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2008 Elections

Darfur: Democratic Candidates

Posted on Thursday October 25, 2007

Sen. Joseph Biden

On sending American troops to Darfur…

Absolutely, positively. Look, I’m so tired of this. Let’s get right to it. I heard the same arguments after I came back from meeting with Milosevic: We can’t act; we can’t send troops there.

Where we can, America must. Why Darfur? Because we can.

We should now. Those kids will be dead by the time the diplomacy is over.

I’m not joking. I’ve been to that camp. I walked through that camp.

You know what happened when I landed?

When I landed and the dust settled, a young African aid worker came up to me and he looked at me and he said, "Thank you. Thank you, America, for coming."

You don’t understand -- they don’t understand. They think we can save them.

And guess what? We can. Twenty-five hundred American troops -- if we do not get the 21,000 U.N. troops in there -- can stop the genocide now. I have called for a no-fly zone. Everybody agreed, but you need troops on the ground.

July 23, 2007
Transcript, Democratic Presidential Debate, Charleston, SC

Sen. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton

I applaud the passage of this important amendment to address the tragedy unfolding in Darfur. Requiring this comprehensive report is a step toward ensuring U.S. policy in the region addresses the current realities on the ground. We must face the fact that the status quo isn’t working. The United States must act with greater urgency to help bring an end to the violence, and I hope this report will encourage these planning efforts

September 18, 2007
Remarks on Amendment to ensure oversight of US action in Darfur

Sen. Christopher Dodd

Well, we’ve unfortunately, as a result of our conflict in Iraq, the sustaining of a military presence there, have lost our moral authority, unfortunately. And as a result of that, our ability to mobilize the world on issues like Darfur has been severely damaged.

But the United States should be able to take some unilateral action here in providing the kind of protection where people are being slaughtered in that country; and in the meantime, get our military out of Iraq, as I’ve planned and offered to do, and thus regain that stature, which we need to be doing as a nation in this world and be able to build those coalitions (that will?) respond to an issue like Darfur. But in the meantime, the United States ought to act.

June 28, 2007
Transcript, Democratic Presidential Debate, Washington, DC

Former Sen. Mike Gravel

On the idea of American troops in Darfur:

The problem goes a little bit deeper than that. It's because we haven't owned up to our responsibilities to a sense of global governance. And so now, you've got a situation with the United States of America, as Joe says, wants to go in, but the African nations don't want us there.

What's the message? They're afraid of us. They're flat afraid of us. And if you'll permit me, since I haven't got as much time as the others.

July 23, 2007
Transcript, Democratic Presidential Debate, Charleston, SC

Former Sen. John Edwards

I agree, a no-fly zone -- we need to get a security force on the ground; sanctions -- we need to put pressure on the Chinese. But I -- Darfur is part of a bigger question for America, which is, how do we re-establish ourselves after Iraq as a force for good in the world again? And I think there are lots of things we ought to do.

Instead of spending $500 billion in Iraq, suppose America led an effort to make primary school education available to 100 million children in the world who have no education, including in Africa.

Suppose we led on stopping the spread of disease, sanitation, clean drinking water and economic development.

June 28, 2007
Transcript, Democratic Presidential Debate, Washington, DC

Rep. Dennis Kucinich

It's time for the United States to stop looking at Africa as a place where our corporations can exploit the people. I mean, let's face it. If Darfur had a large supply of oil, this administration would be occupying it right now.

June 28, 2007
Transcript, Democratic Presidential Debate

Sen. Barack Obama

The no-fly zone is important. Having the protective force is critical. But we have to look at Africa not just after a crisis happens; what are we doing with respect to trade opportunities with Africa? What are we doing in terms of investment in Africa? What are we doing to pay attention to Africa consistently with respect to our foreign policy? That has been what's missing in the White House, and that our term security is going to depend on whether we're giving children in Sudan and Zimbabwe and in Kenya the same opportunities so that they have a stake in order as opposed to violence and chaos.

June 28, 2007
Transcript, Democratic Presidential Debate, Washington, DC

Gov. Bill Richardson

China is a strategic competitor. And we’ve got to be tougher on China when it comes to human rights and trade. We’ve got to say to China, you’ve got to (stop ?) fooling around with currency.

You’ve got to find ways, too, to be more sensitive to your workers, and you’ve got to do more, China, in the area of human rights around the world, like put pressure on the Sudan to stop the genocide in Darfur. (Cheers, applause.) So we have to have a relationship with China that is realistic. We have to have a relationship that involves both strategic competition and common interests.

August 7, 2007
Transcript, Democratic Presidential Debate, Chicago, IL