Democratic presidential debate: Highlights as Clinton, 2016 field spar in Vegas
Jim Webb, Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton, Martin O'Malley and Lincoln Chafee during the national anthem at the start of the Democratic presidential debate at Wynn Las Vegas on Oct. 13, 2015.
Chafee again highlights his background as a mayor, senator and governor. "I have had no scandals, and I have high ethical standards,’’ including his vote against the Iraq war. "I am a proven peacemaker.’’
Webb: Campaigns include a lot of rhetoric and empty promises. His record shows "I’ve always been willing’’ to take on complicated and unpopular issues, including criminal justice reform. He cites "money that is poisoning our political process.’’
O’Malley: He draws a contrast with Republican debates. "You didn’t hear anyone denigrate women’’ or make racist comments or speak ill of another American "because of their religious belief.’’ He cites the need to improve education and to include more people in the nation’s economic prosperity. He talks about the views of people under 30, an indirect reference to his own youth.
Sanders: The U.S. has the highest childhood poverty rate of industrialized nation, high levels of income inequality. "Nobody up here’’ can address the major crises the nation faces "unless millions of people begin to stand up to the billionaire class,’’ he said. He makes a fundraising plea for $30 a piece to continue the revolution.
Clinton: She cites her late mother, including "the best’’ advice she received that it doesn’t matter whether you’re knocked down but whether you get back up. The U.S. is "standing but not running.’’ Her core commitment will be to raise incomes for middle class families, she says.
10:47: Sanders is asked how he would compromise with congressional Republicans. "The only way we can take on the right wing Republicans … is by having millions of people coming together if we want free tuition in public colleges and universities millions of people are going to have to demand it.’’
10:43: Clinton speaks on mandating paid maternity leave and whether it would discourage businesses from hiring. "I can remember as a young mother having a baby wake up sick’’ and having to be in court the next day, in a direct appeal to women. She also gets in swipe at Republicans wanting to take away Planned Parenthood funding: "Big government this, big government that except what they want to impose on the American people,’’ in terms of opposing abortion, she says. Sanders calls it an "international embarrassment’’ that the U.S. is only advanced nation that doesn’t have paid leave.
10:33: Clinton is pressed on whether she’s a Washington insider at a time when voters want an outsider. O’Malley: "Our country needs new leadership to move forward,’’ he says. Clinton: "I would not ask anyone to vote for me based on my last name’’ she said. "I have the right combination’’ of what the country needs. "We can’t afford to have a Republican succeed Barack Obama,’’ she said. Sanders says he’s the only candidate running who is not a billionaire yet has raised significant sums of money.
10:25 Q: How would they differ from Obama?
Chafee: ``We have to stop these wars,’’ he says. ``I would change our approach to the Middle East.’’ O.Malley would press to separate out the big banks and put in place a ``modern Glass-Steagall.’’ Clinton: ``I think that’s pretty obvious,’’ she said, in that she would be the first woman president. She would also build on his successes, including on health care. Sanders: ``The power of Wall Street’’ and drug companies is so great that the only way is to progress is to ``create a political revolution.’’ Webb: ``Bernie, I don’t think the revolution’s going to come’’ and Congress won’t pay for it. He says he would use executive authority to accomplish more.
10:13 Discussion turns to immigration. Sanders is pressed on his past vote against increasing guest workers. ``I didn’t leave anybody at the altar,’’ he said, citing the poor working conditions of many of those workers. He says he wants a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.
10:07 Chafee explains his 1999 vote against Glass-Steagall, which broke up big banks, prompting the moderator to ask him if he knew what he was voting for: ``I just arrived in the Senate,’’ he says. ``That was one of my very first votes.’’
9:56 Question to Clinton: How can you credibly represent the views of the middle class (given her personal wealth)? She cites her and her husband’s humble beginnings and says everyone should have the same opportunity. ``There is no comparison’’ between the policies of Democrats and Republicans, says Clinton.
O’Malley draws distinction with Clinton, who does not want to break up the big banks. ``We need to reinstate Glass Steagall and that’s a huge difference’’ on this stage, says O’Malley. Clinton says the problem goes beyond bad banking actors. There needs to be ``a lot of attention’’ to the banks, including breaking them up ``if they pose a risk.’’ Sanders says unequivocally: ``We have got to break them up!''
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