Community Magazine August 2019

Foreign Policy: Bernie Sanders has opposed war and military intervention more often than not. He has, though, supported troops on the ground in Afghanistan to keep the Taliban at bay. Israel: Despite stating emphatically that he is “pro-Israel,” he has said, “Israel is run by a rightwing racist government,” in a CNN Town Hall this year. He also said that, if elected, financial aid to Israel would come with conditions. He also had his photo taken with pro-Palestinian activists, holding an “anti-occupation” sign. ELIZABETHWARREN Senator Elizabeth Warren has served Massachusetts since 2013. Before that, she taught law at several universities around the country, including Harvard. She served as Chair of the Congressional Oversight Panel (2008- 2010) of the Troubled Asset Relief Programs which led to the creation of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau – for which she was the first Special Advisor in 2010. Immigration: Following the first Democratic primary debate, Warren endorsed what is considered the most radical immigration plan, which would decriminalize illegal border crossing – making it a civil issue rather than a criminal one. The Economy: Warren maintains that the economy, though doing well, is only doing well for the top earners and not for the rest of the country. She would like to change that with more government oversight and higher taxes on the rich and on corporations. She’s called for measures to break up businesses that are “too big” and hold too much a percentage of a particular market. Foreign Policy: Warren supports diplomacy as the first and primary option in conflict. Israel: The Republican Jewish Coalition condemned comments of Senator Warren, who told anti-Israel activists IfNotNow that she would push to end the Israeli government’s “occupation” over the Palestinians. She was one of the 60 Democrats to boycott Prime Minister Netanyahu’s speech in Congress, she supported the Iran Deal, she spoke out against the US Embassy move, and she opposes efforts to criminalize the BDS movement. KAMALAHARRIS A junior senator from California, Harris in 2010 won the election for California’s Attorney General and then won reelection in 2014 by a wide margin. As a prosecutor, she had the highest conviction rate in over a decade. She tightened so-called “loopholes” in bail and drug court that defendants were taking advantage of. In her short time in the Senate, she has supported single-payer healthcare, descheduling of cannabis, DACA recipients and Dreamers, and criminal justice reform. Immigration: Harris released an immigration plan that included Executive Orders to alleviate the threat of deportation for undocumented immigrants who pose no criminal risk. She supports reinstating DACA protections and offering Dreamers a path to citizenship. “I’ll take action to lift barriers Dreamers face to pursuing legal status and put them on a meaningful path to citizenship. These young people are just as American as I am...” The Economy: She plans to replace part of Trump’s tax plan with her bill called the LIFT Act, which aims to raise incomes in working class families through refundable tax credits. These would be available for families making under $100,000 and single peoplemaking under $50,000. She supports a $15/hr. minimumwage. She wants to ramp up regulations on Wall Street and on larger corporations. Foreign Policy: Harris supported a Diplomacy First policy as well as a distinction between Islam and Islamic terrorists. Israel: In the Senate and on the campaign trail, Harris opposes the BDS movement targeting Israel. She opposes foreign aid cuts to the state, and condemns heavy-handed UN votes against Israel. PETE BUTTIGIEG Buttigieg has been the Mayor of South Bend, Indiana since 2012. In the Navy Reserve his focus was intelligence and identifying and disrupting terrorist finance networks. He was deployed to Afghanistan for seven months in 2014. Immigration: He told CNN that the solution to the immigration problem is not necessarily those who come in, but the White House’s reduction in aid and funding to countries in need. He also supports Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and a path to citizenship. The Economy: Heplans to address perceived inequitieswith amoreprogressive tax, more housing initiatives, and criminal justice reform. Most of his statements surrounding the economy fall under the wealthy paying their fair share and closing loopholes in the tax code for the richest Americans. Foreign Policy: Buttigieg has supported a “diplomacy first” strategy regarding foreign affairs but also wants sanctions to put pressure on certain regimes, such as North Korea. He says that military action should be grounded in American interests and values, and that any military action should be with the support of allies. Israel In a recent interview, he said that “Israel’s human rights record is problematic and moving in the wrong direction.” CONCLUSION Today, the former vice president tops all of the early polls of Democratic voters. This is his third bid for the presidency and he is hoping that three is a charm. His detractors state that his head start as the front runner is due to his having been in the public eye for nearly 45 years. Name recognition is golden when it comes to politics, but it’s not everything. Will the 76-year-old former Delaware senator top the Democratic ticket next year? That remains to be seen. Pete Buttigieg Bernie Sanders Joe Biden 44 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE