Sunday Political Talk Show interviews during 2015: on Families & Children


Lawrence Lessig: Sexually abused by his choir teacher as a schoolboy

It was only 10 years ago, in a piece written for New York Magazine, that Lessig publicly revealed he had been sexually abused by his choir teacher while in school. Reflecting on his time at boarding school, Lessig says others were certainly aware of what was happening to him and other boys. But no one did anything. "The thing that was most striking to me about that experience was not so much the abuser," Lessig says. "It's the people around who could have picked up a phone, and who didn't." It's a reality, Lessig asserts, that has shaped his thinking about "what is it about institutions and structures that brings out the best or the worst in people."
Source: Harvard Crimson 2015 article on 2016 presidential hopefuls Sep 24, 2015

Lawrence Lessig: 2008:Criticized Catholic Church for immunity on sexual abuse

Lessig was a choirboy. As a kid, Lessig sang in his church choir in Williamsport, Pa., and went on to attend the nonsectarian American Boychoir School in Princeton, N.J., where a choir director sexually abused him and other classmates. In 2006, Lessig defended before the New Jersey Supreme Court a fellow alum, succeeding in stripping some immunity from nonprofits that fail to prevent abuse. Lessig criticized the Catholic Church in 2008 for defending its own immunity, a move he said "will guarantee more kids are abused in the future," and accused the church of protecting its own self-interest during the clergy sex abuse scandal.
Source: Religion News 2015 article on 2016 presidential hopefuls Sep 8, 2015

Bernie Sanders: 1972: wrote fictional "satire" about men oppressing women

Q: This week saw the leaking of an essay you wrote in the '70s from Alternative Weekly, which your campaign described as satire. I'll be honest with you, it's uncomfortable to read. You wrote in February of '72, a sort of a fantasy of men and women, "A woman enjoys intercourse with her man as she fantasizes being raped by three men simultaneously." Can you explain this essay?

SANDERS: Look, this is a piece of fiction that I wrote in 1972. That was 43 years ago. It was very poorly written. And if you read it, what it was dealing with gender stereotypes, why some men like to oppress women, why other women like to be submissive. You know, something like "50 Shades of Gray," very poorly written 43 years ago. What I'm focusing on right now are the issues impacting the American people today. And that's what I will continue to focus on. And what I think the American people want to hear.

Source: Meet the Press 2015 interviews of 2016 presidential hopefuls May 31, 2015

Mike Huckabee: Don't allow kids to listen to toxic music like Beyonce

Q: In his new book, "God, Guns, Grits and Gravy," Huckabee takes on Beyonce, calling her lyrics "obnoxious and toxic mental poison." And in an interview, Huckabee chided the Obamas for allowing their daughters, Malia and Sasha, to listen to their music.

HUCKABEE: You know, if people read the full chapter, it's in the context of first of all saying Beyonce is a wonderful talent. My point is, she doesn't have to do some of the things that she does in the lyrics, because it's not necessary. She has nothing to make up for. But it was President Obama who said that some of the lyrics he won't listen to with his daughters because it embarrasses him. Well, here's my point, if it embarrasses you then why would you possibly think it's wholesome for your children to put it into their heads? The Obamas are great parents; they're careful about making sure their kids get a lot of vegetables & eat right. That's terrific. But what you put in your brain is also important as well as what you put into your body.

Source: ABC This Week 2015 interviews of 2016 presidential hopefuls Jan 18, 2015

  • The above quotations are from Sunday Political Talk Show interviews during 2015, interviewing presidential hopefuls for 2016.
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2020 Presidential contenders on Families & Children:
  Democrats running for President:
Sen.Michael Bennet (D-CO)
V.P.Joe Biden (D-DE)
Mayor Mike Bloomberg (I-NYC)
Gov.Steve Bullock (D-MT)
Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D-IN)
Sen.Cory Booker (D-NJ)
Secy.Julian Castro (D-TX)
Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI)
Rep.John Delaney (D-MD)
Rep.Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI)
Sen.Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
Gov.Deval Patrick (D-MA)
Sen.Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
CEO Tom Steyer (D-CA)
Sen.Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
Marianne Williamson (D-CA)
CEO Andrew Yang (D-NY)

2020 Third Party Candidates:
Rep.Justin Amash (L-MI)
CEO Don Blankenship (C-WV)
Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI)
Howie Hawkins (G-NY)
Gov.Gary Johnson(L-NM)
Howard Schultz(I-WA)
Gov.Jesse Ventura (I-MN) 		Republicans running for President:
Sen.Ted Cruz(R-TX)
Gov.Larry Hogan (R-MD)
Gov.John Kasich(R-OH)
V.P.Mike Pence(R-IN)
Gov.Mark Sanford (R-SC)
Pres.Donald Trump(R-NY)
Rep.Joe Walsh (R-IL)
Gov.Bill Weld(R-MA & L-NY)

2020 Withdrawn Democratic Candidates:
Sen.Stacey Abrams (D-GA)
Mayor Bill de Blasio (D-NYC)
Sen.Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Sen.Mike Gravel (D-AK)
Sen.Kamala Harris (D-CA)
Gov.John Hickenlooper (D-CO)
Gov.Jay Inslee (D-WA)
Mayor Wayne Messam (D-FL)
Rep.Seth Moulton (D-MA)
Rep.Beto O`Rourke (D-TX)
Rep.Tim Ryan (D-CA)
Adm.Joe Sestak (D-PA)
Rep.Eric Swalwell (D-CA)
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