Live Facebook stream of @cantbuypaul's debate, starting in just a few minutes: facebook.com/pg/KATVChannel…
How cool is it that voters in AR-2 are getting a real, contested Democratic primary? All four candidates debating tonight are passionate and dedicated public servants who would represent the district well.
The debate tonight is being held on a Sinclair channel! Opening speaker (Gwen Combs) thanks them for being allowed to go off-script for this debate
Clarke Tucker talking about receiving his cancer diagnosis last year, which he got while incumbent French Hill was working to repeal Obamacare.
Jonathan Dunkley positioning himself as the most progressive of the candidates on stage. Dunkley works at the Clinton Foundation, an imposing Borg-like structure that sits on the Little Rock waterfront near Oxfam.
Our man @cantbuypaul introducing himself, pushing focus off of biography and identity onto policy. Says people of the second district are badly under-represented. "Being angry isn't enough."
First question is about the VA—do you support privatization, and what changes in Congress do you back to speed up reimbursement? Tucker advocating a gradualist approach to health reform, opposes privatizing the VA. Dunkley also opposes privatizing, supports Medicare for all.
Spencer: health care needs to be free at the point of service. It's not just about having access to health care, it's about actually receiving it. Veterans deserve excellent treatment, but so does every American. Combs (a vet): privatizing is not the best, but vets need choice
BONUS PINBOARD OPINION: the focus on veterans in our public policy and health care discourse is dangerous, as it encourages and normalizes a dynamic of permanent warfare
Next question is on taxes or tax cuts. Dunkley wants to tax medical marijuana, does not see tax cuts as responsible. Spencer wants to 'repeal and replace' Trump tax cut which is an abomination. We can find 800B to fund military, but not roads and infrastructure.
Combs agrees that Trump tax cuts are an abomination. Calls to repeal tax cuts for corporations, suggests a 25.5% corporate tax rate. Spend less on nukes. Tucker: has voted for tax cuts, supports part of the Trump tax cuts aimed at middle class. Rest is handouts, adds to debt
Question on gun laws to Spencer. Which reforms would you support? Spencer would back most measures. Need to take a stand against assault-style rifles. Need to say to gun lobby "you can be regulated". 2nd amendment is not sacrosanct, lose fear of NRA and its funding
"This is the most profound and egregious example of a special interest holding our congress at bay. This is reminiscent of the Gilded Age." Combs: have to look at safety as priority. Supports Feinstein's ban; lifting ban on CDC research
Tucker talks about accidental shootings by kids, legislation he's sponsored to prohibit domestic violence perpetrators from having guns. That said, his house is full of guns. Repeats "common sense gun safety laws" a lot, which is the new preferred language in red districts
Dunkley thinks first step is to fund the CDC, repeal the Brady amendment (I think he means Dickey?). On 50th anniversary of MLK's assassination we need to remember him as victim of senseless gun violence
Moving on to Mueller investigation, and serving as a check on Trump administration. Combs: exec. branch is governing through tweets; we need maturity in the legislative branch. Open to impeachment. Tucker: Russia meddled in 2016 election, Congress needs to act, protect elections
Dunkley: allow Mueller to complete work. French Hill (incumbent) has voted 100% with Trump. Spencer: totally premature to talk about impeachment; every American is entitled to due process. It's a feeding frenzy and distraction. This is not a frivolous topic. See evidence first.
With regard to checking Trump's power, this is an abrogation of responsibility by Congress, which is muzzled by special interest money. Congress is in office until the Second Coming, so they like to punt decisions to the executive branch to avoid responsibility.
DACA and immigration question. Tucker (using 'illegal' terminology) urges path to citizenship. Believes there's broad common ground on border security, wall is not best use of money. No religious test, but balance security with 'recognition of who we are' as nation of immigrants
Dunkley: we don't need a wall. Dunkley's father is a Jamaican immigrant. Immigrants come to contribute, are neighbors and friends. Most immigrants who overstay arrive by airplane, not over land border that needs security. Need clear path to citizenship
Spencer: you negotiate a trade deal; you don't negotiate when it comes to human beings. It is crass and vile to use DACA recipients as a bargaining chip. There is a human right to migrate. We need sensible regulation, not return to chinese exclusion act
Much of congress sees humanity as commodity when it comes to wages, health care. That is consistent with this senseless idea that you can trade a border wall for human lives. Combs: need clean DREAM act, humans aren't bargaining chips. Immigrants are part of our communities
Combs: border wall is careless and irresponsible expenditure. Next question on foreign policy to Dunkley. Do you support change in tariff policy? Dunkley: move away from unilateral approach. Tariff policy by tweet is going to harm AR-2, where soybeans and rice are major products
Ultimately sees it as lack of respect. Spencer: was born in a steel town, was a symbol of American economy. Drastic approach by president using braggadocio and unilateralism on a seeming whim is dangerous. Aricle I of constitution says this is Congress's job
Combs: tariffs hurt some of the neediest people. A "tweetstorm of antagonizing actions" that jeopardize people.
Tucker: says he has a complex policy. We've lost steel jobs, China doesn't play by rules. That said, tariff is a bad idea. Soybeans #1 row crop in AR. Also, what's the end game? We need China to be a partner. Free trade is here, globalization is here, but keep workers in mind
Now closing statements. Spencer starts. The primacy of human dignity takes precedence over political power, party—everything. Human dignity has been derided by bestowing personhood on corporations. Need to wrest back principles like one vote, one voice. We're not commodities
We don't need a representative who won't remain silent in the face of treating people like commodities. Dunkley: campaign is about a people-centered approach, bring respectability back to politics. Hill does not represent the people in this district.
Tucker: big fan of America, is running for country and not himself. Goes into a peroration about "cancer and hunger not having a political party". America is a beacon of hope. Grandma told him to run for the common good.
Combs: only woman, veteran and public educator running. Points out that registration ends April 23—biggest point of the night! Gotta get registered! Arkansas primary will be May 22. Debate wraps up.
