John Edwards Live On MTV/MySpace for the Presidential Dialogues:
1) What would he do to make education more diverse and less Eurocentric? President doesn't run schools, but can speak out to the world to show our diversity.
2) What will he do to help make college more affordable? A program to pay for every college education with work-study programs.
3) How is he going to pay for this? We'll do a better job of collecting taxes
4) What can we do to get more money to the arts programs? We as a nation have the responsibility to promote the arts, because the arts are what makes a nation remarkable. Sports are revenue generators, but we should focus on artists.
5) How to pay for this? President goes to the Congress and ask for incentives.
6) How to pay for college plan? Are you planning on increasing taxes? A: Get rid of Tax cuts for rich people to pay for universal health care, college, and the arts. We're also going to increase the capital gains tax on people who make over $250,000 a year from 15% to 27-28%.
7) How to stop urban violence? Universal Health Care, Education, and Job Training.
8 ) What would you do to help New Orleans? I would do everything different. We don't need a surge in Baghdad, we need one in New Orleans. New Orleans is a failure in presidential leadership. Takes a shot at Michael Brown. Calls him Brownie, and points to his lack of experience.
More information on the Flektor polling widget - it's performing well.
9) Ask him about foreclosures in New Orleans. Just Ask Him. Edwards says he pulled his money out of the investment group that was foreclosing homes in New Orleans, and he is working with ACORN, a local community group. Not sure if he means the ACORN vote registering people. He says he's set up a fund for people who are being foreclosed on.
10) ONE for anti-global poverty. Medicaid should cover AIDS expenses. He believes in needle-exchange. He wants $50 billion to combat AIDS worldwide. He wants to help educate 100 million grade schoolers in the world. Get them drinking water, and sewage, and microloans. America needs to be the light in the world again
11) China is in a position to stop the genocide in Darfur. What can American do to influence China to act? America is the most powerful country in the world, and does nothing in Darfur. We need to pressure China (both diplomatic and economic). We also need a no-fly zone in Darfur. Would convene NATO meeting to ratchet up sanctions on Darfur. African Union force is incapable to do it - we need a force on the ground.
12) Can We Win the war on Terror? Edwards doesn't like to use the term, Global War on Terror. He will keep America safe, but not the way Bush does. There is a difference between fighting terror, and doing what Bush does. There are two parts to the fight. Finding terrorists, and combatting the forces that cause terrorism.
13) What steps will you take to bring the troops home. Having more than one tour of duty? I will draw-down 40-50,000 troops immediately. We will bring the rest home quickly. I would talk to Iran and Syria on how to help stabilize Iraq. Will not continue combat missions, like at least one other Democratic candidate (he's talking about Hillary, but doesn't name her). I will bring out the combat troops, but leave some troops, like we do in Japan, Korea...Don't let other candidates fool you. No combat missions - make them say combat missions.
14) Bin Laden wants us to pull out of Iraq. Does he have our best interests at heart? Iraq did not attack us, Bin Laden did, and it happened on Bush's watch. He has worn down our army, and is using the Guard and Reserves in ways they were never meant to be used. There is no military solution. The solution is to pull out and put pressure on the Iraqi government.
15) What about Universal HealthCare? I was the first presidential candidate to offer it. Here's my plan. When elected, in January 2009, I will tell the Cabinet, and the Congress, and the Vice-President, that if they don't give us coverage by July, the politicians lose their health coverage. Don't let pharmaceutical companies have a seat at the table. Don't let lobbyists negotiate the new coverage plan at all.
16) Would universal care cause people to be less responsible? We would teach health, nutrition, and preventative care. Mandated coverage, portability, and coverage.
77% of the audience agree with Edwards.
17) What about Obama and Clinton's health plans? Obama's doesn't mandate universal coverage. Clinton's plan is very close my plan, so I can't be critical (is he saying she's copying?). Repeats threats to take away Congress Health Coverage, and not let lobbyists get involved. Says Clinton takes lobbyist money.
18) What about stem cells - the adult kind, so we don't get into abortion debates. Edwards doesn't think we should limit any stem cell research. No ideological limit on research. Because of hope. Government should be funding stem cell research and universities.
19) What about environment? Can we provide incentives to business? Global Warming Climate Change is a crisis. He agrees with Al Gore. Says Arctic Polar Ice Caps will melt in 23 years. Says we are the worst polluter on the plant. - in a great race with China. Solutions: he would put a cap on carbon emmissions, making it lower every year. He is not for nuclear plants, and would allow no more coal plants. I would ask Americans to sacrifice, and be patriotic about something other then war. Drive less. Consume less. Buy more fuel efficient vehicles. Pushes OneCorp.
20) Why is he running for President? He grew up poor and struggling, and wants everyone to have the chance that he had. Doesn't want people to be sent off to war, or have a loved one sent off to war.
This will replay tonight on MTV 7:00 EST/6:00 CST.
The Flektor Poll, listing all of the audience response to his answers:
