DebateScoop.org: Liveblog of Howard U. Debate

Tom Joyner celebrates Howard U., too, then touts his show! Then advertises "Covenant" book by Smiley. But then a good way of expressing why black America is important.

Tavis Smiley next. The intros have a revival feel, friendly and celebratory. Touts his book, then points out the celebrities including Cornell West.

He has a test: what is the depth of your love for the people, candidates? Introduction of kids who washed cars to get there also lends a family feel, and is a good segue.

Deval Patrick! (Obama). Good partisan message that also says it's nt enough to oppose republicans. Right and wrong the the greater concern than right and left. (Obama).

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 06/28/2007 10:12:30 PM EST

Candidates come on stage (none / 0)

Hillary gets big cheer. Someone calls out "Obama" to good cheer. Sounded like Gravel got best applause, but his name was called as Obama walked out.

Candidates cannot hear Tavis tell them to take places (microphone check?).

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 06/28/2007 10:14:18 PM EST

First question, is race still the most intractable (none / 0)

question, especially after today's Court decision.

Hillary gets to go first. Points out she is a woman. Katrina, cradle to prison superhighway, Brown. The march is not finished. Be footsoldiers in that revolution to finish the job.

Biden: look at the minority views (in the Court). Poor choice of words. Claims he was tough on Alito and Roberts. Don't get me started about his awful performance in the judiciary committee questioning.

Richardson. Need to be authentic. Need more than laws. Must speak passionately about a dialogue?? I am Latino. Too bad he does not sound passionate.

Edwards. Thanks the hosts and then moves to "Two Americas" theme. Tosses in making sure all votes counted.

Obama. Thanks to all . . . "who have made me what I am . . . if it were not for them I would not be standing here today . . . racial equality not just good for African Americans, good for Americans as a whole . . . " Must be a personal responsibility but also a social responsibility.

Kucinich. I want to share in what Obama says (and can I have a tenth of his money?). Universal pre-kindergarten, take money away from war.

Gravel. This is the fairest forum. War on drugs. 179,000 in jail in 1972, 2.3 million now. Savages our inner cities. Addiction a public health issue, not a criminal issue.

Dodd. The shame is that resegregation has been happening for years. No subject more important than education. Bangs mike with gesture. Vague.

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 06/28/2007 10:26:52 PM EST

: test (none / 0)

test
Be the debater you want to see.
by Ross Smith on 07/23/2007 03:32:40 PM EST

[ Parent ]

Education and Poverty (none / 0)

Black HS grads earn less than white HS drop outs.

Biden first. Half of the achievement gap starts at birth, then widens. We need to teach single mothers what to do. It's simple. (Really?) Start early. Smaller classrooms. Time up.

Richardson. Notes this is the first time we have had ed in a debate. Nobody talks about how to pay for war (good line). Want to state for the record (as opposed to . . . . ?) that we need a minimum wage for teachers. Bromide about parental involvement.

Edwards. I am the poverty candidate in case you did not know. No one cause. Environment for young African American men . . . start earlier than age 4, need to make work pay, min wage, right to organize, savings -- forst to address question a little.

Obama. It starts from birth. Need teachers in schools that need them most. After school. Can's leave the money behind for no child left behind. Yhe most important thing is that we recognize these children as our children . . . need somone in the WH who is gonna recognize these children as our own.

Kucinich. War and MLK. Shift paradigm away from war. Cut at least 15% from DOD.

Gravel. See the 15% and raise! Says Democratic party no better than Republican. People on this stage are all guilty.

Dodd. I admire the "good talk" of the others, but in my Senate years I have been in front on the legislation. (So why be president? Maybe "Senator of the Decade" should remain one?)

Hillary. It takes a village (African proverb). I have fought for 35 years . . . Cannot ignore the discrim in the workplace, too.

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 06/28/2007 10:39:04 PM EST

CDC teen AIDS (none / 0)

Richardson. A moral imperiticve. Tough choices. "We have to use needles." Poor choice of words. Jumps too quickly to stats on Africa when the question was teen AIDS in the U.S. Then praises Bush. Not a winning approach. Increase needles.

Edwards. African American women 25x as likely infected as white women . . . I was in a med center in LA a few days ago . . . 1) fully fund a cure, 2) fully fund Ryan White law, 3) insure medicaid covers treatment.

Obama. Add prevention and ed to John's prescriptions. Too scared of stigma, homophobia. Broader issue, all these problems are interconnected, the African American community is weakened in general. Economic development, jobs, health care all necessary.

Kucinich. Sex ed. and health insurance. (Not specific). End for profit med.

Gravel. Drug war needs to end.

Dodd. I'd add school based clinics. Each citizen, churches need to do better. It's not just AIDS. Infant mortality, obesity, diabetes, all afflict the African American community. OVERTIME. Tavis shuts him down -- you not Paris Hilton.

Hillary. Great job, "put this in perspective . . . if AIDS was leading cause of death of white women . . . " Then a laundry list.

Biden. Pedantic: I will answer the actual question: prevent, prevent. Lack of honesty. Educate the minority community. I was trying to get black men to understand . . . I got tested for AIDS and I know Barack got tested. "The community" is at fault.

Obama has to "make clear" "I got tested with Michelle . . . "

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 06/28/2007 10:51:15 PM EST

Tax the rich per Warren Buffet's advice? (none / 0)

Edwards. "The genetic lottery" Warren Buffet said . . . Get rid of George Bush's tax cuts. Capital gains tax lower than what secretary pays, honor work, not just wealth.

Obama. Goes to broader question. People aren't looking for charity. What people really want is fairness. Katrina. Tragedy happened before the hurricane struck.

Kucinich. Corporations offshore profits and $ spent on war.

Gravel. None of you will see the tax system change. I was on the committee and Democrats and Republicans . . . (join Ron Paul on Unity '08, dude?) Sales tax can be made progressive?????

Dodd. Taxes fair, responsible and pro growth. Clinton admin was good (running for VP?) Reward companies that stay in inner city.

Hillary. better in the 1990's. Goes wonky on payroll tax cut off at 95k.

Biden. Ideology.

Richardson. Must rebuild the economy, replace Bush tax cuts with cuts for the middle class, tax incentives, pro-growth Democrat.

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 06/28/2007 11:00:10 PM EST

30 second round starts (none / 0)

arrest versus incarceration rates for blacks versus whites.

Obama. The criminal justice system is not color blind. Need a president . . .not just us, justice. My record on legislation. Need political courage.

Kucinich. End mandatory minumum. Drug rehab. End federal death penalty.

Gravel. No money means no justice is not a surprise.

Dodd. MM bad, Rangel says crack/powder coke distinction bad, Justice dept.

Hillary. Racial profiling, mandatory minimums, diversion of non-violent offenders, crack/powder, AG who is good.

Biden. Most is at state level. I wrote drug court leg., crack/powder, force states.

Richardson. "Equal Justice Under Law" we need a strategy to deal with poverty.

Edwards. Agree with it all. But also create an infrastructure for those charged with a first crime.

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 06/28/2007 11:06:15 PM EST

Katrina (none / 0)

Support a law guaranteeing right of return based on U.N. law?

Kucinich. Yes. Held a hearing yesterday . . .

Gravel. Yes. Iraq cost.

Dodd. I would as well . . . symbol of what we can do right is necessary.

Hillary. I have proposed a ten point plan. Shows her knowledge while hitting Bush admin. Wonk plus passion.

Biden. U.S. constitution enough, not need U.N. It's an American problem.

Richardson. Yes, and Rep. Waters's Recovery Act. Not just atone, but Fema under pres., elim 10% match, change loans, insurance.

Edwards. I announced in 9th ward, took college kids. Make someone the Katrina czar (my words) and make them answer daily what they did.

Obama. Let me finish John's thought because it is important . . . a president who is in touch with the needs before a hurriucande hits, the assumption everyone can jump in their SUV with sparkling water . . .

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 06/28/2007 11:12:34 PM EST

Outsourcing of jobs (none / 0)

Gravel. Not the problem. The trade agreements benefit the owner. All these people (his opponents)

Dodd. Huge issue. My legislation.

Hillary. I dealt with as a senator from NY. Rural mentioned for 3rd or fourth time tonight. Stats. Clean energy, global warming jobs.

Biden. Change taxes not enough. Universal health care and ed system makes is more advantagous to keep jobs here.

Richardson. Upgrade sci and math standards. Fair trade agreements. Invest in high growth industry??????/

Edwards. I have seen it in the mills.

Obama. I moved to Chicago to work with churches after steel plant closings . . . was never a federal effort there. Not only what the others said, also need an intentional strategy to reinvest in those communities.

Kucinich. I have stood behind closed plant gates. Cancel NAFTA and end WTO. End WTO??????

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 06/28/2007 11:18:42 PM EST

Last question, Darfur (none / 0)

Rwanda, we did nothing, now Darfur . . .

Dodd. Iraq has reduced our moral authority. Unilateral action on Darfur (unclear what). OVERTIME.

Hillary. 1) move peacekeepers in airlift and logistical, 2) NATO, 3) no-fly shoot 'em down.

Biden. I said 3 years stop talking and start acting. If need be we should have no-fly zone and American troops.

Richardson. Genocide more important than sports. I was there. OVERTIME.

Edwards. sanctions, Chinese, no-fly, but larger question is how to re-establich moral authority in world, disease, ed, water

Obama. No-fly and protective force. But must look not just as crises. What do we do to pay attn to Africa consistently.

Kucinich. Corporations exploit. Would be there now if they had oil!!