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News Conspiracies Senator hillary clinton John Edwards; Illinois Barack New Mexico Governor . Bill Richardson.

Dec 13, 2007
Senator Joe Biden on previous statements regarding racial groups & his experience with civil rights. Barack Obama provides additional commentary regarding his perception of Joe Biden's comments.

Iowa Public Television broadcast "The Des Moines Register Presidential Debates" live from the Iowa Public Television Maytag Auditorium in Johnston, Iowa on December 13, 2007.

This forum, featured six of the Democrat candidates for President: Delaware Sen. Joe Biden; New York Sen. Hillary Clinton; Connecticut Sen. Christopher Dodd; former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards; Illinois Sen. Barack Obama; New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson.

TRANSCRIPT

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senator Biden you and your campaign have
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had a number of occasions to correct or
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clarify things you've said relating to
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race including your remarks about
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senator Obama being quote clean and
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articulate your comment about Indians
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working at 7-eleven and recently to the
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Washington Post in which you spoke about
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race while describing disparities
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between schools in Washington DC and
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Iowa do these gaffes or
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misunderstandings or however you would
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characterize them indicate you are
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uncomfortable talking about race or are
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people just being too sensitive I think
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that I have my whole career I got
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involved in public policy I got involved
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in politics because of the civil rights
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movement
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it's the overwhelming core of my support
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in my home state I get the overwhelming
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majority over 95% of the vote of
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minorities in my state I may have
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phrased those things wrongly but when I
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talked about the Indian population when
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I was making the point was they're
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building families they're coming by and
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businesses 711s and Dunkin Donuts in
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small shops just like those Italian
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immigrants used to do and they're
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building families the point I was making
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about the inner city of Washington at
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the point that Barack just made Barack
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made the point he said that minority
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start off at a disadvantage they start
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off with a gap an achievement gap that
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exists before they even walking to
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school minorities and so I was making
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the same point it may be possible
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because I speak so bluntly that people
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misunderstand but no one who knows me in
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my state no one who I've worked with in
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my in the United States Congress has
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ever wondered about my commitment to
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civil rights and civil liberties and if
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you take a look at my record as chairman
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of the Foreign Relations Committee I
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excuse me of the Judiciary Committee
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ranking member chairman for 16 years
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Astarte with the Voting Rights Act and
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worked us right through to to voting
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against Constitution amendments on
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busing when busing was taking place in
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my state my credentials are as good as
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anyone who's ever run for president
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United States on civil rights
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I just wanted to I just want to make the
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comment I've worked with Joe Budden I've
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seen his leadership I have absolutely no
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doubt about what is in his heart and the
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commitment that he's made with respect
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to racial equality in this country so
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III will provide some testimony as they say in church that that the Joe is on the right side of the issues and it's fighting everyday for a better America. thank you