politics

Fifth Democratic Debate: Who Said It? (A Multiple Choice Quiz)

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Another Democratic debate was held last night. In the public interest, in order to see who was paying attention, we present this multiple choice quiz.

Who said it:

  1. “They are working longer hours for low wages. They’re worried about the future of their kids, and yet almost all new income and wealth is going to the top 1 percent. Not what America is supposed to be about.”
  2. “Yes, of course, the economy has not been working for most Americans. Yes, of course, we have special interests that are unfortunately doing too much to rig the game.”
  3. “This issue of workers working longer hours for less pay is a global problem. Workers in every part of the world are being thrust into ever greater competition with each other. That is the nature of the system we live under. Until they unite around the world to oppose the corporate terrorists, they will continue to be driven downwards. That must be the first step.”

Answers: (a) Bernie Sanders; (b) Hillary Clinton (c) nobody

  1. “The Republicans want to repeal the Affordable Care Act, I want to improve it. I want to build on it, get the costs down, get prescription drug costs down.”
  2.  “The Affordable Care Act has clearly… done a lot of good things.”
  3. “Let’s face the facts: Secretary Clinton has received $1 million from the drug companies and $2.7 million from the insurance and related industries since 2000. She’s received six figure speaking fees from these people over and over. They don’t give that money for nothing. That’s the real reason she opposes Medicare for all. And as for the Affordable Care Act – don’t forget it was passed at a time that the demand for “single payer” (Medicare for all) was reaching all-time support. The ACA, while it has prevented the for-profit insurance industry from denying coverage to those who need it most, has also been useless to millions of people because of the huge deductibles that are matched with the skimpy provider networks in many areas.”

Answers: a) Clinton; b) Sanders; c) Nobody

  1. “I think that President Obama, Vice President Biden, and the Democratic leadership in the House and the Senate have done a fantastic job.”
  2. “But I’ve heard Senator Sanders comments, and it’s really caused me to wonder who’s left in the progressive wing of the Democratic Party. Under his definition, President Obama is not progressive because he took donations from Wall Street…”
  3. “Presidents have to take responsibility for what’s happened under their watch. Under President Obama, as we both agree, workers are working longer hours for less pay. We’ve had accelerating privatization of public education. We’ve had an absolute disaster as far as government services, with just one word saying it all: “Flint”. We’ve had a massive increase in police violence and murder, with the police killing a record nearly 1000 in 2015. We’ve had a massive increase in the deadly practice of fracking. And now it seems we may be headed for another economic downturn or even a crisis.”

Answers: a) Sanders; b) Clinton; c) Nobody

  1. “What being part of the establishment is, is, in the last quarter, having a super PAC that raised $15 million from Wall Street, that throughout one’s life raised a whole lot of money from the drug companies and other special interests.”
  2. “But time and time again, by innuendo, by insinuation, there is this attack that he is putting forth, which really comes down to — you know, anybody who ever took donations or speaking fees from any interest group has to be bought. And I just absolutely reject that, Senator. And I really don’t think these kinds of attacks by insinuation are worthy of you. And enough is enough. If you’ve got something to say, say it directly.”
  3. “Okay, I’ll say it directly. You are bought and sold, Secretary Clinton. Now that the issue of health care for all is raised, you’re suddenly on that side. Now that opposition to the Trans Pacific Partnership is raised, you’re suddenly opposed to it. Some people say my campaign has pushed you to the left; others say it’s simply made you more disingenuous. But the problem is beyond just you; the problem is that we have one big business party with two faces. Working class people in this country need an alternative – not just individually, but organizationally. They need a mass party that represents not Corporate America, as you do, Secretary Clingon, uh, I mean Clinton, but one that represents the working class majority. But my problem is that none of the candidates of either of these two parties can point this out; none of them can organize and fight for it. In fact, the very role of the “progressive” wing of the Democratic Party is to divert things away from that. It’s up to you, working class Americans, to take matters into your own hands and organize and accomplish that task. Until you do, you will continually be driven backwards and your environment – the only one you have, the one you depend on to eat, breathe and drink – will continue to be destroyed. Try. Solve this problem!”

Answers: Do we really have to tell you?

Categories: politics, United States

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