Democratic candidates debate in Detroit Michigan, July 30-31, 2019: on Homeland Security

Andrew Yang: I signed a pledge to end the Forever Wars

I've signed a pledge to end the forever wars. What we have to do is we have to start investing those resources to solve the problems right here at home. We've spent trillions of dollars and lost thousands of American lives in conflicts that have had unclear benefits. We've been in a constant state of war for 18 years. This is not what the American people want. I would bring the troops home, I would de-escalate tensions with Iran, and I would start investing our resources in our own communities. Source: July Democratic Primary debate (second night in Detroit) Jul 31, 2019

Michael Bennet: $5T spent in Mideast could've fixed all our infrastructure

Since 2001, we have cut $5 trillion worth of taxes. Almost all of that has gone to the wealthiest people in America. We've spent $5.6 trillion in the Middle East. We might as well just lit that money on fire. We could have fixed every road and bridge in this country. We could have fixed every airport that needs to be fixed. We could have fixed not just Flint, but every water system in this country. We could have made Social Security solvent for my children. Source: July Democratic Primary debate (second night in Detroit) Jul 31, 2019

Tulsi Gabbard: I will work to end this new Cold War

Donald Trump and warmongering politicians in Washington have failed us. They escalate tensions with other nuclear-armed countries, pushing us closer to the brink of nuclear catastrophe. I will end these wasteful regime change wars, work to end this new Cold War through the use of diplomacy to de-escalate these tensions and take the trillions of dollars that we've been wasting on these wars and weapons and redirect those resources into serving the needs of our people here at home. Source: July Democratic Primary debate (second night in Detroit) Jul 31, 2019

Beto O`Rourke: 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

Elizabeth Warren: No-first-use nuclear policy makes world safer

Q: You want to make it U.S. policy that the U.S. will never use a nuclear weapon unless another country uses one first. Now, President Obama reportedly considered that policy, but ultimately decided against it. Why should the U.S. tie its own hands with that policy?

WARREN: Because it makes the world safer. The US is not going to use nuclear weapons preemptively, and we need to say so to the entire world. It reduces the likelihood that someone miscalculates, someone misunderstands. Donald Trump keeps expanding the different ways that we have nuclear weapons, the different ways that they could be used puts us all at risk. You know, our military is the best on Earth. But we should not be asking our military to take on jobs that do not have a military solution. We need to use our diplomatic tools, our economic tools, and if we're going to send someone into war, we better have a plan for how we're going to get them out on the other end.

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

Steve Bullock: Keep first use of nuclear weapons on the table

Q [to Sen. Elizabeth Warren]: You want to make it U.S. policy that the U.S. will never use a nuclear weapon unless another country uses one first. Now, President Obama reportedly considered that policy, but ultimately decided against it. Why should the U.S. tie its own hands with that policy?

BULLOCK: I wouldn't want to take that off the table. Never, I hope, certainly in my term or anyone else's, would we really even get close to pulling that trigger. But going from the position of strength, we should be negotiating down so there aren't nuclear weapons. But drawing those lines in the sand, at this point I wouldn't do.

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 definitions & background information on Homeland Security. Click here for other issues (main summary page). Click here for more quotes by Joe Biden on Homeland Security. Click here for more quotes by Pete Buttigieg on Homeland Security.
*2020 Presidential contenders on Homeland Security:*
	*Republicans:* Gov.Larry Hogan (R-MD) ~~Gov.John Kasich~~(R-OH) V.P.Mike Pence(R-IN) Gov.Mark Sanford (R-SC) Pres.Donald Trump(NY) Rep.Joe Walsh (R-IL) Gov.Bill Weld(MA & NY)	*Democrats:* Sen.Michael Bennet (D-CO) V.P.Joe Biden (D-DE) Gov.Steve Bullock (D-MT) Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D-IN) Sen.Cory Booker (D-NJ) Secy.Julian Castro (D-TX) Mayor Bill de Blasio (D-NYC) Rep.John Delaney (D-MD) Rep.Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) 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) Sen.Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) Mayor Wayne Messam (D-FL) Rep.Seth Moulton (D-MA) Rep.Beto O`Rourke (D-TX) Rep.Tim Ryan (D-CA) Sen.Bernie Sanders (I-VT) Adm.Joe Sestak (D-PA) CEO Tom Steyer (D-CA) ~~Rep.Eric Swalwell~~ (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) Howie Hawkins (G-NY) ~~Gov.Gary Johnson~~(L-NM) V.P.Mike Pence (R-IN) ~~Howard Schultz~~(I-WA) V.C.Arvin Vohra (L-MD)
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Page last updated: Sep 08, 2019