Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Homeland Security : Oct 9, 2023
1960s FBI and CIA posed threats to democracy

Donald Trump on Foreign Policy : Aug 23, 2023
We can't let China run the Panama Canal

TRUMP: Yeah, and it's far beyond Cuba. We built a thing called the Panama Canal. We lost 35,000 people to the mosquito, malaria. The Panama Canal was such an incredible engineering marvel. We sold it under Jimmy Carter. We sold it to Panama for $1. The following day they quadrupled the amount of money that ships had to pay to get across. It's one of the most profitable things. We gave it away for $1. China now controls it. They actually control the Panama Canal. They run it, they control it, and we shouldn't let that happen. We can't let China be in Cuba. They'll get out. If I'm president, they'll get out. Because I had a very good relationship with President Xi. He respected this country. He respected me and he'll get out. We can't let them run the Panama Canal. We built the Panama Canal. Should have never been given to Panama. We should have had it, but we gave it for $1. Think of it.

Francis Suarez on Principles & Values : Aug 8, 2023
Parents came here for freedom; experienced American Dream

I know that if I'm on the stage and have an opportunity to introduce myself to the country, we're gonna continue to get volume.

Francis Suarez on Free Trade : Jul 14, 2023
Defends embargo on Cuba; doesn't think it's cruel

Francis Suarez on War & Peace : Jul 14, 2023
US should consider potential military action in Cuba

Francis Suarez on Immigration : Jun 15, 2023
Connect immigration to employment, declining birth rate

Nikki Haley on Foreign Policy : May 7, 2023
As ambassador, forced UN votes on Cuba's human rights abuses

With a renewed focus on Latin America, Nikki hammered the region's communist and socialist dictators. As Venezuela became a humanitarian crisis, Nikki ratcheted up her denunciations of the socialist regime, even joining protesters outside the United Nations on the streets of New York City. She supported strong sanctions on the Venezuelan government and traveled to the Colombia-Venezuela border to highlight the crisis. Nikki also organized the first-ever meeting to condemn the socialist regime in Nicaragua, and frequently spoke out against the Cuban dictatorship.

Bernie Sanders on Health Care : Apr 1, 2023
Vermont forced to repeal single-payer healthcare system

Nikki Haley on Foreign Policy : Mar 2, 2023
We will stop giving money to countries that hate America

Bernie Sanders on Homeland Security : Feb 8, 2022
Cuba is in US sphere of influence; Ukraine is in Russia's

To put it simply, even if Russia was not ruled by a corrupt authoritarian leader like Vladimir Putin, Russia, like the United States, would still have an interest in the security policies of its neighbors. Does anyone really believe that the United States would not have something to say if, for example, Mexico was to form a military alliance with a US adversary?

Joe Biden on Principles & Values : Oct 5, 2020
Do I look like a socialist? I've taken on Castro & Putin

Bernie Sanders on Foreign Policy : Feb 24, 2020
Cuba: Teaching people to read and write is a good thing

But, you know, China is an authoritarian country, becoming more and more authoritarian. But can anyone deny that they have taken more people out of extreme poverty than any country in history? Do I get criticized because I say that? That's the truth. So that is the fact. End of discussion.

Donald Trump on Foreign Policy : Feb 4, 2020
Restore democracy in Cuba & Venezuela

Joe Biden on Immigration : Jul 31, 2019
Problem is Trump, not criminalizing illegal border crossings

Biden: I have guts enough to say his plan [to decriminalize the border] doesn't make sense. When people cross the border illegally, it is illegal to do it unless they're seeking asylum. People should have to get in line. That's the problem. And the only reason this particular part of the law is being abused is because of Donald Trump. We should defeat Donald Trump and end this practice.

Kamala Harris on Immigration : Jul 31, 2019
Kids whose parents crossed border are treated like criminals

BENNET: I disagree that we should decriminalize our border.

HARRIS: I went to a place in Florida called Homestead, and there is a private detention facility that currently houses 2,700 children. There were members of Congress there, [including Julian Castro, but] they would not let us enter the place. So I walked down the road, I climbed a ladder, and I looked over the fence. And I'm going to tell you what I saw. I saw children lined up single file based on gender being walked into barracks. The policies of this administration have been facilitated by laws on the books that allow them to be incarcerated as though they've committed crimes. These children have not committed crimes and should be not treated like criminals.

BENNET: There's not a single person on this stage who would ever separate a child from their parents at the border.

Bernie Sanders on Crime : Jul 17, 2019
Eliminate private prisons

NINE CANDIDATES HAVE SIMILAR VIEWS: Cory Booker; Peter Buttigieg; Julian Castro; John Delaney; Tulsi Gabbard; Kamala Harris; Elizabeth Warren; Marianne Williamson; Andrew Yang.

Many Democrats have called for ending or not renewing the federal government's contracts with private prison companies. Sen. Warren would leverage federal public safety funding to extend the ban to the state and local levels.

Marianne Williamson on Crime : Jul 17, 2019
Eliminate private prisons

NINE CANDIDATES HAVE SIMILAR VIEWS: Cory Booker; Pete Buttigieg; Julian Castro; John Delaney; Tulsi Gabbard; Kamala Harris; Bernard Sanders; Elizabeth Warren; Andrew Yang.

Marianne Williamson on Drugs : Jul 17, 2019
Legalize marijuana, but no expungement

18 CANDIDATES HAVE SIMILAR VIEWS: Michael Bennet; Cory Booker; Peter Buttigieg; Julian Castro; Bill de Blasio; Tulsi Gabbard; Kirsten Gillibrand; Kamala Harris; John Hickenlooper; Jay Inslee; Amy Klobuchar; Seth Moulton; Beto O`Rourke; Tim Ryan; Bernard Sanders; Eric Swalwell; Elizabeth Warren; Andrew Yang.

Candidates supporting legalization argue that criminal penalties for marijuana possession have created far more harm than would come from treating it more like alcohol or tobacco.

Many candidates--including Sens. Cory Booker, Kirsten Gillibrand and Kamala Harris--would go even further, calling for past criminal convictions for marijuana possession to be expunged.

Both former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper and Washington Gov. Jay Inslee opposed their states successful 2012 referendums allowing recreational marijuana sales, but have since become champions of legalization.

Bernie Sanders on Education : Jul 17, 2019
Universal free meals in schools

ONE CANDIDATE HAS SIMILAR VIEWS: Julian Castro.

Two Democratic candidates have proposed universal free meals in schools, regardless of a student's family income. Sen. Bernie Sanders and former HUD Secretary Julian Castro are touting the proposals as a way to ensure children don't go hungry and to eliminate the potential for "lunch shaming"--when schools single out students with unpaid bills.

Some high-poverty schools and school districts can already offer free meals to all students, but the practice is currently limited to areas where a certain percentage of the students are from low-income households.

School food programs cost the Agriculture Department $18.2 billion in fiscal 2018, according to preliminary data. Neither Sanders nor Castro has released specifics about how they would pay for their proposals, which are part of broader education platforms.

Kamala Harris on Families & Children : Jul 17, 2019
Supports broad paid family and medical leave plans

15 CANDIDATES HAVE SIMILAR VIEWS: Michael Bennet; Cory Booker; Peter Buttigieg; Julian Castro; John Delaney; Tulsi Gabbard; Kirsten Gillibrand; John Hickenlooper; Jay Inslee; Amy Klobuchar; Seth Moulton; Beto O`Rourke; Tim Ryan; Bernard Sanders; Elizabeth Warren.

The congressional plan creates a universal, gender-neutral, national paid family and medical leave program allowing for up to 12 weeks of paid leave.

Kamala Harris on Free Trade : Jul 17, 2019
Demand changes to post-NAFTA agreement USMCA

15 CANDIDATES HAVE SIMILAR VIEWS: Joe Biden; Cory Booker; Pete Buttigieg; Julian Castro; Bill de Blasio; Kirsten Gillibrand; John Hickenlooper; Jay Inslee; Amy Klobuchar; Beto O`Rourke; Tim Ryan; Bernard Sanders; Eric Swalwell; Elizabeth Warren; Marianne Williamson.

The majority of Democratic candidates want changes made to the agreement before it comes up for a vote in Congress, focusing on labor & environmental standards.

Marianne Williamson on Free Trade : Jul 17, 2019
Demand changes to post-NAFTA agreement USMCA

15 CANDIDATES HAVE SIMILAR VIEWS: Joe Biden; Cory Booker; Pete Buttigieg; Julian Castro; Bill de Blasio; Kirsten Gillibrand; Kamala Harris; John Hickenlooper; Jay Inslee; Amy Klobuchar; Beto O`Rourke; Tim Ryan; Bernard Sanders; Eric Swalwell; Elizabeth Warren.

The majority of Democratic candidates want changes made to the agreement before it comes up for a vote in Congress, focusing on making changes to labor standards, environmental provisions, access to medicines and enforcement of the deal. Seventeen candidates, asked by Citizens Trade Campaign, a national coalition pushing for changes to USMCA, agreed that Congress should not approve the deal until changes have been made.

Mayor de Blasio has been among the most vocal candidates in expressing his opposition. "It's got a different name, but it's still NAFTA," he told CNN in July. "It's even worse in some ways. It gives even more power to corporations this time."

Kamala Harris on Government Reform : Jul 17, 2019
Mandate paper ballots

11 CANDIDATES HAVE SIMILAR VIEWS: Michael Bennet; Cory Booker; Julian Castro; Tulsi Gabbard; Kirsten Gillibrand; Amy Klobuchar; Beto O`Rourke; Tim Ryan; Bernard Sanders; Eric Swalwell; Elizabeth Warren.

Election security experts overwhelmingly consider paper ballots the most secure form of voting. That mandate is part of the Protecting American Votes and Elections Act, which would also require post-election risk-limiting audits.

Kamala Harris on Government Reform : Jul 17, 2019
Discuss eliminating the Electoral College

Among those who support repealing it, the remedies vary. Some, like Sen. Elizabeth Warren, said they would back a constitutional amendment. Four Democrats said they are open to abolishing the system but didn't explicitly back doin

Bernie Sanders on Government Reform : Jul 17, 2019
Mandate paper ballots

11 CANDIDATES HAVE SIMILAR VIEWS: Michael Bennet; Cory Booker; Julian Castro; Tulsi Gabbard; Kirsten Gillibrand; Kamala Harris; Amy Klobuchar; Beto O`Rourke; Tim Ryan; Eric Swalwell; Elizabeth Warren.

Election security experts overwhelmingly consider paper ballots the most secure form of voting. That mandate is part of the Protecting American Votes and Elections Act, which would also require post-election risk-limiting audits.

Bernie Sanders on Government Reform : Jul 17, 2019
Hard to defend the Electoral College

Among those who support repealing it, the remedies vary. Some, like Sen. Elizabeth Warren, said they would back a constitutional amendment. Four Democrats said they are open to abolishing the system but didn't explicitly back doin

Kamala Harris on Jobs : Jul 17, 2019
Raise the federal minimum wage to $15/hour

19 CANDIDATES HAVE SIMILAR VIEWS: Joseph Biden, Jr.; Cory Booker; Steve Bullock; Peter Buttigieg; Julian Castro; Bill de Blasio; John Delaney; Tulsi Gabbard; Kirsten Gillibrand; John Hickenlooper; Jay Inslee; Amy Klobuchar; Seth Moulton; Beto O`Rourke; Tim Ryan; Bernard Sanders; Eric Swalwell; Elizabeth Warren; Marianne Williamson.

There's broad support among Democratic presidential candidates for doubling the hourly minimum from $7.25 to $15, and then allowing it to rise automatically with inflation, as proposed by House Democrats in the Raise the Wage Act. Even centrists like Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper and former Vice President Joe Biden favor this. In 2016, Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton favored going only to $12 (though she expressed strong support for states that raised it to $15).

Marianne Williamson on Technology : Jul 17, 2019
Massively boost transportation infrastructure spending

SEVEN CANDIDATES HAVE SIMILAR VIEWS: Michael Bennet; Joseph Biden, Jr.; Peter Buttigieg; Julian Castro; Seth Moulton; Bernard Sanders; Andrew Yang.

A majority of candidates with expressed views on infrastructure funding are long on ideas for how to spend billions--sometimes trillions--of dollars, but short on where that money would come from. Silent, in fact.

Marianne Williamson's proposal includes accelerating electric vehicles and their charging infrastructure, rebuilding rail lines, updating clean water systems and "massively investing" in public transit.

Michael Bennet has said he will "work to" fix crumbling infrastructure, expand transit and airports, and build out rural broadband.

Bernie Sanders on Government Reform : Apr 22, 2019
Citizens United is most disastrous decisions in history

Kamala Harris on Civil Rights : Feb 23, 2019
Reparations means real investments in black communities

"We have to be honest that people in this country do not start from the same place or have access to the same opportunities," Harris said in the statement. "I'm serious about taking an approach that would change policies and structures and make real investments in black communities."

Since reparations are in response to African-Americans impacted by slavery, presumably reparations for Native Americans would be to make amends for crimes and abuses committed on the Native population by the U.S. government over America's history.

Nikki Haley on Foreign Policy : Dec 13, 2018
Obama was wrong to abstain on Cuba's anti-US resolution

Donald Trump on War & Peace : Sep 25, 2018
Sanctions on Venezuela: fight repressive socialist regime

Not long ago, Venezuela was one of the richest countries on Earth. Today, socialism has bankrupted the oil-rich nation and driven its people into abject poverty.

Virtually everywhere socialism or communism has been tried, it has produced suffering, corruption, and decay. Socialism's thirst for power leads to expansion, incursion, and oppression. All nations of the world should resist socialism and the misery that it brings to everyone.

In that spirit, we ask the nations gathered here to join us in calling for the restoration of democracy in Venezuela. Today, we are announcing additional sanctions against the repressive regime, targeting Maduro's inner circle and close advisors.

Donald Trump on Foreign Policy : Jan 30, 2018
Sanctions on Communist dictators in North Korea & Cuba

North Korea's reckless pursuit of nuclear missiles could very soon threaten our homeland. We are waging a campaign of maximum pressure to prevent that from happening.

Past experience has taught us that complacency and concessions only invite aggression and provocation. I will not repeat the mistakes of past administrations that got us into this dangerous position. We need only look at the depraved character of the North Korean regime to understand the nature of the nuclear threat it could pose to America and our allies.

Mike Pence on Foreign Policy : Oct 14, 2016
Reverse Obama's opening of Cuba; restore the embargo

President Obama's executive actions, in part, have lifted a series of restrictions on Cuba, opened a U.S. embassy in the country and established travel and business between the two nations. He issued additional directives to further loosen restrictions aimed at increasing trade with the island nation.

"Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton would lift the embargo completely and normalize relations with Cuba for nothing in return," Pence said. He continued: "The truth of the matter is if they could open it up all the way, they would."

Bernie Sanders on Foreign Policy : Mar 9, 2016
Opposed Monroe Doctrine interventionism in Latin America

SANDERS: The US was wrong to try to invade Cuba; the US was wrong trying to support people to overthrow the Nicaraguan government; the US was wrong trying to overthrow, in 1954, the democratically elected government of Guatemala. Throughout the history of our relationship with Latin America we've operated under the so-called Monroe Doctrine, and that said the US had the right do anything that they wanted to do in Latin America. So I actually went to Nicaragua and I very shortly opposed the Reagan administration's efforts to overthrow that government. And I strongly opposed Henry Kissinger and the overthrow of the government of Salvador Allende in Chile. I think the US should be working with governments around the world, not get involved in regime change. And all of these actions in Latin America brought forth a lot of very strong anti-American sentiments.

Bernie Sanders on Foreign Policy : Mar 9, 2016
Ending embargo with Cuba is right step

CLINTON: I told the president that I hoped he would be able to move toward diplomatic relations with Cuba. And there are no better ambassadors for freedom, democracy and economic opportunity than Cuban Americans. I'm looking forward to following the president's trip. I think meeting with dissidents is important. The Cuban people deserve be able to move towards democracy where they pick their own leads. Both Castros have to be considered authoritarian and dictatorial because they are not freely chosen by the people. I hope someday there will be leaders who are chosen by the Cuban people.

SANDERS: I think we have got to end the embargo. I believe that we should move towards full and normalized political relations with Cuba. I think it will be a good thing for the Cuban people. It will enable them, I think when they see people coming into their country from the United States, move in a more democratic direction, which is what I want to see.

Donald Trump on Homeland Security : Feb 23, 2016
Keep Gitmo open, and load it up with bad dudes

Trump then mused about one of the Obama administration's reasons for trying to shut the prison down: "Here's the thing I didn't understand," he said. "We spend $40 million a month on maintaining this place? Now, think of it--$40 million a month! What do we have left in there, like, a hundred people, or something? And we're spending $40 million? I would guarantee you I could do it for a tiny, tiny fraction. I don't mean $39 million. I mean maybe $5 million, maybe $3 million. Maybe, like, peanuts."

Chris Christie on Foreign Policy : Sep 20, 2015
No relations with Cuba until they stop harboring fugitives

Christie: I think the Pope was wrong. I just believe that when you have a government that is harboring fugitives, murdering fugitives like Joanne Chesimard--who murdered a state policemen--that this president could extend diplomatic relations in that country without getting her returned so that she can serve the prison sentence, is outrageous

Donald Trump on Foreign Policy : Sep 8, 2015
Cuban embargo: 50 years is enough

Trump joins libertarian-leaning Sen. Rand Paul as the only Republican running for president to express his support for normalizing relations with Cuba. The rest of the GOP field has slammed Obama's decision to reopen the U.S. embassy in Havana and engage diplomatically with the government of Cuba.

Bernie Sanders on Foreign Policy : Sep 5, 2015
Normalize relations with Cuba; & respect their independence

Bernie supports normalizing relations between the two nations and removing the economic embargo, which he argues is costing American businesses billions of dollars. In February 2014, Bernie shared his hope that "Cuba moves toward a more democratic society while, at the same time, the United States will respect the independence of the Cuban people." He was part of a U.S. delegation that traveled to Cuba in 2014 to discuss trade, healthcare, and human rights issues in Havana.

Later in 2014, Bernie applauded President Obama's announcements on discussions with Cuba, and in January 2015, he sponsored the Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act, which aimed to address the administration's proposal to loosen restrictions on travel to Cuba and remove restrictions on travel-related banking transactions.

Bernie Sanders on Homeland Security : Sep 5, 2015
2009: Voted against closing Gitmo; 2015: supports closing it

In 2009 Bernie voted against the proposals the Obama administration suggested for closing the prison. The bill was defeated with strong bipartisan support (90-6). Given Bernie's human rights concerns regarding the facility, he likely voted against it because the plans did not address the human rights violations--including being held indefinitely without trial--that he and so many other Americans are most concerned about with regards to Guantanamo.

Chris Christie on Foreign Policy : Aug 2, 2015
Tourism money won't end up with the people of Cuba

A: What he's doing is not going to work, to absolutely just cave in the Cubans. The fact is that we're now going to send hundreds of millions of dollars down to Cuba in tourist activity and economic activity and none of that is going to get to the people of Cuba.

Jill Stein on Foreign Policy : Jul 6, 2015
Lifting the Cuban embargo was long overdue

Stein: It was long overdue--it was time to end our economic & political warfare against Cuba. We need to be respecting their right to self-determination. We should go there without intent to interfere in their national process of deciding what kind of government, what kind of food and entertainment they have--we should respect the choices that the Cuban people have made.

OnTheIssues: And the Castros?

Stein: We should not be in the business of overturning Castro's rule. We should encourage human rights in Cuba, but we have been harboring terrorists against Cuba and we need to address human rights violations that we ourselves have been doing.

Jill Stein on Foreign Policy : Jul 6, 2015
Work towards neutral Ukraine; don't arm them against Russia

Stein: We should encourage Ukraine to be neutral--we helped foment a coup against a democratically-elected government, [resulting in a government] where ultra-nationalists and ex-Nazis came to power. Imagine the inverse: if Russia did that in Canada--installed a government hostile to us--we saw something like that in Cuban Missile Crisis--that would not be acceptable to us. So let's not be single-issue--instead of fomenting a hostile Ukraine we should be leading the way in establishing a neutral Ukraine that would allow Russia to not feel under attack. We've made great strides--Putin is not a hero--but as Noam Chomsky points out, the Doomsday clock has moved closer to midnight than it has been since 1983. The hostile faceoff with Russia causes that and is entirely misplaced--led by war hawks in Obama administration--especially [Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs] Victoria Nuland, who cheered on an overthrow in Ukraine.

Ron DeSantis on Homeland Security : Nov 6, 2012
Gave legal support to Gitmo terrorist detention center

He is currently an officer in the reserve component of the United States Navy. He is a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion. He has lectured on the law of war at Florida Coastal School of Law.

Jill Stein on Foreign Policy : May 16, 2012
End trade embargo and travel ban on Cuba

A: Yes.

Q: Should the U.S. intervene in the affairs of other countries?

A: No, we should oppose wars of aggression and entangling alliances with other nations

Howie Hawkins on Foreign Policy : Nov 1, 2006
Support the UN; oppose the Cuban embargo

A: Yes.

Q: Should the United States commit troops to United Nations peacekeeping missions?

A: Yes.

Q: Should the United States lift the travel ban to Cuba?

A: Yes.

Hawkins adds, "Stop exporting and encouraging nuclear power, which leads to nuclear weapons. Push for complete global nuclear disarmament through US unilateral initiatives to set the example. Stop 'Star Wars' militarization of space."