Bill de Blasio in June Democratic candidates debate in Miami FL

On Corporations: Immigrants didn't create mess; the top 1% did that to you

The big corporations did that to you. The 1 percent did that to you. We need to be the party of working people, and that includes a party of immigrants. But first we have to tell working people in America who are hurting that we're going to be on their side every single time against those big corporations who created this mess to begin with. And remind people we're all in this together.

If we don't change that debate, that politics that's holding us back, we won't get all these reforms people are talking about. That's what we need to do as Democrats.

On Crime: Bringing police & community together drives down crime

So we need to have a different conversation in this country about guns, but also a different conversation about policing that brings police and community together. We've done that in New York City and we've driven down crime while we've done it.

On Health Care: Don't defend private health insurance; it's not working

O'ROURKE: No. I think the choice is fundamental to our ability to get everybody cared for. Our plan says that if you're insufficiently insured, we enroll you in Medicare. But if your health care plan works for you and your family, you're able to keep it.

DE BLASIO: Wait, Congressman O'Rourke; private insurance is not working for tens of millions of Americans when you talk about the co-pays, the deductibles, the premiums, the out of pocket expenses. It's not working. How can you defend a system that's not working?

O'ROURKE: That's right. So for those for whom it's not working, they can choose Medicare.

DE BLASIO: You've got to start by acknowledging the system is not working for people. You are defending private insurance.

On Immigration: Immigration policy & crisis does not reflect our values

On War & Peace: No military action without approval of Congress

Rep. Beto O'Rourke: Yes, but that action should always be undertaken with allies and partners and friends.

DeBlasio: What about the War Powers Act being a part of that equation? With deep respect to the congressman, look, we've learned painful lessons as Americans that we've gone to war without congressional authorization. Even in the humanitarian crisis--and I think we should be ready, Congressman, to intervene, God forbid there is genocide--but not without congressional approval. Democrats and Republicans both in the Congress have not challenged presidents and have let them get away with running the military without that congressional approval. We learned a lesson in Vietnam we seem to have forgotten, that decisions have to be made by the United States Congress.

On Welfare & Poverty: We need a president who has seen the face of poverty

On Welfare & Poverty: There's plenty of money to invest; it's in the wrong hands