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Ambassador Carol Moseley Braun
THE CANDIDATES WITH DAVID YEPSEN #2403>> FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM WAS PROVIDED BY "FRIENDS," THE IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION FOUNDATION... GENERATIONS OF FAMILIES AND FRIENDS WHO FEEL PASSIONATE ABOUT THE PROGRAMS THEY WATCH ON IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION. FROM THE STUDIOS OF IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION, IT'S "THE CANDIDATES WITH DAVID YEPSEN." TONIGHT DAVID YEPSEN'S GUEST IS AMBASSADOR CAROL MOSELEY BRAUN, FORMER UNITED STATES SENATOR FROM ILLINOIS AND CANDIDATE FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION. HERE IS "DES MOINES REGISTER" POLITICAL COLUMNIST DAVID YEPSEN. Yepsen: GOOD EVENING. WE OPENED OUR PRECAUCUS SERIES ON MONDAY OF THIS WEEK WITH A VISIT WITH SENATOR JOHN KERRY OF MASSACHUSETTS, AND LAST NIGHT WE TALKED CAMPAIGN POLITICS WITH CONGRESSMAN DENNIS KUCINICH OF OHIO. TONIGHT WE CONTINUE ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL. FOLLOWING GRADUATION FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO LAW SCHOOL, CAROL MOSELEY BRAUN SERVED AS AN ASSISTANT UNITED STATES ATTORNEY. SHE WAS ELECTED TO THE ILLINOIS STATE LEGISLATURE AND ROSE TO ASSISTANT MAJORITY LEADER IN HER TEN-YEAR CAREER IN SPRINGFIELD. MOSELEY BRAUN WAS ELECTED TO COUNTYWIDE OFFICE IN COOK COUNTY, AND THEN IN 1992 SHE MADE HISTORY WITH HER ELECTION TO THE UNITED STATES SENATE, BECOMING THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN TO SERVE THERE. BUT SHE LOST A BID FOR REELECTION IN 1998 AND BECAME OUR AMBASSADOR TO NEW ZEALAND. AMBASSADOR, WELCOME TO IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION. Moseley Braun: THANK YOU. DELIGHTED TO BE WITH YOU, MR. YEPSEN. Yepsen: GOOD TO HAVE YOU WITH US. Moseley Braun: THANK YOU. Yepsen: EDGE OF THE NEWS TODAY -- OR THIS WEEK IN THE CAMPAIGN, BILL BRADLEY ENDORSED HOWARD DEAN. BIG DEAL? DOES IT MEAN ANYTHING? I KNOW ENDORSEMENTS MEAN A LOT IN COOK COUNTY IN ILLINOIS WHEN MAYOR DAILY DOES THEM, BUT DOES IT MEAN MATTER HERE IN IOWA IF BILL BRADLEY DOES IT? Moseley Braun: WELL, YOU KNOW, EVERY CAMPAIGN HAS ITS OWN STRATEGY. I ACTUALLY SPOKE WITH BILL BRADLEY YESTERDAY, AND HE CALLED TO TELL ME THAT HE WAS ENDORSING HOWARD. AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S WHAT IT IS. WHETHER IT DELIVERS ANY VOTES IN THE CAUCUSES IS AN OPEN QUESTION, BUT I'M CERTAIN HOWARD IS VERY HAPPY TO HAVE HIS SUPPORT? Yepsen: AMBASSADOR, WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO WITH THESE INTERVIEWS IS TO GIVE PEOPLE SOME INFORMATION THAT THEY NEED TO MAKE A DECISION ABOUT WHAT TO DO ON CAUCUS NIGHT. THERE ARE AN AWFUL LOT OF UNDECIDED VOTERS IN IOWA. THEY SEEM TO MAKE A VIRTUE OUT OF WAITING TILL THE LAST MINUTE. WHY SHOULD AN IOWA DEMOCRAT STAND UP FOR YOU ON CAUCUS NIGHT? GIVE US YOUR COMMERCIAL. Moseley Braun: BECAUSE I'M GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND REPRESENT REAL CHANGE IN THE LEADERSHIP AND THE GOVERNANCE OF OUR COUNTRY IN THE DIRECTION THAT OUR COUNTRY WILL TAKE. WE'RE AT SUCH A CROSSROADS. THERE ARE SO MANY CRITICAL ISSUES ABOUT POLICY AND THE WAY GOVERNMENT SHOULD OPERATE THAT MY EXPERIENCE ON THE ONE HAND AND MY VISION ON THE OTHER I THINK WILL BEST SERVE THE OPENING UP OF OUR DEMOCRACY, THE OPENING UP OF OUR LEADERSHIP, AND PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR VOICES TO BE HEARD THAT WOULD NOT OTHERWISE BE LISTENED TO, AN OPPORTUNITY FOR POLICY TO BE MADE THAT ACTUALLY FOCUSES IN ON REAL-LIFE SITUATIONS AND BRING A PERSPECTIVE TO GOVERNMENT THAT WE DON'T RIGHT NOW HAVE, A PERSPECTIVE THAT FAVORS COLLABORATION OVER COMPETITION AND CONFRONTATION, ONE THAT IS NOT ARROGANT, THAT LISTENS TO PEOPLE AND CARES ABOUT THE REAL-LIFE ISSUES THAT ORDINARY AMERICANS HAVE IN REAL-LIFE SITUATIONS. AND SO THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT I BRING TO BEAR ON THIS RACE. I'VE CAMPAIGNED ON A PLATFORM OF PEACE, PROSPERITY, AND PROGRESS. AND I THINK, FRANKLY, THAT FOREMOST AMONG THOSE IS THE PROGRESS THAT OUR COUNTRY WILL ACHIEVE WHEN WE BROADEN OUR DEMOCRACY TO OPEN UP TO LEADERSHIP AND TALENT AND OPPORTUNITY AND PERSPECTIVES AND APPROACHES THAT WE HAVEN'T -- THAT WE HAVEN'T TAPPED OR EMPLOYED BEFORE. Yepsen: I WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THOSE ISSUES IN A MOMENT, BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE IN IOWA LIKE HOWARD DEAN. ALL THE BUZZ, DEAN, DEAN, DEAN. WHY YOU OVER HOWARD DEAN? Moseley Braun: I'D LIKE TO SAY I'M GOING TO TAKE THE "MEN ONLY" SIGN OFF THE WHITE HOUSE DOOR. AGAIN -- AGAIN, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE -- THE GUYS HAVE DONE THIS FOR YEARS. AND, FRANKLY, OUR COUNTRY IS IN A SITUATION IN WHICH WE RIGHT NOW FACE THE PROSPECT OF BEING THE FIRST GENERATION OF AMERICANS TO LEAVE OUR CHILDREN LESS EVERYTHING THAN WE INHERITED FROM OUR PARENTS. AND I AM COMMITTED TO MAKING THE POINT THAT WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO LEAVE OUR CHILDREN NO LESS LIBERTY, NO LESS PRIVACY, NO LESS OPPORTUNITY, NO LESS OPTIMISM AND HOPE THAN WE INHERITED. AND THE WAY THAT YOU DO THAT IS NOT BY EMBRACING THE SAME THING THAT YOU'VE TRIED BEFORE. THE WAY THAT YOU DO THAT IS BY EXPANDING THE POOL, IF YOU WILL, EMBRACING NEW TALENT, EMBRACING DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES, AND EMBRACING CAPACITY, REALLY, TO LEAD OUR COUNTRY IN A DIRECTION THAT WILL GET US THE PROSPERITY, THE PEACE, AND LIVE UP TO OUR GENERATIONAL RESPONSIBILITY. Yepsen: I WANTED TO GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF, INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO PEOPLE. WHO IS CAROL MOSELEY BRAUN? Moseley Braun: SHE IS A GIRL WHO WANTED TO BE AN ADVENTURER WHEN SHE WAS LITTLE. IN FACT, ONE OF MY FAVORITE STORIES, MY MOTHER -- I WANTED TO STOW AWAY ON A TRAMP STEAMER AND SEE THE WORLD AND DO ADVENTURES. AND MY MOTHER SAID, "WELL, GIRLS DON'T DO THAT." AND I REMEMBER AT THE TIME BEING REALLY OFFENDED. BUT IN HINDSIGHT I LOOK BACK AND THAT REALLY IS WHAT I'VE BECOME. MY WHOLE LIFE, WHETHER IT WAS IN LAW SCHOOL OR U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE OR IN THE LEGISLATURE, I HAVE -- IT'S MY PATH TO BREAK DOWN BARRIERS, BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER, AND TO SET NEW COURSES AND BE AN AGENT FOR CHANGE. AND THAT HAS BEEN -- WHEN I LOOK BACK, THAT'S REALLY WHAT EXPLORERS DO; ISN'T IT? THEY START DOWN A PATH THAT NOBODY HAS GONE DONE, AND I HAVEN'T -- I DIDN'T CHOOSE TO DO THAT; IT'S JUST THE WAY THINGS HAVE OPENED UP IN MY LIFE. AND I'M PLEASED TO REPORT THAT WHILE IT'S FRAUGHT WITH ITS OWN, YOU KNOW, TRIALS AND TRIBULATION -- REMEMBER PERILS OF PAULINE? YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOME OF THAT. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I'VE GROWN FROM IT AND I HAVE HAD A CHANCE NOW TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND TO REALLY INSPIRE A LOT OF PEOPLE. SO I FEEL VERY GOOD ABOUT THIS PATH AND THE FACT THAT I -- THAT IT'S BEEN MY LOT TO INSPIRE PEOPLE AND TO BE AN AGENT FOR CHANGE. Yepsen: WHO ARE YOUR ROLE MODELS? WHO DO YOU LOOK TO FOR GUIDANCE? WHO'S SHAPED YOU IN LIFE? Moseley Braun: WELL, THOSE ARE TWO DIFFERENT QUESTIONS. MY PARENTS, OF COURSE. THEY'RE BOTH GONE NOW. BUT MY FATHER WAS REALLY QUITE THE PHILOSOPHER. HE PLAYED SEVEN INSTRUMENTS. HE SPOKE DIFFERENT LANGUAGES. HE WOULD TAKE US AROUND TO ALL DIFFERENT KINDS OF CHURCHES WHEN I WAS GROWING UP. WE'D GO TO A MASS IN THE MORNING AND THEN GO TO A SYNAGOGUE OR A MOSQUE OR A TEMPLE AFTERWARDS. AND SO I GREW UP -- IN FACT, WHEN I GOT TO LAW SCHOOL, I WAS THE ONLY PERSON IN THE CLASS -- WE WERE HAVING A TRIVIA CONTEST, AND I COULD ANSWER ABOUT WHO THE ZOROASTERIANS WERE BECAUSE I HAD ACTUALLY ATTENDED A ZOROASTERIAN CEREMONY WITH MY FATHER. SO THAT'S THE KIND OF GUY -- MY MOTHER, ON THE OTHER HAND, WAS VERY, VERY SOLID, VERY ROOTED. AND SHE USED TO MAKE THE POINT THAT YOU DO THE BEST JOB YOU CAN WHERE YOU'RE PLANTED. AND SO BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM, THOSE HAVE BEEN MY ROLE MODELS. I'VE TRIED TO DO THE BEST JOB I CAN WHERE I'M PLANTED, BUT I ALSO TRY TO HAVE THE VISION TO SEE NEW PATHS. Yepsen: WHO DO YOU MODEL YOURSELF AFTER TODAY? Moseley Braun: OH, BOY, THAT'S A TOUGHY. THERE'S NELSON MANDELA, OF COURSE. AND HE'S SUCH A LARGER-THAN-LIFE GREAT MAN, AND I'VE HAD THE HONOR OF BEING IN HIS PRESENCE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. SO HE'S A REAL ROLE MODEL FOR ME. HELEN CLARK, THE PRIME MINISTER OF NEW ZEALAND. WHEN I WAS AMBASSADOR TO NEW ZEALAND -- THAT COUNTRY HAS ELECTED TWO WOMEN PRIME MINISTERS, BOTH THE CONSERVATIVES AND THE LABOR PARTY ELECTED WOMEN. AND HELEN CLARK IS ON HER SECOND TERM. SHE'S VERY NO NONSENSE. SHE GETS DOWN TO BUSINESS. AND, OF COURSE, NEW ZEALAND IS PARADISE ANYWAY. Yepsen: WHAT IS IT THE KIWIS KNOW THAT WE DON'T? Moseley Braun: YOU KNOW, AND ACTUALLY SHE WOULD SAY TO ME, IN FACT, THAT -- SHE SAID, "AFTER ALL, WE GAVE WOMEN THE VOTE FIRST." Yepsen: THAT'S TRUE. WE'RE ALL SHAPED BY EXPERIENCES IN LIFE. WHAT'S BEEN THE MOST FORMATIVE EXPERIENCE OR EXPERIENCES IN YOUR LIFE? Moseley Braun: OH, THE MOST FORMATIVE EXPERIENCES. YOU KNOW, I THINK GOING TO THE -- GOING TO LAW SCHOOL AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO WAS A MAJOR FORMATIVE EXPERIENCE FOR ME. MY PARENTS' DIVORCE WAS A MAJOR THING FOR ME. BUT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO I THINK DID A LOT TO SHAPE WHO I BECAME AS A PUBLIC PERSON LATER, AND PARTICULARLY ON POLICY ISSUES. I MEAN, PEOPLE -- IT'S INTERESTING, I HAVE -- PEOPLE SOMETIMES ARE SURPRISED THAT I APPROACH ECONOMIC ISSUES, FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE WAY THAT I DO. BUT I THINK IT'S LARGELY A FUNCTION OF THE FACT THAT HAVING STUDIED AT A VERY CONSERVATIVE SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS -- YOU KNOW, THE CHICAGO SCHOOL WAS ALL THE CONSERVATIVE ECONOMIC THEORY. IF ANYTHING I LEARNED IT BUT THEN LEARNED WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT, AND SO THAT'S HOW IT IS THAT I'VE COME TO WHERE I AM IN TERMS OF MY POLICY -- ECONOMIC POLICY. AND FRANKLY, I'M GRATEFUL FOR THAT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT, YOU REALLY WANT TO -- YOU DON'T WANT TO MISLEAD PEOPLE WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT CREATING JOBS, FOR EXAMPLE. AND SO MY WHOLE APPROACH TO JOB CREATION IN THIS COUNTRY IS ONE THAT I THINK IS VERY MUCH CALCULATED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ECONOMIC REALITIES, TO PRIORITIZE THE INTERESTS AND THE NEEDS OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, TO HELP US GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE CAN PROVIDE JOBS FOR AMERICAN WORKERS THAT WILL BE AT LEAST COMMENSURATE WITH WHAT OUR PARENTS HAD. YOU KNOW, A GENERATION AGO ONE INCOME WOULD SUPPORT A FAMILY. NOW VERY OFTEN PEOPLE HAVE TO STRUGGLE TO MAKE TWO WORK. Yepsen: WHAT PROMPTED YOU TO GO INTO POLITICS? YOU CAME OUT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO LAW SCHOOL WITH A LAW DEGREE. YOU COULD HAVE MADE A LOT MORE MONEY DOING SOMETHING ELSE IN LIFE. Moseley Braun: YEAH, WELL, I VOLUNTEERED IN A NEIGHBORHOOD ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE. I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A BIG ENVIRONMENTALIST. I CARE ABOUT OUR STEWARDSHIP. AND THERE WAS A -- THE CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT WAS GOING TO RUN THE BOBOLINKS OUT OF JACKSON PARK. BOBOLINKS ARE THESE LITTLE RICE-BIRDS, AND THEY WERE VERY RARE IN CHICAGO. WHEN THEY DID THAT, I JOINED WITH OTHER NEIGHBORS WHO WERE PROTESTING THE BOBOLINK REMOVAL. AND, IN FACT, I STILL HAVE A PICTURE: BOBOLINKS, YES; PARK DISTRICT, NO. [ LAUGHTER ] SO I GOT INVOLVED WITH THAT. AND AT THE END OF IT, SOME PEOPLE ASKED ME TO -- SAID, WELL, YOU KNOW, WE LIKE THE JOB YOU DID ON THIS -- OH, BY THE WAY, WE LOST. THE BOBOLINKS GOT RUN OUT AND THE GOLF DRIVING RANGE IS STILL THERE. BUT SOME PEOPLE SAID, "WELL, WE THINK YOU WILL BE GOOD AS A STATE REPRESENTATIVE." AND THEN A FELLA STOOD UP AT THE MEETING AND SAID, "DON'T RUN. YOU CAN'T POSSIBLY WIN. THE BLACKS WON'T VOTE FOR YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT PART OF THE CHICAGO POLITICAL MACHINE, THE WHITES WON'T VOTE FOR YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE BLACK, AND NOBODY IS GOING TO VOTE FOR YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE A WOMAN." WELL, OF COURSE, THAT'S ALL I NEEDED TO HEAR. IT WAS LIKE WHERE DO I SIGN UP FOR THIS. SO THEN I HAD TO LEARN WHAT THE STATE REPRESENTATIVE DID. [ LAUGHTER ] Yepsen: BUT YOU WON. Moseley Braun: BUT I DID. Yepsen: WELL, LET'S TURN TO THIS CAMPAIGN. ONE OF THE THINGS I LIKE TO DO WITH THESE INTERVIEWS IS TO GIVE CANDIDATES A CHANCE TO RESPOND TO SOME OF THE ATTACKS THAT ARE LEVELED AT THEM, SOME OF THE NEGATIVES. YOU LOST YOUR BID FOR REELECTION IN 1998. YOU TOOK A VERY CONTROVERSIAL TRIP TO NIGERIA. YOU HAD SOME ETHICS TROUBLES. I DON'T WANT TO DWELL ON IT, AMBASSADOR, BUT HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO ALL THAT? WHAT DO YOU SAY ABOUT THAT? Moseley Braun: YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU START OFF BEING DIFFERENT, IT'S A TINY STEP TO CONTROVERSIAL. A LOT OF MONEY AND EFFORT WAS PUT TOWARD REALLY BEATING ME UP AS SENATOR. AS YOU KNOW -- YOU SAID ETHICS. I NEVER HAVE HAD AN ETHICS PROBLEM AT ALL. I MEAN I'VE CONFIRMED AS AMBASSADOR, HAVE THAT NATION'S HIGHEST SECURITY CLEARANCES, HAVE BEEN THROUGH EVERY POSSIBLE INSPECTION. I'VE NEVER HAD A FINE, NEVER HAD A CENSURE, NEVER HAD A SANCTION OF ANY SORT. SO, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS JUST POLITICS. IT WAS HARD BLACKBALL POLITICS. AND EVEN THE CONTROVERSIAL TRIP YOU MENTIONED, I WENT TO A FUNERAL. I HOPE THE DAY NEVER COMES WE HAVE TO MAKE PC JUDGMENTS ABOUT WHOSE FUNERAL YOU CAN'T GO TO. IT WAS A FRIEND OF MINE THAT WAS ASSASSINATED. AND I WENT TO HIS FUNERAL AND IT WAS CONVERTED BY THE RIGHT WING INTO DANCING WITH DICTATORS. THEY'VE PUT A LOT OF MONEY IN IT. I MEAN AS YOU KNOW, MR. YEPSEN, I WAS OUTSPENT THREE TO ONE IN THAT RACE AND LOST BY LESS THAN 2 PERCENT OF THE VOTE. AND SO I'M VERY PROUD OF THE KIND OF SUPPORT THE PEOPLE OF ILLINOIS GAVE ME IN SPITE OF ALL THE NOISE, IN SPITE OF ALL THE EFFORT AND ALL THE SPENDING AND REALLY THE DIRTY TRICKS THAT WERE PLAYED IN REGARDS TO MY TIME IN THE SENATE. Yepsen: LET'S TURN TO SOME OF THE ISSUES IN THE CAMPAIGN AND GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO GIVE US SOME OF YOUR THOUGHTS. IRAQ, WHAT SHOULD WE DO NOW? Moseley Braun: WELL, I'M GLAD YOU PUT THE QUESTION LIKE THAT BECAUSE, AS YOU KNOW, I OPPOSED GOING INTO IRAQ. I BELIEVED AND STILL BELIEVE THAT THE ISSUE WAS GETTING BIN LADEN, BUSTING UP AL QUAEDA, PUTTING THE SECURITY OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE FIRST, WHICH WOULD HAVE MEANT FOCUSING IN ON WHAT WE DO FOR FIRST RESPONDERS AND THE LIKE. BUT INSTEAD, THIS ADMINISTRATION CHOSE WHICH CAN ONLY BE CALLED A MISADVENTURE IN IRAQ. IS THE WORLD BETTER OFF THAT SADDAM HUSSEIN IS GONE? YES. BUT, YOU KNOW, TO GO OFF AFTER A PETTY TYRANT WHEN WE ARE STILL SEEING YELLOW AND RED ALERTS AT THE BOTTOM OF OUR TV SCREENS, WHEN OUR POLICE AND FIRE DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO PROTECT US IF SOMETHING DID HAPPEN I THINK WAS JUST IRRESPONSIBLE. NOW THAT WE'RE THERE, HOWEVER, WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO AT LEAST LEAVE THE PLACE IN AT LEAST AS GOOD OF SHAPE AS WE FOUND IT. WE BLEW THE PLACE UP AND WE CAN'T JUST CUT AND RUN AND JUST LEAVE IT IN THE CONDITION THAT IT IS RIGHT NOW. TO LEAVE NOW WOULD INSPIRE -- IN FACT, THERE'S SOME EVIDENCE ALREADY THAT AL QUAEDA AND OTHER TERRORIST GROUPS ARE ORGANIZING IN THE NORTH OF IRAQ. WE HAVE TO BE SURE THAT WE DON'T ALLOW IRAQ TO BE AN ORGANIZING PLATFORM FOR THE TERRORISTS WHO WOULD JEOPARDIZE ALL OF US. SO WE HAVE TO STAY LONG ENOUGH TO PROVIDE SOME LEVEL OF SECURITY SO THAT THE UNITED NATIONS CAN COME BACK IN, NATO CAN HELP US WITH THAT, TO ALLOW FOR THE FORMATION OF CIVIL SOCIETY THAT WILL BE RESPECTED BY THE IRAQI PEOPLE. YOU HAVE TO HAVE COURTS. YOU HAVE TO HAVE JUDGES. YOU HAVE TO HAVE BANKS. YOU HAVE TO HAVE POLICE ON THE GROUND. ALLOW FOR THE FORMATION OF THOSE THINGS SO THAT THEY CAN BEGIN TO IMPLEMENT A NEW CONSTITUTION, A GOVERNING -- A SYSTEM OF GOVERNANCE, AND A RESOLUTION OF THE INTERNECINE PROBLEMS BETWEEN THE SUNNIS, THE SHIITES, AND THE KURDS. THE IRAQI PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO WORK THAT OUT, AND THEY CAN DO SO WITH THE SUPPORT OF INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS SUCH AS THE UNITED NATIONS, SUCH AS NATO, BUT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PUT UP TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN. IT'S GOING TO COST THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ABOUT A HALF TRILLION DOLLARS BEFORE IT'S ALL SAID AND DONE. AND I'VE SAID TO FOLKS, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A BILL YOU PUT RIGHT AT THE FEET OF GEORGE BUSH BECAUSE, FRANKLY, THAT HALF TRILLION DOLLARS WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER SPENT, AGAIN, GETTING THE TERRORISTS, BREAKING UP THESE TERRORIST CELLS, PROVIDING THE SUPPORT AND THE SECURITY FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HERE AT HOME THAT WE HAVE A RIGHT TO HAVE. Yepsen: THE ECONOMY... ALL THE POLLS TELL US THAT'S THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE THAT PEOPLE HAVE ON THEIR MINDS, THE JOBS AND THE ECONOMY. Moseley Braun: THAT'S RIGHT. Yepsen: WHAT DO YOU DO? Moseley Braun: WELL, AGAIN, THE PRESIDENT'S FATHER SAID NO NEW TAXES. THIS PRESIDENT'S SLOGAN, NO DOUBT, SEEMS LIKE IS NO NEW JOBS. WE'RE NOT CREATING JOBS. AND FOR ALL OF THE SHORT-TERM TURNAROUND THAT WE'VE SEEN IN TERMS OF THE STOCK MARKET, THERE IS NO RECOVERY IN TERMS OF JOB CREATION OR IN TERMS OF THE FUNDAMENTALS. THEY'VE BLOWN UP THE DEFICIT. I MEAN I WAS A SPONSOR OF THE BALANCED BUDGET CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT WHEN I WAS A SENATOR BECAUSE I BELIEVE WE HAVE NO RIGHT TO MAKE SPENDING DECISIONS AND JUST SEND THE BILLS TO OUR CHILDREN AND OUR GRANDCHILDREN. AND TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT -- TO FIX ALL OF THIS, WHAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO IS TO MAKE THE KINDS OF INVESTMENTS -- ONE, ROLL BACK THE BUSH TAX CUTS. I DON'T THINK THAT THEY WERE PRODUCTIVE. I THINK IT WAS TRICKLE-DOWN ECONOMICS AT ITS WORSE AND IT'S JUST HAMSTRINGING OUR ABILITY TO CREATE JOBS OR TO HELP -- LET ME BACK UP. THE PRIVATE SECTOR CREATES JOBS. WHAT GOVERNMENT CAN DO IS PROVIDE AN ENVIRONMENT FOR PRIVATE SECTOR JOB CREATION. SO IF WE'RE GOING TO INSPIRE THAT, WE HAVE TO BEGIN TO ADDRESS ISSUES LIKE HEALTH CARE COSTS. OUR PRIVATE SECTOR CARRIES THE COST OF PROVIDING HEALTH CARE FOR WORKERS. NO OTHER INDUSTRIALIZED COUNTRY IN THE WORLD DOES IT THIS WAY. AND IT IS BECAUSE OF THIS BROKEN SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE BETWEEN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE INSURANCE PLANS THAT OUR -- THAT AMERICANS SPEND MORE FOR HEALTH CARE AS A PERCENTAGE OF GDP THAN ANY OTHER NATION IN THE WORLD. WE'RE ALMOST AT 15 PERCENT OF OUR GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT ON HEALTH -- PAYING FOR HEALTH CARE. NO OTHER NATION IS EVEN IN DOUBLE DIGITS, AND IT'S BORNE ON THE BACK OF OUR PRODUCTIVE SECTOR. SO INSTEAD OF SMALL BUSINESSES BEING ABLE TO CREATE ONE OR TWO ADDITIONAL JOBS, THEY'RE HAVING TO PAY FOR HEALTH CARE COSTS. Yepsen: SO THAT'S WHY YOU WANT A SINGLE-PAYER SYSTEM. Moseley Braun: THAT'S WHY I WANT A SINGLE-PAYER SYSTEM. I TALKED TO SOME -- Yepsen: WHICH MEANS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RUNS OUR HEALTH CARE, CORRECT? Moseley Braun: NO, IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RUNS OUR HEALTH CARE. Yepsen: WHAT DOES IT MEAN? Moseley Braun: WHAT IT MEANS IS -- LET ME GET TO THAT, DAVID. IN DETROIT, EVERY CAR THAT IS MANUFACTURED IN THIS COUNTRY HAS SIX TO SEVEN HUNDRED ADDITIONAL DOLLARS TACKED ONTO THE PRICE JUST BECAUSE OF THE COST OF HEALTH CARE. WELL, CLEARLY THIS IS KILLING JOBS AND KILLING OUR ABILITY TO CREATE JOBS AND IT'S A DRAG ON THE ECONOMY AND IT'S A POINT OF INSECURITY FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, EITHER THOSE WHO DON'T HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE OR WHO ARE LOCKED INTO THEIR JOBS BECAUSE OF -- THAT'S WHERE THEY CAN GET IT AND THEY'RE AFRAID TO LOSE IT OR ALTERNATIVELY THEY HAVE A PRIVATE PLAN THAT DOESN'T COVER THEIR HEALTH NEEDS. SINGLE PAYER -- A SINGLE-PAYER SYSTEM OF HEALTH INSURANCE WOULD BE COMPREHENSIVE, UNIVERSAL, COVER EVERYBODY, COVER ALL KINDS OF MEDICAL NEEDS FROM WELLNESS AND PREVENTION TO LONG-TERM CARE. ALL THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WOULD DO IS BASICALLY COLLECT THE MONEY TO PAY FOR IT. THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLANS WOULD BE DONE BY THE SAME INSURANCE COMPANIES THAT ARE DOING IT NOW. THEY'D LOSE -- THE PROFIT WOULD BE SQUEEZED OUT, SO THAT WOULD HELP BRING THE COST DOWN SO WE COULD COVER EVERYBODY. BUT IN MUCH THE SAME WAY AS THE FEDERAL -- IT'S CALLED THE FEHBP, THE FEDERAL EMPLOYEE HEALTH BENEFITS PROGRAM. RIGHT NOW THERE'S NO PRICE CONTROLS. THERE IS NEGOTIATED RATES. THE INSURANCE -- PEOPLE GET TO CHOOSE WHICH COMPANY THEY WANT TO GO WITH. AND EVERYBODY IS JUST THRILLED TO DEATH WITH THIS -- WELL, NOT THRILLED TO DEATH -- THAT'S THE WRONG ANALOGY -- BUT TICKLED WITH THIS PROGRAM. AND I THINK WE CAN HAVE IT FOR THE WHOLE COUNTRY. Yepsen: ANOTHER ISSUE THAT PEOPLE HERE IN THE MIDWEST CARE ABOUT, AS YOU KNOW BEING FROM ILLINOIS, IS TRADE. FARMERS SELL A LOT OF STUFF ABROAD, A LOT OF MANUFACTURING JOBS IN THIS PART OF THE COUNTRY RELATED TO TRADE, AND YET PEOPLE HAVE A SENSE THAT NAFTA HASN'T WORKED. Moseley Braun: SOMETHING'S WRONG. RIGHT. Yepsen: SO WHAT DO YOU DO? Moseley Braun: YEAH, WELL, AND I'M -- YOU KNOW, LET ME CONFESS ERROR. I WAS ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO SUPPORTED NAFTA. ILLINOIS WANTED NAFTA. I THINK, IF I RECOLLECT AT THE TIME, IOWA WANTED NAFTA, BECAUSE THE IDEA -- AND REALLY IN TERMS OF BROAD -- THE BROAD -- THE BIG PICTURE, TRADE CREATES JOBS. TRADE CAN BE A GOOD THING, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU WANT TO EMBRACE. Yepsen: SO WHAT DO WE DO NOW? Moseley Braun: BUT WHAT'S HAPPENED -- WHAT'S HAPPENED IS THAT TRADE THAT JUST FOLLOWS THE MONEY CREATES -- A TRADE POLICY THAT JUST FOLLOWS THE MONEY CREATES A RACE TO THE BOTTOM IN WHICH BOTH SIDES WIND UP LOSING AND ONLY THE PEOPLE WHO CLIP COUPONS AND MAKE INVESTMENTS WIN. WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW IS OUR -- WE HAVE, ON THE ONE HAND, EXACERBATED POVERTY IN MEXICO, EXACERBATED JOB LOSS, HEMORRHAGING JOB LOSS HERE IN THE UNITED STATES SIMULTANEOUSLY. YOU ASK YOURSELF HOW DO YOU MANAGE TO DO THAT. WHAT'S HAPPENED IS THAT WE ARE GLOBALIZING THE WORST PARTS OF OUR ECONOMIC SYSTEM AND NOT LOOKING OUT FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, NOT LOOKING OUT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS OR LABOR RIGHTS. WE SHOULD BE THE FIRST ON THE PLANET TO STAND UP AND SAY CHILD LABOR IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. WE SHOULD BE THE FIRST TO SAY WE'VE GOT TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT. HERE'S THE POINT THAT I MAKE TO AMERICAN BUSINESSES ALL TIME IS THAT TO NOT INSIST ON ENVIRONMENTAL AND LABOR AND HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTIONS IS ESSENTIALLY TO TIE ONE HAND BEHIND YOUR BACK IN AN INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION, BECAUSE IT SAYS TO FIRMS THAT OPERATE OUT OF COUNTRIES THAT DON'T HAVE THOSE LAWS, DON'T SHARE OUR VALUES, YOU GO AHEAD AND MAKE BASEBALLS WITH CHILD LABOR AND THEN YOU CAN DUMP THEM AND SELL THEM HERE IN THE UNITED STATES. WE HAVE TO PAY A LIVING WAGE FOR THE MAKING OF BASEBALLS, AND SO OUR BASEBALLS, BY DEFINITION, WILL BE -- WILL HAVE A PRICE DISADVANTAGE. SO WE'RE LETTING THOSE COUNTRIES GET A PRICE ADVANTAGE FROM DESPOILING THE ENVIRONMENT, TAKING ADVANTAGE OF PEOPLE, AND ABUSING HUMAN RIGHTS AS WELL. IT'S JUST WRONG. SO WE HAVE TO INSIST ON THESE -- ON WHAT SHOULD HAVE -- AT THE TIME WHAT WE WERE ASSURED WERE THE SIDE AGREEMENTS -- WE WERE ASSURED AT THE TIME THAT ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS WOULD BE PROTECTED, THAT LABOR WOULD BE PROTECTED, THAT THERE WOULD BE NO CHILD LABOR AND, OF COURSE, THOSE ASSURANCES WENT OUT OF THE WINDOW. SO I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT TRADE AGREEMENTS REALLY DO ENCOUNTER -- REALLY DO REFLECT OUR VALUES. Yepsen: WE'VE ONLY GOT A FEW MINUTES LEFT. WAY TOO MANY QUESTIONS, AS ALWAYS. SO VERY QUICKLY, EDUCATION... WHAT'S THE FEDERAL ROLE IN EDUCATION? Moseley Braun: THE FEDERAL ROLE IN EDUCATION IS TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL SUPPORT THAT LESSENS THE RELIANCE ON THE LOCAL PROPERTY TAX AND LETS STUDENTS -- LETS TEACHERS AND PARENTS AND COMMUNITIES MAKE DECISIONS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL. I GREATLY BELIEVE IN LOCAL CONTROL OF EDUCATION, BUT AT THE SAME TIME THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT HAS NO -- IT IS INAPPROPRIATE FOR THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT TO CONTINUE TO SEND THESE UNFUNDED MANDATES DOWN LIKE NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND, WHICH WILL BE THE BIGGEST PROPERTY TAX INCREASE EVER IF IT GETS IMPLEMENTED. AND SO WHEN I WAS IN THE SENATE, I STARTED A NATIONAL DIALOGUE ABOUT THE NEED TO BUILD OUR NATION'S CRUMBLING SCHOOLS, WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CONTRIBUTING ONLY 6 PERCENT OF THE COST OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION. IF WE JUST DID SCHOOL BUILDINGS, IT WOULD HELP RELIEVE THE BURDEN ON THE PROPERTY TAX AND THOSE DOLLARS COULD THEN HELP GO TOWARD CURRICULUM AND CONTENT, SUPPORTING PARENTS AND COMMUNITIES IN THEIR DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT'S RIGHT FOR THEIR KIDS. Yepsen: I WANT TO ASK YOU, AS ONE OF THE NATION'S LEADING AFRICAN-AMERICANS, ABOUT RACIAL PROBLEMS. THERE'S STILL A LOT OF RACISM IN AMERICA. WHAT DO WE DO TO CURE RACISM IN THIS COUNTRY? Moseley Braun: I THINK WE EMBRACE THE TRUTH AND EMBRACE -- MY MOTHER USED TO SAY IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU CAME IN THIS COUNTRY ON THE MAYFLOWER OR A SLAVE SHIP, THROUGH ELLIS ISLAND, OR ACROSS THE RIO GRAND, WE'RE ALL IN THE SAME BOAT NOW. AND THAT'S REALLY THE TRUTH. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HOPE WHEN STROM -- WHEN THE STORY ABOUT STROM THURMOND AND HIS DAUGHTER CAME OUT, YOU KNOW, FRANKLY, MAYBE THE BURSTING OF THAT LITTLE HYPOCRISY BUBBLE WILL HELP US HAVE A MORE CANDID AND OPEN CONVERSATION ABOUT OUR SHARED HISTORY. AFRICAN-AMERICANS HAVE BEEN IN THIS COUNTRY FROM THE BEGINNING, FOUGHT IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR, AND HAVE BEEN PART AND PARCEL TO THE MAKING OF THIS COUNTRY. SO THERE'S NO REASON WHY THERE'S A DIVIDE ON THE ISSUE OF BLACK AND WHITE. THERE REALLY ISN'T. AND WE JUST HAVE TO, I THINK, JUST LIKE ANY OTHER PROBLEM, FACE UP TO IT, DEAL WITH IT, BE HONEST ABOUT IT, AND I THINK THAT WILL BE THE BEGINNING OF THE END. I'M ENCOURAGED BY THE DIRECTION THAT THE KIDS ARE TAKING, FRANKLY. YOU TALK TO THE NEXT GENERATION, AND THEY'VE GOT A LOT LESS PROBLEMS. BUT WE STILL HAVE A LOT TO FIX IN TERMS OF WHERE WE ARE NOW AND HOW WE GO FORWARD TOGETHER AS ONE NATION. Yepsen: DOES CURING POVERTY DEAL WITH A LOT OF THIS? Moseley Braun: POVERTY HAS TO DO WITH IT, OPPORTUNITY HAS TO DO WITH IT, DEALING WITH SOME OF THE LINGERING EFFECTS, PAST EFFECTS, WHICH IS WHAT AFFIRMATIVE ACTION WAS SUPPOSED TO DO BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, LET'S FACE IT, IF YOU'VE GOT A KID COMING OUT OF A FAMILY WHOSE GRANDPARENTS WOULD HAVE BEEN BEATEN IF THEY LEARNED HOW TO READ, THAT KID IS GOING TO START OFF REALLY KIND OF BEHIND THE CURVE. SO WE HAVE TO BEGIN TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES. WELL, OKAY, THAT WAS THE REALITY THEN BUT WE'RE A DIFFERENT SOCIETY NOW. AND WE ARE PREPARED TO MOVE FORWARD AS AMERICANS TO TAP ALL THE TALENT THAT'S AVAILABLE TO US. BLACK, WHITE, BROWN, WE WANT ALL THE TALENT BECAUSE WE CAN'T AFFORD -- YOU KNOW, THE MIND IS A TERRIBLE THING TO WASTE. AN AMERICAN IS A TERRIBLE THING TO WASTE. Yepsen: WE'VE GOT JUST A MINUTE LEFT SO I'LL GIVE IT TO YOU. WHAT DO YOU WANT PEOPLE TO REMEMBER AS THEY GO INTO THEIR CAUCUSES ON JANUARY 19? WHAT DO YOU WANT THEM TO REMEMBER ABOUT YOU? Moseley Braun: I WANT THEM TO REMEMBER THAT I AM A CANDIDATE WHO STANDS FOR PROSPERITY AND PEACE AND PROGRESS. AND WHEN I SAY I WANT TO TAKE THE "MEN ONLY" SIGN OFF THE WHITE HOUSE DOOR, THAT'S A SHORTHAND FOR MOVING OUR COUNTRY IN THE DIRECTION OF TAPPING ALL THE TALENT THAT'S AVAILABLE TO IT, THAT I HAVE BOTH -- BOTH THE EXPERIENCE ON THE ONE HAND AND THE VISION ON THE OTHER TO BRING A WHOLE NEW PERSPECTIVE TO POLICYMAKING IN THE WAY THAT WE RELATE TO EACH OTHER AND INDEED TO THE REST OF THE WORLD. I WANT TO KEEP THIS COUNTRY STRONG, BECAUSE I AM SO COMMITTED TO SEEING TO IT THAT MY CHILDREN AND YOUR CHILDREN INHERIT AN AMERICA THAT IS AS GREAT AS THE ONE THAT WE INHERITED. I DON'T WANT TO BE PART OF THE GENERATION THAT TURNS THE LIGHT OUT ON THE AMERICAN DREAM. THIS IS STILL GOING TO BE THE LAND OF OPPORTUNITY WITH CAROL MOSELEY BRAUN AS PRESIDENT. Yepsen: AMBASSADOR, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US. IT'S WONDERFUL TO SPEND SOME TIME WITH YOU AND TALK ABOUT ALL THESE THINGS. I WISH WE HAD MORE TIME, BUT THE CLOCK IS A REAL TASKMASTER HERE SO WE HAVE TO CONCLUDE IT WITH THAT. Moseley Braun: DELIGHTED TO BE WITH YOU. Yepsen: THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US. Moseley Braun: THANK YOU. Yepsen: TOMORROW EVENING WE CONTINUE WITH OUR TEN-PART SERIES RAMPING UP TO THE IOWA CAUCUSES OF JANUARY 19. AND WE'LL DISCUSS THE CAMPAIGN OF 2004 WITH ONE OF THE IOWA FRONT-RUNNERS. CONGRESSMAN RICHARD GEPHARDT OF MISSOURI, WHO WON THE IOWA CAUCUSES IN 1988, IS A FAMILIAR FIGURE ON THE IOWA POLITICAL SCENE. AND TODAY, ACCORDING TO THE LATEST PRECAUCUS POLLS, HE'S LOCKED IN A NECK-AND-NECK BATTLE WITH HOWARD DEAN OF VERMONT. THAT'S TOMORROW EVENING AT 6:30 P.M. I'M DAVID YEPSEN OF "THE DES MOINES REGISTER." THANKS FOR JOINING US HERE ON STATEWIDE IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION. CAPTIONS BY: MIDWEST CAPTIONING DES MOINES, IOWA. FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM WAS PROVIDED BY "FRIENDS," THE IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION FOUNDATION... GENERATIONS OF FAMILIES AND FRIENDS WHO FEEL PASSIONATE ABOUT THE PROGRAMS THEY WATCH ON IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION. |
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