPAYERS PARTY PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE

KING: We're going to spend 45 minutes with Ross Perot to give him the same time the candidates were given. And then, 45 minutes with the other four principal candidates who are on, if not in all the states, most of the states, and who were not accorded time tonight.

We start with Ross Perot. We're going to stay as close as we can to the way the debate was done. That is, there'll be no phone calls this evening. We'll ask as many questions as was covered by Jim Lehrer in the debate, and some of course, that don't apply, but do apply to Ross.

And we'll start with the -- they were given a two-minute speech at the beginning. We'll ask you, as a question mark, why should you have been in this debate if you're running only five percent in the polls?

PEROT: Because we met all of the objective criteria of the debate commission. The debate commission has five Democrats and five Republicans as commissioners, and they were very careful to keep this in the two-party system.

Then, the Federal Election Commission, of which they report to, will not consider any problems the debate commission for 120 days. Well, the election is over at that point.

KING: But the same...

PEROT: Seventy-six -- let me give you the compelling reason, Larry -- 76 percent of the American people wanted us in the debate, and we have a party in all 50 states. We were in the campaign last time and we were included in the debates. This has nothing to do with giving the people a choice. It has everything to do with protecting the two-party system.

KING: Why were you included last time?

PEROT: Because -- the last time, probably somebody in the two- party system thought it would benefit one or the other candidates. But we were included.

KING: But President Clinton wanted you included in this one.

PEROT: Well, it's interesting that none of the five Democratic commissioners voted. It was a unanimous vote against us.

KING: OK.

PEROT: And we were just locked out by the system. That's the way the system works now, and that's a compelling reason for the people to have a voice in their government.

KING: And now in some cases, we'll be asking the same questions they were asked tonight, to make this as far as possible. Of course, in some cases, it doesn't apply. What did you think of the debate?

PEROT: Well, it was interesting to listen to. My concern is that they never went to the core problems. The core problem is that we have two parties that control our government. These two...

KING: But they're the two parties. And they're not going to call themselves the problem.

PEROT: These -- of course not. But that is the problem. But that is the problem because both parties are bought and paid for by the groups that fund their campaign.

KING: They were asked about that.

PEROT: It costs too much for campaigns now because campaigns go on too long. We must have campaign finance reform. They won't do it.

KING: But they were asked about it, and both said they would.

PEROT: Yes, but they got to speak for a minute or two on each issue. And it helps if you can complete your thought. So they don't -- they won't face campaign finance reform. That's one of our fundamental reforms that we know are necessary.

But here is the key problem. Once they get elected, they are obligated to pay back the people who funded their campaigns, and they do it with our taxpayer money. And as I listened to these arguments all through the night, none of them ever came down to the harsh realities of where we are financially as a nation.

I would like to very briefly focus the American people on the fact that if they would go to page 25 of President Clinton's 1995 budget -- those are his numbers -- he forecast that the next generation to be born, a little baby born tonight, will pay an 82 percent tax rate.

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