Pete Buttigieg in Democratic Primary Debate

On Government Reform: Expand but depoliticize Supreme Court

Q: What about adding new Supreme Court seats to create a liberal majority and protect things like abortion rights?

V.P. Joe BIDEN: I would not pack the Court. What I would do is make sure that the people that I recommended for the Court, from Ruth Bader Ginsburg to Elena Kagan support the right of privacy on which the entire notion of a woman's right to choose is based.

BUTTIGIEG: I'm not talking about packing the Court just with people who agree with me. What I'm talking about is will depoliticize the Court. I'm not wedded to a particular solution but I am committed to establishing a commission on day one that will propose reforms to depoliticize the Supreme Court because we can't go on like this.

Mayor Julian CASTRO: I wouldn't pack the Court. The smarter move might be to look at term limits or having people cycle off from the appellate courts. So that you would have a replenishment of perspective.

Source: October Democratic CNN/NYTimes Primary debate Oct 15, 2019

On Health Care: Forced Medicare for All would divide the country

I don't think the American people are wrong when they say that what they want is a choice. I don't understand why the only way to deliver affordable coverage to everybody is to obliterate private plans, kicking 150 million Americans off of their insurance in four short years, when we could achieve that same big bold goal. Why unnecessarily divide this country over healthcare when there's a better way to deliver coverage for all. Source: October Democratic CNN/NYTimes Primary debate Oct 15, 2019

On Principles & Values: America known as country that keeps its word

Soldiers in the field are reporting that, for the first time, they feel ashamed of what their country has done. We saw the horrifying sight of a woman with the lifeless body of her child in her arms, asking what the hell happened to American leadership? When I was deployed, I knew one of the things keeping me safe was the fact that the flag on my shoulder represented a country known to keep its word. You take that away, you are taking away what makes America America. Source: October Democratic CNN/NYTimes Primary debate Oct 15, 2019

On Principles & Values: Purpose of presidency is unification, not self-glorification

I think about the friendships I formed in the military. People who were radically different from me and we learned to trust each other with our lives. I want every American to have that experience without having to go to war [which] is why I believe national service is so important. Only the president can build a sense of belonging and purpose for the entire country. The purpose of the presidency is not the glorification of the president. It is the unification of the America Source: October Democratic CNN/NYTimes Primary debate Oct 15, 2019

On Principles & Values: Impeachment is not just about Trump, but about presidency

It's a mistake on the part of Republicans who enabled a president whose actions are as offensive to their own supposed values as they are to the values that we all share. This is not just about holding the President accountable. It's also about the presidency itself because a president, 10 years or 100 years from now, will look back at this moment and draw the conclusion, either that no one is above the law or that a president can get away with anything. Source: October Democratic Primary debate on impeaching Trump Oct 15, 2019

On War & Peace: We have betrayed our allies & values by exiting Syria

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard: We've got to understand the reality of the situation [in Syria], which is that the slaughter of the Kurds being done by Turkey is yet another negative consequence of the regime change war that we've been waging in Syria.

Mayor Buttigieg: Well, respectfully, Congresswoman, I think that is dead wrong. The slaughter going on in Syria is not a consequence of American presence, it's a consequence of a withdrawal and a betrayal, by this President, of American allies and American values. Look, I didn't think we should've gone to Iraq in the first place, I think we need to get out of Afghanistan, but it's also the case that a small number of specialized special operations forces and intelligence capabilities were the only thing that stood between that part of Syria and what we're seeing now, which is the beginning of a genocide, and the resurgence of ISIS.

Source: October Democratic CNN/NYTimes Primary debate Oct 15, 2019

On War & Peace: Syrian withdrawal undermines our soldiers' honor

V.P. Joe BIDEN: I would not have withdrawn the troops [from the Kurdish areas of northern Syria, under threat from a Turkish invasion].

Mayor Pete BUTTIGIEG: Soldiers in the field are reporting that, for the first time, they feel ashamed of what their country has done.

Rep. Tulsi GABBARD: What you're saying is that you would continue to support having US troops in Syria for an indefinite period of time to continue this regime change war?

BUTTIGIEG: You can put an end to endless war embracing Trump's policy as you're doing.

GABBARD: Will you end the regime change war is the question?

BUTTIGIEG: What we were doing in Syria was keeping our word. Part of what makes it possible for the United States to get people to put their lives on the line to back us up is the idea that we will back them up too. When I was deployed, not just the Afghan National Army Forces, but the janitors put their lives on the line just by working with US Forces. It is undermining the honor of

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 main summary page. Click here for a profile of Pete Buttigieg. Click here for Pete Buttigieg on all issues.
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Page last updated: Feb 09, 2020