Beto O`Rourke in Democratic candidates debate in Detroit Michigan, July 30-31, 2019

On Civil Rights: Legacy of slavery is alive and well: we need reparations

Sen. Amy KLOBUCHAR: There are people that voted for Donald Trump before that aren't racist. But I don't think anyone can justify what this president is doing [attacking four Congresswomen of color]. Little kids literally woke up this weekend and saw their president calling Baltimore nothing more than a home for rats.

O'ROURKE: I want to acknowledge something what we're all touching on, which is the very foundation of this country, the wealth that we have built, was literally on the backs of those who were kidnapped and brought here by force. The legacy of slavery and segregation and Jim Crow and suppression is alive and well in every aspect of the economy and in the country. As president, I will sign into law a new Voting Rights Act. I will focus on education, address health care disparities, but I will also sign into law Sheila Jackson Lee's reparations bill so that we can have the national conversation we've waited too long in this country to have.

Source: July Democratic Primary debate (first night in Detroit) Jul 30, 2019

On Civil Rights: We don't just tolerate our differences, we embrace them

Q: How do you heal President Trump's racial divide?

O'ROURKE: We'll call his racism out for what it is, and also talk about its consequences. It is changing this country. Hate crimes are in the rise--every single one of the last three years. We must ensure that we don't just tolerate or respect our differences, but we embrace them. That's what we've learned in El Paso, my hometown. One of the safest cities in the US, not despite, but because it's a city of immigrants & asylum seekers & refugees.

Source: July Democratic Primary debate (first night in Detroit) Jul 30, 2019

On Education: Free 2-year college, and debt-free 4-year college

Q: Senator Sanders' proposal is to cancel all student loan debt--do you support that?

O'ROURKE: I support free two-year college, earn that associate's degree, realize your full potential, debt-free four-year college. But that's not just for tuition. That is room and books and board, the full cost of being able to better yourself so that you can better this country. For that schoolteacher who is working a second or a third job, full forgiveness for her outstanding student loan debt, forgiveness for that person willing to work at the V.A. and serve our former service members. And we do not do that at the expense of unions. We make it easier to join an apprenticeship to learn a skill or a trade that you can command for the rest of your life.

Source: July Democratic Primary debate (first night in Detroit) Jul 30, 2019

On Environment: Bring everyone into process with conservation easements

I've listened to the scientists and they're very clear. We don't have more than 10 years to get this right, and we won't meet that challenge with half-steps or only half the country. Those college students I met understand that wind and solar jobs are the fastest-growing jobs in the country. Those farmers in Iowa say pay me for the environmental services of planting cover crops and keeping more land in conservation easements. That's how we meet the challenge. We bring everyone into the solution. Source: July Democratic Primary debate (first night in Detroit) Jul 30, 2019

On Free Trade: Need allies in war, including trade wars

Q: (to Rep. Tim Ryan): Would you continue President Trump's steel tariffs, yes or no?

RYAN: I would have to re-evaluate. I think some of them are effective. But he's bungled the whole thing, obviously. Here's the problem with President Trump. He has a tactical move. What's the grand strategy for the United States? China has 100-year plan, a 50-year plan, a 20-year plan. We live in a 24-hour news cycle. That spells disaster for our economy and disaster for our global politics.

O'ROURKE: You know, the question was about tariffs. And they're a huge mistake. They constitute the largest tax increase on the American consumer, hitting the middle class and the working poor especially hard, and farmers in Iowa and across the country are bearing the brunt of the consequences. When have we ever gone to war, including a trade war, without allies and friends and partners? As president, we will hold China accountable, but we will bring our allies and friends, like the European Union, to bear.

Source: July Democratic Primary debate (first night in Detroit) Jul 30, 2019

On Gun Control: Money buys influence, access, and outcomes

How else can we explain that we lose nearly 40,000 people in this country to gun violence, a number that no other country comes close to. We know what the solutions are, and yet nothing has changed. It is because money buys influence, access, and, increasingly, outcomes. The Center for Disease Control prevented from actually studying the issue in the first place. We will make sure that we ban political action committee contributions to any member of Congress or candidate for federal office. Source: July Democratic Primary debate (first night in Detroit) Jul 30, 2019

On Health Care: Public option vs. Medicare for all a false choice

Q: Should the middle class pay higher taxes in exchange for universal coverage?

O`ROURKE: The answer is no. The middle class will not pay more in taxes in order to ensure that every American is guaranteed world-class health care. I think we're being offered a false choice, some who want to improve the Affordable Care Act at the margins, others who want a Medicare for All program that will force people off of private insurance, I have a better path. Medicare for America. Everyone who is uninsured is enrolled in Medicare tomorrow.

Q: Who's offering a false choice?

Beto O`ROURKE: Governor Bullock, who's said that we will improve the Affordable Care Act at the margins with a public option.

BULLOCK: Congressman, not at all. It took us decades and false starts to get the Affordable Care Act. Let's actually build on it. A public option, allowing anyone to buy in.

O`ROURKE: Every estimate that I've seen of expanding ACA even through a public option still leaves millions of people uninsured.

Source: July Democratic Primary debate (first night in Detroit) Jul 30, 2019

On Homeland Security: We addressed suicide epidemic in El Paso VA & nationally

When I learned that the El Paso V.A. had the worst wait times for mental health care in the country, and was related to the suicide epidemic, we made it our priority. We took that lesson nationally and I worked with Republican and Democratic colleagues to expand medical health care to veterans, to show that, at the end of the day, we will put the American people first before party, before any other concern. Source: July Democratic Primary debate (first night in Detroit) Jul 30, 2019

On Immigration: People who come here must follow our laws

In my administration, after we have waived citizenship fees for green card holders; freed DREAMers from any fear of deportation; and stopped criminally prosecuting families and children for seeking asylum and refuge; end for-profit detention in this country; and then assist those countries in Central America so that no family ever has to make that 2,000-mile journey, than I expect that people who come here follow our laws, and we reserve the right to criminally prosecute them if they do not. Source: July Democratic Primary debate (first night in Detroit) Jul 30, 2019

On Principles & Values: America discovers its greatness at moments of greatest need

I'm running for president because I believe that America discovers its greatness at its moments of greatest need. This moment will define us forever. In this test America will be redeemed. In the face of cruelty and fear from a lawless president, we will choose to be the nation that stands up for the human rights of everyone, for the rule of law for everyone, and a democracy that serves everyone. Whatever our differences, we know that, before we are anything else, we are Americans first. Source: July Democratic Primary debate (first night in Detroit) Jul 30, 2019

On War & Peace: Withdraw from Afghanistan within four years

Q [to Mayor Pete Buttigieg]: There are currently about 14,000 U.S. servicemembers in Afghanistan. You've said "One thing everybody can agree on is that we're getting out of Afghanistan." Will you withdraw all U.S. servicemembers by the end of your first year in office?

BUTTIGIEG: We will withdraw. We have to.

Q: In your first year?

BUTTIGIEG: Yes.

Q [to Rep. beto O'Rourke]: Would you withdraw all 14,000 U.S. servicemembers from Afghanistan during your first year in office as president?

O'ROURKE: I would in my first term in office. Agree that there is nothing about perpetuating this war, already in its 18th year, that will make it any better. We've satisfied the reasons for our involvement in Afghanistan in the first place. And it's time to bring those servicemembers back home from Afghanistan, but also from Iraq, also from Yemen, and Somalia, and Libya, and Syria.

Source: July Democratic Primary debate (first night in Detroit) Jul 30, 2019

On War & Peace: End U.S. wars in Iraq, Yemen, Somalia, Libya, and Syria

It's time to bring those servicemembers back home from Afghanistan, but also from Iraq, also from Yemen, and Somalia, and Libya, and Syria. There is no reason for us to be at war all over the world tonight. As president, I will end those wars, and we will not start new wars. We will not send more U.S. servicemembers overseas to sacrifice their lives and to take the lives of others in our name. We can resolve these challenges peacefully and diplomatically. Source: July Democratic Primary debate (first night in Detroit) Jul 30, 2019

The above quotations are from Democratic candidates debate in Detroit Michigan, July 30-31, 2019. Click here for main summary page. Click here for a profile of Beto O`Rourke. Click here for Beto O`Rourke on all issues.
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Page last updated: Sep 08, 2019