August 7, 2019
By: H. Elizabeth Williams
Are you tired of the “unbiased” moderators of the latest Democratic Presidential Debate not giving all candidates equal time. Does it seem like they only favor the most popular candidates in the polls? Too distracted by the obnoxious arguing and no one actually answering the question and rambling on about how they’re gonna stop Trump?
Same.
I put together a cheat list of all the presidential candidates so it’s a bit easier, because if you’re like me you have no clue who to vote for.
Why? Well because first off I can’t even take these debate answers seriously since all they do is kiss the ass of voters. They’ll agree to everything without question just to get the vote and if one candidate on the panel tries to challenge that they’re racist or something. If you watched the first debate when Joe Biden looked around at all the raised hands before raising his own, it proves my point.
Now don’t get me wrong, I love the diverse panel and that there are strong outspoken women on stage to challenge their male opponents. But, I want actual answers. I don’t care how you’re going to stop Trump and I don’t care about the beef you have with the opponent next to you. Grow up and tell me how you’re going to fix our country.
So, here’s part one of my cheat sheet:
Elizabeth Warren
Career:
Former law professor, Harvard and U Penn
MA Senator
Healthcare
Single payer healthcare.
ACA.
Regulate private insurance.
Increase spending on mental health.
Climate Change
Supported Paris accord.
Likes Green New Deal.
Civil Rights
Supports LGBTQ+ issues.
Anti trans military ban.
Equal pay for disabled people.
Criminal justice reform to stop racial profiling.
Pro-choice.
Stop voter oppression.
Guns
Universal Background checks.
Ban mentally ill from obtaining guns.
Ban assault rifles.
Economics
Higher taxes on the rich.
Increase minimum wage.
Anti-NAFTA.
More protection for veterans.
More consumer protection.
Foreign Policy
Limit trade with Russia.
Limit trade with China because of human rights abuses.
Use diplomacy with neighboring countries and sanctions on North Korea to avoid war.
Stop helping Saudi Arabia intervene in the Yemeni Civil War.
Education:
Supports free college for public universities.
Cancel student debt.
Immigration:
Wants to repeal law that criminalizes unauthorized border crossings.
Replace ICE.
Supports DACA.
Fun Facts:
She was a state debate champion in Oklahoma and graduated high school at 16.
Criticism:
She's taken heat for claims of her Native American heritage. She commissioned a DNA test to prove she had Cherokee ancestry, and later apologized.
Pete Buttigieg
Career:
Mayor of South Bend, Ind.; military veteran.
Progressive.
Harvard graduate, Rhodes Scholar and member of Navy Preserves.
Climate Change:
Climate change is a national threat.
Supports Paris accord.
Supports US house becoming “net zero” consumer of energy.
Economy:
Supports labor and union groups.
Believes NAFTA resulted in significant job losses.
Guns
Universal background checks.
Member of mayors against illegal guns.
Opposed allowing guns in schools and so-called “Stand Your Ground” self-defense gun laws.
Foreign Policy
Pull troops out of Afghanistan.
Criticized Trump’s plans to withdraw from Syria.
Healthcare:
Supports single-payer system.
Suggests transitioning to that by implementing an all-payer rate setting- a system that wouldn’t eliminate private insurance companies.
Civil Rights:
Supports a federal non-discrimination amendment.
Favors federal equality act.
Opposes removing transgender people from military.
Pro-choice.
Supports LGBTQ+ issues.
Supports gender reassignment surgery for transgender people in prison.
Education:
Teacher pay increase.
Rejects free college.
Examining student loan refinancing.
Immigration:
Opposed Border wall.
Supports DACA.
Fun facts:
In 2013, two years into his first term as mayor, he was deployed to Afghanistan for seven months.
SIGNATURE ISSUES: Has stressed his generational identity and called for policies on issues like climate change and economic opportunity.
Criticism:
Accepted donations from lobbyists: After criticism for accepting money from powerful Washington lobbyists, Buttigieg backed off and announced he would return donations he received.
Police recordings: Buttigieg demoted his South Bend police chief and fired the police communications director for illegally recording police officers' phone calls that allegedly revealed officers making racist comments.
John Delaney
Career:
Former congressman from Maryland; former businessman.
Healthcare:
Supportive of affordable care act.
Open to adding a public option.
Economy:
Repatriate tax revenue to fund bipartisan infrastructure package.
Support American workers.
Expand free trade.
He supports raising the federal minimum wage to $15.
Civil rights
Pro-choice.
pro-LGBTQ+ rights.
Strong supporter of same sex marriage.
Voted for legislation to fund organizations like Planned Parenthood.
Foreign Policy:
Supports TPP (Trans-pacific partnership).
Believes China is a serious global threat.
Supports punishing Saudi crown prince for the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Supports withdrawal of military aid from Saudi forces fighting in Yemen.
Education:
Universal pre-K.
Supports a national service initiative, which would have recent high school graduates choose from either military service, infrastructure apprenticeships, or community service.
Climate change:
Co-sponsored a bipartisan bill that looked to impose an initial $15-per-ton carbon "fee" on fossil fuel producers, processors and importers.
Does not believe green new deal is realistic.
Rejoin paris accords.
He would push the Department of Energy to dramatically increase green energy research.
Guns
Expanding background checks.
Supports red flag laws, which allows individuals to notify police of impending gun violence by a family member to temporarily take away their guns.
Immigration:
Comprehensive immigration reform.
Path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.
Increase border security.
Fun facts:
First person in his family to go to college.
SIGNATURE ISSUES: Has pitched himself as a bipartisan problem-solver, but has also endorsed liberal causes like universal health care.
Criticism:
He has not spoken publicly about Trump’s decision to withdraw American forces from Syria.
Anonymity: Delaney has a lower profile than many of the other Democratic candidates running for president, despite already being in the race for over a year.
John Hickenlooper
Career:
Former governor of CO; former mayor of Denver
Calls himself an “extreme moderate” democrat
Guns
Supports gun control and universal background checks.
Ban high-capacity magazines.
Economy
Free trader.
Opposes Trump administration’s tariffs.
Pro-business governor.
Climate Change
Backs climate change action, including regulations on methane and natural gas.
Believes green new deal has good intentions but unachievable ideas.
Civil Rights
Supports gay marriage and LGBTQ rights.
Pro-choice.
Healthcare
Affordable Care Act.
Created an Affordable Care Act exchange for Colorado.
Expand Medicaid.
Education
Supports testing reductions.
Scholarships to low-income students.
Foreign Policy
Supports a strong NATO, strengthening ties with allies.
Restore free and fair trade.
Immigration:
Opposes family separation policy.
Supports DACA.
Would combine an effort at immigration reform with border security.
Fun facts:
In 2014, he implemented the country’s first rules to regulate methane emissions from oil and gas companies.
SIGNATURE ISSUES: Has stressed his record of consensus-building around issues like expanding Medicaid, gay rights and gun control.
Criticism:
Many feel moderation and nuance is not a winning formula for 2020 Democrats.
He lacks specifics when talking about his plans for improving education.
After cutting Colorado's education budget during the Great Recession, Hickenlooper pushed for an ultimately unsuccessful property tax increase to fund Colorado schools.
Amy Klobuchar
Career:
Senator from Minnesota.
Former Hennepin County, Minn., attorney.
Climate change
Cut greenhouse emissions.
Rejoin Paris accords.
Backs AOC’s Green New Deal.
Health care
Expand Medicare to at least age 55.
Backs Medicare Advantage, the growing alternative to traditional Medicare.
Civil rights
Pro-choice.
Supports LGBTQ rights.
Foreign Policy
Keep presence in Syria.
Strengthen relationships with allies.
Education
Doesn't support free four-year college for all.
Supports reducing student debt burdens and increasing options for Americans to refinance their student loans.
Giving teachers pay raise.
Guns
Universal background checks.
Ban assault rifles and Extreme Risk Orders— also known as "red flag" laws.
Economy
Has previously supported US tariffs on foreign steel and aluminum imports.
Criticized the Trump administration for the damage retaliatory tariffs imposed by China have caused to the Midwest's rural farmers.
Increase minimum wage.
Supports expanding export markets for US goods.
Immigration:
Path to citizenship for most undocumented immigrants.
More temporary work visas.
Do not abolish ICE.
Fun facts:
She released a $100 billion plan to combat mental health problems and substance abuse over the next decade.
A mom whose hospital experience after giving birth sparked new laws and her political career.
SIGNATURE ISSUES: Has championed legislation to combat the opioid crisis and drug addiction, and to address the cost of prescription drugs.
Criticism:
Staff treatment: Multiple media outlets have detailed Klobuchar's alleged history of emotionally abusive treatment of her staff.
Pragmatism: Klobuchar hasn't embraced parts of progressive agenda — including on Medicare for All and free college — like many of her fellow 2020 Democratic hopefuls.
Steve Bullock
Career:
Former lawyer; 2009 Attorney General for Montana
Governor of Montana — elected in 2012
Healthcare:
Expanded Medicaid.
Has invested in mental health and substance abuse resources, and added permanent funding for Title X, protecting reproductive rights, in Montana's state budget.
Climate Change:
Re-enter Paris Climate Agreement.
As a governor from a state with robust public lands and wildlife, Bullock has advocated for measures to reduce pollution, protect wildlife, and combat the impacts of climate change.
Civil Rights:
Supports LGBTQ+ issues.
Supports abortion rights.
Criminal justice: trying to reduce Montana's prison population and recidivism rates.
Guns:
Ban assault weapons
Supports assault weapons ban and red flag laws.
Supports universal background checks.
Economics:
Fever tariffs; more jobs.
Established the Equal Pay for Equal Work task force.
Secured workforce development grants for new job training and education initiatives to prepare Montana students for in-demand careers.
Foreign Policy:
Block foreign meddling in U.S. elections.
End trade embargo with Cuba.
Education:
“It’s not all about free college.”
Montana tuition freeze\expanded STEM education.
Pushed for more college funding.
Immigration:
Supports DACA recipients.
Fun Facts:
Three successful statewide Governor campaigns in a solidly conservative state.
Criticism:
Bullock has drastically changed his tune on gun control since 2016, when he opposed universal background checks and pledged to expand gun rights during his gubernatorial re-election campaign.
Bullock has been criticized by civil rights groups, however, for extending Montana's multimillion-dollar contract with private prison corporation CoreCivic, which has recently come under scrutiny for high rates of violence and substandard conditions in facilities they manage.
Hasn't yet elaborated on his views on other foreign policy issues.
Beto O'Rourke
Career:
3-term representative for Texas' 16th district.
Served on El Paso City Council 2005–2011.
Healthcare:
Create a government-run health insurance plan as one option for Americans.
“Medicare for America” instead of “Medicare for All.”
Expand "government-run health coverage while keeping employer-sponsored insurance plans.
Climate Change:
Return to Paris climate agreement.
He would allow fracking, but with tighter oversight.
Civil Rights:
Pro-choice.
Supports LGBTQ+ rights.
Restore voting rights act and stop voter suppression.
The military should welcome transgender recruits.
Criminal Justice Reform: end the prohibition on marijuana; suspend the death penalty at the federal level; called for abolishing private and for-profit prisons.
Guns:
Ban assault weapons.
Require universal background checks.
Opposes requiring states to recognize concealed carry permits granted in other states.
Economics:
Keep NAFTA largely intact.
Increasing minimum wage to $15/hour.
Against tariffs on the steel and aluminum industries.
Foreign Policy:
It is not clear where O’Rourke stands on President Donald Trump’s proposed withdrawal from Afghanistan and Syria.
Supported the Iran nuclear deal.
Education:
Make pre-K education universal.
The first two years of higher education should be debt free.
Supports forgiving student loan debt for public school teachers.
Immigration:
Give legal status to most undocumented residents and a path to citizenship for all Dreamers.
Called for tearing down existing border walls in the El Paso area of Texas.
Fun facts:
O'Rourke has called for banning the future sale of the AR-15, the most popular rifle in the US.
Says he is “open” to the idea of abolishing ICE.
Used to play in a punk band, Foss, and founded a software company.
Criticism:
Business policy: Has voted in favor of bills that Democrats say would reduce independent audits of corporations. He was a member of the New Democrat Coalition, which aligned closely with business interests.
Teenage years: When he was 15, he wrote a piece of fiction about killing children. He has since expressed regret: "I’m mortified to read it now, incredibly embarrassed, but I have to take ownership of my words."
Tim Ryan
Career:
Representative for Ohio's 13th congressional district since 2003
Member of the House Appropriations Committee
Healthcare:
Supports the Affordable Care Act and Medicare for All.
Climate Change:
Believes climate change is a threat.
Does not support the Green New Deal.
Move toward renewable energy sources, away from foreign oil.
Rejoin Paris climate accords.
Civil rights:
Pro-choice.
Supports LGBTQ rights.
Legalize marijuana.
Criminal justice: Endorses reducing mandatory minimum drug sentence and wants all police officers to be equipped with body cameras in order to decrease use-of-force incidents.
Guns:
Supports gun control.
Supports background checks on secondary.
Raising the minimum age for purchasing guns.
Economics:
Transition into a clean-energy economy through a free enterprise system.
Critic of NAFTA.
Supports tariffs with China.
Does not support cutting taxes.
Wants to double union membership, increase apprenticeships and enact a $15 minimum wage.
Foreign Policy:
Out-compete China.
Pushed for strong and cooperative alliances like NATO.
Backed policy proposals to combat Chinese currency manipulation.
Education:
Supports stricter accountability for charter schools.
Endorses tuition and debt-free college.
Cosponsored legislation to increase grants for recruiting women and minorities to pursue education in STEM fields.
Immigration:
Supports DREAM Act.
Opposes southern border wall.
Fun Facts:
Ryan redirected campaign donations from the National Rifle Association to gun control groups after the 2017 shooting in Las Vegas.
Criticisms:
Flip-flopping on key Democratic issues: Ryan previously was pro-life, but changed his position to support legal access to abortion. Ryan also voted in favor of the 2006 Secure Fence Act, which built significant amounts of walls and barriers along the US-Mexico border, but now opposes building border walls.
He had previously held an A rating from the NRA.
Marianne Williamson
Career:
Spiritual leader, author and activist.
Views herself as a capitalist.
Healthcare:
Medicare for All model.
Her plan calls for sweeping changes within the agricultural, environmental, and chemical industry to address the root cause of "chronic disease and obesity."
Backs universal healthcare.
Climate Change:
Support the Green New Deal.
Rejoin Paris Climate Accord.
Civil Rights:
Pro-choice
Supports LGBTQ+ rights.
Anti the trans military ban.
Criminal justice reform: increase the number of prison programs that provide skills to help prisoners reintegrate into society.
Guns:
Ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.
Mandate universal background checks.
Economics:
Increase minimum wage by region.
Repeal corporate tax cuts in 2017 tax law.
Disagrees with federal bailouts for large banks.
Increase minimum wage and adjusting it to the inflation rate.
Foreign Policy:
Re-examine foreign relationships.
Opposes US relations with Saudi Arabia.
Rejoin Iran deal.
Supports Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
Education:
Free higher education.
Universal preschool.
Reduce (or forgive) college loan debt.
Immigration:
Opposes southern border.
Strengthen DACA.
Close private detention centers.
Fun Facts:
Called for $100 billion to be paid to African Americans in reparations for slavery, with $10 billion per year distributed over 10 years.
Criticism:
Staff treatment: In a 1992 article, Williamson was criticized for her interpersonal skills and management style — a claim she acknowledged she could work on. At the time, she referred to herself as "the bitch for God."
Anonymity and inexperience: Williamson has never held public office before and has less name-recognition than many of her 2020 competitors.
Bernie Sanders
Career:
Senator from Vermont — 12 years served
Previously House Representative for Vermont's at-large congressional district, Mayor of Burlington, Vermont.
Healthcare (I’ll try to keep this short):
Launch universal, government-provided health care.
Medicare For All.
Climate Change:
Cut carbon emissions by 40 percent by 2030.
Tax carbon emissions.
Supports Green New Deal (co-sponsor).
Against the fossil fuel industry.
Civil Rights:
Pro-choice.
Supports LGBTQ+ rights.
Says felons should be allowed to vote while in prison.
Anti the trans military ban.
Criminal Justice Reform: end private prisons and cash bail.
Guns:
Ban assault weapons.
Repeal law protecting some gun manufacturers.
No federal handgun waiting period.
Supports universal background checks.
Economics:
Supports raising taxes on the wealthiest Americans.
Opposed the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Against tariffs against China and European Union.
Supports tariffs on China.
Pledged to target offshore tax havens.
Raise minimum wage to $15.
Foreign Policy:
Use diplomacy to end Syrian conflict.
Pull out troops, but in a different way from Trump.
Cut U.S. support in the conflict in Yemen, hold the Saudi crown prince “accountable” for crimes.
Opposed withdrawal from Iran deal.
Education:
Free, universal preschool.
Free tuition at public colleges and universities.
College for all act.
Immigration:
Path to citizenship for most undocumented immigrants.
Restructure, don’t necessarily abolish U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Supports DACA.
Fun Facts:
While serving as mayor of Burlington, he recorded a folk album — titled "We Shall Overcome" — with 30 Vermont musicians.
In 1983, as mayor of Vermont, he signed a Gay Pride Day proclamation. He voted against Don't Ask Don't Tell in 1993 and supported civil unions in Vermont in 2000.
Vowed to bring the entire hemisphere together to discuss immigration.
Criticisms:
Sanders says he opposes the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits federal funding from going toward abortion services.
Sanders has been outspoken on mass incarceration for many years, but did vote for a 1994 crime bill that many critics feel made the problem worse.
Age: A recent poll found 43 of Iowa's 76 Democratic county party leaders say they want a young candidate to be their nominee for president in 2020.
Socialism: That he's too far left. Or that the party has moved past him and he is no longer the only potential candidate who can carry the "progressive" label.
Sources (There's a different article for each of these candidates, but listing them all would be a waste of time. Just Google (Person's name) and then PBS/Axios/or Business Insider): https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/us/politics/2020-presidential-candidates.html