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Democratic Debate December 13 Live Coverage

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  • 3:21 PM

    • Question: What are the lessons from Iowa?
      • Clinton: Thanks the people of Iowa. "I've eaten my way across the state." The relationship-building she's experienced has been "extraordinary."
      • Edwards: Iowa Caucuses are crucial because the caucus-goers see them up close for months.
      • Dodd: Likes the independence of the spirit of Iowans. "They make up their own minds."
      • Richardson: He likes that Iowans like underdogs. (Laughter). Doesn't want the national media dictating their president. "I've been enormously enriched personally by my contact with Iowans."
      • Biden: Iowa deserves to be first because they take the process seriously.
      • Obama: People get a chance to "lift the hood, kick the tires and take us out for a test drive." Americans have a core decency, and make the right decision when presented with the right choices.

  • 3:16 PM

    • Question: What is your New Year's Resolution?
      • Clinton: It's multi-part, and some are personal. Exercise more, spend time with family...Also resolved to do the best job possible in the campaign. Run a campaign in which Democrats can be proud.
      • Edwards: To stay humble, keep in mind that there is still hunger, inadequate health care, inequality, unemployment, etc. "What's at stake is whether America is going to be alright."
      • Dodd: Wants to see country regain optimism and moral authority. Come back after Abu Ghraib Prison scandal. Wish that Iowans Caucus correctly in January.
      • Richardson: Same resolution as every year - to lose weight. (Gets laughter). "I wish that the Congress and the President end their disfunctional relationship and address the problems that face this country."
      • Biden: "I make the same one every year: to remember where I came from." Try and remember what it was like when things were really bad...To treat everyone the way they should be treated.
      • Obama: To be a better father and husband. Wants to remind himself that "this is not about me...what I am doing today." Campaign puts a strain on his family. It's only worth the sacrifice if his participation in public life has a broad impact on his own family, and children across America.

  • 3:14 PM

    • Question: As President, would you use signing statements?
      • Clinton: She would use them as Presidents did before George W. Bush, to clarify the law and make it more coherent. Bush has used them "essentially as a form of veto." Bush used a signing statement on some of Clinton's FISA legislation.
      • Edwards: Bush has expanded executive power. "This is not the way our Founding Fathers intended this government to operate." Go back to historical use of signing statements, and ensure that three branches of government are co-equal. "Whatever George Bush thinks, he is not King."

  • 3:03 PM

    • Question to Clinton: As President, how would you ensure that your administration doesn't withhold information from the public?
      • Response: A very strong communication strategy. She learned from her husband's administration's failures - wants an open, transparent government. Put as much as we can on the Internet. End the revolving door of lobbyists and start public financing for elections.
    • Question to Biden: Asks about gaffes. Do these misunderstandings indicate that you are uncomfortable talking about race?
      • Response: Got involved in politics because of the civil rights movement. Says he phrased things wrongly, but feels that his point was still correct. Agrees with Obama - minorities start at a disadvantage. Says that he speaks bluntly, so people sometimes mistake his meaning.
      • Obama Response: Does not feel Biden has issues about race, and can vouch for his sincerity.
    • Question to Edwards: How will you accomplish your agenda after months of calling Washington groups corrupt?
      • Response: Very well financed companies will not give up power. He calls this an "epic battle in front of us." Has spent his entire life "engaged in this fight that we must win."
    • Question to Dodd: How much are you motivated by a desire to restore the Dodd name?
      • Response: Inspired by his family to want to make changes in this country. His father started the first National Youth Administration as part of the New Deal. Says he got into public service to do the most good for the most people. (Gets a round of applause).
    • Question to Richardson: Questions about lax security at labs in New Mexico (Richardson's state). Talk about his background in security work.
      • Response: In 25 years of public service, he's made mistakes. Wen Ho Lee plead guilty, but he still feels he did not work hard enough on the case. "I'll stand behind my record as energy secretary."
    • Question to Obama: How will you rely on Clinton foreign policy advisers and still deliver promised change?
      • Clinton Responds: "I want to hear that!"
      • Obama Responds: "Hillary, I’m looking forward to you advising me as well!" (Gets laughter) Wants to change the mindset that got us into war. Since 9/11, we've been fed the "politics of fear." Long-term security by creating long-term prosperity around the world.

  • 2:58 PM

    • Question: What realistically do you believe you can accomplish in your first year as President?
      • Obama: End the war in Iraq, bringing troops home. Initiate diplomacy to stabilize region. Review any executive order by George Bush, eliminate or reverse any that violate Constitution.
      • Biden: "Biden Plan": End the war in Iraq. Make clear that he will abandon Bush policies.
      • Richardson: End war in Iraq. Announce an energy revolution, end dependence on foreign oil. Say to the American people that he will follow the Constitution - return habeas corpus, no more torture, rejoin Geneva Conventions, no more eavesdropping.
      • Dodd: The first thing he would do is change the discourse, make it less shrill. We're too divided as a country.
      • Edwards: Doesn't feel like we can solve all problems in the first year. "Call on the American people to join this democracy and take this country back." Get rid of small group of entrenched interests that control the government.
      • Clinton: She will be busy because she knows you need to get started quickly. Bi-partisan emissaries around the world to build bridges, find common ground. Rescind Bush orders that violate the Constitution.

  • 2:50 PM

    • Question: What are the key features of the best education system in the world and how would you get America to rank with the best?
      • Edwards: Need to radically change No Child Left Behind. Wants second-chance schools, improved health care and nutrition, National Teaching University. Wants more equality in the education program.
      • Richardson: Make education one of, if not the top, priorities. Wants to start early - preschools. Get rid of No Child Left Behind. The key to the educational system is a good teacher. Doesn't want to disrespect teachers. It's hard to narrow the achievement gap.
      • Obama: Wants to close the achievement gap. Minority children are already behind when they start school. More money and support for teachers. Change No Child Left Behind, with less focus on testing. Parents engaged in instilling a sense of excellence in their children.
      • Dodd: Education is the key to everyone and who we are. Our system of governance depends on an educated population. Agrees with Obama - we've got to begin with parents. Comes from a family of teachers.
      • Clinton: Spent many years working on education reform. The president has a "bully pulpit" that can be used on behalf of education. Federal government only pays 10% of the total cost of education - she wants to take burden off of state/local governments.
      • Edwards: Pay for any higher learning for people who are willing to work. Long-term, wants to create an infrastructure that lets people go back to school, even into middle age.
      • Biden: His wife is a full-time teacher with a doctorate in education. Things we have to do: Start school early, smaller classrooms, more teachers, pay teachers better, access to college.

  • 2:47: Clinton and Dodd Free Statements

    • Clinton: Everyone has a different philosophy for how to get change. She feels it requires hard work. She will end the Iraq War. "Stand up for me and I will stand up for you."
    • Dodd: Thanks the people of Iowa. Wants to talk about positive ideas and results. People want a sense of confidence, that you can achieve what you set out to do. Discusses his long record of reform in the Senate. Only candidate to participate in the Peace Corps and the U.S. military.
    • Related: Hillary Rodham Clinton | Chris Dodd

  • 2:42 PM

    • Question: How would you have voted on yesterday's proposal for farm subsidy cuts and shifting the money to biofuels?
      • Dodd: Wants to encourage a diversity of farming and conservation.
      • Obama: Wants to lower/cap farm subsidies because too many go to big Agricultural businesses. Wants to help family farms as opposed to big Fortune 500 companies. Protect farmers from drought and invest more in organic/alternative crops. Also wants to invest in nutrition programs. "We can not only save the land but improve the economic engines in rural communities." Would have voted against yesterday's proposal.
      • Biden: Would have voted for the proposal. Too few farmers in Iowa; he's surprised by how much open land remains. "This is all about, how do you preserve family farms?" The system is breaking; the cost of acreage has gone up because we're not focusing on the right priorities - helping farmers in distress.
      • Clinton: Following Tom Harkin's lead and voted against yesterday's bill. "This goes beyond a particular amendment." Wants to help family farms and rural development. She's trying to open up more markets to family farms. "We do need a farm bill and Tom Harkin's been working like a Trojan to get it done."

  • 2:35 PM

    • Question: What would you do to turn environmentalism into a benefit for the American economy?
      • Biden: Increase mileage required for automobiles, and make every car flex-fuel. We need to make going green a fundamental priority. Investment in renewable energy. Calls it a "moral crusade."
      • Richardson: Made his state a clean energy state. It will require "a revolution." Fuel efficiency standards should be 50 mpg. 30% of renewable sources in all energy by 2020. Reduce consumption of oil and greenhouse gas emissions. Wants to use a cap and trade program. Will ask the American people to sacrifice. "If we all do this, without mandates, we can reduce our dependence on foreign oil, which is unhealthy."
      • Dodd: We're borrowing $1 billion a day to buy foreign oil. Wants to institute a Carbon Tax. Says Al Gore likes his plan, and called it "bold."
      • Clinton: This will impact the average American. Also wants a cap and trade system. Also wants to cushion the costs to the American consumer. But all this isn't enough - we have to enlist the American people, as we did with the Space Program in the '50s, which encouraged her as a little girl. "A new form of American patriotism."
      • Obama: "This is a moral imperative." Investors will eventually see they can make money through green technology, which will help over time. In order for it to happen, we have to be courageous enough to not just talk about change. The next president has to tell the American people what they need to hear.
      • Edwards: We need to recognize the obstacles to change, which are oil and power companies. "We do need a president who will ask Americans to be patriotic about something other than war." Proposes a cap and trade system. Calls the future of the planet "a moral crisis."

  • 2:33 PM: Biden and Richardson Free Statements

    • Biden: Election is about action and pragmatic solutions. Will end the war in Iraq.
    • Richardson: Wants to focus on just one issue: The Iraq War. It is not being discussed enough - it is the most vital issue facing our country. "War has divided us enormously." We can't accomplish the things we want to because of the expense, human and financial, of the war. Discusses mental trauma of the war.
    • Related: Joe Biden | Bill Richardson

  • 2:30 PM

    • Question: Should NAFTA be scrapped or changed?
      • Clinton: It should be changed. "I want to be a president who focuses on smart American trade." Enforceable agreements on labor and standards. "We need to make it clear to the rest of the world that we are an open society and we believe in trade, but we are not the trade patsies."
      • Obama: NAFTA needs to be amended. He would contact Mexico and Canada to make sure labor and environmental agreements are enforceable. Situations like prisoner abuse make it more difficult to transmit our values to the rest of the world. We have to restore the traditions that made this country great.
      • Dodd: Last evening, he offered regulations on sanctioning Darfur.

  • 2:26 PM

    • Question: How should we alter trading policies with countries that violate human rights?
      • Biden: Human rights are a condition of every trading agreement we engage in.
      • Richardson: We need to impose trade sanctions on any country that violates human rights. We need to specify that every nation follows core labor standards. (No child labor, no slave labor, collective bargaining, wage parity.) Also, environmental protection is important. These are our values and we need to transmit them through our trade policy.
      • Dodd: Discusses Harkin Amendment. "Too often people think that human rights and security are opposing interests. They are the same priority." Wants seamless, consistent foreign policy.
      • Edwards: What did America get out of its lax China policy? Loss of jobs and poor-quality, dangerous merchandise. We have to stop letting corporate interests determine American policy.

  • 2:24: Obama and Edwards Free Statements

    • Obama: Wants to act on "the fierce urgency of now." Confident that we can meet challenges of the moment: economic security, restoring our security in the world, protecting our children. Wants to bring the country together and push back against special interests.
    • Edwards: "There's so much at stake in this election. America is at stake." We have to be willing to fight political opponents and corporate greed. "If we rise up together, we can make absolutely certain we can leave this country better than we started." (He flubbed this line, leading to some laughter.)
    • Related: Barack Obama | John Edwards

  • 2:20 PM

    • Question: Is too much of the federal budget going to entitlements?
      • Clinton: Short term problem in terms of Medicare. Long-term problem in terms of Social Security. We need to reign in HMO's, and we need health care reform like her proposal, that will bring costs down.
      • Biden: Entitlements are a problem only if we don't act. Responds to Clinton's point on Medicare, that we overpay HMO's and for prescription drugs. Wants to save money for Medicare by focusing on preventative care. "This is all about action."
      • Obama: Prevention and cost-saving is crucial for Medicare. If we went back to 1980 obesity rates, Medicare would save $1 trillion. We will not make these changes unless changes are made in the way things work in Washington.
      • Richardson: Universal Health Care is a human right for every American. 1/3 of our health care budget goes to beaurocracy. Agrees that prevention is the key.

  • 2:17 PM

    • Question: How should we handle our complicated relationship with China differently?
      • Richardson: Be tougher with China when it comes to trade and human rights. We have to ban the contaminated food they're bringing in. "We have to have an important strategic relationship with them...They cannot continue playing around with currencies."
      • Dodd: Competitors normally are operating under the same rules; he calls China an "adversarial relationship." Relationship with China is not "business as usual." We need to be tough but fair.

  • 2:12 PM

    • Question: If we assume that we will continue to have military expenses in Iraq, how will you pay for your plans short-term.
      • Biden: I can get all the troops out of Iraq in one year. Republicans built up deficit to make Democratic plans more difficult, including Universal Health Care. By not investing in expensive weapons systems, we can save money immediately.
      • Obama: "Every proposal I have put forward in this campaign, we have paid for." Discusses tax scams and closing loopholes. "We've put forward tax relief plans for those making less than $75,000 per year." Requires leadership from The White House to restore a sense that "we're all in this together."
      • Richardson: Detailed $57 billion in military reductions. The Iraq War has drained our military, and it desperately needs funding. Veterans are not taken care of well-enough.
      • Dodd: We need to be pro-growth and provide economic opportunities. Growing the economy is an important priority for Democrats, not just decreasing taxes.

  • 2:10 PM

    • Question: When are taxes necessary and appropriate?
      • Richardson: Constitutional amendment to balance the budget. Wants to maintain Social Security. We've spent $500 billion on the Iraq War that should go to domestic priorities.
      • Edwards: Tax policy in America has been established by the wealthy and big corporations. Get rid of big tax breaks for companies that outsource jobs. Needs money to fund Universal Health Care.
      • Clinton: Restore the tax rates we had in the '90s, but keep middle class tax cuts. "I want to start making changes that will actually save us money."

  • 2:05 PM

    • Question: Would it be a priority of your administration to balance the budget each year?
      • Obama: We have an economy that's out of balance. We have fiscal problems and inequality. "People are working harder for less." He wants to get the long-term fundamentals right. Invest in education, infrastructure, new trade deals and end the war in Iraq. We must overcome special interests that have clogged up the system and created illegitimate tax breaks.
      • Richardson: Has to balance budgets by law as governor. Balancing budgets would be a major priority. Would advocate a Line Item Veto and a Balanced Budget Amendment, and eliminate corporate welfare and earmarks.
      • Biden: It's about priorities. Just by eliminating the war in Iraq, special military programs and unneeded, top 1% tax cuts, we could save $350 billion, which would fund all of Biden's proposals. Republicans with bad priorities have ballooned the deficit.
      • Dodd: Federal government is more complicated than state government (in response to Richardson). What we need to do is grow our economy and give people a sense of confidence. "We need to have an economy that's driving growth and creating jobs, which is the best social program anyone ever created." Wants to end the costly war in Iraq.
      • Edwards: Get rid of structural deficiencies in American economy. We're having trouble strengthening the middle class because of corporate power and greed.
      • Clinton: Institute same policies we had under Bill Clinton in the '90s. It's about fiscal responsibility and increasing efficiency. The results will take a while to see.

  • 2:00 PM

    • Introduction of candidates and discussion of rules

  • Republican Iowa Debate Background




 


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