Politics: Election 2004
Carol Moseley Braun
Democratic Candidate for President
Thursday, November 06, 2003; 2:00 p.m ET
In January voters in New Hampshire will cast ballots for the Democratic candidate they feel would best hold the office of the presidency. The eventual winner of the nationwide nomination process will face President Bush next November.
The Concord Monitor and washingtonpost.com will host a series of live discussions with participating Democratic candidates for President to give readers the opportunity to share thoughts and questions directly with the nominees.
Democratic candidate and former senator Carol Moseley Braun (D-Ill.) was online Wednesday, Nov. 6th at 2 p.m. ET to take your questions on the campaign and her vision for the United States.
The transcript follows.
Editor's Note: washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control
over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.
Arlington, Va.:
Ms. Braun,
What is your opinion of the death penalty?
Carol Moseley Braun : I oppose the death penalty. In 1984, I filed Illinois' first bill to impose a moratorium on executions. The death penalty is too fraught with uncertainty and error, and is too often a revenge response. Civil society should not allow itself to be brutalized by resort to revenge and blood lust as an acceptable product of our system of criminal justice. Families who have been victims will often tell you that revenge does not bring redemption or even comfort: as Dr. King once said, "an eye for an eye will simply leave us all blind".
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Normal, Ill.:
What specifically needs to be done to improve elementary education?
Carol Moseley Braun : We should empower teachers and parents and local communities to provide quality public education by reforming the system of education finance that relies most heavily on local property taxes. The national government today contributes less than 7% of the cost of elementary and secondary education, and yet continues to dictate education policy without providing the necessary funding. We should increase national funding, to help local school districts reduce reliance on property taxes. I have proposed that increased national contributions be focused on rebuilding our country's crumbling schools. By supporting school facilities, the national government will help improve education, while leaving the decision making about content, curriculum, accountability and employment to the local schools, PTA's, parent councils, teachers, administrators, and those closest to the specific needs of a given community.
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Chicago, Ill.:
Senator Moseley-Braun,
While I generally agree with your policy positions, I have trouble understanding the current state of the Democratic field of candidates and your position in it. Frankly, there are too many candidates. Do you not think that the Democrats would have a better shot at defeating President Bush if we focus attention on just a few candidates? Moreover, what makes you believe you are a viable candidate given that you were unable to hold your Senate seat despite the support of every Democratic politician in Chicago (and the state of Illinois)? Thank you for your attention.
Carol Moseley Braun : The whole point of primary elections is to allow voters to choose their party's candidates. (Traditionally, there were those who argued that the public should not be required to pay for the conduct of primary elections, since they are party-specific). If the Democratic party wants its primary process to reflect only the status quo, or who has the most money or the most name recognition, it will most likely not be able to attract the support-and the votes-in a "real" general election sufficient to overcome the incumbency and finances the Republican party has. The primary, if an open one such as we have now, can through a contest of ideas energize democratic voters, attract uncommitted voters, and become better positioned to win the real contest against an incumbent Republican president. As for my candidacy, specifically, I have in my entire career won elections by building bridges, bringing people together, and breaking down barriers. There has never been a woman President, nor a black one, but my life experiences and credentials make me uniquely qualified to lead this country. The responses I have received to my platform for Peace, Prosperity and Progress have encouraged this effort, and young women, particularly, are encouraged about their prospects for leadership by this campaign. I did lose reelection to the Senate, after being smeared by Karl Rove, outspent 3 to 1, and even then by less than 2% of the vote. I have, on the other hand, won 14 elections. The pundits have never given me a chance, but the people always did, and they have made history time and again as a result. We are poised to do it again.
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Calverton, Md.:
How is fundraising going?
Carol Moseley Braun : Better, if you send money. www.carolforpresident.com. :)
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Virginia:
Since foreign policy is playing such a central role at this stage in the campaign, could you explain how your experience as Ambassador to New Zealand will help you perform the duties of President.
Carol Moseley Braun : Let me tell you a bit about myself. I was educated in the public schools of Chicago, received my bachelors degree from the University of Illinois, and then my law degree from the University of Chicago. Until law school, I had never lived anywhere other than Chicago, and had only traveled with my parents in America. My first glimpse of the world, and first engagement with foreign policy came as a European Community Visitors Programme Scholar, during which I studied trade and the formulation of the GATT. I had studied international trade under Professor Soia Mentschikoff at the U of Chicago, but having a chance to witness the earliest phases of the European Union created a genuine interest in the state of relations between the United States and the rest of the world. As an Illinois state legislator I was an active advocate for worldwide human rights, and was the first to file legislation calling for the end of South African apartheid. I began my travels to Africa at that time, and had a chance to get to know people from throughout the continent, and in the middle east. I have been to Israel 4 times, and have friends there,and in that region, as well as in India, Pakistan, Indonesia,and Southeast Asia. In short, I have over the years developed friendships around the world. When I was elected to the United States Senate, I could not serve on the foreign relations committee because my senior Senator (and friend and mentor) Paul Simon was on it, and the informal rules frowned on two members from the same state. I became the first woman in history to serve on the Finance committee instead. When I was confirmed as Ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa, I was able to advance US interests, and was applauded for my work by the New Zealanders. I bring this cumulative experience to bear on my candidacy for the democratic nomination at a time our country most needs someone who appreciates the value of "working well with others" to secure American interests around the world.
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Silver Spring, Md.:
I've looked over your website and I feel that much of what you say is very similar to other candidates running for the democratic nomination. What is it about your campaign that you feel stands out from the rest?
Carol Moseley Braun : It is tempting to point out that I am the only woman candidate. This does make a difference, in my opinion, in regards to the life experiences and perspective I bring to a vast array of policy issues. I have seen first hand how policy outcomes change-more often for the better-when another vision and approach to problem solving is brought to bear on the question. One of the great feminine assets is practicality and consensus building and problem solving skills we learn as girls. Women do bring talent and skill to the public debate that ought to be given a hearing. My candidacy brings a new (and needed) voice to the conversation about our nations' direction.//But for those of you who are not in touch with your more spiritual side, I submit that I have the credentials and qualifications to do the job as President that few, if any, of the other candidates have. (see the website for particulars). My platform, moreover, is creative, innovative, practical and sound. I am the only candidate with a plan to provide universal, comprehensive health care insurance to every American through a single payer plan that is not tied to employment. My health care plan does not entail rationing or price controls, will preserve the quality of care we have now and will put physicians and providers and patients back in charge of health care decisions. My plan will stimulate business and the economy as well: the payroll tax is regressive and could well be called the working man's tax because it is capped at about $80,000. By shifting health care funding to the income tax, we can provide universal coverage without costing a penny more than we are already paying, take some of the payroll tax burden off of working people, and at the same time give small businesses an incentive to create jobs and large business a better competitive edge in international markets. In addition to health care, I have raised the potential of environmental technologies to create jobs here at home. My proposals for education reform focus on the value to our country of providing educational opportunity to every student, and on minimizing the inequities caused by dependence on local or personal funding. My economic plan is very much a balanced budget approach to getting our fiscal house in order. I was the first of the candidates to raise the issue of the Patriot Act, and its effect on privacy and liberty, and the first to call on the Bush administration to tell us how much the misadventure in Iraq was going to cost the American people. I have consistently raised issues concerning the status of women: pay equity, pensions, violence, choice, children and families. I am uniquely qualified to lead America.
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Carol Moseley Braun : I want to thank the Washington Post and the Concord Monitor for this opportunity to communicate with your web audience. I want also to thank all of you with whom I have shared this experience. In over 20 years of public life, I have made it a point to tell people what I believe, to do what I say I am going to do, and then to hold myself accountable for my service. These responses are in that tradition. It was not possible to respond to all of your questions, simply because time would not permit. I look forward to doing so at some time, however. Thank you, and goodbye.
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washingtonpost.com/Concord Monitor:
That was the last question. Thanks to all who participated. You can continue the discussion on the washingtonpost.com message board.
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