I’m sitting in the back with Amanda, Jen, Gwynn and Jessica. The forum just began, with Matt Bai’s announcement that today is Barack’s birthday (yeah Leos).
Joan McCarter, a contributor at Daily Kos, asked the first question, directed at Bill Richardson. In an earlier debate, Richardson said that he would appoint Supreme Court justices in the vein of Byron White. McCarter pointed out that White was in the minority in both Roe and Miranda — given that, would Richardson like to re-consider his previous answer?
Richardon said yes:
“I would say [to potential Supreme Court justices], do you believe it is settled law in civil rights, in privacy?I would also ask in Roe vs. Wade, do you consider Roe vs. Wade settled civil law? and if they do, i might appoint them, and if they don’t they’re out.”
Ezra Klein just got a shout-out from Joan, as “one of the leading health care bloggers in the blogosphere.” Indeed, Ezra is awesome.
Sen. Clinton responded that she’s proud of the work she did in 1993 with health care reform. She said that all the Democratic contestants are in favor of universal health care, and that is astonishing and positive.
Obama is saying that we need to not renew the Bush tax cuts; that we need to re-institute some of Clinton’s tax cut policies; and that we need to stop throwing so much money into the Iraq war. “I am not going to shortchange making sure that we have early childhood education for every child … making sure that every single American has health care … we’ve got to make some investments.”
Matt Bai directs a question at Edwards: Once you start to abide certain amounts of deficit, how do you stop Congress from spending more and more and more?
Edwards says that we need “big changes, not small changes.” “There’s a basic question that has to be answered … which is, ‘Who will be about change? Who is the candidate for change? And how do we bring about change?” He adds, “I don’t think insurance companies or oil companies are going to voluntarily give away their power.” He says “to bring about change, you need someone who has fought these people their entire lives… they are not going to give their power away voluntarily, we have to take their power from them with their help.”
Richardson doesn’t like Edwards’ answer. He responds, “Look, these are very fine speeches. But you’re looking at someone who has had to balance five budgets as a governor.” Richardson says we need a Constitutional amendment to balance the budget, with pay-as-you-go. We have to get rid of 73 billion in corporate welfare. We have to get rid of earmarks — we’re talking about 13 billion dollras. “You can give speeches about changes and leadership, but this is obscene.”
A question from Jason from The Seminal.com is read about media consolidation and access to media. Senator Clinton is asked whether we need more media regulation to insure public access. Clinton responds that we need more competition, and we need to make sure that the architecture of the internet stays open. “I obviously believes that this administration is not going to enforce the laws we have on the books” and that we need to “look at what we need to do going forward.” She says that we need to make sure that the internet stays open so that it doesn’t get put into the domain of one or a few media organizations.
Matt Bai directs a question to Kucinich about re-evaluating old programs — is there a government program or agency that has outlived it suseful and that you would shut down?
Kucinich says he would shut down programs related to the nuclear power industry. He changes the subject and says that he thinks it’s important for the American people to know that “there’s a candidate for president that believes in universal single-payer” health care. “Even the insurance companies want universal health are as long as the government is subsidizing it.” He adds that “It’s important for all of us to understant that the American people are already paying for a universal standard of care they just aren’t getting it.”
Jeffrey asks Sen. Edwards about the consolidation of executive power, and what he will do to restore balance.
Edwards says he will be the president who restores faith and balance. “The first day I’m president of the united states i will close Guantanamo.” He says that under him, “There will be no spying on the American people. There will be no secret prison. this is not America. This is not who we are.” He says that he doesn’t take money from Washington lobbyists, and that Sen. Obama doesn’t either — and he challenges other candidates to do the same. “From this day forward, not a dime from the Washington lobbyist… their money is no good for us.” He got HUGE applause for that one — and his delivery was pretty great. (Ms. Marcotte just turned to me and said, “You can see why I worked for him”).
Sen. Gravel was just asked about his tax structure, which would eliminate the IRS and institute a 23 percent sales and service tax. Joan asks him how low-income people are going to survive waiting for their rebate check every month.
Gravel responds that “you need to know how politics works.” Everyone hisses. He says not to worry about the Fair Tax, because it will never pass Congress. He discusses the corruption and the structural flaws in Congress. “The answer is with you, the American people, to acquire law-making power. That is where the power lies.”
Now the foreign policy section is beginning.
Joan directs a question toward Clinton about withdrawing the troops for Iraq. She discusses her fight with the Pentagon to announce the removal plan, and she says that there’s been resistance in the Bush administration because they don’t want to pull the troops out. She says we need to put more pressure on the Iraqi government, and that we need to make aid conditional.
Kucinich says that he thinks Bush and Cheney should be impeached for lying. Everyone stands and cheers.
Dodd points out that while this administration has been a failure, the men and women on the ground in Iraq have not been failures.
Richardson: “I have a one-point plan to deal with Iraq: Get out.” He adds, “I believe we should leave no residual forces whatsoever.”
Bai challenges him on his previous statements on Darfur, where he promoted intervention. Richardson says that there already is a civil war in Iraq, and that we need to de-authorize it.
Bai asks Obama about terrorism, and whether American foreign policy contributed to terrorism, and whether we did anything to fuel international terrorism.
Obama responds that there is no excuse for 9/11, but in our reaction to 9/11 we certainly fueled anti-Americanism. He says we need to put more pressure on Pakistan, and focus on Afghanistan, Osama bin Laden and Al Qaeda. We haven’t always had the most intelligent policies in the Middle East. He proposes to double our foreign aid, because “if we are building schools that are teaching math and science instead of anti-Americanism,” then we are creating positive change for how America is perceived. If we shut down Guantanamo and restore Habeas Corpus, then we also help to restore our international reputation.
Edward: “We are not safer under this president.” He proposes a long-term strategy, because “this has been a foreign policy of convenience, and America is paying the price for it.” The War on Terror, he says, is a bumper sticker.
Sen. Clinton says that there is a lot of anti-Bush feeling in the world, but that it is not at root as anti-American as it is anti-Bush. “It is absolutely fair to say that we have made some progress in becoming safer, because our first responders are prepared and vigilant.” But the Bush-Cheney policies have unleashed such hatred of us that we are not safer. We need to use every tool at our disposal, but military outreach should be our last resort, not our first resort. It is not a bumper sticker, it is not a slogan, it is a long-term struggle to protect American value. We should never again sacrifice American values.
Kucinich says, “I just think the country would have been better served if there had been a level of analysis before we got into Iraq.” The neocon doctrine of strength through peace leads to unilateralism, first strike, and the other kids of policies you see from this Administration. He suggests “strength through peace,” which promotes diplomacy and international law, and urges his co-panelists to change their paradigm.
Jeffrey asks Obama about China. Sen. Obama says that we “first need to get our own house in order so that we have more leverage to deal with human rights issues all over the world.” We have to put pressure on them when it comes to human rights, we have to put pressure on them when it comes to trade. They are manipulating their currency, and taking advantage of our markets while keeping theirs closed. “The most important thing we can do in terms of creating a sound relationship with china is making sure that we are active in the world.” When he traveled through Africa, “It was shocking to hear Africans say that the Chinese presence is as obvious as the American absence.” The Chinese are building roads and schools, and the Americans are nowhere to be seen. “We are neglecting all sorts of challenges and opportunities all around the world that China is now taking advantage of.”
Sen. Dodd discusses living abroad, and how important it is for Americans to learn about other cultures. He discusses his work in the Peace Corps, and how it helps you recognize that the hopes and aspirations of people all over the world are no different from the hopes and aspirations of Americans. He would triple the size of th Peace Corp, would put a million more people in AmeriCorps, and would expand opportunities for Americans to go abroad and serve.
Joan asks Edwards about Pakinstani President Musharaff, and asks if we’re trading Communism for Terrorism when it comes to supporting corrupt and dangerous leaders no matter what, as long as they’re on our “side.” Edwards says that we need to increase pressure on Musharraf, and that we need to push him to promote America and what we represent. Musharraf told hm that what his people need is education, especially primary school education. Edwards says that he wants to increase education all over the world, and that he wants to fight disease like HIV/AIDS. “Soft power is important.” He says that we have economic and diplomatic leverage with Musharraf, and we need to leverage that. The $20 billion Saudi arms deal is an example of short-term and poor foreign policy. It could create an arms race in the Middle East and a serious imbalance of power, and he hopes that Congress stops it.
Richardson also answers the “How do we deal with Musharraf?” question. He says that the Bush/Cheney policy with Musharraf is one of appeasement, and that we need to push him with sanctions and tough diplomacy. Richards points out that Musharraf “doesn’t like elections,” that he likes to stay in power, and that he has a poor human rights record.
Jeffrey asks a question from John Pontificator: If elected, will you hire an official White House blogger? (Ed: Awesome).
John Edwards says that his official White House blogger will be Elizabeth Edwards. Then he smirks.
Gravel says that blogging should be a tool of the President himself or herself — “You don’t have to hire someone to be your blogger, do it yourself.” (Ed: More awesome).
Joan asks Gravel, “Are all elected officials in Alaska corrupt, or is it just the Republicans?”
He says no, and that it’s an embarrassment for the state. All politicians walk in the mud because of the way the system is structured. You have to raise money. “We raise millions of dollars for these people to talk to you, when in fact we all know that money is the corrupting agent of politics.”
Joan asks if anyone on this panel would be willing to go to Alaska or any of the other 50 states to campaign, following Howard Dean’s 50-state model? Bai follows, How many candidates on state, as a nominee of your party, would commit to visit all 50 states?
Obama says that every election ends up with a 50-plus-one spread, and that the ten percent in the middle (who all live in Iowa and Florida) who are catered to. If we are actually going to change how things are done, we have to expand our voter base.
Kucinich says, “Why don’t people vote? Because they don’t think there’s much of a difference between the two parties.” The crowd doesn’t like that, and they hiss. Kucinich says, “Of course I’m going to visit all 50 states, but in addition to that I’m going to visit Israel, Palestine, Syria, Iran” and all the other nations we need to have conversations with.
Clinton says that she thinks Dean’s strategy is absolutely right. In New York, her campaign was state-wide — she’s going to tell people i all the red states and all the red parts of the blue states that too often we lose because we don’t pay attention to them that she wants to be the President for all of them. She will have a 50-state strategy and build on the work that Howard has done.
Richardson says that there was a lot of resistance of Dean’s strategy, but that it has been increasingly important to Democrats winning. He speaks about voting rights, and the need to have ballot validation and the assurance that people of color will not be marginalized.
Edwards says, “There is no place in America.. .that doesn’t believe the system is rigged, and that it’s rigged against them.” They know who writes the laws. They know that the laws are written by lobbyists. “They know who has the power in Washington DC, and they know it’s not them.” He says we need to stop worrying about strategy and start focusing on change. He makes another statement about how he will not take lobbyists’ money.
Bai turns to Clinton and asks her what she thinks about the lobbyists.
She says that no one seriously believes that she’s going to be influenced by a lobby group. She looks uncomfortable, and says something like, That’s certainly John’s position. Everyone laughs and boos and hisses. “This gives me a real sense of reality by my being here. The important thing is what you have fought for and what you will fight for. I absolutely will be on the front lines of the change we need.” She adds that “A lot of those lobbyists, whether you like it or not, represent real Americans. They represent nurses, they represent social workers,” and the idea that a contribution is going to influence you is silly. Her core principles have not changed.
Dodd says we need public financing for elections, and that would get rid off all of these issues. He yells. Everyone stands and applauds. Bai asks which of the candidates want public financing, and all the candidates raise their hands.
Obama says that he’s happy Dodd is on board with public financing — Dodd yells at Obama that he isn’t a newbie, nad he’s been here for 15 years.
Obama turns to Clinton and calls her out for mentioning her 92 health care policy, and says, “You can’t tell me that that [lobbyist] money didn’t have a difference. they are not spending that because they are contributing to the public interest. They have an agenda.” He says that until we get to a point where we have public financing, there’s still a lot we can do.
Edwards says that he can demonstrate how much power Washington lobbyists have, and he asks how many people in the room have a lobbyist working for them. Three people (out of hundreds) raise their hands. “You are not represented by Washington lobbyists. We need to cut these people off.”
Kucinich says, “Would Senator Edwards be willing to expand that to include Wall Street hedge funds??”
And it’s getting hot in here.
Edwards says that he will not take money from people who spend their lives and their days lobbying politicans and Congress. We need to raise money from nurses and doctors and people who work on Wall Street in order to have a serious campaign.
There’s a question about restructuring the Homeland Security department.
Richardson says yes — and that first we need to appoint people who know what they’re doing.
Dodd says that as president of the United States, he will use executive orders to do away with the anti-Constitutional laws that have been pushed through under this administration.
Obama asks, “What are we going to do with the executive branch, not just the Department of Homeland Security?” He says that he will appoint people for whom the Constitution is more than an “inconvenience,” and that he will push through a strict ethics bill so that we don’t have the kind of situation where someone is in change of planning the prescription drug bill and then goes to work in Big Pharma.
Clinton says she had legislation that passed which said that people should be qualified for their jobs that they do — but that Bush bypassed it in his appointments. She makes a joke about the Vice President’s “fourth branch” of government. That gets applause. She says we need to clean up our incompetent appointments. That means having a different department of homeland security with different people. She says she will work to introduce a Constitutional Amendment for public financing of elections.
Kucinich says that the “Are we safer” question is the key issue in this election. He says that we are not safer, and that we need a new doctrine of “strength through peace” through diplomacy, treaties and working through the international communities.
Richardson says he will follow the Constitution, and that he will not go to war without the consent of Congress, and that his Vice President will be a member of the executive branch.
Now it’s wrapping up, and the audience is giving the candidates a standing ovation.
Amanda has some thoughts.