Cory Booker in Democratic Primary Debate
On Abortion:
Create Office of Reproductive Freedom & Reproductive Rights
Q: If states prevail on restricting abortion how would you stop them?Senator Booker: Let's be clear about these laws we see from Alabama to Ohio: they're not just attacks on one of the most sacrosanct ideals in our country--liberty, the ability to
control your own body--but they are particular another example of people trying to punish, trying to penalize, trying to criminalize poverty. Because this is disproportionately affecting low income women in this country, people in rural areas in
this country. It is an assault on the most fundamental ideal, that human beings should control their own body. As president, the way I'm going to deal with this is first of all elevating it to a White House level position. I will create the
Office of Reproductive Freedom and Reproductive Rights in the White House. Make sure that we begin to fight back on a systematic attempt, that's gone on for decades, to undermine Roe v. Wade. I will fight to codify it.
Source: October Democratic CNN/NYTimes Primary debate
Oct 15, 2019
On Abortion:
Women shouldn't be only ones for reproductive rights
We have another healthcare debate and we're not talking about the clear and existential threat in America that we're in a state that has had two Planned Parenthoods close. We are seeing, all over this country, women's reproductive rights under attack.
Women should not be the only ones taking up this cause and this fight. It is not just because women are our daughters and our friends and our wives. It's because women are people and people deserve to control their own body.
Source: October Democratic CNN/NYTimes Primary debate
Oct 15, 2019
On Corporations:
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
On Foreign Policy:
Trump's withdrawal from world stage is sign of weakness
This president is turning the moral leadership of this country into a dumpster fire. We cannot allow the Russians to continue to grow and influence by abandoning the world stage. We cannot allow Russia to not only interfere in the democracies of the
Ukraine, and Latvia, and Lithuania, but even not calling them out for their efforts to interfere in this democracy are unacceptable. Russia and Putin understand strength, and this President, time and time again, is showing moral weakness.
Source: October Democratic CNN/NYTimes Primary debate
Oct 15, 2019
On Jobs:
Increase union strength to improve workers' conditions
I stood with unions because right now, unions in America are under attack. As union membership has gone down, we have seen a stratification of wealth and income in this country. I'll begin to fight to see union strength in this country spread, to make
sure we have sectorial bargaining so that unions from the auto workers all the way to fast food workers can ensure that we improve workers' conditions and make sure that every American has a living wage in this country.
Source: October Democratic CNN/NYTimes Primary debate
Oct 15, 2019
On Principles & Values:
Rugged individualism is fine, but we must work together
I believe in the values of rugged individualism and self-reliance but think about our history.Rugged individualism didn't get us to the moon. It didn't beat the Nazis. It didn't map the human genome. It didn't beat Jim Crow. This election is not a
referendum on one guy in one office, it's a referendum on who we are and who we must be to each other. Remind America that patriotism is love of country and you cannot love your country unless you love your fellow country men and women.
Source: October Democratic CNN/NYTimes Primary debate
Oct 15, 2019
On Principles & Values:
Impeachment: We need a moral moment, not a political one
First of all, we must be fair. We are talking about ongoing proceedings to remove a sitting president for office. This has got to be about patriotism and not partisanship. I understand the outrage that we all feel, but we have to conduct this process in
Source: October Democratic Primary debate on impeaching Trump
Oct 15, 2019
On Welfare & Poverty:
Level of U.S. child poverty is a moral obscenity
We've had 20 years of presidential debates and we have never talked about the violence in America of child poverty. We have got to begin to talk more eloquently and more persuasively and urgently about doing the things not
just to make sure a fair taxes are paid by people on the top, but that we deal with the moral obscenity of having the highest levels of child poverty in the industrial world.
Source: October Democratic CNN/NYTimes Primary debate
Oct 15, 2019
Page last updated: Feb 09, 2020