This is the final excerpt from my liveblog efforts. I've seen and heard a lot tonight, and therefore have an equal amount to process. This has been a very important experience for me and for a first crack at political coverage I don't think it went so poorly. Please stay tuned for some clarifications and clean-up in posts here and at Blogher.
The next question was about the criminal justice system. As Professor Kim and I discussed yesterday on Blogher, this was an issue that hasn't been covered very well in the candidate position statements, and it is an issue of great importance to the African American community.
The overall response to this question was the elimination of mandatory minimum sentences, the reduction of hard time for nonviolent offenders, and the "disparity between crack and powdered cocaine." Chatter from some of the bloggers online and around me reflected concern about too much of a focus on drugs - there are other issues here. Not too much talk about profiling here, but again, with thirty seconds per answer, it's difficult to go too deep.
The next question is about Katrina and responses to crisis.
Would you support a Federal law supporting the right to return to New Orleans?
Gravel says "squander" yet again. This time we're squandering money on the war instead of building homes.
Dodd says New Orleans and Katrina are a symbol of what we can do right, in contrast to what the Bush Administration did wrong.
Clinton says we have to fix the infrastructure. We have to rebuild it. Until recently the administration wouldn't give them FEMA money without a ten percent match.
Edwards draws on his own emotional connection to New Orleans in a response that I didn't catch the bulk of. This thing is moving fast...I think it might be better suited to round-up posts after the fact than in the moment sorts of things, but I'm already into it so I'll see it through!
Obama says big contracts went to Halliburton et al instead of NOLA citizens. He says we need a President in touch with the needs of the city before the next one hits. It was the assumption that everyone could "jump in their SUVs, load up with sparkling water and head to the nearest hotel," he says. He also adds that the people in NOLA were neglected prior to the hurricane. There are "potential Katrinas" all over the country - left untouched.
The next question is about outsourcing.
Gravel strays again from the drug wars to note that outsourcing is not the problem. Problem is trade agreements that benefit management and shareholders. It's the way all these people want to finance health care on the backs of businesses. It makes us uncompetitive.
Dodd says outsourcing is a huge issue.
Biden says we need to make jobs more attractive in America. Richardson adds that we need to upgrade our science and math standards. Create 250 science and math academies to deal with the gap. We need trade agreements that don't support slave and child labor. What is it going to take to keep you here?
Edwards calls upon the emotional again, and says he's seen the impact of outsourcing up close. The mill his Dad worked in closed - devastated the community. We need to eliminate tax breaks for businesses that move jobs overseas.
Obama says there was never a Federal effort to come in and retrain workers for jobs of the future. Kucinich is going to cancel NAFTA. A Democratic administration started it, another one will end it.
Darfur is the last question. We did nothing in Rwanda. What is this country's unwillingness to move to end the slaughter in Darfur? What does it say about our moral authority?
Dodd says we should be able to take some unilateral action. Get our military out of Iraq, regain our stature and build coalitions.
Clinton says there are three things we have to do: Move the peacekeepers into Sudan as soon as possible. There has to be airlift and logistical support from the US or NATO. No fly zone over Sudan. We should make it very clear to the government of Khartoum. We will shoot down their planes if they go there.
Biden says he's been calling for three years to stop talking and start acting. We don't ahve to wait to get out of Iraq to regain moral authority. if the rest of the world would not act, we shojld have two years ago installed a no fly zone. Put American troops on the ground to stop the carnage.
Richardson upset some people because he said we should use leverage with China to impact their Olympic chances - fighting genocide is more important than sports. We need to instiute no-fly zone, economic sanctions from Europe. In Darfur three mnoths ago - rapes must be stopped We should not forget about Africa.
Edwards Darfur part of bigger question for America. How do we reestablish ourselves after Iraq? Lead on stopping spread of disasease , water, and econ. deve.
Obama is no fly, protectiv forces, have to look at Africa aside form after crises, what are we doing tp ay attnetion to Africa w/ trade, economic develoopment. Our long term security will depend on whether we give childfren in Africa alternatives to violence.
Kucinich says it's time for the US to stop looking to Africa solely as a place where corporations exploit the people. If Darfur had a supply of oil, we'd be there right now. This was met with much applause.
Gravel wraps up the forum with an incendiary statement. He starts by saying that if we have a president he (read: HE) has to have moral judgment. He adds that most of the people do not have that judgment, including all of these people on the stage with him, and that they have proven it by "the single fact of what they've done."
More to come on the meetings with candidates after the debate.
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