Summary

[NPR RADIO - ONLY / DEBATE FEATURING CANDIDATES / AUDIO ONLY / RS 136] ****** NO VIDEO ****** AUDIO ONLY ******* RADIO ADDRESS ******** 14:06:50 MODERATOR: THIS IS A RADIO ONLY DEBATE... I'LL BE ASKING SPECIFIC ANSWERS TO SPECIFIC QUESTIONS...WE ASK THAT YOU HOLD YOUR QUESTIONS FOR 5 MINUTES. WE HAVE 2 HOURS..WE'LL TALK ABOUT SPECIFIC ISSUES LIKE HEALTH CARE...AND BROADER ISSUES ABOUT WHO YOU ARE AND HOW YOU THINK. 14:08:07 MODERATOR: UNCONDITIONAL WAR ON POVERTY. WHY ARE SO MANY AMERICANS LIVING IN POVERTY? 14:08:26 DEAN: MEDICARE IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE. WHO ARE THE BENEFICIARIES $85 B GOES TO HMOS. I WAS IN NORTH DAKOTA YESTERDAY. THIS IS A COUNTRY WHICH IS A GREAT COUNTRY AND BUSINESS HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TOO,. WE NEED A PROGRAM LIKE LYNDON JOHNSON LIKE HEAD START... 14:09:20 MODERATOR: (TO GEPHARDT) MANY PEOPLE FEEL JADED ABOUT THE POLITICAL PROCESS. WHY AND HOW TO FIX IT 14:09:39 GEPHARDT: CAMPAIGN AND CAMPAIGN REFORMS. I ACTUALLY BROUGHT JOHN MCCAIN TO MY OFFICE GOT CONGRESS ON BOARD...WE GOT IT DONE AND I'M PROUD. PEOPLE HAVE GIVEN UP THEY THINK SPECIAL INTERESTS HAVE GONE AMOK 14:10:38 MODERATOR: (TO KERRY) DOES IT NEED A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT? 14:10:52 KERRY: I THINK THE SINGLE GREATEST PROBLEM I HAVE PERSONALLY REFUSED IN ALL 4 ELECTIONS TO SENATE HAVE NEVER TAKEN PAC MONEY. PAUL WELLSTONE AND I WROTE CLEAN LAW. WHAT'S HAPPENED IS 50%...WE'RE EXPERIENCING THE GREATEST PERIOD OF CRONY CAPITALISM 14:12:05 THE BIGGEST SINGLE REASON WHY NOT HEARD. THEY TURNED IT INTO A 3OM GREATEST SINGLE EXAMPLE OF FEEDING AT THE CONGRESSIONAL TROUGH. BUSH IS FEEDING THAT..FOUGHT AGAINST THIS ALL MY LIFE...ARCTIC WILDLIFE REFUGE 14:12:56 MODERATOR: (TO KUCINICH) HOW WOULD YOU ADDRESS DESEGREGATION - 50 YEARS AFTER BROWN V BOARD OF ED? 14:13:14 DESEGREGATION FIRST THING WE MUST DO IS PAY ATTENTION TO OUR INNER CITY SCHOOLS WANTING FOR CAPITAL RESOURCES BETTER PAID TEACHERS UNIVERSAL PRE KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM 5 DAY A WEEK DAY CARE SOCIAL SKILLS NUTRITION WE NEE TO UNIVERSAL COLLEGE EDUCATION TO HAVE THE CHANCE TO PULL THEMSELVES UP BY THEIR BOOTSTRAPS 14:14:20 MODERATOR: SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE FREEDOM OF RELIGION? 14:14:34 LIEBERMAN: THIS IS DIFFERENCE BETWEEN INDIVIDUAL BEHAVIOR AND PUBLIC SQUARE PROTECTS EVERYONE'S ABILITY TO CHOOSE. RIGHT OF LIFE LIBERTY AND PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS. FREEDOM OF RELIGION V. FROM RELIGION FROM THE PUBLIC SQ. WE ARE MOST RELIGIOUS NATION AND TOLERANT...FAITH IS SOURCE OF UNITY..WE DIMINISH OURSELVES. 14:15:48 (TO CMB) WHAT ABOUT ABANDONING ELECTORAL COLLEGE V POPULAR VOTE? 14:16:09 CMB: THIS WAS CHANGED IN 1918 WE'VE PASSED TIME WHEN ELECTORAL COLLEGE HAS TO GO. KIWIS..WHO DIDN'T KNOW. WANT TO GO BACK TO CAMPAIGN FINANCE..HOW DO WE INVIGORATE OUR DEMOCRACY..AS FEMALE AFRICAN AMER HAD THE HARDEST TIME DEALING WITH THE RULES THAT HOWARD WAS TALKING ABOUT. GETTING GRASS ROOTS ENERGIZED SHOULD BE OUR # 1 GOAL 14:17:21 MODERATOR: (TO GEPH.) CAN YOU THINK OF A GOVT PROGRAM THAT WE CAN ELIMINATE 14:17:38 GEPHARDT: THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PROGRAMS WE CUT BACK AN D ELIMINATED. ONE PROGRAM I WOULD CUT IS TACTICAL NUCLEAR WEAPONS. WE SHOULD BE GETTING RID OF IT. WE SHOULD ALSO GET RID OF STARS WARS...WITHOUT ANY VALID TEST DOES NOT MAKE GOOD SENSE. TO GET BUDGET STRAIGHTENED OUT ..NEED JOBS 14:18:38 DEAN. U.N. WAS FOUNDED DOES UN NEED REFORM UN HAS GONE THROUGH REFORM..COULD USE MORE...BUSH MADE HUGE MISTAKE IN NOT USING THIS..HIS FATHER SHOWED COULD MAKE MORE OF COALITIONS. UN IS VERY POWERFUL GOOD PLACE FOR RESOLVING DISPUTES..ADDITIONAL REFORMS COULD BE MADE.. THIS PRESIDENT HAS MISUSED 14:20:00 MODERATOR: (TO KUCINICH) WANTED TO FOLLOW UP ON DOMESTIC SPENDING CUTS 14:20:14 KUCINICH: PROGRAMS I WOULD CUT IS 15% CUT IN PENTAGON WHAT WE NEED IS PROGRAM TO CHALLENGE POVERTY, NEW WPA UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE DEVELOPMENT OF HIGH TECH WITH GOVERNMENT, AND WTO AND HAFTA ...COMMERCIAL BREAK... 14:22:19 MODERATOR: (TO KUCINICH) HOW TO STEP UP AND FILL VOID OF UN? 14:22:36 KUCINICH: US GIVE UP AMBITIONS TO CONTROL OIL UNTIL IRAQ TURN OVER TO UN THE CONTRACTING PROCESS NO MORE HALLIBURTON SWEETHEART DEALS,.NEXT THING WOULD BE US RENOUNCE INTEREST IN PRIVATIZATION. FINAL THING WOULD BE UN THESE ARE PRECONDITIONS FOR PEACE US TO GET OUT WITHIN 90 DAYS 14:23:37 MODERATOR: (TO DEAN) THIS ADMIN SEEMS DEADLOCKED ON JULY DEADLINE 14:23:57 DEAN:...THOUGHT IRAQ WAS A MISTAKE IN THE FIRST PLACE. NOW THAT WE'RE THERE IF WE PULL OUT PRECIPITOUSLY OR TURN OVER PRECIPITOUSLY AND AL QAEDA GETS A FOOTHOLD. IF THEY'RE GOING TO WRITE A NEW CONSTITUTION NEEDS TO FEEL LIKE THEY THE TIMETABLE IS UNLIKELY AND MOSTLY DRIVEN BY KARL ROVE. MODERATOR: SO WHAT'S YOUR TIMETABLE? 14:25:11 DEAN: I BELIEVE WE SHOULD PULL OUT AS SOON AS WE CAN BUT 90 DAYS 14:25:23 MODERATOR: (TO GEPHARDT) SAID SURE THEY'D FIND WMD DID NOT FEEL MISLEAD WHEN HEAD OF CIA ASSURED YOU? 14:25:44 GEPHARDT: I DIDN'T JUST LISTEN TO G. BUSH TALKED TO PEOPLE IN CLINTON ADMIN THEY ALL SAID VERY LIKELY THAT SADDAM HAD WMD GOT TO DO WHAT IT TAKES TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE. WHY INTELLIGENCE WENT WRONG. NEED BLUE RIBBON PANEL.. 14:26:42 MODERATOR: (TO CMB) DOES IT MATTER IF THERE'S WMD? 14:26:52 CMB: DON'T THINK THIS ADMIN HAS ANY CREDIBILITY POST 9/11 INSTEAD OF GOING AFTER OBL AND AL QAEDA WE GOT DUCK TAPE AND TERROR ALERTS BASED ON INTEL THAT AT THE TIME ANYONE REALLY BELIEVED IN. IT'S DONE NOW WE NEED TO GET OUT AS SOON AS WE CAN..DO IT IN WAY THAT REESTABLISHMENT OF CIVIL SOCIETY 14:28:07 PAKISTAN IS ALSO ESSENTIAL ALLY IN WAR ON TERROR 14:28:22 KERRY: YOU HAVE TO BALANCE 2 ATTEMPTS ON LIFE OF MUSHARRAF. SPECTER OF ISLAMIC STATE IS WHAT IS AT RISK IN PAKISTAN TODAY...MISLED US AND WORLD FOR YEARS. HE LIED TO MY FACE THAT'S WHEN WE PUT SANCTIONS IN PLACE. NEED TO WALK A VERY FINE LINE. CAN BE TOUGH WITH PAKISTAN..WE KNOW HE'S UP THERE HAVE NOT PUSHED HARD ENOUGH COMB OF INITI WITH INDIA 14:29:29 CMB: KERRY IS RIGHT - WHEN BHUTAR..MUSHARRAF OVERTHREW A DEMOCRAT. ELECTED GOVT RUMORS THAT BIN LADEN IS HANGING OUT IN NW TERRITORIES THERE HAVE TO BE VERY CLEAR 14:30:10 DEAN - AS WE SIT HERE PRES REFUSING TO ENGAGE IN BILATERAL DISCUSSIONS WITH N. KOREA..DANGER IS NOT THAT THEY'LL ATTACK US BUT DANGER IS LIKE FOR PAKISTAN. THIS PRES IS NOT PROTECTING THIS COUNTRY AS HE SHOULD. IF N. KOREA ENDS UP WITH NUCLEAR 14:31:02 KUCINICH - RISK OF FIRST STRIKE. LOST CREDIBILITY FROM ANY NATION - REASSERTING NON-PROLIF TREATY THAT'S HOW WE REGAIN CREDIBILITY 14:31:34 GEPH - ADMIN HAS FAILED TO STOP SAUDI IN MADRAS SCHOOLS IN PAKISTAN PREVENTING YOUNG TERRORISTS FROM THEY HAVE NUCLEAR POWER. PRES NOT DOING ENOUGH TO PREVENT NEW TERRORISTS FROM PAKISTAN FROM GETTING TO US 14:32:21 QUESTION: WRT MADRAS- WHERE DO WE GET OFF TELLING PEOPLE ON HOW TO RUN THEIR SCHOOLS? 14:32:37 GEPHARDT: WHEN YOU HAVE SCHOOLS MANUFACTURING FACILITY ON TERRORISM FUNDED IN LARGE PART BY SOME MEMBERS OF SAUDI SOCIETY 14:33:03 LIEBERMAN: THE MOST SIGNIFICANT THREAT IS FROM FANAT ISLAMIC TERRORIST OBL DOES NOT CONTEMPLATE CONQUERING US. - MOST LIKELY CANDIDATES ARE PAKISTAN..WOEFULLY DISENGAGED FROM PLAYING THE CONSTRUCTIVE MEDIATIVE ROLE BETWEEN INDIA AND PAKISTAN 14:34:05 KERRY: THIS ADMIN NEGLIG ABSENT FROM PLAYING MEDIATIVE ROLE - SHOULD HAVE PURCHASED RUSSS...WORKED WITH INDIA TO CREATE A NUCLEAR OVERSIGHT CAPACITY - SHOULD REGIME FALL, NUCLEAR POWER NOT INTO WRONG HANDS...DEEPEST LEVEL OF FOREIGN POLICY EXPERIENCE SO THAT WE IN FACT FIGHT 14:35:07 DEAN: ONE QUICK POINT - THE WAR IS BETWEEN ISLAMIC RADICALS AND MODERATES. EVERYONE INCL. MODERATES HAVE INTEREST IN NOT I TOTALLY AGREE WITH COMMENTS ABOUT THE SAUDIS 14:35:43 MODERATOR: HOW DO YOU CONVINCE THEM NOT TO DO THAT? 14:35:51 DEAN - RENEWABLE ENERGY POLICY WOULD GO ALONG WAY 14:36:06 CMB - IT HAS HAPPENED BEFORE THAT AFTER WW2 WE DID THIS MUCH FOR GERMANY AS WELL AS JAPAN THE KIND OF MILITARISM ...WAS ENDED TO USE OUR DIPLOMACY 14:36:44 KUCINICH - HOW MUCH CREDIB DO WE HAVE IN TEACHING PEACE WHEN WE..NEED TO DO THIS BY EXAMPLE, NEED TO ENGAGE THE WORLD LAND OF SCOTT KEYES OF HOME AND BRAVE 14:37:25 LIEBERMAN: HOW DO WE CONVINCE THEM OF THE SAUDIS BACK OF THE TIGERS THEY WILL BE OVERTHROWN GREAT VICTORY WILL BE TO EMPOWER ISLAMS TO LIVE FREER LIVES...ALLOW US TO HELP THEM ...INTERNATIONAL MARSHALL PLAN FOR THE MUSLIM WORLD 14:38:09 MODERATOR: TAIWAN HAS SCHEDULED PROV REFERENDUM LEAD THEM TO POLICY OF INDEPENDENCE- WHERE WILL YOU STAND? 14:38:37 KERRY- US HAS ALWAYS HAD 1 CHINA POLICY AT SAME TIME, NO PRES COULD ALLOW TAIWAN TO SLIP BACKWARDS FROM DEMOCRACY IT HAS ACHIEVED. CONSTRUCT AMBIGUITY AS TO WHAT STEPS WE'LL EXACTLY TAKE, BUT WILL TOLERATE NO INVASION. WHILE WE'RE SUPPORTIVE, NOT ACCEPTABLE TO DECLARE INDEPENDENCE... 14:39:48 LIEBERMAN - AMERICA IS ALWAYS STRONGEST WHEN WE STAND BY PRINCIPALS. CHINA IS NOT A DEMOCRACY TAIWAN IS. STARTLED WHEN PRES OF TAIWAN IN MIDST OF ELECTION CALLED FOR REFERENDUM WHEN MISSILES POINTED AT TAIWAN SHOULD BE REMOVED..BUSH TURNED HIS BACK 14:40:37 KERRY 0 SURELY YOU AGREE THEY SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO DECLARE INEPT? 14:40:53 LIEBERMAN - YES BUT THIS WAS NOT A REFERENDUM ON INDEP BUT ON REMOVING MISSILES POINTED AT TAIWAN *****COMMERCIAL BREAK********' 14:43:31 DEAN FACT IS I WANT HEALTH INSUR. WE HAVE TO BALANCE THE BUDGET AND DECENT AMERICA FOR BASIC NEEDS TAKEN CARE OF WE NEED ..NO MIDDLE TAX CUT FOR AMERICANS. PROPERTY TAXES WENT UP .. ON BALANCE WHILE INDIVIDUALS WENT UP.. I BELIEVE WE CAN HAVE TH4E SAME TAXES AS WHEN CLINTON WAS IN 14:44:39 LIEBERMAN - ULTIMATELY HE WOULD REPEAL MIDDLE TAX CUTS. WOULD TAKE IT BACK FROM AVG NEW HAMP FAMILY $2000 PROPOSE NEW MIDDLE CLASS TAX CUT...MORE AND MORE NEED A BREATH 14:45:21 KUCINICH - DEAN AND IF PROP TAX WENT UP MAINLY BECAUSE O THE TAX CUTS ON RICH...AND HE REINSTATES THE MARRIAGE PENALTY.. DEAN HAS PROGRAM TO RAISE PEOPLE'S INCOME TAX BEYOND..INCREASE BURDEN 14:46:16 DEAN: I THINK WHAT JOHN JUST SAID. HOGWASH. REASON FOR TAXES THAT IS HIGHER IS BECAUSE HIGHER INSURANCE...THEY WILL HAVE HEALTH INS CAN GO TO COLLEGE..MAKE SURE ALL MIDDLE CLASS PEOPLE CAN SEND THEIR KIDS TO COLLEGE 14:47:15 KERRY - NOT HOGWASH. ANGELA HAS HEALTHCARE IS GOING TO PAY ADDL $200 IN TAXES, THESE PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD DEAN'S INCREASE IN TAXES 14:47:46 KUCINICH - BUSH CUTS HAVE MADE SHAMBLES OF OUR ECONOMY. I WOULD CREATE PROGRESSIVE TAX ON ALL FAMILIES CLOSE CORPOR TAX LOOPHOLES AND ELIMINATE CUTS ON WEALTHY 14:48:27 CMB - DENNIS IS RIGHT. CONVERSATION 80% PAY MORE IN PAYROLL TAX THAN THEIR INCOME TAX BECAUSE OF HEALTH CARE COST BECAUSE OF SHIFING OF NATIONAL TO LOCAL AND STATE GOVT EVERYTHING HAS GOING UP AND END OF PROGRESSIVITY 14:49:19 DEAN - I THINK WE NEED TO HELP EVERYONE WITH HEALTH INSURANCE - I WILL GIVE EVERY9ONE $3000 IN BENEFITS MORE THAN THE 500=-700 . I THINK THAT' S RISKY PROPOSAL IF WE'RE GOING TO UNDERMINE THE SS SYSTEM 14:49:59 KERRY - THAT WAS A PROPOSAL EARLIER 20% DON'T PAY SS BENEFITS..GIVE THEM DOES NOTHING TO UNDERMINE SS. HERE'S THE REALITY HERE IN IOWA TUITION HAS GONE UP 1800..YOU ARE GOING TO ADD TO THAT...MARRIAGE PENALTY REINSTATED 14:51:02 LIEBERMAN - WE ALL AGREE WE WANT TO DENY BUSH SECOND TERM. I NEVER HEARD OF WINNING ON TAX INCREASES. CHILD CARE, COST OF LIVING, NEED A TAX CUT. AM PROPOSING ADDITIONAL TAX CUT THAN DEAN 14:51:43 DEAN - FIRST, IF SOMEONE HAS 5 KIDS, SHE'S FAR BETTER OFF UNDER MY PLAN - THE ISSUE IS THAT TOO MANY POLITICIANS WHO PROMISE TOO MANY THINGS I WANT TO BALANCE THE BUDGET YOU CANNOT PROMISE AND SAY IT'LL ALL BE FINE. I WANT FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND HELP MIDDLE CLASS PEOPLE 14:52:47 MODERATOR: DEAN YOU MADE THE CAMPAIGN PROMISES - SURELY YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO PAY FOR THIS EVEN IF YOU REPEAL BUSH CUT? 14:53:14 DEAN: YES THERE IS $3 TRILLION 14:53:22 KUCINICH - IT'S INTERESTING TO HEAR GOV DEAN ASSERTION ABOUT BALANCING BUDGET WHEN HE REFUSES TO ADMIT THERE NEEDS TO BE CUTS IN PENTAGON BUDGET..THIS POINT TAKES 50% OF THE BUDGET IS TAKEN UP BY DEFENSE HOW DO BALANCE 14:53:50 NPR moderator notes that Kucinich is holding up a pie chart, "not entirely effective on the radio" 14:54:10 DEAN - THE REASON WHY WE CAN'T CUT PENTAGON BUDGET IS BECAUSE WE'RE NOT SAFE ENOUGH. I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BUILD STAR WARS, BUT WE DON'T HAVE ADEQUATE INTELLIGENCE OR SPECIAL OPS FORCES..AND STILL PROTECT AMERICA 14:54:53 LIEBERMAN - SOMEONE MADE POINT ABOUT PAYING FOR,. MY TAX CUT WILL ASK THE TOP 2% TO PAY FOR IT IF YOU REPEAL LAST 2 YEAR'S CUTS, YOU ALSO LOSE INCENTIVES FOR SMALL BUSINESSES 14:55:35 CMB - UNDER LAST PRESIDENT WE HAD ECONOMY WORKING FOR ALL AMERICAN PEOPLE. NOW THE PERM PARTS WILL BENEFIT PEOPLE'S WHO NEED IT THE LEAST. WE DO NOT HAVE TAX FAIRNESS IS THE GOAL THAT 14:56:25 KERRY - ARE WE BETTER OFF TOMORROW BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO PAY ON TOP OF HEALTH CARE COSTS..IN BALANCING BUDGET IF THEY SAID 4 YEARS OR 5 YEARS. WE BALANCED THE BUDGET WITH CLINTON WE DON'T HAVE TO TAKE IT..WE CAN BALANCE THE BUDGET BUT CLOSE LOOPHOLES FOR CORPORATIONS IN BERMUDA... 14:57:26 MODERATOR: WANTED TO GET BACK TO GEPHARDT -- SAID YOU'RE READY TO TELL AMERICA IF THEY LIKE BUSH TAX CUTS VOTE FOR BUSH? 14:57:51 GEPH - OUT OF CONTEXT...IF WE'RE GOING TO BEAT BUSH WE HAVE TO TAKE HIM ON HEALTH CARE AND SOCIAL SEC. THE REPUBLICANS HAVE WANTED TO GET RID OF SS -- HOWARD'S POSITION ON MEDICARE WILL NOT LET US BEAT BUSH.. HE SAID MEDICARE WAS THE WORST FED PROGRAM EVER. ******COMMERCIAL BREAK********* 15:00:14 15:08:32