Ask These Democrats to Prove Themselves
Sep 25, 2003
The 10 Democrats who say they want to be president roll into town today for another debate. Once again each of them will have the opportunity to convince us that he or she is The One who can beat George W. Bush and be the best qualified to run the country.
I won't be lobbing the questions tonight, but if I were, this is what I'd ask them.
Sen. John Kerry: Senator, other than the JFK factor - your patrician good looks, the great hair, your tie to a wealthy family, and the fact that you're a Vietnam war veteran - what exactly qualifies you to be president? You've criticized Bush on Iraq, saying that we should only go to war because we have to. So why on earth did you vote to authorize the war in the first place? And, are you hoping that playing your guitar at campaign events will remind people of Bill Clinton and his saxophone?
Sen. Joseph Lieberman: Now that the thrill of your being chosen as the first Jewish vice-presidential candidate has worn off, why should any of us feel excited about you? Of all the Democrats, you were the most hawkish on the war. But now that things are a big mess over there, you're blaming the president for not getting more countries to help us out. You knew from the start that this was the case, so why did you vote to give him the go-ahead?
Rep. Dennis Kucinich: I don't mean to be rude, Congressman, but who exactly are you and what do you stand for? Are you as flaky as people say you are?
Rep. Richard Gephardt: Congressman, I kind of like your health-care plan, which would encourage private employers to cover most Americans by providing tax incentives that would be paid for by repealing Bush's tax cuts. Recently, however, you called the president "a miserable failure" for waging war without the support of the rest of the world. So why did you vote for it?
Carol Moseley-Braun: You've been a smart and eloquent presence in the previous debates. But if you couldn't hold onto your job in the Senate after only one term, what makes you think you can win the presidential nomination? And as for that ex-boyfriend, girlfriend, what were you thinking?
Sen. John Edwards: I know that you've been in this race for a while, Senator, but it's still not clear to me what you stand for. Would you please tell me? And why did you vote for the war resolution?
The Rev. Al Sharpton: I commend you for your social conscience, your wit, and for your ability to cut through a lot of the stupid stuff that one hears at these debates. But if you really want to serve in an elected office, why don't you start at the bottom, say, by running for the New York City Council or the state Assembly or Congress, instead of putting on an endless show by running for offices you have no chance of winning? And tell me one more time just how you make your living?
Sen. Robert Graham: Although your support of the death penalty makes me uneasy, Senator, I approve of your stand on a lot of issues, from supporting abortion rights, affirmative action and gun control, voting against Bush's tax cuts, and opposing the war against Saddam Hussein's regime because it was only a distraction from the real war on terrorism. Outside of Florida, however, no one seems to be terribly excited about you. Why should I be?
Gen. Wesley Clark: Have you finally made up your mind about whether this was a good war or a big bad mistake? And as a former general, how would you handle the situation in Iraq, now that we're there? And where do you stand on the domestic issues: health care, tax cuts, the death penalty, abortion rights, affirmative action? And why should we vote for someone who's never held public office before, or do you think you're another Ike?
Gov. Howard Dean: You're probably feeling pretty smug right now, Governor, since you've stirred up the most excitement in this race. I love the fact that you've got guts - that you came out against the war and Bush's tax cuts, that you support raising the minimum wage, keeping Roe v. Wade and affirmative action, civil unions for gays, and health insurance for everybody - although I don't quite understand how your health plan would work. A lot of Democrats say you're too liberal to give George Bush a run for his money. But I'm counting on you - or one of your rivals - to convince me that it can be done.
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