US Presidency
1984

Isn't it one aspect of leadership for prominent Democrats such as yourself to encourage responsible reductions in spending, and thereby reduce the deficit? Mr. Mondale. Absolutely, and I proposed over a hundred billion dollars in cuts in federal spending over 4 years, but I am not going to cut it out of Social Security and Medicare and student assistance and things, , that people need. These people depend upon all of us for the little security that they have, and I am not going to do it that way. The rate of defense spending increase can be slowed. Certainly we can find a coffeepot that costs something less than $ 7,000. And there are other ways of squeezing this budget without constantly picking on our senior citizens and the most vulnerable in American life. And that's why the Congress, including the Republicans, have not gone along with the President's recommendations. Ms. Walters. I would like to ask the audience please to refrain from applauding either side; it just takes away from the time for your candidates.