Brown Question # 1 : Senator, you have served Ohio for 49 years, which started when you became a member of the Ohio State House of Representatives, to now, where you serve the Buckeye state in the Senate. Yet you are retiring this year. Why are you retiring and do you think you could keep Ohio’s seat from flipping to the Republicans this November with you not on the ballot?
Brown Question # 2 : Senator, Rose City ANTIFA has recently devastated Portland, Oregon in another riot, one that has become an almost common sight in the city. You, as well as Washington State Senator Mona Das, called out the actions of ANTIFA as vile and thuggish, while no one else in the field has done so. Why did you do that?
Debate Questions + Responses
Opening Statement: My fellow Americans, I come from a state where it is getting harder and harder for Democrats to win elections, a state where our workers are suffering and in effect leaving to the arms of the GOP based on false promises. I’ve been in Congress since 1993 so I know when things get bad, my fellow Americans it is time to act. As Senator, I was one of the opposing votes on the Iraq war, I’ve been the strongest voice for our nation’s unions, and I’ve been one of the strongest progressive Congressman ever elected, this is what America needs, a candidate that doesn’t back down to the political establishment and instead does what he believes in. If given the nomination, I will represent our party’s values and the ideals we were founded on, a just country where everyone has a right to assemble.
Brown Question # 1 : Senator, you have served Ohio for 49 years, which started when you became a member of the Ohio State House of Representatives, to now, where you serve the Buckeye state in the Senate. Yet you are retiring this year. Why are you retiring and do you think you could keep Ohio’s seat from flipping to the Republicans this November with you not on the ballot?
Answer: Well let me start of by saying this, there have been accusations that claim I am not running for re-election to the United States Senate, these accusations are untrue and simply false. I am in fact running for re-election to my Senate seat because it is absolutely vital that if I don’t happen to win the nomination, the Democratic Party retains this seat and frankly I have proven to be capable to win in a state that has been voting red these past couple of elections. Now to answer your other question Rachel, I do think we can flip Ohio even if I'm not on the ticket, it really just depends on the way us as a party and as candidates communicate our message to the American people. You know I come from the “Buckeye State” and let me tell you why I’ve won re-election to my seat when President Trump won this state with a substantial margin, it’s because I talked and met with the backbone of this country and one of the biggest groups of our party, the blue collar families of the United States. Frankly we don’t have a chance of winning this election if we repeat the same mistakes we did in 2016, we need to discuss how we’re going to improve the lives of these middle class families that have been hurt by our unfair tax system, by the companies that have been sending jobs to foreign countries causing people to lose their jobs, and we’ve got to discuss our support for the right to assemble and form unions. We’ve got to discuss this in states like mine, which have historically voted Democratic but have felt isolated because they feel ignored, this needs to change. I’ve shown I can do that by gaining support from both Democrats and Republicans and I can do this as your nominee.
Brown Question # 2 : Senator, Rose City ANTIFA has recently devastated Portland, Oregon in another riot, one that has become an almost common sight in the city. You, as well as Washington State Senator Mona Das, called out the actions of ANTIFA as vile and thuggish, while no one else in the field has done so. Why did you do that?
Answer: Well, first thank you for bringing up this question. You know, I know that some things happening in this country may not be liked by all of us, but violence is never an option. When I saw what ANTIFA did to those poor people in Portland, I boiled up inside. My blood got hot. I don’t understand how people can say that they are Anti-Fascist, when they are literally acting as fascist and attacking the enemy. This comes right back to my foreign policy. I don’t believe that the best way forward for our nation is to allow these conflicts divide us here at home, or abroad. I opposed the Iraq War, and I stand by that vote because intervention should never be the first option. I will stand with Republicans, with Democrats, in the pursuit of seeking common ground, that will benefit all Americans. That is why I condemned ANTIFA, and that is why I call on every other member in this race should condemn ANTIFA for their actions.
Closing Statement: I’d like to thank MSNBC for holding this debate and for all the watchers at home for tuning in and watching all the candidates up on this stage answer your most pressing concerns. It is time that the United States someone that is willing to stand up for the American people and that is willing to lead against the establishment when they’re wrong, that is what I did when I led the fight against the Iraq war and when I led the fight against NAFTA. America, this is the time to take back the soul of America and help our nation move forward from the 8 horrible years of President Trump. So let me say this, I know that I’d support anyone on stage against Vice President Rubio, an enable for the worst President in modern American history, all I am asking is you let me lead the fight against him. Thank you and God Bless the United States of America.
