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Democratic Candidates Debate in Wisconsin Ahead of Primary
Rep. Maxine Waters Charges U.S. Is Encouraging A Coup in
Haiti
Chavez Accuses Opposition of Conspiracy and Fraud
Democratic Candidates Debate in Wisconsin Ahead
of Primary
We play an excerpt of the five remaining democratic presidential
candidates debating each other at a nationally-televised event
held at Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI. Massachusetts
Senator John Kerry won caucuses on Saturday in Nevada and
Washington D.C. giving him victories in 14 of the first 16
contests in the Democratic presidential race.
In Washington D.C., Kerry won with 47 percent of the vote,
followed by the Rev. Al Sharpton with 20 percent. Governor
Howard Dean won 17 percent, Sen. John Edwards 10 and Rep.
Dennis Kucinich with 3.
In Nevada, Kerry received 63 percent of the vote and Howard
Dean placed second with 17 percent. Edwards won 10 percent,
Kucinich 7 and Sharpton 1.
Tomorrow, voters in Wisconsin go to the polls. Dean vowed
Sunday he will stay in the race even if he loses Wisconsin
but the New York Times is reporting that his National Campaign
Chairman Steven Grossman plans to shift his support to Kerry
if Dean loses in the primary.
After Wisconsin, 10 states - including New York and California
- will hold primaries on March 2nd.
All five remaining Democratic presidential contenders were
in Milwaukee yesterday for a debate held at Marquette University
and sponsored by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
The candidates repeated their past positions on Iraq, but
also said campaigning in Wisconsin had convinced them that
jobs, health care and education are the issues on which Bush
is most vulnerable in November.
Moderator Mike Gousha opened the debate with questions about
the controversy over Bush's attendance record while in the
National Guard.
- Democratic presidential debate, excerpt of the candidates
in Milwaukee, WI on February 15, 2004.
Read
transcript of the debate.
Rep. Maxine Waters Charges U.S. Is Encouraging A
Coup in Haiti
Several thousand demonstrators clashed with supporters of
Haitian President Jean Bertrand Aristide this weekend as they
marched through the streets of the capital Port-au-Prince.
We speak with Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) about what role the
U.S. is playing in the current events in the country. In Haiti,
anti-government gangs and militias are working with opposition
groups and former army officers in an effort to overthrow
the government of Jean Bertrand Aristide. There is concern
that Washington is once again working behind the scenes to
foment a coup.
For weeks, Haiti has seen armed gangs attacking government
forces and supporters in various towns and cities across the
country. Pro-government supporters have been defending Aristide.
There have been a series of armed battles that have resulted
in at least 40 deaths. Haiti has no army and has a dwindling
police force numbering only a few thousand.
On Sunday, several thousand demonstrators clashed with Aristide
supporters as they marched through the streets of the capital,
Port-au-Prince. Police used tear gas to keep the two sides
apart.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Yvon Neptune told the BBC that
the government planned to launch an attack to regain control
of Gonaives, the fourth-largest city in Haiti. Anti-government
gangs are thought to control about 11 towns and cities across
the country.
- Rep.
Maxine Waters, Democratic Congresswoman from California
serving in her seventh term. She is the Chief Deputy Whip
of the Democratic Party and serves as Co-Chair of the House
Democratic Steering Committee. She is the former chair of
the Congressional Black Caucus. She recently returned from
Haiti.
Chavez Accuses Opposition of Conspiracy and Fraud
Opponents of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez have claimed
they gathered enough signatures to demand a presidential recall,
but government officials say there are widespread problems
with the petition and that there may be cases of outright
fraud. We go to Caracas to speak with a freelance journalist
who interviewed Chavez over the weekend. Several thousand
demonstrators protested in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas
this weekend, a day after the National Electoral Council promised
a decision later this month on whether a referendum will be
held on President Hugo Chavez' future. Opponents of President
Hugo Chavez have claimed they gathered enough signatures to
demand a presidential recall.
The opposition says its petition to hold a referendum was
signed by 3.4 million people. But government officials say
there are widespread problems with the petition and that there
may be cases of outright fraud. The recall effort marks the
third time since April 2001 that opposition leaders tried
to remove the populist leader Chavez from office.
Meanwhile Chavez says intelligence services have uncovered
an opposition conspiracy to launch a new coup d'etat attempt
but that he had been able to act quickly to thwart it.
- Sharmini Peries, journalist with Frontline India who
interviewed Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez over the weekend.
She joins us on the phone from Caracas.
For a copy of today’s program, call 1 (800) 881 2359.
Our website is www.democracynow.org.
Our email address is mail@democracynow.org.
Democracy Now! is produced by Mike Burke, Sharif Abdel Kouddous,
Ana Nogueira, Elizabeth Press, Jeremy Scahill and Parvez Sharma.
Mike Di Filippo is our engineer.
Thanks also to Uri Galed, Angela Alston, Orlando Richards,
Simba Russeau, Johnny Sender, Rich Kim, Joe Murgio, John Randolph,
Chris Zucker, Karen Ranucci, Denis Moynihan, Eric Rweyemamu,
Jenny Filipazzo and Isis Phillips.
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