Brian (EC Presidential Candidate Forums)

Presidential Primary Candidate Forums:

Democratic Forum:
1) The candidates represented were: Joe Biden, Hilary Clinton, Dennis Kucinich, Bill Richardson, Barack Obama, and Mike Gravel. (Jon Edwards and Dodd were not represented)
2) The topics discussed at the forum were: Immigration, Healthcare, the War in Iraq, Social Security, the Cost of College Education, and Education (specifically No Child Left Behind).
3) Joe Biden: the representative said that this man’s voting record “speaks for itself” concerning immigration, whatever that means. He is behind SCHIP for improving healthcare, wants to cut Iraq funding, and is for expanding Medicare.
Hilary Clinton: is for securing the border and immigration reform, but also supports the Dream Act. Attempted Universal Healthcare before and has learned from her mistakes in order to make it work. Wants to begin withdrawing troops in Iraq within 60 days of taking office. Wants to find other options besides social security.
Mike Gravel: worked against Vietnam and the Draft. For gay marriage, withdraw from Iraq, Universal Healthcare with a choice in doctors, pro-choice, for “borders” but against a fence, wants immediate withdrawal from Iraq (within 120 days), wants to avoid war with Iran and Syria, and wants to put real money towards social security.
Dennis Kucinich: for the brand of Universal Healthcare called for in Michael Moore’s Sicko, only candidate constantly opposed to Iraq War (immediate withdrawal), complete ban on nuclear weapons, against the fence (doesn’t “believe in illegal immigrants” because he doesn’t “believe in an illegal person”), for fixing Social Security, and wants a “Peace Economy”.
Barack Obama: Against Iraq and the use of torture, wants Universal Healthcare, for college being a means of legalizing illegal immigrants (?), for SCHIP and insurance for children and college students, wants a steady withdrawal from Iraq, and wants more funding for Social Security and No Child Left Behind.
Bill Richardson: 1st governor to declare emergency on immigration at the border but against deportation, his state of NM already has SCHIP, wants strong military but against Iraq, wants to revitalize social security, against No Child Left Behind and wants to raise education standards.
4) I felt that the forum was a good way to find out where the candidates stood and was helpful in trying to pick a candidate to vote for (though I probably won’t vote for a Democrat). It was conducted professionally, was quite informative, and was enjoyable (they even had cookies!).
5) I was most impressed by Richardson because he was presented as a more moderate Democrat, and had some good backing for his views (I especially agreed with his stance on Immigration and No Child Left Behind, and he didn’t use the phrases “Universal Healthcare” or “Immediate Withdrawal”). Some of the representatives were better at representing their candidate than others. Biden’s rep. was kind of senile and Obama’s was the weakest speaker. Gravel’s rep. was a slime bucket with a nasally (gravelly?) voice, and Kucinich’s rep. took a hit at Clinton’s representative (saying that he got kick-backs from Insurance companies) during the forum. Yet, Clinton and Richardson’s representatives were both fairly persuasive, impressive, and comfortable with the topics.

Republican Forum:
1) Only John McCain and Mitt Romney were represented, though there were spots for Guiliani and Paul.
2) The Topics discussed at the Forum were: Immigration, Health Care Reform, The War in Iraq and a Plan to Withdraw, Changes in the White House, the Cost of College, Social Security, addressing Illegal Immigration while keeping the economy strong, and what distinguishes the candidates from other Republicans. There were also questions asked concerning: K-12 education and No Child Left Behind, Alternative Fuel, Gay Marriage and Abortion, The Patriot Act, Benefits to America of a Democratic Middle East, and (a Ron Paul supporter started preaching and finally asked this question) “Why are we continuing the war?” Since there were only two representatives, a lot more ground was covered a lot more thoroughly.
3) John McCain: For more surveillance, but not a fence at the border. Wants to make insurance cost effective through competition. Believes we have been using a flawed strategy in Iraq, but wants to send more troops and doesn’t believe failure is an option. Would rather lose the election than the war. Wants to change the White House by bringing back trust in the government. Believes in a choice in education, but it must be marked driven. Believes that social security programs have failed and are “Bridges to Nowhere”. Wants a better guest worker program, but is for deporting criminal illegal aliens. Supported No Child Left Behind. Is for corn/ethanol fuel alternatives and would like less foreign dependency on oil, but believes in state’s rights and feels that legislation concerning alternative fuel should be up to the states. He is Pro-Life, opposes cloning, and for the sanctity of marriage. Believes the Patriot Act is too overreaching. Wants state level alternatives to abortion to be emphasized. Has a “better there than here” stance on the war. Says we are continuing the war because we were attacked and we can’t afford to be weak. McCain doesn’t read the polls and doesn’t go with what’s popular, but what he thinks is right.
Mitt Romney: For a fence whether it is physical or virtual. No amnesty and wants an employer verification system. Was the 1st governor to recommend a health care plan for his largely Democratic state of Massachusetts and worked with the Democrats until they got a result both sides agreed on (a market based system that pleased both sides). Wants states to be able to make their own decisions on health care plans. Romney is against a quick withdrawal from Iraq, and wants a “special-partnership force”. Believes that the two-party system is vital and wants to look for bipartisan solutions to problems. He feels the best way to improve our current education system is incentive (scholarships based on merit). Wants to raise the bar on education and make teaching a profession. The representative for Romney wasn’t prepared for the social security question, but was a financial planner and said that they felt Romney was prepared to do something about it. Romney wants to make it easier for immigrants to come here legally. Thinks No Child Left Behind was a good idea, but it made things harder for teachers (more paperwork) and we should be making it easier for underpaid teachers to be effective. Wants to improve technologies and find fuel alternatives, because he believes in being a good steward of the environment. Romney is Pro-Life and for the Marriage Amendment (marriage is between a man and a woman), but says he is against discrimination. Wants to protect the rights of individuals (said concerning the Patriot Act). Wants to eventually overturn Roe v. Wade by nominating Pro-Life Supreme Court Justices. Is for the spread of democracy in difficult situations and understands the public sentiment, but feels we cannot back down when extremists threaten our country. Feels the economy is a leading concern over the war.
4) While this forum was less effective in choosing a candidate (since only two were represented), I felt it was more effective than the Democratic Forum in giving reasons for the candidates views and in explaining different plans of action for dealing with different issues.
5) I feel that Romney’s representative was much more persuasive than McCain’s. McCain is very much a hard-line candidate, and I feel that will keep him from getting elected. Romney is set in his values, but wants to listen to what the people want and I feel he’d be better at actually accomplishing difficult tasks because he will be more willing to listen to what his opponents have to say.