Oct. 30 Democratic debate transcript

Williams: Thank you, Governor.

A question for Senator Dodd.

A question to you alone, Senator, about this intersection of environment and sacrifice. So many people have been saddened by the pictures these past few days from Southern California. There are reports that major cities in the state of Georgia are threatened will running out of drinking water in a matter of days.

Are you truly prepared to lead, on a national scale, the kind of sacrifice it would require where it intersects with the environment?

Dodd: Well, I think you've got to. I find it somewhat startling here that Ronald Reagan's former secretary of state and George Bush's first economic -- chief economic adviser are, frankly, more courageous and bold on energy policy than my fellow competitors here for this job, the presidency.

I've called for a corporate carbon tax. All of us share the same goals here of achieving energy independence, reducing our dependency on fossil fuels and the carbons they emit. But you're not going to achieve that unless you deal with price, quite frankly, here.

And there's a direct correlation between continuing a policy that produces the CO2 emissions and the health hazards to our country and the climate change problems here. You've got to deal with price because, frankly, consumers are not going to be in a position where they can afford the more expensive fuels, the alternative fuels and technologies.

Dodd: So the corporate carbon tax, taxing carbon, is a critical element if you are going to achieve this kind of energy change we need in our country. That directly bears on the kinds of problems we're seeing. There is no doubt in my mind that there is a correlation between what you've just described, Brian, and energy policy here; not to mention the national security and economic security risks as a result of our continuing dependence on fossil fuels, particularly oil out of the Middle East.

So those are things that I advocate that no one else does on the stage here this evening. Al Gore has called it the most bold and honest plans. It has been called the blue ribbon, or the gold standard, rather, of any of the energy policies that have been suggested by presidential candidates.

This is a major issue. It requires hardship. A corporate carbon tax is not without a cost to it. I understand that. But the status quo of continuing borrowing $1 billion every day to buy foreign oil, continuing the risk to our country, I think is unacceptable.

That's why I'm advocating it.

Williams: Senator Edwards, should there be a bottomless well of federal dollars for people who knowingly live in areas of this country that are disaster-prone to rebuild their homes if lost in a disaster?

Edwards: Well, I think that when families are devastated -- and we've lived with this in North Carolina because we've been regularly hit by hurricanes, and I've spent an awful lot of time in New Orleans. When families are hit by natural disasters, I think it is for the national community to be there for them.

I think that's our joint responsibility as a national community to be there for them. And my view about what's happening, particularly in New Orleans, is it's absolutely heartbreaking to see what's happened there. Because this is a perfect example of a government that's a mess and the American people who are absolutely extraordinary.

I mean, you look at how America has responded to this tragedy. They have been volunteering, contributing. I took 700 college kids down to New Orleans who gave up their spring break to go down there and work to help rehabilitate houses.

I was so inspired and proud of those young kids.

But the government has been a complete disaster. And contracts have been let to these multi-national corporations, instead of allowing the people of New Orleans to rebuild their own city.

My view is: We didn't need a surge in Baghdad -- we needed a surge in New Orleans. We need to be there for our people who are struggling.

And I do think we can be smart about planning. I think actually, in the case of New Orleans, there was an extraordinary opportunity to rebuild a city that was more economically integrated, more racially integrated.

Those pictures that we saw coming out of the Ninth Ward of New Orleans, I think, broke a lot of people's hearts. And I think it actually was a wake-up call to a lot of Americans who didn't realize that kind of problem existed any longer.

Williams: But does smarter mean any limits?

Let's just take 20 seconds more here -- from Malibu to the Outer Banks down to Florida -- should there be unlimited federal authority...

Edwards: Of course we have to be smart. We have to be environmentally sensitive. There's actually on the coast of North Carolina, we've done a great deal to do that, to preserve wetlands, for example, which are crucial barrier to help protect our coasts.

But, yes, smart, but when a natural disaster comes, our country needs to be there for our people.

Williams: To Tim Russert.

Russert: I'd like to talk about taxes.

Senator Clinton, I'd like to start with you. Because the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, Charlie Rangel, is a strong supporter of your campaign.

He wants to repeal the Alternative Minimum Tax. But he also wants to have a 4 percent surtax on a single $150,000 income or $200,000 married couple.

You went to Harlem with your husband, with Charlie Rangel. And the former president said, quote, "Charlie Rangel wants me to pay more taxes so you can pay less and I think that's a good idea."

Is that also your view?

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