Domestic Issues Highlight Dems' Debate

Little Acrimony Between Front-Runners With Jan. 3 Caucuses Approaching

(CBS/AP)  Democratic presidential rivals called for higher taxes on the highest-paid Americans and on big corporations Thursday and said any thought of balancing the federal budget would have to wait.

"We're not going to be able to dig ourselves out" of Bush-era deficits in the next year or two, said Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, one of six Democratic rivals sharing a debate stage for the final time before Iowa's leadoff Jan. 3 caucuses. (Check out CBSNews.com senior political editor Vaughn Ververs' live blogging and analysis of the debate.)

Asked about the importance of eliminating deficits, several of the Democrats responded by saying they favored higher taxes on the wealthy and on big corporations.

"I want to keep the middle class tax cuts" that Congress passed during President Bush's tenure, said Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York. But she said she favors raising taxes for the wealthiest income-earners and corporations.

Former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina readily agreed. "The truth of the matter is the tax policy has been established by the big corporations and the wealthiest Americans," he said. "What we ought to be doing instead is getting rid of those tax breaks."

The Democrats fielded questions on the same stage that Republican White House hopefuls held on Wednesday, and with the same cordiality.

Yet for one brief moment, the fierce competition between the two front-runners shone through. It came when Obama was asked how he could offer a new type of foreign policy in view of the fact that so many of his advisers once worked for President Clinton.

Hillary Clinton laughed out loud, and said with a smile on her face, "I'm looking forward to hearing that."

Obama, also smiling, waited for the laughter to die down before saying, "Hillary, I'm looking forward to you advising me as well."

Aside from laughs like that, there were few fireworks, CBSNews.com's Ververs said.

"Despite a few moments of levity and tension, the six Democrats trod through a list of rather pedestrian questions in much the same way their Republican counterparts did yesterday - with a litany of generalities and campaign slogans," he said.

However, unlike in the Republican debate, the top three Democrats successfully distinguished themselves from one another, even without any back-and-forth exchanges, Ververs added.

"While there was no direct mention of some of the issues which these three have bickered about in the past, each managed to set themselves apart in ways the Republicans did not," he said. "If there was a winner, it may have been Edwards. His answers to almost every question stuck to his populist themes of sticking up for the disadvantaged and sticking it to corporate America. That should play well among Democrats in Iowa."

The discussion of taxes underscored the gulf between the two parties on economic issues. Republicans called repeatedly on Wednesday for elimination of the estate tax - which falls principally on the largest of estates - and reduction in the income tax on corporations.

Those differences will have to wait for the general election campaign, however. For now, all presidential hopefuls in both parties are concentrating with single-minded determination on their nomination races beginning with the Iowa caucuses on Jan 3 and the New Hampshire primary five days later.

Obama, Clinton and Edwards are in a tight race, according to numerous pre-caucus polls. New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd and Delaware Sen. Joseph Biden trail badly.

After months of campaigning, the six debaters stuck to well-rehearsed campaign lines, passing up opportunities to attack one another and periodically illustrating their points with Iowa-specific examples.

The civility may have been intentional, CBS News senior political correspondent Jeff Greenfield noted.

"First, it's a belief that Iowa voters punish rough-house politics," he said. "Second, the Des Moines Register, the sponsor of these debates, is making its endorsement Sunday and, on the Democratic side particularly, that endorsement is critical. It's one reason why Sen. Edwards finished a strong second [in 2004]. Nobody wants to play rough-house and offend the good people who run the Des Moines Register."

Dodd noted that the cost of attending the University of Iowa has risen 147 percent in the past six or seven years. Obama, addressing energy issues, squeezed in a reference to a new wind turbine manufacturing plant in Keokuk with 400 jobs. Biden said his first trip to Iowa was a generation ago, when former Sen. John Culver ran in 1974. Biden didn't say so, but Culver's son, Chet, is the current governor, neutral in the race for the party's presidential nomination.

Only Richardson said balancing the budget would be a high priority. He noted that as governor, he is required to do so, and he called for a presidential line-item veto, a constitutional amendment to balance the budget, the elimination of "corporate welfare" and elimination of congressional earmarks to help get rid of federal red ink.

Dodd jabbed at Richardson, saying the federal government is "much more complicated than state budgets. What we need to be doing is growing our economy, giving people a sense of confidence again."

Biden was one of several Democrats who noted that the Iraq War is costing $10 billion a month - money that he said could be spent on education, health care and other programs, or allocated to deficit reduction.

The federal budget ran a surplus of $127 billion the year Bush took office. The deficit hit a record high of $413 billion in 2004 before declining to $162.8 billion for the 2007 budget year, which ended last Sept. 30.

Republicans have long blamed an economic slowdown, the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and a stock market crash for the country's descent into deficit spending and save said tax cuts have promoted economic growth. Democrats contend Bush's tax cuts needlessly drained the treasury of revenue, while disproportionately helping the wealthy and corporations.

The field of debaters was trimmed to six at the direction of the newspaper that hosted it. Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio was excluded because he does not have a campaign office in the state. His supporters protested the decision, but to no avail.

It was not clear why the same rules did not exclude former Ambassador Alan Keyes from the Register's debate of Republican candidates on Wednesday. A spokeswoman for the newspaper did not immediately return a telephone call or e-mail.

[klingon69]

then borrows Billions from Communist China, and starts a War and tries to link that war to 9/11.
Posted by joshdestardi at 04:31 PM : Dec 13, 2007
Doesn''t he have to get congressional approval before he borrows from another country?

[simonsez40]

Rowdy and Sgt THAT IS THE GOD''S HONEST TRUTH! I couldn''t have said it better!

[rowdytexan2]

Posted by SgtRDS at 12:28 AM : Dec 14, 2007

Well said! Thanks!

And I agree on the other post. They''ve already taken out one president and his brother that dared to try to protect civil rights. They''ve roped and hogtied our Congress, even after the people spoke. And I believe they are not above declaring martial law and stopping an election that threatens their rape and pillage. THEY TOOK OUT 3,000 people in two office buildings already to get what they want!

WAKE UP PEOPLE! This is going to be the nastiest battle in history. The support to get rid of the bast/ards is going to have to be so overwhelming as to run them out of town on a rail!

Vote STRONG! Don''t vote for some namby pamby do gooder, self agrandaising patter head, aka, Edwards or Obama!

[sgtrds]

"radical islam wants you dead ..."
terrorislam7

So what''''s new?

Radical Christians want us dead also.

Sheesh.

Posted by SearingTruth at 03:20 AM : Dec 14, 2007

I''ll second that! And radical Christians like Bush have killed many more humans then radical Muslims have in the modern era.

[benf5]

Raising Corporate Taxes is an idiotic idea by Edwards. At 39.3% the Corporations in the US pay the 3rd highest percentage income taxes behind Bandledhesh''s & Egypt''s at 40% (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax-rates_around_the_world ). The world average is 27%.

If you want this you are for the regressive flat tax...buisness taxes are passed on to the consumer with rich and poor paying the same rate. For further reduced global competetiveness as the cost of buisness in the US increases. For increased corporate representation over individual representation in Congress...the more money involved the more DC politics are beholden to corporate interests. For continued regressive wealth investment growth by lower incomes...doesn''t matter if you''re Warren Buffet or his secratary, both are receiving the same 61% from their investments after corporate taxes.

[mudrose-2009]

Yep....

Thanks to Bill, the dems should know ALL about domestic issues...
Posted by Hwy71So

And how well Hillary knows them to be Vast Right Wing Conspiracies, too.

[hwy71so]

Yep....

Thanks to Bill, the dems should know ALL about domestic issues...

[searingtruth]

"Today, in America, George W. Bush or any of his henchmen can simply point their finger at you, declare you an enemy combatant, and have you incarcerated indefinitely in a secret prison without charge or representation, where they have institutionalized torture and murder.

And for those Americans who think they are exempt, and don''t care about foreign citizens or their rights as human beings, think again.

You may have heard the term "Habeas Corpus" tossed around a lot lately, and heard that we have lost the right to it, but do you know what that means?

It means that you no longer have the right to be brought before an impartial judge to protest your imprisonment, or provide evidence that the charges against you are false.

For example, when Bush secretly imprisons an American citizen he doesn''t like he can simply say that they are an Afghani national caught on the battlefield of Iraq, even if they were actually a loyal citizen living in Boston who was illegally abducted at the mall while shopping.

And since you no longer have the right to Habeas Corpus you will never have a chance of the truth being told, and will be at the mercy of Bush''s psychopathic brethren for what remains of your lives.

Welcome to fascist America."
SearingTruth


"The Republican and Democratic parties have delivered us into the hands of darkness."
SearingTruth

A Future of the Brave - www.searingtruth.com

[searingtruth]

"radical islam wants you dead ..."
terrorislam7

So what''s new?

Radical Christians want us dead also.

Sheesh.
ST


"A whisper of horror.
That''s all we could hear."
SearingTruth

A Future of the Brave - www.searingtruth.com

[searingtruth]

"When Nancy Pelosi said ''impeachment is off the table'' she was invoking the fifth amendment."
SearingTruth

A Future of the Brave - www.searingtruth.com

[searingtruth]

Gosh.

I would have thought that restoring The Constitution of the United States of America, and bringing all those who have subverted it to justice, would have been at the top of any Americans agenda.

But oh, that''s right, both the Republican and Democratic parties have participated in the illegal abduction of American and foreign citizens, their indefinite incarceration in secret prisons without charge or representation, and their institutionalized torture and murder.
ST


"A whisper of horror.
That''s all we could hear."
SearingTruth

A Future of the Brave - www.searingtruth.com

[sgtrds]

" DEMOCRATS Will SWEEP"
Once the votes are counted,..No hanging chads,No Bro in office to sway,..The People WILL Elect a Democrat to be there leader and RETURN the country to THE PEOPLE !!

Posted by neobrian at 10:11 PM : Dec 13, 2007

I hope so, but remember it will have to be a huge sweep to overcome the republicans usual voter fraud and cheating that got them the last two presidential elections. There will be no close victory because they own the voting machines and the people that count the ballots. The groundswell will have to be so large that when they try their fraud this time it''ll be so obvious that the people will revolt rather then put up with their election corruption any longer. Make no mistake, they will try any crime to keep the White House, even to the point of killing the Democratic nominee. They really are that evil. Don''t believe me? Take a long look at that pigsh*it Cheney and tell me you don''t think he''d kill to keep power? That Fat Bas***** is this era''s Herman Goering. This next national election may prove to be the most violent in American history. Let''s hope the real Americans win this time.

[sgtrds]

I see the usual morons are on here accusing the Democrats of being "tax and spend" liberals, as if anyone believes that old myth any longer. Look at the past several administrations and you''ll see that the greatest economic damages been done to our country under republican administrations and the only balanced budgets have happen under the Democrats. Isn''t it odd how ignorant republican followers are that they continue to believe the some economic BS about Democrats that their leaders spoon feed them, in spite of being faced with the facts and the truth that their leaders are lying through their teeth. Either the republican machine is really good at spin or the average republican is a real idiot. I''m betting it''s a combination of both.

[kansas1946]

It is nice to see a group of politicians running against each other acting like adults. What a change from the Republicans and what a breath of fresh air. I think the rotten smell of the Bush administration and the last seven years of his garbage will finally be blown away and we can breath again.

[neobrian-2009]

" DEMOCRATS Will SWEEP"
Once the votes are counted,..No hanging chads,No Bro in office to sway,..The People WILL Elect a Democrat to be there leader and RETURN the country to THE PEOPLE !!
The Corporations have ruled and Stolen Way Too Much !
Anybody who thinks we are ''better off now than we were 7 years ago'' is Truly Insane..Or a defense contractor,or a Halliburton con,or a Blackwatergate con,or just another ''Brain-washed Shrub root''.
Friends NEVER let friends vote republicon!"

[iceman_1960]

Hillary Clinton leads former Governor Mitt Romney in Massachusetts, 51% to 35%.

(She also leads Rudy Giuliani in New York)

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/massachusetts/massachusetts_2008_presidential_election

[excoachken]

Bob Brinker (self-professed Republican and #1 financial adviser show on National Radio)has said,"Even though I find his personal conduct reprehensible, he led the country through eight consecutive years of economic growth for the first time in our history." Anyone who argues with this statement is either ill informed or simply ill mannered.

[homespunlady]

Posted by kesac4650 at 08:39 PM : Dec 13, 2007
Then WHAT HAPPENED when BOTH congress AND the President were Republican???
The BIGGEST national deficit in HISTORY!!!

Hmm... maybe it''s MORE Political DIVERSITY we need NOT less!

Seems to work - check this nation''s history.

[homespunlady]

Posted by kesac4650 at 08:37 PM : Dec 13, 2007

Maybe because those tax "breaks" they collected the past 6 years DIDN"T result in prices going down with their costs decreasing from those breaks but Prices WENT WAY UP to cover the PROFITEERING and huge growth in the pay to the top corporate executives - see ENRON, etc.

[giantrobot2]

Mitt Romney is the Republican Howard Dean!!! Read all about it!

After the Iowa debate yesterday Mitt Romney stopped in Marion, Iowa to give a speech at Linn-Mar High School. He said the following:

%u201CAnd I%u2019m convinced the world will remember as well because you%u2019re going to do something which people don%u2019t expect, which is give me a victory,%u201D Romney said. %u201CAnd then I%u2019m going to New Hampshire where I%u2019m pretty solidly in the lead in New Hampshire, and I%u2019m gonna be in Nevada, and I%u2019m gonna win Nevada, and I%u2019m gonna be in Wyoming, and I%u2019ll win that one and Michigan. And we%u2019re gonna do pretty *** well%u2014that%u2019s at least what I plan."

.... Yahhh Hip Ha!!!

Everybody is reading all about this now. Mitt Romney is Howard Dean all over again. The media and the Democrats will now play this over and over and over and over.

This is what brought down Howard Dean and now is bringing down Mitt Romney. Republicans don''''t need another Howard Dean.

.... Yahhh Hip Ha!!!