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| 2020 Election: | Joe Biden's book | Cory Booker's book | Pete Buttigieg's book | Kamala Harris' book | Bernie Sanders' book | Donald Trump's book | 2018 Senate Debates |
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| Book Reviews | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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(from Amazon.com) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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(click a book cover for a review or other books by or about the presidency from Amazon.com) |
from Interviews during 2018-2020 (number of quotes indicated): |
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| OnTheIssues.org excerpts: (click on issues for details) |
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Abortion Tom Steyer: Pro-choice, & only work for pro-choice candidates. Joe Sestak: Secure reproductive rights; pass family leave. Beto O`Rourke: VA must cover full spectrum of women's reproductive care. Andrew Yang: Male legislators shouldn't decide female reproductive rights. John Hickenlooper: Fight GOP-controlled legislatures' restrictive abortion laws. Wayne Messam: Trust women to make their own decisions; period. Pete Buttigieg: Personal choice is best for abortion's moral decision. Marianne Williamson: Abortion is about private morality; government has no role. Wayne Messam: Abortion issue demagogued, should be left to the mother. John Hickenlooper: Against fetal heartbeat laws; favors access to contraception. Beto O`Rourke: Abortions up until third trimester are woman's choice. Pete Buttigieg: Abortion is a woman's choice, not a political statement. Marianne Williamson: Calls herself 100% pro-choice. Andrew Yang: Abortion should be regulated by doctors, not legislators. Bill de Blasio: Crucial to protect women's right to choose in 2019. Bill de Blasio: Women, not politicians, should control their bodies. |
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Budget & Economy Amy Klobuchar: Focus on issues affecting small business, rural America. |
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Civil Rights Beto O`Rourke: Upgrade records of LGBTQ vets who were discharged. Pete Buttigieg: Has dealt with racism & police violence, but it's not enough. Joe Biden: In the 1970s, I worked with opponents to get things done. Joe Biden: You don't have to agree with opponents to work with them. Joe Biden: Will be mindful of changing social norms & personal space. Pete Buttigieg: If U.S. to address human rights, we need to be credible. Marianne Williamson: Reparations are an appropriate response to country's history. Marianne Williamson: Attacks on gay rights is attack on us all. Bernie Sanders: Supports commission investigating reparations for slavery. Cory Booker: Supports commission investigating reparations for slavery. Elizabeth Warren: Supports commission investigating reparations for slavery. John Hickenlooper: Supports commission investigating reparations for slavery. Kamala Harris: Supports commission investigating reparations for slavery. Kirsten Gillibrand: Supports commission investigating reparations for slavery. Beto O`Rourke: Supports commission investigating reparations for slavery. Julian Castro: Supports commission investigating reparations for slavery. Amy Klobuchar: Paper ballots allow audits, ensure election integrity. Beto O`Rourke: Supports NFL players taking a knee during national anthem. Julian Castro: Property was taken from slaves, so pay reparations. Joe Biden: 1970s: Desegregating society ok, but not via school busing. Marianne Williamson: Reparations to be distributed over 10 years by black leaders. Jay Inslee: Statehood for DC & Puerto Rico; they deserve representation. Elizabeth Warren: Reparations for slavery and to Native Americans. Kamala Harris: Reparations means real investments in black communities. Pete Buttigieg: Calls for redistricting reform; questions Electoral College. Cory Booker: Recognize Native Americans but no Indigenous Peoples' Day. Kamala Harris: Rename Columbus Day as Indigenous Peoples' Day. Julian Castro: Protections for GLBTQ; benefits to same-sex partners. Pete Buttigieg: For LGBT rights, but doesn't presume to speak for everyone. Stacey Abrams: Takes a strong stand against voter suppression efforts. Pete Buttigieg: Voters have judged his record, not his marriage. Tulsi Gabbard: Early 2000s: supported father's antigay rights group. Tulsi Gabbard: Actively supports equal rights on LGBTQ+ issues. Steve Bullock: No safe haven for neo-Nazi white nationalists. Tom Steyer: Mike Pence alienates LGBT Americans. |
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Corporations Tom Steyer: Big-money interests are committed to stopping progress. Tom Steyer: Take the corporate control out of politics. Tom Steyer: AdWatch: put people before corporations. Marianne Williamson: Repeal corporate tax cuts. Pete Buttigieg: Anti-trust law must go beyond pricing to deal with high tech. Bernie Sanders: Defend farmers & consumers from corporate middlemen. Elizabeth Warren: End "integrated" farming favoring corporations over farmers. Bernie Sanders: 1976: I favor the public ownership of utilities & banks. Bernie Sanders: 1970s: State should take over utilities without compensation. Bernie Sanders: 1976: Relocating businesses must pay; for public ownership. John Hickenlooper: Market must allow entry to new businesses. Julian Castro: Supported tax breaks to lure corporations. Julian Castro: Top earners & corporations must pay fair share. |
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Crime Mike Bloomberg: I was wrong to rely on stop-and-frisk policing. Tom Steyer: Regrets Farallon's $34M investment in corporate prisons. Joe Biden: 1994: Billions for state prisons but fewer billions than GOP. Bernie Sanders: OpEd: Ambiguous record on 1994 crime bill. Joe Biden: 1992: pro-death penalty; 2019: congrats on ending it. Pete Buttigieg: Restore voting rights for ex-cons, but not those in prison. Pete Buttigieg: Death penalty is racist; mandatory minimums too. Beto O`Rourke: Expand death penalty if police officers are attacked. Beto O`Rourke: Capital punishment is an inequitable, unfair, unjust system. Kamala Harris: Federal and state moratorium on death penalty. Kamala Harris: 2004: no death penalty for cop killer; 2019: apply to all. Cory Booker: Rich-and-guilty treated better than poor-and-innocent. Joe Biden: 1993: Don't care why "predators" act; put them in jail. Joe Biden: 1994 Crime Bill got help for first time offenders, not jail. Joe Biden: 1990s: Supported tough-on-crime; 2019:considers those racist. Andrew Yang: Police unfairly target minorities. Beto O`Rourke: We must cut down on recidivism for non-violent offenders. |
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Drugs John Hickenlooper: As teen, grew his own marijuana before it was legal. Beto O`Rourke: Arrested for drunk driving at age 25; license suspended. Beto O`Rourke: Dealing Drugs and Death: 2011 call for legalization. Joe Biden: Harsh sentences for crack were a mistake; worked to rectify. Tulsi Gabbard: Let states legalize marijuana; non-user supports free choice. John Hickenlooper: Supports states permitting marijuana, not federal reform. Joe Biden: Long record of opposing marijuana legalization. Joe Biden: Forbid government study of legalization. Beto O`Rourke: End prohibition on marijuana, expunge records of possessors. Joe Biden: 1989: Bush didn't go far enough in War on Drugs. Joe Biden: Proud of backing tough drug laws & penalties. Michael Bennet: Let states experiment with marijuana; address racial issues. |
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Education Joe Sestak: Universal pre-K; create "Training for a Lifetime". Pete Buttigieg: States should take on more of cost of higher education. Pete Buttigieg: Supports loan forgiveness but not across the board. Wayne Messam: Address immediate student debt with one-time cancellation. Marianne Williamson: Provide teachers autonomy as well as compensation. Pete Buttigieg: Charter schools have a place in the school ecosystem. Marianne Williamson: Wipe out college loans burdening the young. Eric Swalwell: College bargain: no-interest loans & debt-free college. Beto O'Rourke: 2102: charters are a good idea tdat encourage competition. Beto O'Rourke: Wife Amy headed a dual-language charter school. Beto O'Rourke: My kids attend public schools; keep charters accountable. Cory Booker: Government should not profit from student debt. Cory Booker: Investment in education helps the whole society. Elizabeth Warren: Proposed all-voucher education; now opposes charters. Kamala Harris: Federal money to subsidize teach pay raises. Wayne Messam: First priority is resolving current student debt. Joe Biden: 1970s: outspoken Senate critic of school desegregation. Marianne Williamson: Free college; low cost education for older adults. Amy Klobuchar: I am not for free four-year college for all. Julian Castro: Extended Pre-K education for needy kids. Elizabeth Warren: Invest in education, but focus on results. |
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Energy & Oil Tom Steyer: Departed from Farallon in part due to fossil fuel holdings. Tom Steyer: When I realized the threat of fossil fuels, I divested. Tom Steyer: AdWatch: I left my business to combat climate change. Joe Sestak: Rejoin Paris Accord, ban offshore drilling. Tom Steyer: Donated $41m for sustainable energy center. Wayne Messam: Criticized Trump for quitting Paris Climate Accord. Marianne Williamson: Climate change biggest crisis of our time. Eric Swalwell: Support for Green New Deal and Paris climate accord. Wayne Messam: Ran pro-climate firm, worked on "greenest school" in SE. Wayne Messam: Address climate change to create jobs & keep us competitive. Pete Buttigieg: Timetable on climate set by reality, not by Congress. Beto O`Rourke: Keep planet from warming one-half degree Celsius. Jay Inslee: No "silver bullet" for climate: "silver buckshot" instead. John Hickenlooper: Drank a glass of fracking fluid to show it was harmless. Jay Inslee: We are last generation that can do something about climate. Jay Inslee: Fighting climate change must be top goal of next president. Jay Inslee: Supported renewable portfolio; supports Green New Deal. Mike Bloomberg: $218M effort led to closure of 282 coal-fired power plants. Amy Klobuchar: Green New Deal is aspirational; don't over-promise. Julian Castro: Green Jobs Leadership Council: more solar; less coal. Julian Castro: Supported both fossil fuel and green energy. Pete Buttigieg: Supports Paris climate accord and Green New Deal. Kamala Harris: Climate change important, but not only issue. |
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Environment Marianne Williamson: Deal with factory farming by having environmentalists at EPA. Steve Bullock: Passionate about protecting public land access for all. |
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Families & Children Mike Bloomberg: Get cities to hike taxes on sugary drinks. Pete Buttigieg: $100B in grants for minority home ownership. Bill de Blasio: Signed a paid sick leave and safe leave plan into law. Marianne Williamson: Provide free or affordable lunches & breakfasts for students. Steve Bullock: Supports same-sex marriage in Montana. Cory Booker: Government funded savings account at birth. Marianne Williamson: Need a cabinet department to focus on children and youth. Eric Swalwell: No firearms for people with history of domestic violence. Eric Swalwell: Agrees with Obama that kids should dream bigger than parents. Elizabeth Warren: Federal funds to cap childcare at 7% of income. Bill de Blasio: Launched universal free lunch in NYC schools. |
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Foreign Policy Joe Sestak: Rejoin Iran deal; strengthen trade with allies. Joe Sestak: Building liberal world order is what makes America First. Tulsi Gabbard: Met with Syrian president; for "extreme vetting" of Syrians. Marianne Williamson: Support Israeli security & Palestinian human rights. Marianne Williamson: Return moral principles to our foreign policy. Pete Buttigieg: Supports Israel; situation more complex than seen in media. Beto O`Rourke: Help refugee asylum seekers at home in Northern Triangle. Mike Gravel: Bring critique of American imperialism to Democratic primary. Mike Gravel: 1971: end Vietnam involvement; 2008: end Mideast involvement. Joe Biden: Opposition to European alliances like NATO is dumb. Pete Buttigieg: Pay attention to assessments of intelligence agencies. Julian Castro: Strengthen our relationship with allies to keep us safe. Joe Biden: $750M to Central America to address root cause of migration. Joe Biden: Revive Alliance for Prosperity with Central America. |
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Free Trade Joe Sestak: Would rejoin Trans-Pacific Partnership. Pete Buttigieg: Free trade doesn't have to mean exporting jobs. Beto O`Rourke: Traveled to Asia with Obama to push TPP. |
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Government Reform Tom Steyer: Opposes Citizens United decision. Pete Buttigieg: Provide new opportunities for voluntary public service. Beto O`Rourke: Same-day voter registration; make election day a holiday. Beto O`Rourke: Term limits for Congress and the Supreme Court. Kirsten Gillibrand: Public financing of elections through voter choice. Bernie Sanders: Citizens United is most disastrous decisions in history. Elizabeth Warren: Constitutional Amendment to protect the right to vote. Pete Buttigieg: Abolish Electoral College; it makes society less democratic. Marianne Williamson: DC should have representation in Congress. Marianne Williamson: Must address election security & Russian interference. Elizabeth Warren: Every vote matters: so abolish the Electoral College. Democratic Party: $2M to register 200,000 Florida non-voters. Mike Bloomberg: Fund voter registration in FL, WI, OH, MI, and PA. Pete Buttigieg: Need to depoliticize Supreme Court. Beto O`Rourke: Increase Supreme Court to 15 independent Justices. Beto O`Rourke: Supports term limits for Congress. Amy Klobuchar: Automatically register citizens to vote when they turn 18. Jay Inslee: End the filibuster; it dooms good legislation. John Delaney: Nationally televised debates between President and Congress. Pete Buttigieg: Open to expanding judiciary in reaction to GOP actions. Pete Buttigieg: Get rid of the Electoral College. Andrew Yang: Make Puerto Rico a state. Steve Bullock: Unlimited corporate spending has impacted our elections. Steve Bullock: Signed the Montana Disclose Act into law. |
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Gun Control Tom Steyer: Register young voters to push for gun reform now. Joe Sestak: Reform background checks to keep guns out of wrong hands. Cory Booker: 14-part gun control plan, with criminal enforcement. Eric Swalwell: Assault weapon buyback program, with criminal enforcement. Eric Swalwell: Be big; be bold; do good; gun control. Wayne Messam: Sued state of Florida to allow municipal gun control. Marianne Williamson: Gun laws are driven by profits of gun manufacturers. Wayne Messam: Reduce gun violence by 50%. Eric Swalwell: After mass shootings, time to make gun control an issue. Tim Ryan: Soured on NRA after Sandy Hook. Marianne Williamson: Universal background checks including at gun shows. Pete Buttigieg: Yes to gun control and universal background checks. Andrew Yang: Make gun manufacturers liable for mass shootings. Bill de Blasio: Gun laws are necessary to protect the city and ourselves. Steve Bullock: Supports background checks & semi-automatic ban. Eric Swalwell: Ban assault weapons and buy back as many as possible. |
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Health Care Tom Steyer: Open Medicare to all who want it. Joe Sestak: For public option as path to single payer. Tom Steyer: Keep private health insurance; but add public option. Beto O`Rourke: Expand health care benefits and support for veterans. Marianne Williamson: I support vaccines, but I understand the skepticism. Marianne Williamson: Vaccination should be a choice, like abortion choice. Andrew Yang: Aligned with "intactivists": against circumcision. Jay Inslee: Declared emergency over measles anti-vaccination wave. Marianne Williamson: Make Medicare for All a public option. Bernie Sanders: Medicare-for-all: no more private insurance plans. Eric Swalwell: Coverage for all, but don't eliminate private insurers. Wayne Messam: Medicare-for-All okay; open to any expansion of health care. Bernie Sanders: State-by-state Medicaid expansion is a major step. Amy Klobuchar: For public option, taking on Big Pharma. Beto O`Rourke: Supports Medicare for America as public option. Eric Swalwell: Keep private insurance; allow public option. Pete Buttigieg: Single payer option can lead to Medicare for all. Beto O`Rourke: Protect existing priorities, then expand Medicare & Medicaid. Bernie Sanders: 1970s: For socialized medicine, public drug companies owned. Beto O`Rourke: Eventually make "health care for all" a reality. Pete Buttigieg: Medicare for all who want it: public option. Eric Swalwell: Yes to Medicare-for-All after time in the ICU with daughter. Amy Klobuchar: Medicare-for-all is aspirational and for the future, not now. Pete Buttigieg: Single rate for healthcare before single payer. Michael Bennet: Make public plan optional; others can keep private insurance. Pete Buttigieg: His generation not put off by claims of "socialism". Pete Buttigieg: Single payer can still allow role for private insurance. Mike Bloomberg: We can never afford to replace employer-based health system. Kirsten Gillibrand: Provide a public option to get to universal coverage. Steve Bullock: Got Medicaid expansion through a GOP-dominated legislature. John Hickenlooper: Too soon to make changes in Obamacare. Michael Bennet: Single payer would lead to massive tax increase. |
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Homeland Security Andrew Yang: I'd love to declassify Area 51, for government transparency. Pete Buttigieg: Suffered post-deployment depression, but not PTSD. Kamala Harris: Domestic terrorism as national security priority. Pete Buttigieg: Be serious about security like Israel, but live freely. Joe Biden: Refugee policy is an embarrassment. Julian Castro: Supported military expansion into cybersecurity. |
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Immigration Tom Steyer: Fight deportation and expand services for immigrants. Joe Sestak: Secure borders & due process for asylum seekers. Joe Sestak: Expand involvement of the Office of Refugee Resettlement. Beto O`Rourke: Military service as pathway to citizenship for immigrants. Bill de Blasio: Created city ID so undocumented immigrants get healthcare. Kirsten Gillibrand: 2000s: opposed amnesty for undocumented immigrants. Pete Buttigieg: There's a consensus on immigration if we have the will. Marianne Williamson: Need to examine how US policy created border crisis. Eric Swalwell: Visit Northern Triangle to gain compassion for those fleeing. Amy Klobuchar: Immigrants crucial to labor & management. John Hickenlooper: Need a comprehensive reevaluation of our immigration laws. Beto O`Rourke: Condemns President Trump's wall; "Walls end lives". Beto O`Rourke: Raise cap on work visas; find pathway to citizenship. Marianne Williamson: Pathway and affordable healthcare for illegal immigrants. Kamala Harris: 2008: Supported SF policy reported arrested juveniles to ICE. Kamala Harris: Reform system, against "vanity project" of border wall. Jay Inslee: Illegal immigration not a national emergency. Pete Buttigieg: Supports DACA and easing deportation policies. Andrew Yang: Supports the DREAM Act. Kirsten Gillibrand: In House, took hardline for border security, ICE funding. Kirsten Gillibrand: Hadn't understood issues, changed views in Senate. Kirsten Gillibrand: Pathway to citizenship for DREAMers. Kirsten Gillibrand: Pathway to citizenship gets immigrants connected. Julian Castro: Compassion for refugees, pathway for those here. Joe Biden: Focus on refugee asylum seekers at home in Northern Triangle. Michael Bennet: Trump is anti-immigrant; immigrants are a positive force. Michael Bennet: America is a unique place for refugees to succeed. |
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Jobs Tom Steyer: Supports right to a living wage. Pete Buttigieg: Government must be pro-active with changing economy. Tim Ryan: Progressive goals should be sold as job creation. Marianne Williamson: Supports $15 minimum wage & Green New Deal. Joe Biden: We need "moral capitalism" and corporate responsibility. Julian Castro: Opposed unionizing city employees. Pete Buttigieg: Unions good for US workers, but not NAFTA. Julian Castro: Minimum wage should be a living wage. |
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Principles & Values Joe Biden: AdWatch: World laughs at Trump for dangerous incompetence. Joe Biden: FactCheck:Yes, entered & left Congress as one of the poorest. Marianne Williamson: Requested that her donors support Mike Gravel. Mike Gravel: Made debate donor count with help from opponent Williamson. Joe Biden: We are in a battle for the soul of this nation. Kirsten Gillibrand: Pushed to oust Al Franken from Senate for sexual harassment. Michael Bennet: Family includes Mayflower descendants & Holocaust survivors. Pete Buttigieg: God does not have a political party. Eric Swalwell: If you work hard it adds up to dreaming bigger. Pete Buttigieg: Supports religious values and separation of church and state. Mike Gravel: 2008: YouTube political "video art" went viral. Pete Buttigieg: Progressive, but not concerned with labels. John Hickenlooper: Work with Republicans to advance progressive priorities. Julian Castro: Make America smartest, healthiest, fairest & most prosperous. Pete Buttigieg: Would be youngest president ever, and first mayor. Tulsi Gabbard: To understand socialism, look at Venezuela. Tulsi Gabbard: Labels like "capitalist" and "socialist" are misused. Michael Bennet: Most Democrats are not socialists and should say so. Joe Biden: Restore America's soul: bigotry is not an American value. Mike Bloomberg: American Cities Initiative philanthropies gave away $6.4B. Andrew Yang: Subsidize journalists to do local reporting. Amy Klobuchar: Minnesota Nice: reliable, calm, aw-shucks bipartisanship. Amy Klobuchar: Nicknamed "The Senator of Small Things," but some are big. Kamala Harris: Co-sponsored Do No Harm Act: keep church and state separate. Bill de Blasio: Religious identity: spiritual but not religious. Mike Bloomberg: Keep religion and politics separate. |
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Social Security Andrew Yang: Universal Basic Income recipients might lose other benefits. Beto O`Rourke: 2012: Protect retirees, but make changes for the future. Beto O`Rourke: 2012: Maybe raise age; 2019: Against raising age. Beto O`Rourke: 2012: raise retirement age; apply means-testing. |
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Tax Reform Tom Steyer: Upper income people have done disproportionally well. Beto O`Rourke: War tax on non-military households to support vet healthcare. Kamala Harris: Monthly tax credit would provide base income. Pete Buttigieg: The wealthy should pay their fair share in taxes. Wayne Messam: Shifting tax burden from business not in national interest. Cory Booker: Helped people claim earned-income tax credit. Amy Klobuchar: Changes in corporate tax would fund infrastructure. Beto O`Rourke: Wealth tax would generate revenue for 'common benefit'. Bernie Sanders: 1974: 100% tax over $1 million. Beto O`Rourke: Everyone should sacrifice, with higher top marginal tax rate. Julian Castro: Senior/disabled property tax freeze favored wealthy. Andrew Yang: Value-Added Tax as part of new capitalist philosophy. Bernie Sanders: Raise income tax & fix estate tax: hardly Marxist ideas. Elizabeth Warren: Wealth tax: $4.1 billion per year on fortune of $137 billion. Mike Bloomberg: Progressive tax yes; wealth tax no. Mike Bloomberg: The wealthy prefer the current rigged system. Mike Bloomberg: Wealth tax is unconstitutional counterproductive. Elizabeth Warren: Curb inequality: 2% tax on assets over $50M; 3% over $1B. Julian Castro: Top earners, corporations should pay "fair share". Elizabeth Warren: Making housing affordable by raising estate tax. Tom Steyer: OpEd: Steyer's tax proposal would hit poor hardest. |
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Technology Joe Sestak: Invest $1 trillion on infrastructure. Pete Buttigieg: Automation is changing the workplace; we need to adapt. Beto O`Rourke: Regulating Big Tech is more sensical approach than breakup. Beto O`Rourke: Member of hacktivist group, "Cult of the Dead Cow". Elizabeth Warren: Break up Big Tech companies: they stifle innovation. John Delaney: Bipartisanship on infrastructure, digital privacy, and more. Jay Inslee: Requires major rebuilding of America, means new jobs. Pete Buttigieg: Infrastructure upgrade of sewer system needed in South Bend. Steve Bullock: Signed executive order requiring net neutrality. |
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War & Peace Seth Moulton: AdWatch: Don't send troops back to Iraq. Joe Sestak: America broke its word with departure from Iran agreement. Mike Gravel: Filibustered to end the military draft. Julian Castro: Opposed troops in Syria, but have to plan withdrawal. Mike Gravel: 2008: searing indictment of Democratic support of Iraq war. Tulsi Gabbard: No more wars for regime change, like Syria and Afghanistan. Joe Biden: US should stand up to aggression of dictators. Pete Buttigieg: Pull troops out of Afghanistan, but not Syria. |
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Welfare & Poverty Bernie Sanders: 1980s USSR housing worse than U.S.'s, but they pay only 5%. Beto O`Rourke: Pushed "El Paso renaissance": Walmart replaces poor housing. Elizabeth Warren: Address housing crisis by assisting cities & homebuyers. Kamala Harris: LIFT Act and Rent Relief: $42 billion to people in poverty. |
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2019 Sunday pundit shows (2019 Senate races and 2020 presidential preparation): |
More citations for 2020 presidential Democratic primary contenders (sources for issue excerpts):
All material copyright 1999-2022 by Jesse Gordon and OnTheIssues.org Reprinting by permission only. |
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Page last edited: Dec 27, 2019
