Posted on 05/18/2003 5:03:25 PM PDT by jwalburg
DES MOINES, Iowa (Reuters) - The crowded pack of Democratic presidential contenders went easy with each other at a labor forum on Saturday, focusing their criticism on President Bush (news - web sites) while pledging support for a worker-friendly domestic agenda.
Two weeks after a contentious debate in South Carolina, the candidates stayed away from attacks on each other while touting activist approaches to health care, economic revitalization and the appointment of federal judges.
"To beat this president, we have to be bold," Missouri Rep. Richard Gephardt told a gathering of 1,000 national leaders of the 1.4-million member American Federation of State, County and Municipal Workers labor union.
Gephardt, who put health care at the top of the agenda last month with his sweeping and costly proposal to repeal Bush's tax cuts and use the money to provide universal health care coverage, called it "the moral issue of our time."
But unlike the debate, when Gephardt's plan was a lightning rod for attacks, none of the other candidates challenged the details. Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, a doctor who has his own plan at one-third of Gephardt's cost, commended the Missouri congressman for raising the topic.
TOWN HALL FORMAT
North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, who called Gephardt's plan a corporate giveaway two weeks ago, touted his own efforts to rein in costs by taking on drug companies and other corporate interests that keep costs artificially high.
"We have got to put somebody in the White House who will stand up for you and fight," Edwards told the crowd. Delegates came to microphones to ask the candidates questions in a town hall format that limited give-and-take between participants.
Edwards told reporters later that the format did not offer him a chance to give a detailed critique of Gephardt's plan, but added: "There is a feeling among the candidates that we should focus on George Bush."
All of the contenders criticized Bush's stewardship of the economy and accused him of being too close to special interests. They pledged to appoint federal judges without ideological agendas, and Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich said a judge's support for abortion rights should be a litmus test.
"We need judges who we know will protect a woman's right to choose," Edwards said.
The war on Iraq (news - web sites) and its President, Saddam Hussein (news - web sites), the prime topic six weeks ago, was mentioned only in passing as part of broader criticisms of Bush's handling of the war on terror.
WOULD REPEAL NAFTA
Florida Sen. Bob Graham repeated his accusations that Bush let the al Qaeda organization off the hook by turning its focus on Iraq, and Dean concurred. "We're not safer today than we were before Saddam left," Dean said.
The labor crowd gave rousing ovations to Kucinich, who said he would repeal the North American Free Trade Agreement, former Illinois Sen. Carol Moseley Braun, who touted equal pay for women, and civil rights activist Al Sharpton, who outlined his long-standing support for worker's rights.
A focus group of 30 union members in Iowa, which holds the first nominating contest in January, found Kucinich with the highest overall rating and Sharpton, Gephardt and Dean right behind, pollster Celinda Lake said.
"I loved what Kucinich feels in his gut and how he supports labor; I think he gained a lot of support today," Michael Arken of Portland, Oregon, said after the forum.
Jackie Vigil of Santa Fe, New Mexico, who asked the candidates about their stance on federal judges, said she liked Kucinich, Moseley Braun and Graham. "Graham has a dignity about him and respect," she said.
Seven candidates attended in person. Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry appeared in the afternoon via satellite from New Hampshire, while Connecticut Sen. Joseph Lieberman, who was observing the Jewish Sabbath, submitted a videotape.
The forum was the first step in the union's endorsement process, which President Gerald McEntee said he hoped to complete by the end of the year. The national AFL-CIO has urged its member unions not to rush to make endorsements until the national union meets in August.
I thought RATS were opposed to having one's "morality" forced down other's throats.
Dick, last time, you guys tried to manipulate the voting process in Florida for a month in order to beat George Bush, and Al Gore still lost. It's not physically possible to get much bolder than that...short of a coup d'etat.
When Bob Dole first ran for office in Kansas and needed to build up name recognition, he served little Dixie cups of pineapple juice...people were able to make the connection with the name Dole. Edwards should imitate that tactic but serve cups of Metamucil. People may not remember the name Edwards but at least they'll remember he is for regular people.
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