WASHINGTON (CNN) - I am going to be hosting a Democratic presidential debate on Monday, January 21, in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The CNN debate will be co-sponsored with the Congressional Black Caucus Institute. Suzanne Malveaux and Joe Johns will be joining me in the questioning. All of us are really looking forward to this debate which coincides with Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in the United States.
It comes just before the Democratic primary in South Carolina on Saturday, January 26. Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards all have respective strengths and weaknesses in that state. Hopefully, we will be able to learn more about these three candidates during that forum, which airs at 8 p.m. ET on CNN. The two earlier Democratic debates I moderated – in New Hampshire in early June and in Nevada in November – included a lot more candidates. Several of them, as you know, have dropped out. This one should be more manageable.
There are so many questions all of us have about the candidates. I have my ideas, and am excited, but l really want to hear from you - I would love your input. Let me know what you would ask these Democratic candidates if you had the chance. This race for the White House is at a pivotal point for the Democrats and the Republicans. And the stakes for the nation are very high. Thanks in advance.
From CNN Politics
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Can you identify a major decision that has been made since the 1960's that has affected this country positively/negatively that the we can learn from today and what is that lesson?
Health Care cost are out of control, how do you bring the cost down?
So called free trade has lowered our standard of living, how do you stop the loss of not only manafacturing jobs but service sector jobs as well?
Who will build a fence to secure the Mexican Border, ASAP?
Our current President gives away Billions of dollars to Foreign Nations.
Who will give back the monies needed to rebuild a strong America?
Who will stop Earmarks?
Who will speak the truth?
Who will do the peoples will?
Who will truley dare to lead and not be led by special interest.
Who has a Vision?
If millions of middle class Americans slip into poverty you can count on one thing happening.
CHAOS!!
That's when the crime rate goes up and the rich get scared.
Maybe that's what it will take for real change to happen.
I hope not.
Does your support of civil unions but not marriage for same-sex couples strike you as separate but equal? Do you truly have a sincere commitment to bringing about legislation concerning equal rights for the LGBT community regardless of its arguable political unpopularity? If so, would you feel it is morally acceptable to just leave the issue to the states when the idea of equality is so central to our beloved country and why?
Each of the candidates, have proposed to bring out about the same amount (+/- 10,000) of troops that were sent in for the surge sometime within 2009. With a phase redeployment to other locations. There is no longer an international presence within the country. The terrorist have begun to increase their attacks and the situation is looking like it is spiraling out of control. As President of the United States, how would you handle the situation?
Do you think America can recapture the jobs lost due to globalization? Why or Why not? If not, what do we as a nation do?
Asking how is having Troops in Iraq protecting our freedom?
Saddam is gone? Would it be logical to pull the troops out and protect our lands and not force Democracy on countries. When and if we get attacked retaliate?
1. Please ask them to state their positions on same-sex marriage.
2. What plans do they have to help recover the falling economy?
Ask all three candidates to lay out their agenda for their first term. What economic agenda or plan do they have to improve the economy and avoid a recession? How, in detail, will they go about "Changing" Washington, changing the country? Why should Americans vote for them? What in their record supports what they say about really changing Washington for the better?
With a population of 300 million and still growing our major metropolitan areas are spreading further and further out. Property will become scarcer and scarcer. For example, a good portion of the individuals are spending more time on the road to and from work when this time could be spent with family/friends. Is it time to rethink how our cities are developing besides building bigger and wider roads to deal with the increased population? If so, as President, what would you want to see be accomplished especially in your future home city of Washington D.C.
Some republicans and independents that might be watching think a Democratic President is weak on Defense (security) issues. Do you believe in maintaining the strongest military in the world? If so, how would you ensure we maintain the most powerful military in the world?
What's this so called "experience" Hillary Clinton professes to have? Are we to believe and accept that under no mandate from the American people, she was governing the country and contributing to US foreign policy as First Lady?
I don't really feel that is a legitimate bank of "experience" for us to rely on. Laura Bush can claim as much experience in White House affairs, why doesn't she run for president?
None of these candidates have the experience it takes to be president. Probabaly nothing prepares you for that particular office.
Ask Obama, while preaching he will bring change and clean Washington, why are the strategists on his campaign mostly people who have worked for either the Clintons or one or more of the older legislators in Washington. Won't it have made more of practicing what you preach if his strategists were newer faces? His plans are the same he is just trying to pull the wool over the eyes of those who are not able to do any research on their own and wait for Oprah to tell them who to vote for or who are easily deceived.
He is new, has not worked his fair hours since he became senator and is rushing to run for president so that he is able to get away with not voting on important issues. He is afraid that if he stays longer, his voting history will haunt him. Eventhough it is still going to because right now, his tactic to dodge those issues so that he does not make a decision or his voting "present" shows he is not decisive and is not willing to take responsibility if he makes a mistake.
Hi Wolf:
I would like to ask Hillary Clinton if her inauguration speech would include the phrase "We just screwed all these people," as she was overheard saying on network television after Bill's first inauguration.
Thanks,
Steve
Oh, and Ask Edwards, why he kept saying Hillary was not a frontrunner? She has always been. I used to think he would make a good VP but not any more. He seems to follow the wind. I want a man who can fight on his own and not have to gang up to fight.
All of the candidates have agreed that global warming is a problem. Will the candidates consider developing or enhancing a national building code to stipulate buildings and homes built after say January 2011 must be energy efficient and earth friendly. The lag time is to give the businesses and developers enough time to begin mass producing the products that are readily available today. Why or why not?
Everyone talks about change but in order to change the individual must understanding what they are changing from and what they hope they will change into. The question what is the candidate stating they are going to change America from and what do they hope to change America into?
Is the U.N. an effective organization? Can it be improved? How?
Thank you for moderating. But stick it to them because politics isn't a game. They are making decisions affecting people's lives. All of them. Current State and National legislatures. So thanks for representing the American people in this debate.
As a disabled American, I am wondering what is going to be done to keep Social Security solvent in the upcoming years, not only for those of us dependent on the payments to survive but for the massive number of Baby Boomers that will be collecting on payments in the very near future.
How do you propose to deal with the issue of immigration since the comprehensive immigration bill was not passed?
I will know the policy of each candidate concerning Africa and the democratic republic of Congo. I did not await the policy concerning the democratic republic of Congo or Africa during all the program. China threatens to control the richnesses of the democratic republic of Congo. The USA will miss the strategic country of Africa.
I have heard the comment of abolishing the "No Child Left Behind Act". If so, how would each of the candidates encourage students to learn higher educational levels while ensuring the quality of education they are recieving no matter the race or social standing.
Besides the state of Israel. During these times, can we afford to support other nations around the world; especially if we are not seeing any type of return for the money we are pouring out? For example, Pakistan.
When you are sworn in as president, would you be willing to take the oath of of of the President by swearing in on the flag and a copy of the Constitution, instead of the bible. I feel this will release you to freely represent all races and religions in a free and just society and not tie you to one religious group, but all including atheists and humanists; in otherwords all Americans.
Hilarious,
People honestly think that these questions will be asked of the candidates. The reasons that the candidates are "evasive" on the issues is because the time given to them in a televised national debate does not allow them to give actual reasons. One candidate can speak about their points and then the moderator cuts them off to get the answers of another. These types of unfocused debates are nothing more then a more sophisticated game of "dozens". The campaign strategists are more concerned with the "presidential look" and demeanor of a candidate under fire then they are that the American people actually come away with an understanding of what the candidate stands for. Everyone who has responded to the above question has a basic understanding of how computers work. If you want a real answer and are willing to take 10 minutes out of your day, look up the candidate on your favorite search engine, find their official website, and look under the issues. It's simple, even for the people in this forum who have no idea how to spellcheck or remotely come close to being able to use proper grammar.
....There is a hell of a lot of planted smearing going on here by all sides. Just look a little harder for some answers to your questions.
...and please, for the love of whatever God you believe in....learn to spell.