Live Blog of the PBS Presidential Primary Forum of 6/29/07

8:35: Unlike cable news with long extended preview shows, the lead in of the debate tonight is the ‘International Dancesport World Championships 2006.’ The Russians just dominated the Rumba and the Samba, for what its worth.

As for the debate tonight, it’s going to supposedly focus more on domestic issues like Katrina response and health care. Those issues will play very well for Hillary Clinton; FEMA worked exceptionally well under James Lee Whit in Pres. Clinton’s administration, and she’s had as much experience with health care as any other candidate.

8:50: Finally getting revenge for the Russians Sherman-esque march to Berlin over 60 years ago, the Germans squeeze by the Russians to take the title. I could write thousands of jokes about this, but they’d probably be more offensive than that one.

8:57: Commercial before the debate: telecasts of the Israeli Baseball League are broadcast on Sunday mornings.

9:00: The National Minority Consortia and the California Endowment are the sponsors.

9:01: Long intro by the President.

9:03: This is the second Democratic debate at a historically black college; Tom Joyner comes out and cracks a joke about being a scorpio. Then talks about the power of black media and the power of black America. I’m curious as to whether this intro is appropriate or not: is this just a forum for ‘black America’?

9:06: Tavis Smiley talks about ‘The Covenant for America.’ And this is just about ‘black America.’

9:09: ‘Children must be cherished.’

9:10: Gov. Deval Patrick of Massachusetts comes out to introduce the candidates. He might be a future presidential or VP candidate if things break the right way for him. He’s pretty impressive here, talking concisely about holding Democrats to offering a positive vision. Clinton, Biden, Richardson, Edwards, Obama, Kucinich, Gravel, and Dodd are introduced. Someone puts a mic right next to Elizabeth Kucinich’s clapping. The introductions were so rapid fire that it was hard to gauge support; Clinton was first as well, and probably got the loudest, but it’s hard to say.

9:14: Is race still the most intractable problem in America in light of today’s SCOTUS decision? Clinton goes first, and says race and racism are still an issue in the world; she points to the stage and says things are getting better. She gets mild applause and goes to loud voice: citing Katrina and the Covenant, and criticizes the SCOTUS ruling by touting diversity.

9:16: Biden says it is still the defining issue of our times; he says the rationale of the SCOTUS decision would have held down progress this past century. Gets applause for saying that he talked tough to Edwards and Alito and the next candidate has to take a stand.

9:17: Richardson says dealing with racism is about being authentic. Calls for integraion and affirmative action to be renewed and leading a dialogue; says race is not a talking point but facts of life.

9:18: Edwards goes for the cheap pop by thanking the college for hosting. Edwards says slavery and then Jim Crow laws led into discrimination today, manifesting in the two americas. Also calls for voter reform.

9:20: Obama thanks everyone as well, and talks about him following in the footsteps of Thurgood Marshall, and that racial equality is good for America, not just black America. Says the progress is not good enough; they show Al Sharpton looking at someone near him, oddly enough; Obama calls for mutual responsibility and political will in the White House.

9:22: Kucinich agrees with Obama. There’s definitely no risers here by the way, as Obama hovers above Kucinich. Kucinich: “they tell people to pull themselves up by the boot straps and then they steal the boots.” Kucinich calls for educational reforms, like universal pre-K and pulling resources from war to affording college.

9:23: Gravel thanks the forum for being the most fair; Gravel criticizes the war on drugs; the audience seems stunned; very mild clapping for Gravel mentioning the percentage of African Americans in jail. Gravel says drugs are a public health issue, not a criminal issue.

9:25: Dodd goes last, saying the shame of segregation has been happening slowly over the past few decades. He says education is the crucial issue to equal access in society.

9:27: Half an hour in … one question. This might not go too long.

9:28: And the mics on the next question are off briefly… Black high school graduates have 33% higher unemployment rate. Biden is asked first why.

9:28: Biden talks about the education gap being wide and getting wider because single mothers are not given enough support. Biden wants to focus on education on pre-K at age 4, and better teachers at school.

9:30: Richardson says improving education should be the foremost priority. Richardson says its crucial to pay teachers more and make college education affordable.

9:31: Edwards says he’s worked on poverty his whole life and it’s a cycle that creates the failure, without a single cause. Edwards adds that incentive pay to get better teachers in rural areas and the inner cities. And also to help the lower class: unions and predatory lending.

9:32: Obama mentions how many good ideas there are and that ‘John is exactly right.’ Talks about teachers and providing resources. Says the most important thing is recognizing the children as ‘our children.’ A political will argument similar to what Clinton has said on health care; Obama is clearly pushing political will tonight.

9:34: Kucinich brings up MLK saying war hurts two countries, and that shifting paradigms from war to education and health care is the key issue.

9:35: Gravel says the people need to solve the issues, not the leaders. Says the people on the stage are all guilty, like everyone else. Gets a loud response.

9:36: Dodd again has to follow Gravel… that’s not an easy thing to do. Dodd talks about dedicating himself to that issue in the Senate. Touts himself being named ‘the Senator of the Decade’ by the Head Start Foundation.

9:37: Clinton goes last, and starts with that ‘it takes a village to raise a child, and the American village has failed.’ Clinton talks about her work on education. Clinton goes back to the original question and says that people with degrees are still turned down, and that it is an issue that is broader than education.

9:39: What’s the plan to stop AIDS?

9:39: Richardson says it is a moral imperative to fight it nationally and internationally. Says education in African American community is important; Says fighting AIDS in Africa is crucial. He even praises the work done by Bush in that regard. Also says its important to get Needle education. Was that a Needle exchange program?

9:40: Edwards says that black women are 25 times more likely than white women to contract AIDS. Good command of the issue. Edwards calls for comprehensive health reform.

9:42: Obama agrees with the health reform but adds that it is important to educate the community. He then talks about the importance of taking a step back and creating development that solves problems broadly.

9:43: Kucinich talks about education to prevent it; and that access to health care is a basic right in a democratic society. Says it is time to end for-profit health care, citing Michael Moore.

9:44: Gravel again calls for the other candidates to end the war on drugs and says all the health care plans except Kucinich’s subsidize the insurance companies.

9:45: Dodd calls for more school clinics that children could use for advice and information. He mentions that many diseases - SIDS and others - are much hgher in the AFrican American community. Dodd comically gets caught off and says he would take global warming for 600; Smiley responds by saying that were he Paris Hilton he would get an hour.

9:47: Clinton says that were the stats negative for white women that there would be outrage. Making her own joke about not being compared to Paris Hilton, Clinton touts her work to improve medical access.

9:49: Biden says these ideas are good but do not prevent AIDS. Biden talks about his rallies in Delaware aimed at getting men to wear condoms and getting women the courage to say no. And cites how he and Obama were tested for AIDS and it is a public issue. Obama jumps in, and says he was tested with Michelle. Funniest moment for me.

9:51: Warren Buffet said the tax rates are too low for the wealthy; Edwards is asked about it.

9:52: Edwards calls for rolling back tax cuts for the rich to pay for universal health care. He also calls for a higher capital gains tax that rewards work and not wealth.

9:53: Obama agrees the tax cuts should lapse (does not specifically mention just for the wealthy). Says it is about fairness, being allocated fairly. Obama said the tragedy in Katrina happened beforehand, with a lack of systematic investments.

9:54: Kucinich says those in the high tax bracket and corporations are avoiding paying a fair amount of taxes; also that war is taking too much of the budget.

9:55: Gravel calls for wiping out the income tax and replacing it with a retail sales tax.

9:56: Dodd calls for a ‘fair, progressive, and pro-growth’ tax rate. Calls for returning to the Clinton era tax rates (Not sure that calling for a return to the Clinto era is a good tactical move).

9:57: Clinton reiterates the success of the Clinton era. She also mentions the payroll tax. She agrees that the tax system needs to be reformed.

9:58: Biden agrees to repeal the tax cuts to the wealthy. Biden says the people who are wage earners are paying more taxes than the investors and that needs to be changed.

9:59: Richardson calls for the tax cuts to the wealthy to be moved to the middle class, with incentives for companies to move to rural and inner-city areas. Calls for Democrats to be pro-growth Democrats and develop the economy.

10:01: Why are blacks imprisoned more when they are arrested less?

10:01: Obama says the justice system is not color blind, and requires political courage to solve these issues.

10:02: Kucinich calls for mandatory minimums to be ended, and reforms on drugs based on rehabilitation, not incarceration.

10:02: Gravel says money buys justice.

10:02: Dodd says mandatory minimums have been a failure and that crack cocaine and powder cocaine need to be legally differentiated.

10:03: Clinton says racial profiling and mandatory minimums need to be got rid of; She calls for more rehab and making the cocaine distinction as well.

10:04: Biden agrees on diversion and cocaine; says it is important to put pressure on the states for better justice.

10:04: Richardson calls for a strategy to deal with poverty, such as raising the minimum wage and increasing access to unions.

10:05: Edwards agrees on everything; minimums, cocaine, etc; he mentions residivism as well. Also calls for counseling.

10:06: Would you support a law guaranteeing a return to New Orleans and gulf areas based on the UN document?

10:06: Kucinich says yes, and that the government failed before and after in Katrina.

10:07: Gravel says yes, and that the war has wasted resources that would have been available in New Orleans.

10:07. Dodd says yes, and that Katrina is a symbol of the Bush administration.

10:08: Clinton says that it is important to get the structure back - hospitals, police, etc - and that is crucial. Criticizes the administration.

10:09: Says it is a national problem that requires a guarantee of action.

10:09: Richardson says he would support it, that FEMA needs to directly report to the president, and that the insurance companies need to be forced to pay to rebuild.

10:10: Edwards mentions that he announced his campaign in the 9th ward and that he would have someone in the White House report to him every day, to let New Orleans rebuild.

10:11: Obama finishes what Edwards was saying, that Halliburton getting contracts is outrageous. Obama says the problem was assuming that everyone could pack up and leave, and that potential Katrinas have been left unattended.

10:12: What is the solution for outsourcing.

10:13: Gravel says that the trade agreement benefits management and other countries. And that financing health care on the backs of companies makes them uncompetitive.

10:13: Dodd says it is a problem, and providing tax incentives could be crucial.

10:14: Clinton talks about her work to fight outsourcing, trade greements with standards, and helping Americans compete. Adds in clean energy would create millions of new jobs.

10:15: Biden says it is necessary to take burdens off corporations for health care (really? his health care is by far the most conservative).

10:15: Richardson calls for upgrading science and math standards and trade agreements with standards, also for investing in companies.

10:16: Edwards talks about the mill where his dad worked shutting down. Agrees with the previous few candidates.

10:17: Obama talks about working with people who were laid off from steel workers, with no effort made to re-train workers. Says that in addition to the other plans, investing in retraining is key.

10:18: Kucinich calls for cancelling NAFTA and the WTO; criticizes the Democratic administration that started NAFTA.

10:19: Question about Darfur and our claim to moral leadership.

10:19: Dodd says Iraq has cost America its moral authority; says it is important to take unilateral action.

10:20: Clinton says the peacekeepers need to get in asap, with airlift and logistical support, preferably from Nato; and lastly a no-fly zone over Sudan.

10:20: Biden says he has been calling for action for three years. Biden says it should have happened two years ago., and American troops should be on the ground.

10:21: Richardson says that genocide is more important than sports, and that pressuring China is important. Agrees on the no-fly zone.

10:22: Edwards agrees tactically, but says it is important to gain moral authority, spending billions on education and clean drinking water.

10:22: Obama says protection and the no-fly zone are important, but looking at trade and foreign policy attention on Africa are crucial to long term security.

10:23: Kucinich has 15 seconds: says it is time for corporations to stop exploiting Africa.

10:24: Gravel says moral judgment … and then briefly thinks he’s not being heard. Concludes by saying most people on the stage have proven they do not have moral authority.

And on that parting shot it is over. Not an especially memorable debate.

12:30: Thoughts after reflecting and reading the comments:

I don’t think there was a crowd favorite - they really seemed to respond to the answers and not just a certain candidate.

My initial impression was that Clinton got more applause, but the frenzied pace in the second half (mostly caused by a slow as molasses pace in the first half hour) seemed to just take the focus off the applause.

I think - for once - all the candidates did well at getting their positions out. Biden, Clinton, and Obama were the most focused; Dodd got a terrible draw by having to follow Gravel - he had to use 15 seconds of every minute just to distinguish himself from what Dodd was saying.

Edwards focused more on his campaign theme of two Americas; it wasn’t focused, but it was still probably a success.

I can’t imagine any of the candidates being upset by their performance.

Although the Biden gaffe implying that he and Obama got tested for AIDS - which Obama clarified hilariously - was probably something he wished he could take back. But it wasn’t something that will hurt him.

I found some of the humor off (the Paris Hilton comments). And I found the moderation somewhat inconsistent (it seemed the time for answers went drastically down as the evening went on). But I would also describe it as fair, and it was refreshing to see other topics discussed, and in a manner in which everyone could weigh in.