OnTheIssues.org


Home Issues Leaders Recent Grid Archive Senate House VoteMatch_Quiz FAQs
 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 

Books by and about 2020 presidential candidates
Crippled America,
by Donald J. Trump (2015)
Fire and Fury,
by Michael Wolff (2018)
Trump Revealed,
by Michael Kranish and Marc Fisher (2016)
The Making of Donald Trump,
by David Cay Johnston (2016)
Promise Me, Dad ,
by Joe Biden (2017)
The Book of Joe ,
by Jeff Wilser (2019; biography of Joe Biden)
The Truths We Hold,
by Kamala Harris (2019)
Smart on Crime,
by Kamala Harris (2010)
Guide to Political Revolution,
by Bernie Sanders (2017)
Where We Go From Here,
by Bernie Sanders (2018)
Our Revolution,
by Bernie Sanders (2016)
This Fight Is Our Fight,
by Elizabeth Warren (2017)
United,
by Cory Booker (2016)
Conscience of a Conservative,
by Jeff Flake (2017)
Two Paths,
by Gov. John Kasich (2017)
Every Other Monday,
by Rep. John Kasich (2010)
Courage is Contagious,
by John Kasich (1998)
Shortest Way Home,
by Pete Buttigieg (2019)
Becoming,
by Michelle Obama (2018)
Higher Loyalty,
by James Comey (2018)
The Making of Donald Trump,
by David Cay Johnston (2017)
Trump vs. Hillary On The Issues ,
by Jesse Gordon (2016)
Outsider in the White House,
by Bernie Sanders (2015)

Book Reviews

(from Amazon.com)

(click a book cover for a review or other books by or about the presidency from Amazon.com)

Interviews during 2018-2020, interviewing Democratic presidential hopefuls for 2020


    Click on a participant to pop-up their full list of quotations
    from Interviews during 2018-2020 (number of quotes indicated):
  • Amy Klobuchar (11) Minnesota Democratic candidate for President; Minnesota Senator
  • Andrew Yang (11) Democratic candidate for President; CEO
  • Bernie Sanders (13) Democratic Presidential candidate
  • Beto O`Rourke (34) Texas Democratic candidate for President; U.S. Rep from TX
  • Beto O'Rourke (3)
  • Bill de Blasio (7) New York Democratic primary candidate and NYC mayor
  • Cory Booker (8) New Jersey Mayor of Newark; N.J. Senator
  • Democratic Party (1)
  • Elizabeth Warren (13) Massachusetts Senator
  • Eric Swalwell (13) California Presidential candidate (withdrawn); U.S. Rep from CA-15
  • Jay Inslee (9) Washington Democratic Washington Governor
  • Joe Biden (26) Democratic V.P.
  • Joe Sestak (12) Democratic candidate for President; Navy Admiral
  • John Delaney (2) Maryland Democratic candidate for President; U.S. Rep from MD-6
  • John Hickenlooper (10) Colorado Democratic Colorado Governor
  • Julian Castro (17) Texas Mayor of San Antonio; HUD Secretary
  • Kamala Harris (13) California Democratic candidate for President; California Senator
  • Kirsten Gillibrand (9) New York Democratic candidate for President; New York Senator
  • Marianne Williamson (26) Democratic candidate for President
  • Michael Bennet (7) Colorado Democratic candidate for President; Colorado Senator
  • Mike Bloomberg (10) New York Mayor of NYC
  • Mike Gravel (6) Democratic challenger for president
  • Pete Buttigieg (44) Indiana Democratic candidate for President; Mayor of South Bend, IN
  • Seth Moulton (1) Massachusetts Democratic candidate for President; U.S. Rep from MA-6
  • Stacey Abrams (1) Georgia Democratic nominee for Georgia Governor
  • Steve Bullock (8) Montana Democratic Montana Governor
  • Tim Ryan (2) Ohio Democratic candidate for President; U.S. Rep from OH-13
  • Tom Steyer (18) Possible Democratic candidate for President from California
  • Tulsi Gabbard (7) Hawaii Democratic candidate for President; U.S. Rep from HI-2
  • Wayne Messam (11) Florida Democratic Presidential Challenger
    OR click on an issue category below for a subset.
This collection of excerpts comes from articles about and interviews of 2020 Democratic primary hopefuls.

    Speculation on 2020 Democratic presidential contenders (sources for issue excerpts):
  • Twitter posting AdWatch: Joe Biden: "The world is laughing at President Trump", Dec 04, 2019
  • NBC News, "Who has more to fear from Bloomberg: The Democrats or Trump?," by Alex Seitz-Wald, Nov. 24, 2019
  • New York Post, "Bloomberg apologizes for stop-and-frisk policy," by Carl Campanile & Aaron Feis, November 17, 2019
  • PolitiFact.com, "Fact-checking Joe Biden's claim that he was among the poorest in government," by Tom Kertscher, 10/30/19
  • Slate magazine, "Watch Andrew Yang Break Down in Tears While Discussing Gun Violence," by Daniel Politi, Aug 11, 2019
  • Detroit Free Press, "Marianne Williamson talks racial justice in speech to NAACP," by Emma Keith, July 23, 2019
  • Business Insider, "Yang said he would 'love' to declassify Area 51," by Lauren Frias, 7/19/19
  • Breitbart.com, "Joe Sestak: Everything Is Going Back to China," by Robert Kraychik, 16 Jul 2019
  • PBS Newshour, "What does Joe Sestak believe? Where the candidate stands on 7 issues," Jul 16, 2019
  • The New Yorker, "Tom Steyer, the Democrats' Billionaire for the People?," by Osita Nwanevu, 7/14/2019
  • The Hill e-zine, "Steyer defends past investments in fossil fuels," by Regina Zilbermints, 7/14/2019
  • Los Angeles Times, "Steyer's bets on private prisons and coal mining could spell trouble," by M.Finnegan & S.Mehta, 7/11/19
  • Politico.com AdWatch, "Tom Steyer unleashes TV ad blitz," by Zach Montellaro, 07/10/2019
  • Townhall.com, "The 2020 Democrats: Tom Steyer & Joe Sestak ," Jul 09, 2019
  • NBC News, "Pro-impeachment billionaire Tom Steyer makes late entry into Democratic race," by Alex Seitz-Wald, July 9, 2019
  • The Hill e-zine, "Williamson campaign uses fundraising email to help rival," by Owen Daugherty, 07/07/19
  • UPI on Breitbart Blog, "Kamala Harris proposes $100B grant to help minorities attain home ownership," Jul 6 2019
  • Reuters, "Buttigieg proposes expanded national service plan to unify country," by Tim Reid, July 3, 2019
  • Vox.com, "Wayne Messam's key policy proposals, briefly explained", by Sean Collins, 7/2/2019
  • Slate magazine, "The Education of Andrew Yang," by Aaron Mak, June 25, 2019
  • CBS News, "Joe Sestak says it's not too late for him to gain traction," by Camilo Montoya-Galvez, 6/24/2019
  • CNN.com, "Beto O`Rourke proposes 'war tax' as part of veterans' plan," by Eric Bradner, June 24, 2019
  • Miami Herald, "Our Latin America policies are morally bankrupt," by Joe Biden, June 24, 2019
  • NBC News, "Sanders has dodged criticism for crime bill vote while others have not," by Heidi Przybyla, June 23, 2019
  • The Hill, "Tensions boil over at Buttigieg town hall after recent violence," by Rebecca Klar, 06/23/19
  • USA Today, "Joe Sestak becomes 24th candidate to seek 2020 Democratic nomination," by William Cummings, 6/23/2019
  • Politico.com, "Biden appears to be softening his stance on the death penalty," by Christopher Cadelago, 6/20/2019
  • Los Angeles Times, "Williamson apologizes for calling vaccine mandates 'draconian' & 'Orwellian'," by Matt Pearce, 6/19/19
  • Rolling Stone magazine, "Biden Rejects Calls to Apologize for Praise of Segregationist," by Tim Dickinson, 6/19/2019
  • Axios.com, "Buttigieg says he suffered depression on return from Afghanistan," by Mike Allen, Jun 16, 2019
  • Reuters news service, "O'Rourke unveils voting rights plan to get 35 million more to the polls," by Tim Reid, June 5, 2019
  • More citations from May 2019 and earlier...

 OnTheIssues.org excerpts:  (click on issues for details)
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.
Budget & Economy
    Amy Klobuchar: Focus on issues affecting small business, rural America.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Environment
    Marianne Williamson: Deal with factory farming by having environmentalists at EPA.
    Steve Bullock: Passionate about protecting public land access for all.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.


The above quotations are from Interviews during 2018-2020, interviewing Democratic presidential hopefuls for 2020.

    More citations for 2020 presidential Democratic primary contenders (sources for issue excerpts):
  • Vox.com, "America's first-ever public option, explained by Gov. Jay Inslee," by Dylan Scott, May 20, 2019
  • Denver CBS Local, "Biden Supports Decriminalizing Marijuana, [but not] Legalization," by Arlette Saenz, CNN, May 16, 2019
  • The Hill, "Steve Bullock teases 'big announcement' in new video," Tal Axelrod, 5/11/2019
  • Washington Examiner, "Booker: Americans should be 'thrown in jail' if they won't give up their guns," by John Gage, 5/6/19
  • Vox.com, "The 20-year argument between Biden and Warren over bankruptcy," by Matthew Yglesias, May 6, 2019
  • Fox News, "Details of Sanders' Soviet 'honeymoon' exposed," by Sam Dorman, 5/3/2019
  • Axios.com, "Buttigieg: Everything you need to know about the 2020 candidate," by Shannon Vavra, 5/3/2019
  • NBC News, "Democracy Dollars: Gillibrand's plan to give voters $600 to donate to campaigns," by Benjy Sarlin, May 1, 2019
  • Jacobin Magazine, "Mike Gravel Should Be on the 2020 Debate Stage," by Branko Marcetic, May 2019
  • Fox News, "Joe Biden officially launches 2020 presidential bid," by Paul Steinhauser, 4/25/2019
  • Mother Jones magazine, "What Andrew Yang’s Universal Basic Income Would Actually Look Like," by Tonya Riley, 4/23/2019
  • The Nation, "Why Democratic Contenders Now Call for Abolishing the Electoral College," by John Nichols, April 22, 2019
  • CNN, "Buttigieg Fields Question at Town Hall, April 22, 2019
  • Axios.com, "What you need to know about the 2020 presidential candidates, in under 500 words," Apr 22, 2019
  • Fox Business News, Buttigieg's views on taxes, health care and the US economy," by Brittany De Lea, 4/15/2019
  • CNN Town Hall Meeting with Marianne Williamson, Presidential Candidate, April 14, 2019
  • NPR, "Medicare-For-All," by Shefali Luthra, April 11, 2019
  • CNBC, "Presidential candidates make progressive pledges at Al Sharpton-led convention," National Action Network, Apr 5, 2019
  • WBUR FM (Boston), "Messam Announces 2020 Run To 'Restore American Dream'," April 09, 2019
  • The Atlantic, "Eric Swalwell Is Running on Gun Safety," by Edward-Isaac Dovere , 4/4/2019
  • The Hill, "Buttigieg calls for abolishing death penalty", by Chris Mills Rodrigo, 4/4/2019
  • CNN K-File, "Beto O'Rourke in 2012 said charter schools were a good idea," by Eric Bradner & Andrew Kaczynski, April 4, 2019
  • Atlantic Magazine, "Klobuchar's Hazy 'Heartland Economics'," by Edward-Isaac Dovere, 4/4/2019
  • Associated Press, "O'Rourke, Castro talk reparations at civil rights conference," by Juana Summers , April 3, 2019
  • Slate.com, "We May Have Already Located the Most Vapid Sound Bite of 2020 Cycle," by Ben Mathis-Lilley, April 03, 2019
  • CommonDreams.org, "After Gaza Slaughter, Buttigieg Praised Israeli Security Responses," by Philip Weiss, April 3, 2019
  • Vox, "Democrats are increasingly critical of Israel. Not Pete Buttigieg," by Alex Ward, 4/3/2019
  • Wichita Eagle, "Face off over Medicaid," by Jonathan Shorman, April 2, 2019
  • The Atlantic, "Beto Sees Trump's Immigration Trap Clearly," by Peter Beinart, 4/1/19
  • Mother Jones magazine, "Talking Tough About Corporate Control of Food," by Tom Philpott, March 30, 2019
  • Washington Post, "Buttigieg believes the religious left will get Trump out," by Sarah Pullman Bailey, 3/29/2019
  • Washington Examiner, "Beto takes extreme abortion stance," by Salena Zito, 3/29/2019
  • Vox, "An abortion clinic is suing to open in Pete Buttigieg's city," by Anna North, 3/27/2019
  • The Atlantic, "Cory Booker Is Happy to Be Under the Radar--For Now," by Edward-Isaac Dovere , 3/27/2019
  • Forbes Magazine, "Four Reasons Kamala Harris' Teacher Pay Raise Proposal Is Not A Winner," by Peter Greene, Mar 26, 2019
  • Bloomberg Politics, "Beto O'Rourke Joins Calls for Wealth Tax to Avoid 'Kings and Queens'," by Emma Kinery, 3/22/2019
  • Reason Magazine, "Mike Gravel: The Candidate of Anti-Imperialism and Video Art," by Jesse Walker, Mar. 22, 2019
  • CNBC, "2020 hopeful Beto O'Rourke says he'd rather see Big Tech regulated than broken up," by Sara Salinas Date: 3/21/2019
  • Common Dreams, "Reinventing Beto: How a GOP Accessory Became a Top Democratic Contender," March 21, 2019
  • Inquisitr.com blog, "Ex-Senator Mike Gravel Roasts 2020 Democratic Candidates," March 20, 2019
  • New York Magazine, "Mike Gravel, Who's a Hit With the Teens," by Ed Kilgore, Mar. 20, 2019
  • Huffington Post, "O'Rourke Supported the Death Penalty 2 Years Ago," by Daniel Marans, 3/20/2019
  • Forbes Magazine, "Swalwell Touts 'Coverage For All'," by Bruce Japsen, Mar 19, 2019
  • Forbes Magazine, "O'Rourke Dials Back Medicare-For-All Talk," by Bruce Japsen, Mar 17, 2019
  • The Atlantic, "Can A Rust Belt Yogi Save The Democratic Party?," by Elaine Godfrey, Mar. 15, 2019
  • Associated Press, "Kamala Harris calls for federal moratorium on executions," 3/14/2019
  • CNN K-File, "Sanders in the 1970s urged nationalization of most major industries," by A.Kaczynski & N.McDermott, 3/14/19
  • CBS News, "Who is Beto O'Rourke?," by Camilo Montoya-Galvez, 3/14/2019
  • Fox News, "O'Rourke says he'd suspend federal capital punishment," by Paulina Dedaj, 3/14/2019
  • Vanity Fair, "I'm Just Born To Do This," by Joe Hagan, March 13, 2019
  • BBC, "Nine Democratic candidates. One event. Who shone?," by Anthony Zurcher, 3/12/2019
  • NBC News, "Beto O'Rourke, a work in progress," by Alex Seitz-Wald, March 15, 2019
  • Reuters, "Beto in America's oldest hacking group", by Joseph Menn, March 15, 2019
  • Fox News, "O'Rourke says he'd suspend federal capital punishment," by Paulina Dedaj, 3/14/2019
  • The Hill, "Booker slams Manafort sentence," by Tal Axelrod, March 8, 2019
  • Washington Post, "Biden's tough talk on 1970s school desegregation plan could get new scrutiny," by Matt Viser, March 7 2019
  • Forbes Magazine, "For Tulsi Gabbard, Marijuana Sits At Nexus Of Good Policy And Smart Politics," by Tom Angell, Mar 7, 2019
  • Forbes Magazine, "Marijuana Sits At Nexus Of Good Policy And Smart Politics," by Tom Angell, Mar 7, 2019
  • The Hill, "Hickenlooper: Federal government shouldn't decide whether to legalize marijuana", by Alicia Cohn, 03/06/19
  • Townhall.com, "The 2020 Democrats: Marianne Williamson," 3/5/2019
  • NBC News, "Medicare for All is the obvious solution," OpEd by Eric Swalwell, 3/2/2019
  • The Atlantic, "The Democrat Who Wants To Stop The Rage," by Edward-Isaac Dovere, Mar. 2, 2019
  • CommonDreams.org, "Inslee Says He's Running for One Urgent Reason: The Climate Crisis," by Jessica Corbett, March 01, 2019
  • Vox.com, "Meet the first Democrat running for president on climate change," by David Roberts, Mar 1, 2019
  • Leafly.com, "Joe Biden's Drug War Record Is So Much Worse Than You Think," by David Bienenstock, February 26, 2019
  • Fox News, "Warren says reparations for Native Americans should be 'part of the conversation'," by Adam Shaw, 2/23/2019
  • The Philadelphia Tribune, "Biden speaks at Penn; no hint at 2020 presidential election," by Ryanne Persinger, Feb 20, 2019
  • CommonDreams.org, "Buttigieg Wins Applause for Making 'Pack the Courts' Argument," by Julia Conley, 2/20/2019
  • Politico.com, "Bloomberg calls in his chits," by Marc Caputo, 2/19/2019
  • The Daily Pennsylvanian (U.Penn.), "Biden visited campus on Tuesday," by Max Cohen, Cami Doo, and Grant Bianco, 02/19/19
  • Buzzfeed News, "Harris Supports Changing 'Columbus Day' To 'Indigenous Peoples' Day'," by Molly Hensley-Clancy, Feb. 18, 2019
  • Huffington Post, "Warren To Unveil Sweeping Plan For Universal Child Care," by Jonathan Cohn, 02/18/2019
  • Politico.com, "Klobuchar opts for pragmatic approach in town hall," by Elena Schneider, 2/18/2019
  • The Washington Post, "Trump foreign policy under attack from all sides," by Griff Witte and Michael Birnbaum, Feb. 16, 2019
  • Washington Examiner, "Biden tells Europeans in Munich that America is 'an embarrassment'," by Joel Gehrke, Feb. 16, 2019
  • Jacobin Magazine, "Julian Castro's Early, Neoliberal Years," by Branko Marcetic, 2/15/2019
  • PBS Newshour, "What does Pete Buttigieg believe? Where the candidate stands on 7 issues," by Jessica Yarvin, 2.15.2019
  • New York Magazine, "A Long Talk With Pete Buttigieg," by Gabriel Debenedetti, 2/14/2019
  • The New Yorker, "Pete Buttigieg's Quiet Rebellion", by Benjamin Wallace-Wells, 2/9/2019
  • The Economist, "Elizabeth Warren’s Unusual Brand of Wonkish Populism," Feb. 9, 2019
  • Townhall.com, "Candidate profiles: Andrew Yang," Feb 06, 2019
  • Washington Blade, "Buttigieg makes pitch to LGBT voters in bid to become first out gay president," by Chris Johnson, 2/5/19
  • Christian Science Monitor, "For political stars like Beto and Stacey, powerful brands outshine losses," February 5, 2019
  • The Economist, "How much of a socialist is Sanders?," Feb. 1, 2019
  • Vox.com, "5 anti-poverty plans from 2020 Democratic presidential contenders, explained," by Dylan Matthews, Jan 30, 2019
  • Politico.com, "Bloomberg creates own lane in N.H. swing, by Stephanie Murray, 01/29/2019
  • Washington Examiner, "Scourge of the socialists?," by Philip Wegmann, January 29, 2019
  • New York Times, "Supreme Court Will Review New York City Gun Law," by Adam Liptak, 1/22/2019
  • The Atlantic, "Harris's Campaign Strategy: Don't Pick a Lane," by Edward-Isaac Dovere, Jan. 22, 2019
  • ABC7NY, Associated Press on WABC-TV, "Lawmakers pass bill to protect abortion rights in New York," 1/22/2019
  • Jacobin Magazine, "Socialism and Progressives," 1/8/2019
  • The Atlantic, "Cory Booker's Theory of Love," by Franklin Foer, Dec 17, 2018
  • NY Times, "Klobuchar Is 'Minnesota Nice.' But Is That What Democrats Want for 2020?", by Sheryl Gay Stolberg, Nov. 26, 2018
  • BuzzFeed News, "Could This Unknown Montana Governor Be Our Next President?," by Anne Helen Petersen, September 29, 2018
  • Atlantic Magazine, "Warren's Ambitious Fix for America's Housing Crisis," by Madeleine Carlisle, Sep. 25, 2018
  • Houston Chronicle, "O'Rourke: Texas should lead the way on true criminal justice reform," by Beto O'Rourke, 8/27/2018
  • Jacobin Magazine, "Biden on Mass Incarceration," 8/9/18
  • Church & State Magazine, AU.org, "Do No Harm Act Introduced In Senate," by Rokia Hassanein, July/August 2018
  • Washington Post, "Border Won't Be Secure Until Central America Is," by Joseph R. Biden Jr., June 25, 2018
  • USA Today, "Ban assault weapons and buy them back," OpEd by Eric Swalwell, May 3, 2018 (Updated April 8, 2019)
  • The Atlantic, "Delusions and Realities of the Immigration Debate," by Adam Serwer, Jan. 24, 2018
  • The Nation magazine, "A Governor Renews Net-Neutrality Protections With the Stroke of a Pen," by John Nichols, Jan 24, 2018
  • Mother Jones magazine, "NYC Puts an End to School-Lunch Shaming," by Jenny Luna, Sept 6, 2017
  • Jacobin Magazine, "Democrats Against Single Payer," by Branko Marcetic, 3/29/2017
  • Religion News Service, "Montana lawmakers denounce plans for neo-Nazi rally," December 28, 2016
  • Politico.com, "Tom Steyer rips into Pence for alienating LGBT community," by Benjamin Oreskes, 07/15/2016
  • NYC.gov Mayoral press release, "Statement from Mayor Bill de Blasio on Oklahoma Anti-Abortion Legislation," 5/3/2016
  • Medium.com e-zine, "It's the Clean Energy Economy, Stupid," by Tom Steyer, Oct 28, 2015
  • Human Events magazine , "Drivers Taken for Ride by Tom Steyer," May 26, 2015
  • Counterpunch e-zine, "An Imperial Scam Coming to Your State Soon," by John V. Walsh, April 29, 2014
  • Religion News Service, "Bill de Blasio, New York's new 'spiritual but not religious' mayor," January 6, 2014
  • Yet more excerpts from the 2019-2020 presidential race? See....
  • 2019 Democratic primaries (focus on the early competition for the Democratic party nomination)
  • 2019-20 presidential hopefuls (focus on all parties from the primary through the general election)
  • 2020 "Veepstakes" (focus on competition for vice-presidential nominations)

Logo
All material copyright 1999-2022
by Jesse Gordon and OnTheIssues.org
Reprinting by permission only.

E-mail: submit@OnTheIssues.org
Mail
Send donations or submit quotations to:
OnTheIssues.org
1770 Massachusetts Ave. #630
Cambridge, MA 02140



OnTheIssues.org
Home Page
Most recent quotations Archive of books & debates Candidate Matching Quiz

Page last edited: Dec 27, 2019