Democratic Primary Debate: on Corporations


Amy Klobuchar: Consolidation of business leading to startup slump

I was in the private sector for 14 years. What I saw was when we got more competition there the prices went down in a big way. Right now we have another gilded age going on. The issue here is this, start talking about this as a pro competition issue. This used to be a Republican and Democratic issue because our founding fathers wanted to have less consolidation. We were a place of entrepreneurship. We are seeing a startup slump in this country and this means everything from tech on dow
Source: October Democratic CNN/NYTimes Primary debate Oct 15, 2019

Cory Booker: We will enforce antitrust laws

Anybody that does not think that we have a massive crisis in our democracy with the way these tech companies are being used, not just in terms of anti-competitive practices, but also to undermine our democracy. We have seen it in the '16 election practices being used that have not been corrected now. We need regulation and reform. As president of the United States I will put people in place that enforce antitrust laws.
Source: October Democratic CNN/NYTimes Primary debate Oct 15, 2019

Joe Biden: Double the capital gains tax

Take a look at the tax code right now. We have to start rewarding work, not just wealth. I would raise the capital gains tax to the highest rate of 39.5%. I would double it, because guess what? Why in God's name should someone who's clipping coupons in the stock market pay a lower tax rate than someone like a schoolteacher and a firefighter. We need to make it clear that we are going to raise taxes on the wealthy. We're going to reduce tax burdens on those who are not.
Source: October Democratic CNN/NYTimes Primary debate Oct 15, 2019

Julian Castro: Fight back against monopolistic practices

We're on the right track in updating how we look at monopolistic practices, setting rules for the road that match the challenges that we face. Whether that's Amazon that is leveraging its size to help put small businesses out of business, then at the same time shortchanging a lot of its workers, not paying them [or] giving them the benefits that they should. Or it's a number of other companies. We need to take a stronger stance when it comes to cracking down on monopolistic trade pract
Source: October Democratic CNN/NYTimes Primary debate Oct 15, 2019

Tom Steyer: Break the corporate stranglehold of our government

Every single one of these conversations is about broken government. It's about drug companies buying the government and getting what they want. It's about the gun manufacturers buying the government and getting what they want. We need to break the corporate stranglehold on our government. I've put forward actual structural changes, including term limits, a national referendum, end the idea that corporations are people, and make it a lot easier to vote.
Source: October Democratic CNN/NYTimes Primary debate Oct 15, 2019

Tom Steyer: Break up monopolies but we should focus on the positive

I agree that monopolies have to be dealt with. They either have to be broken up or regulated, and that's part of it, but we're going to have to show the American people that we don't just know how to tax and have programs to break up companies, but also talk about prosperity, talk about investing in the American people, talk about harnessing the innovation and competition of the American private sector.
Source: October Democratic CNN/NYTimes Primary debate Oct 15, 2019

  • The above quotations are from Democratic Primary Debate in Ohio, hosted by CNN and the New York Times.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Corporations.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
  • Click here for more quotes by Elizabeth Warren on Corporations.
  • Click here for more quotes by Kamala Harris on Corporations.
2020 Presidential contenders on Corporations:
  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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Page last updated: Feb 09, 2020