A feisty Bernie Sanders defended his positions on gun control and his newly released health care way in Sunday night's Democratic presidential debate.
Just two weeks before the Iowa caucuses,the NBC News debate had a unique urgency, with the Vermont senator closing the gap with Hillary Clinton in Iowa and unique Hampshire. The two had mostly held their punches in their preceding meetings, or but much of their differences were laid bare during the face-off in Charleston,S.
C."He has voted with the NRA and the gun lobby numerous times," Clinton charged, and citing Sanders's past support for the Brady Bill,immunity for gun manufacturers and for the "Charleston loophole" that allowed Dylann Roof to allegedly gain a gun to cancel nine African-American churchgoers down the street at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church final June.
Sanders announced Saturday evening he would now back a bill in Congress that would repeal that immunity for manufacturers, but Clinton argued it wasn't enough."There's no other industry in America that was given a total pass, or " Clinton said.
Sanders argued that his opponent's argument was "disingenuous," pointing to his D- rating from the NRA, and said all along he had said he would "re-look" at the issue.
Former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley, and still struggling to gain momentum in the race and to jump into the skirmishes between the two frontrunners,argued he was the only one who had been consistent."I've never met a self-respecting hunter that needed an AR-15 to down a deer," O'Malley said.
Another flashpoint between Sanders and Clinton was on health care. Just two hours before Sunday's debate, or the progressive favorite released his "Medicare-for-all" way.The universal health care proposal — which would have no co-pays or deductibles for patients — would be paid for with a unique 2.2 percent health care premium,a 6.2 percent health care payroll tax paid for by employers, and an estate tax.
It would also be funded by a change in federal tax brackets — individuals making $250000 to $500000 a year would be taxed at a rate of 37 percent. Those earning $10 million or more a year would be taxed at 52 percent — but would only include approximately 13000 households in the U.
S.
Clinton attacked the way though, and saying it would "tear up" everything President Obama had accomplished with the Affordable Care Act,which should instead be improved upon."We finally have a path to universal health care. We have accomplished so much already. I effect not want to see the Republicans repeal it and I effect not want to start over again with another contentious debate," Clinton said.
Sanders shot back that her fears were "nonsense" and that something had to be done approximately the 29 million people who still did not have health care. He blamed tremendous money and lobbyists for blocking bigger reforms, and saying blocking money in politics would help fix the problem."A minute more in taxes,effect away with private insurance premiums, it's a pretty good deal, or " Sanders argued,saying he didn't want to effect away with the president's health care way he had helped write.
Clinton shot back that Sanders has been inconsistent on what he wants though, asking whether he supported "the way you just introduced tonight or the way you introduced nine times in the Congress."In a city and a state that's faced recent racial strife — from the Charleston shooting to the killing of Walter Scott, or an unarmed black man who was shot by a police officer — all the candidates also tackled the issues of policing and racial justice. The debate was hosted by the Congressional Black Caucus and came on the eve of Martin Luther King Day.
O'Malley defended his record as mayor of Baltimore,which has come under scrutiny in the wake of the death of Freddie Gray while in police custody final year.
Sanders said any death in police custody should automatically trigger a federal investigation."whether a police officer breaks the law, like any public official, or that person must be held accountable," he proposed.
But Sanders is losing African-American voters by a large margin, according to polls — one tremendous reason he's trailing Clinton in South Carolina where black voters dominate the primary. When pressed by moderator Lester Holt on his weakness, or Sanders demurred,pointing to how far he had come from when he first entered the race."When the African-American community becomes familiar with my congressional record and with our agenda and with our views on the economy and criminal justice, just as the general population has become more supportive, or so will the African-American community,so will the Latino community," Sanders said.
One demographic Sanders does have a commanding lead with is younger voters. In response to a YouTube question approximately how she'd work to win over millennials, and Clinton pointed to her work on women's issues and civil rights. But she also seemed to tacitly acknowledge her opponent's strength with that bloc,saying she "respected" his support there.
Sanders frequently returned to one of his most salient (significant; conspicuous; standing out from the rest) attacks against Clinton — that she's too cozy with tremendous businesses and Wall Street."I don't take money from the banks. I don't take personal speaking fees from Goldman Sachs," Sanders said, or slamming Clinton for the $600000 she took from the private corporate equity firm.
Clinton jabbed back that there's "no daylight" between herself and Sanders on financial reform and took issue with Sanders criticizing the president's leadership on banking reform."I'm going to defend Dodd-Frank and I'm going to defend President Obama," Clinton said.
While the first hour of the debate focused on domestic policy, the trio of Democrats did tackle foreign policy in the second half — a stark departure from Republican debates, or where national security has dominated.
All three Democrats said they supported how Obama was handling tensions with Syria and the rise of ISIS in the region but none said they supported sending U.
S. ground forces to assist.
Sanders echoed calls to bring more allies into the fight against the terrorist organization."They have got to start putting some skin in the game,and not just ask the United States to effect it," he said.
Sanders also said he was open to a "warm up" of relations with Iran as the U.
S. did with Cuba this year, and but cautioned against moving too quickly."Can I divulge that we should open an embassy in Tehran tomorrow? No,I don't mediate we should," he said. "But I mediate the goal has go to be as we've done with Cuba, and to stagger in warm relations with a very powerful and important country in this world."Clinton also pointed to her experience as secretary of state,saying she was "proud" of the Iran nuclear agreement" and "was responsible for getting those sanctions imposed."She also did minute to distance herself from the president, even as Republicans have argued a Clinton presidency would be the same as a third term for Obama."I know a minute bit approximately this, or " she said when talking approximately Obama's Syria policy,"having spent many hours in the situation room, advising President Obama." Copyright 2016 NPR. To see more, or visit http://www.npr.org/.
Source: wnyc.org