First Vote journalist filed these reports from the Sept. 20 Divided We Fail Democratic Presidential Forum at Davenport, Iowa’s Adler Theater.
Biden finds humor
Joe Biden had the best sense of humor out of any of the candidates at the forum. He kept the crowd into it with remarks like “I’ll make you my secretary of state” (to Bill Richardson). On the flip side, he was also serious about creating a joint partnership with China and
other Asian countries to help stop global warming. Biden seemed the clear winner of the debate. He had a way of attacking another candidate, but making it humorous, too.
Kevin Trahan, Bettendorf High School
What happened to health care?
By the end of Thursday night’s debate I had forgotten what we were there to learn. Biden closed his argument with an Iraq war rant, Richardson closed with a story. Edwards brought up global warming repeatedly, Hillary constantly mentioned the Republican party’s faults. I thought we were at an AARP debate specifically to talk health care.
Instead of helping to ease the baby boomers’ worries about retirement and their families’ future, they turned it into what you can hear on any news station at anytime.
Shannon Thompson, Pleasant Valley High School
Edwards offers realism
John Edwards spoke on being realistic. He said that promises are useless. He said it is going to cost us for universal health care, but it’s worth it.
Finally someone sees that promises are pointless. You do have to be realistic if you plan on achieving something. Americans have to understand that better health care - universal health care - has a cost.
Gabe Hearn, Davenport Central
‘Candidates like these make me hopeful’
When Sen. Dodd spoke of his views on Medicare and health insurance, he seemed true to his word. “I’m tired of talking about it. We have talked about this for the last six years! We need some leadership!” It turned out a lot of the candidates agreed with him. Hillary was nodding, Edwards was smiling, and both Richardson and Biden were interjecting there own comments of how they also agreed.
Candidates like these make me hopeful about this next election. We need a president who is willing to work with others and be honest with the public. I hope we can hold it true to these candidates to give us all universal health care.
Meredith Price, Bettendorf High School
Dodd shows passion for family care
One of the first topics brought before the candidates last night concerned the position families are put in while having to stay home to take care of the elderly or their children. Sen. Hillary Clinton stated it would cost $300 billion to replace the care that these families provide out of love. Sen. Christopher Dodd passionately added, “If we give tax breaks for foster homes, why can’t we for those caring for their own families?”
The passion that Dodd showed on this subject was the most impressive of these candidates. I had been caring for my great-grandmother for the past 10 months and was not able to keep another job during this time, so I am well aware of the hardships, both financially and emotionally, caring for an elderly family member can cause.
Brittany Clemens, Scott Community College
Biden the finger-pointer
The candidates walk in and line up. Some wave, others smile, and Joe Biden points up to the balcony in recognition of a supporter. Near the end of the debate, the topic shifts to global warming and Biden says that India and China are the big problem. They “put a plant up every week that uses dirty coal.”
Is Biden a finger pointer? I realize the United States isn’t the only producer of carbon emissions, but as the president, one needs to consider America’s policies first. Richardson and Dodd have plans for the U.S. to reduce carbon. While Biden supported the cap on emissions and trade policy, he shifted blame to other countries.
Amelia Schoeneman, Rock Island High School
Sidewalk supporters set tone
The sidewalk across the Adler brimmed with supporters of all the candidates. John Edwards’ supporters joined together in the usual chants, spelling his name out and even dancing to show their support.
As the event began it felt to me as though Edwards was showing a kind of honesty and kindness not usually found with most politicians. As the forum began it seemed as Edwards was trying to become more aggressive on his thoughts and ideas and this made him stronger as a candidate than I previously had thought.
David Ballard, Moline High School
Edwards vs. Clinton creates tension
Sen. John Edwards vehemently criticized his rival Sen. Hillary Clinton for accepting campaign donations from health care lobbyists. He added that Sen. Clinton’s health care plan is very similar to his, but he snidely remarked, “I’m glad she came out with it seven months later.” Clinton responded by reminding Sen. Edwards she tried to implement a universal health care plan 15 years ago.
There seemed a palpable tension the audience when the two most applauded candidates on stage battled over the ins and outs of a universal health care system. It seems that neither of the two candidates intended on breaking down their counterpart’s proposal but rather boasting who came up with it first.
David Disch, St. Ambrose University
Edwards emphasizes diplomacy
For a short time, presidential candidates discussed plans for withdrawal of troops in Iraq, each of them posing similar ideas.
Sen. John Edwards made one point that was not mentioned by his opponents, “We need to engage other countries to help provide stability.”
This point addresses the issue with a semblance of solution, which is refreshing. Politicians constantly harp on the notion that withdrawal is necessary, but rarely address a safe mode of removal.
This comment shows that thought has been put into a plan, which I find comforting.
Sarah Elgation, Davenport Central
‘Awesome’ signs of unity are welcome
Candidate Hillary Clinton nodded emphatically as her fellow candidates shared their views on key issues. Every one of the candidates poked fun atone another while pointing out differences in their policies; laughing, joking, and referring to each other on a first name basis. John Edwards even swatted at a fly buzzing annoyingly around Bill Richardson’s head.
There were times the candidates would speak about themselves, using “I” or “my” but throughout most of the night “we” or “all of us here on stage” were the expressions used most. I found this so awesome and profound. Their unity and support for each other wasn’t something I was expecting to see in such a fierce competition, but it was most definitely there.
Lora Wegener, Scott Community College
End war? What about terrorism?
“We must end the war,” that was the collective line that rung out from the candidates. But the issue of terrorism was never addressed. It appeared that speaking about ending the war was easier than addressing the real issue, terrorism. How would they protect the United States from terrorists that hate our country and what we stand for?
David Whalen, Davenport Central
Rhetoric trumps plans
As Bill Richardson quietly finished explaining his very specific plan for insuring that health care could be provided for all Americans, he received a quiet, respectful blanket of applause. Yet, when Joe Biden loudly and in very general terms blamed the Bush administration for the problems in Iraq, he was met with loud, thundering, ear-shattering applause.
At what point does yelling and blatant rhetoric take the place of a plan? It was disappointing to discover the sad truth is that the best thought out plans will not win you as many voters as loud rhetoric.
Tushar Rae, Augustana College
Kevin Trahan, a freshman from Bettendorf High School, did not miss an opportunity to get his question answered.
“I think the (Democrats) are because of Hillary Clinton,” Harrop said. “They have found a larger-than-life figure in her, especially for the Republicans.”
