Sept. 26 Democratic debate transcript

Russert: Senator Edwards, would the Israelis be justified in launching an attack if they felt their security was threatened by a nuclear presence in Iran?

Edwards: Well, let me say, first of all, I think there's a clear responsible course for America with respect to Iran.  And that responsible course is to recognize that Ahmadinejad is unpopular in his own country.

And if we work with our friends in Europe in the European banking system, we can put a clear proposal on the table for the Iranian people; sticks and carrots.  Carrots being, we will help you with your economy if, in fact, you give up your nuclear ambitions. The flip side being, there will be severe economic sanctions if you don't.

But I want to come back to a discussion that took place a few minutes ago to make everyone understands what Senator Gravel is talking and Senator Clinton was talking about.  Because there was a very important vote cast in the United States Senate today.  And it was, basically, in a resolution calling the Iranian Revolutionary Guard a terrorist organization.

I voted for this war in Iraq, and I was wrong to vote for this war.  And I accept responsibility for that.  Senator Clinton also voted for this war.

Edwards: We learned a very different lesson from that.  I have no intention of giving George Bush the authority to take the first step on a road to war with Iran.

And I think that vote today, which Senator Biden and Senator Dodd voted against, and they were correct to vote against it, is a clear indication of the approach that all of us would take with the situation in Iran because what I learned in my vote on Iraq was you cannot give this president the authority and you can't even give him the first step in that authority because he cannot be trusted.  And that resolution that was voted on today was a very clear indication...

Russert: Governor Richardson, would you make a solemn commitment to the American people that Iran will not become a nuclear power?

Richardson: Yes.  And this is what I would do.  I would approach it through diplomacy.

Richardson: A fundamental goal of our foreign policy should be not to permit Iran to develop nuclear weapons.

Another cornerstone of our foreign policy should be the strength and the security of Israel.  So you cannot deny a nation the right to legitimately defend itself.

Now, my approach is different.  By the way, talking about diplomacy, I've talked to a lot of these bad guys already, so I would have a head start in personal diplomacy.  You have to approach Iran -- first of all, you use diplomacy.  Then you use sanctions.

The problem that we have with Iran is that we don't build the international support that is needed to put economic pressure on Iran. And by point here is that Iran is susceptible to economic pressure. It can do so through -- they import half of their foodstuffs, half of their gasoline.  They've got domestic unrest.

I would not talk necessarily to Ahmadinejad.  I would talk to moderate clerics.  I would talk to business leaders.  But 40 percent of the Iranian people vote for moderate candidates for president.

Richardson: So you first use diplomacy.

The problem, Tim, is we can't build the international support with the Europeans, with Russia, that has leverage on Iran, to effectively pressure them not to build nuclear weapons and to stop messing around in Iran.

But it's called diplomacy.  It's called negotiation.  It's called talking to Iran and Syria and trying to work out differences.

Russert: But the issue you may have to confront as president -- Israel took out a nuclear reactor in Iraq.  They attacked Syria.  They may conclude they need to attack Iran.  If they did and you were president, would you support Israel?

Richardson: A fundamental tenet of American foreign policy is to support Israel.  But Tim, you've got to bring diplomacy.

The problem in the Middle East is there is no Middle East peace process.  There is no Middle East peace envoy.  We don't talk to Syria.

You've got Israel today less safe than it ever was.  You've got Hamas on one side, you've got Hezbollah, you've got Iran wanting to build nuclear weapons.

But you do it through diplomacy.  You do it through a Middle East peace process.  Get Lebanon involved.  Get Syria involved.

Richardson: The two-state solution.  It's called diplomacy.

Russert: Before we take a break, I want to go to Allison King of New England Cable News, who has been sifting through thousands of questions from across the country, in New England and here in New Hampshire.

Allison, a question, please.

Allison King: Thank you, Tim.

Dozens of cities around the country, including several here, right here in New England, have been designated as sanctuary cities. These are communities that provide a safe haven for illegal immigrants, where police are told not to involve themselves in immigration matters.

Would you allow these cities to ignore the federal law regarding the reporting of illegal immigrants and, in fact, provide sanctuary to these immigrants?

King: Governor Richardson, let's start with you.

Richardson: You asked me because I am the Hispanic here, but I'll answer.

(Laughter)

The answer is yes.  The problem we have is the lack of a comprehensive immigration policy.  This is a federal responsibility. But what we have, because of the dysfunctional relationship between the Congress and the president, there is no comprehensive immigration bill.  We need to fix the immigration system that is broken.

We need to find ways, number one, to increase security at the border with more detection equipment, more border patrol -- not this silly wall.

Secondly, those that knowingly hire illegal workers need to be punished.

Third, a foreign policy relationship with Mexico where you say to Mexico, "Start giving jobs to your people; at the very least, don't give them maps on the easiest place to cross."

And, lastly, a legalization program -- earned legalization, not amnesty, not citizenship, but a process where they can earn their way into America.

They can do it by learning English, by paying back taxes, by passing a background check, by paying a fine for having come in here illegally.  Then get behind those that are trying to get here legally.  And then increase the legal immigration quota, the H1B visas.

But what you don't do is basically deport everybody.  That makes no sense.  That's not America.  That's not going to work.

Is the outline that I gave you messy?  Yes.  Is there going to be more bureaucracy?  Yes.  But the problem is cities and communities are being victimized by the failure of the Congress and the president...

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