The earnest professor, Al Gore, demolished the foot-in-the-door salesman, Ross Perot, in Tuesday's highly hyped trade debate. But it probably won't amount to a hill of beans.
Measured by points scored by debating rules, time and again on the 90-minute Larry King Live show on Cable Network News, Gore won by making most of the arguments he was primed to list, being polite and keeping his cool.Perot threw in all his one-liners but got sidetracked by points such as his hatred of lobbyists. He lost his temper and consistently said such rude, pointless things to the vice president as: "Would you even know the truth if you saw it?" and, "Are you going to listen? Work on it."
Despite their tense verbal clash, the debate is unlikely to affect the outcome in the House of Representatives when it votes next Wednesday.
But the debate of the year was occasionally diverting. Frequently looking straight at the camera instead of at Gore or King, Perot was taut, testy and tired. He never did explain why he once favored NAFTA and now opposes it.
Gore was polite but wore a bemused expression as he stared at Perot and was disdainful of many of Perot's allegations. He frequently shook his head ruefully and looked at King for support in his clear belief that Perot was out to lunch again.
But Gore was never able to explain why, if NAFTA is such a good deal, labor is so adamantly opposed to it. And his constant professorial references to the Smoot-Hawley tariff, the protectionist tax some say helped cause the Depression, were unnecessary. So was his gift to Perot of a black-and-white photo of Smoot and Hawley, which Perot tossed disdainfully aside.
The debate was not particularly enlightening to the many Americans who are confused about the complex trade agreement and what it would mean to the average person. Nor did it end debate over the numbers of how many jobs would be lost in the short run or how much the United States would benefit in the long run.
It is doubtful that the debate changed many minds. Certainly the two dozen members of the House of Representatives who have not yet committed to one side or another would not be likely to be swayed by 90 disjointed minutes of Gore vs. Perot on TV.
The White House is increasingly confident it will eke out a narrow victory next Wednesday. If NAFTA wins, Gore looks good. But if NAFTA fails, Perot does not necessarily lose face or stature. He almost certainly will still be running for president and seeking media attention.
The major irritant of the debate was the frequency of commercials. The network even advertised a videotape of "The NAFTA Debate" selling for $19.98 plus $3.95 shipping and handling. One can only shudder to think of how it will be reviewed by TV critics.
King concluded, "Thanks for this historic evening."
Maybe that means it won't happen again.