The people in that audience youre probably looking at very, very closely. Theyre all wearing masks. What youre not seeing is the people who are going to be up on the stage, the moderator and the two candidates. They will not be. Now, its required here that they all make sure that they keep those masks on in the audience or they will be kicked out. I think jerry baker is back with us gerry baker is back with us. I i a apologize for my confusion. Erasing the memories and all the other stuff that happened entertaining that might have been that these guys are going to keep it to a minimum. Do you think they can, they will . Well, i think we certainly wont see anything like last week, i think we can probably guarantee that. But Kamala Harris is sharp, aggressive, i dont think she can help herself. Shell want to prosecute the case as shes done in the past, shell want to prosecute aggressively, and Vice President pence is not going to take it lying down. I think itll be a sharp, lively debate, but i think itll probably be one in which both are able to answer the questions and, again, as i said earlier, one in which i hope both of them will be particularly Kamala Harris will be questioned properly on the positions that she and joe biden have taken. So i expect a good, lively debate, one that well actually learn something. Neil we do know, gillian, theyre not going to cut off anyones mics, that at least was the thought going in. But if it does get out of hand, have you heard anything you would do short of cattle prods or a floor drop like austin powers [laughter] tasers. [laughter] neil right. I dont think theyre going to need anything, any special tricks, you know, the moderators going to need anything up her sleeve this week for that. I think the host of the next president ial debate maybe has something more to be concerned about. Neil, youve pointed out already a couple of times tonight that there are builtin sort of barriers to insure decency in this debate. There is those plexiglas dividers, so theyre not going to be, you know, ranting and raving at one another, screaming. Theyre also sitting down which doesnt make anybody more decent, but it does make it harder to talk an aggressive stance. Remember, the last round of debates how much President Trump was giving for sort of creeping up on Hillary Clinton, getting into her personal space. That risk is totally removed now during the age of coronavirus with these barriers in place. Neil you have not been at many italian dinner tables, by the way. You can make a lot of noise sitting down. Well see what happens there. Butting again, any second now but again, going right to the floor here. This debate, a lot of people concerned it could be the last one with concerns that the president ial candidates are arguing over venues and whether they happen. But right now, the vp debate. Good evening. From the university of utah in salt lake city, welcome to the first and only Vice President ial debate of 2020. Sponsored by the nonpartisan commission on president ial debates. Im susan page of usa today. It is my honor to moderate this debate, an important part of our democracy. In Kingsbury Hall tonight, we have a small and sociallydistant audience, and weve taken extra precautions during this pandemic. Among other things, everyone in the audience is required to wear a face mask, and the candidates will be seated 12 feet apart. The audience is enthusiastic about their candidates, but theyve agreed to express that enthusiasm only twice; at the end of the debate and now when i introduce the candidates. Please welcome california senator Kamala Harris and Vice President mike pence. [cheers and applause] thank you. [applause] senator harris and Vice President pence, thank you for being here. Were meeting as President Trump and the first lady continue to undergo treatment in washington after testing positive for covid19. We send our thoughts and prayers to them for their rapid and complete recovery and for the recovery of everyone aproduct inned by the coronavirus afflicted by the coronavirus. The two campaigns and the commission on president ial debates have agreed to the ground rules for tonight. Im here to enforce them on behalf of the millions of americans who are watching. One note, no one in either campaign or at the commission or anywhere else has been told in advance what topics ill raise or what questions ill ask. This 90minute debate will be divided into nine segments of about ten minutes each. Ill begin by posing a question to each of you, sometimes the same question, sometimes a different question on the same topic. You will then have two minutes to answer without interruption by me or the other candidate. Then well take six minutes or so to discuss the issue. At that point, although there will always be more to say, well move on to the next topic. We want a debate that is lively, but americans also deserve a discussion that is civil. These are tumultuous times, but we can and will have a respectful exchange about the big issues facing our nation. Lets begin with the ongoing pandemic that has cost our country so much. Senator harris, the coronavirus is not under control. Over the past week, Johns Hopkins reports that 39 states have had more covid cases over the past seven days than in the week before. Nine states have set new records. Even if a vaccine is released soon, the next administration will face hard choices. What would a Biden Administration do in january and february that a Trump Administration wouldnt do . Would you impose new lockdowns for businesses in hot spots . A federal mandate to wear masks . You have two minutes to respond without interruption. Thank you, susan. Well, the American People have witnessed what is the greatest failure of any president ial a managers in the history of administration in the history of our country. And here are the facts. 210,000 dead people in our country in just the last several months. Over 7 Million People who have contracted this disease. One in five businesses closed. Were looking at frontline workers who have been treated like sacrificial workers. We are looking at over 30 Million People who in the last several months had to file for unemployment. And heres the thing, on january 28th the Vice President and the president were informed about the nature of this pandemic. They were informed that its lethal in consequence, that it is airborne, that it will affect young people and that it would be contracted because it is airborne. And they knew what was happening, and they didnt tell you. Can you imagine if you knew on january 28th as opposed to march 13th what they knew what you might have done to prepare . They knew and they covered it up. The president said it was a hoax. They minimized the seriousness of it. The president said youre on one side of his ledger if you wear a mask, youre on the other side of his ledger if you dont. And in spite of all of that today, they still dont have a plan. They still dont have a plan. Well, joe biden does. And our plan is about what we need to do around a National Strategy for contact tracing, for testing, for administration of the vaccine and making sure that it will be free for all. That is the plan that joe biden has and that i have knowing that we have to get ahold of what has been going on, and we need to save our country. And joe biden is the best leader to do that and, frankly, this administration thank you, senator. Their right to reelection based on this. Thank you, senator harris. Vice president pence, more than 210,000 americans have died of covid19 since february. The u. S. Death toll as a percentage of our population is higher than that of almost every other wealthy nation on earth. For instance, our death rate is 2. 5 times that of canada next door. You head the administrations Coronavirus Task force. Why is the death toll as a percentage of our population higher than that of almost every other wealthy country . And you have two minutes to respond without interruption. Susan, thank you. And i want to thank the commission and the university of utah for hosting this event and, senator harris, its a privilege to be on the stage with you. Our nations gone through a very challenging time this year. But i want the American People to know that from the very first day President Donald Trump has put the health of america first. Before there were more than five cases in the United States all people who had returned from china President Donald Trump did what no other american president had ever done, and that was he suspended all travel from china, the second largest economy in the world. Senator, joe biden opposed that decision. He said it was husbander the call. And i can hysterical. I can tell you that decision brought by President Trump gave us the greatest National Mobilization since world war ii, and i believe it saved hundreds of thousands of american lives. Because with that time we were able to reinvent testing. More than 150 million have been tested to date. We were able to give our doctors and nurses the resources for what they needed. And we began really before the month of february to develop a vaccine and to develop medicines and therapeutics and have been saving lives all along the way. And under President Trumps leadership, operation warp speed, we believe, will have literally tens of millions of doses of vaccine before the end of this year. The reality is when you look at the biden plan, it reads an awful lot like what President Trump and i and our task force have been doing every step of the way. And, quite frankly, when i look at their plan that talk talks at advancing testing, creating new ppe, developing a vaccine, it looks a little bit about plagiarism which is something joe biden knows a little bit about. I think the American People know this is thanks puts the American People first thank you, Vice President. Can be proud of the sacrifices that they have made thank you. Senator harris. Would you like to respond . Absolutely. Whatever the Vice President s claiming the administration has done, clearly it hasnt worked. When youre looking at over 210,000 dead bodies in our country, american lives that have been lost, families that are grieving that loss. And, you know, the Vice President is the head of the task force and knew on january 28th how serious this was. And thanks to bob woodward, we learned that they knew about it, and then when that was exposed, the Vice President said when asked can, well, why didnt yall tell anybody, he said because the president wanted people to remain calm. Susan, this is susan, i have mr. President if, im speaking 15 more seconds, and then well give the thank you. So i want to ask the American People, how calm were you when you were panicked about where you were going to get your next roll of toilet paper thank you. How calm were you when your children couldnt see your parents because you were afraid they could kill them. Lets give Vice President pence a chance to respond. You have one minute to respond. Theres not a day thats gone by that i havent thought of every American Family whos lost a loved one. Youll always be in our hearts and in our prayers. But when you see what the American People have done say what the American People have done over these past eight months hasnt worked, thats a great disservice i referred if i may finish, senator. The reality is dr. Fauci said everything that he told the president in the oval office the president told the American People. Now, President Trump, i will tell you, has boundless confidence in the American People, and he always knew wed get through this together. But when you say it hasnt worked, dr. Fauci and dr. Birx and our medical experts came to us in the second week of march they said if the president didnt shut down roughly half of the american economy, that we could lose 2. 2 million americans. Thats the reality. Thank you. We did everything right, susan, we could still lose more than 200,000 americans. Vice president one life lost is too many, susan, but the American People, i believe, deserve credit for the sacrifices that they have made putting the health of their family and neighbors first, our doctors, our nurses thank you, Vice President pence. And im going to speak up on behalf of what the American People since you were in the front row of the rose garden 11tys ago, what seems to have been a super spreader, no social instancing, few masks and now a cluster of coronavirus cases among those who were there. How can you expect americans to follow the administrations safety guidelines to protect themselves from covid when you at the white house have not been doing so . Well, the American People have demonstrated over the last eight months. Theyve been given the facts. Theyre willing to put the health of their families, their neighbors and people they dont even know first. President trump and i have great confidence in the American People and their ability to take that information and put it into practice. In the height of the epidemic when we were losing a heartbreaking number of 2,500 americans a day, we surged resources to new jersey and new york and new orleans and detroit. We told the American People what needed to be done, and the American People made the sacrifice. When the outbreak in the sun belt happened this summer, again americans stepped forward. But the reality is the work of the president of the United States goes on. A vacancy on the Supreme Court of the United States has come upon us, and the president introduced judge Amy Coney Barrett thank you. Thank you, mr. President if i may say, that rose garden event, this is been a great deal of speculation about it. My wife karen and i were there and honored to be there. Many of the people who were at that event, susan, actually were tested for coronavirus, and it was an outdoor event which all of our scientists regularly, routinely advise. The difference here is President Trump and i trust the American People to make choices in the best interests of their health. And joe biden and Kamala Harris consistently talk about mandates. Not just mandates with the coronavirus, but a government take over thank you. Thank you the Green New Deal, all government control. Were about freedom and respecting the freedom of the American People. Lets talk about respecting the American People. You respect the American People when you tell them the truth. You respect the American People when which we speaking of those things that you may not want people to hear, but they need to hear so they can protect themselves. But this administration stood on information that if you had as a parent, if you had as a worker known you didnt have enough money saved up and now youre standing in a food line because of the ineptitude of an administration that was unwilling to speak the truth to the American People. So lets talk about caring about the American People. The American People have had to sacrifice far too much because of the incompetence of this administration. It is asking too much of the susan, we talked it is asking too much of the people that they would not be equipped with the information they need to help susan. [inaudible conversations] Kamala Harris, senator harris, i mean, im sorry thats fine, im kamala. [laughter] youre senator harris to me. To get back to normal, dr. Fauci and other experts say most of the people that can be advantage vaccinated need to be vaccinated. But half of americans say they wouldnt take a vaccine if it was released now. If the Trump Administration releases a vaccine before or after the election, should americans take it and would you take it . If the Public Health professionals, if dr. Fauci, if the doctors tell us that we should take it, ill be the first in line to take it, absolutely. But if Donald Trump Tells us that we have to take it, im not taking it. Vice president pence, there have been a lot of repercussions from this pandemic. In recent days, the president s diagnose know sis of covid19 has underscored the importance of the job that you hold and that you are seeking. Thats our second topic tonight. Its the role of the Vice President. One of you will make history on january 20th when you will be the Vice President to the oldest president the United States has ever had. Donald trump will be 74 years old on inauguration day, joe biden will be 78 years old. That already has raised concerns among some voters, concerns that have been sharpened by President Trumps hospitalization in recent days. Vice president pence, have you had a conversation or reached an agreement with President Trump about safeguards or procedures when it comes to the issue of president ial disability . And if not, do you think you should . You have two minutes without interruption. Well, susan, thank you, although i would like to go back i think we need to move on well, thank you, but i would like to go back. Because the reality is that were going to have a vaccine, senator, in record time, in unheard of time, in less than a year. We have five companies in phase three clinical trials, and were right now producing tens of millions of doses. So the fact that you continue to undermine Public Confidence in a vaccine, if a vaccine emerges during the Trump Administration, i think is unconscionable. And, senator, i just ask you, stop playing politics with peoples lives. The reality is that we will have a advantage a seen, we believe, before the end of this year, and it will have the capacity to save countless american lives, and your continuous undermining of confidence in a vaccine is just, its just unacceptable. And met me also say let me also say the reality is when you talk about failure in this administration, we actually do know what failure looks like in a pandemic. It was 2009. The swine flu arrived in the United States. Thankfully, it was, ended up not being as lethal as the coronavirus. But before the end of the year when joe biden was Vice President of the United States, not7. 5 Million People contracted the swine flu, 60 million americans contracted the swine flu. If the swine flu had been as lethal as the coronavirus in 2009 when joe biden was Vice President , we would have lost 2 million american lives. His own chief of staff would say last year that it was pure luck that they did, quote, Everything Possible wrong. And we learned from that. They left the Strategic National stockpile empty, they left an empty and hollow plan, but we thank you, Vice President Vice President pence, your time is up, Vice President [inaudible conversations] and, senator, please thank you stop undermining confidence in a vaccine. Senator harris, let me ask you the same question that i asked Vice President pence which is have you had a conversation or reach ared an agreement with Vice President biden about safe guards or procedures when it comes to the issue of president ial disability . And if not, and if you win the election next month, do you think you should . You have two minutes uninterrupted. So let me tell you, first of all, the day i got the call from joe biden it was actually a zoom call asking me to serve with him on this ticket. It was probably one of the most memorable days of my life. I, you know, i thought about my mother who came to the United States at the anal at the age of 19 and gave birth to me at the age of 25 at Kaiser Hospital in california, and the thought that id be sitting here right now i know would make her proud. She must be looking down on this. You know, joe and i were raised in a very similar way. We were raised with values that are about hard work, about the value and the dignity of Public Service and about the importance of fighting for the dignity of all people. And i think joe asked me to serve with him because, you know, i have a career that included being elected the first woman District Attorney of San Francisco where i created models of innovation for the Law Enforcement in terms of reform of the criminal Justice System. I was elected the first woman of color and black woman to be elected attorney general of the state of california where i ran the second Large Department of justice in the United States second only to the United States department of justice. Finish and there i took on everything from Transnational Criminal Organizations to the big banks that were taking advantage of homeowners, to forprofit collegings that were colleges that were taking advantage of veterans. And, of course, now i serve in the United States as only the second black woman ever elected to the senate. I sit on the Senate Intelligence committee where ive been in regular reseat of classified information about threats to our nation and hot spots around the world. I have traveled the world, ive met with our soldiers in our, in war zones, and i think joe has asked me to serve with him because he knows that we share, we share a purpose which is about lifting up the American People. And of after the four years that we have seen of donald trump unifying our country around our common values and principles. Thank you, senator harris. You know, neither President Trump nor Vice President biden has released a sort of Detailed Health information that had had become the modern norm until the 2016 elections. And in recent days, President Trumps doctors have given misleading answers or refused to answer basic questions about his health. And my question to each of you in turn is, is this information voters deserve to know . Vice president pence, would you like to go first. Well, susan, thank you. And let me, let me say on behalf of the president and the first lady how moved weve all been by the outpouring of prayers and concern for the president. And i do believe its emblematic of the prayers and the concern that have ushered forth for every american impacted by the coronavirus. But the care the president received at walter reed hospital, white House Doctors was exceptional. And the transparency that they practiced all along the way will continue. The American People have a right to know about the health and wellbeing of their president , and well continue to do that. But im just extremely grateful and was more than, more than a little moved by the broad and bipartisan support. Senator, i want to thank you and joe biden for your expressions of genuine concern. And i also want to congratulate you as i did on that phone call on the historic nature of your nomination. I never expected to be on this stage four years ago, so i know the feeling, but the reality is weve got an election before the American People in the midst of this challenging year, and the stakes thank you, thank you, Vice President pence. I want to give senator harris a chance to respond to the same question i asked which is do voters have a right to know more Detailed Health information about president ial candidates and especially about president s, especially when theyre facing some kind of challenge . Absolutely, and thats why joe biden has been so incredibly transparent and certainly by contrast that the president has not both in terms of health records, but also look at taxes. We now know because of great Investigative Journalism that donald trump paid 750 in taxes. When i first heard about it, i literally said you mean 750,000 . And it was like, no, 750. We now know donald trump owes and is in debt for 400 million. And just so everyone is clear when we say in debt, it means you owe money to somebody. And itd be really good to know who the president of the United States, the commander in chief, owes money to, because the American People have a right to know what is influencing the president s decisions, and is he making those decisions on the best interests of the American People, of you . Or selfinterest . So, super, im glad you asked about susan, im glad you asked about transparency because it has to be across the board. Joe has been incredibly transparent over many, many years. The one thing we all know about joe, he puts it all out there. He, he is honest, he is forthright. But donald trump, on the other hand susan covers up everything. Thank you, senator. I want to give you a chance to respond, Vice President. Well, look, i respect the fact that joe biden spent 47 years in public life. I respect your Public Service as well. Thank you. The American People have a president whos a businessman. Hes a job creator. Hes paid tens of millions of dollars in taxes, payroll taxes, property taxes. Hes created tens of thousands of american jobs. The president said those public reports are not accurate, and the president s also a released literally stacks of Financial Disclosures the American People can review just as the law allows. But the distinction here is that joe biden, 47 years in Public Service, compared to President Donald Trump who brought all of that experience four years thank you and turned this economy around by cutting taxes thank you, thank you, Vice President. Fighting for free and fair trade thank you, Vice President pence. And joe biden and Kamala Harris. You know, thats a good segway into our third point which is about the economy. This has been another aspect of life for americans that has been so affected by this coronavirus. We have a jobs crisis brewing. On friday we learned that the Unemployment Rate had declined to 7. 9 in september, but the job growth had stalled, and that was before the latest round of layoffs and furloughs in the airline industry, at disney and elsewhere. Hundreds of thousands of discouraged workers have stopped looking for work. Nearly 11 million jobs that existed at the beginning of the year havent been replaced. Those hardest hit include latinos, blacks and women. Senator harris, the Biden Harris Campaign has proposed new programs to economy, and you would pay for that new spending by raising 4 trillion in taxes on wealthy individuals and corporations. Some economists warn that could curb entrepreneurial ventures that fuel growth and create jobs. Would raising taxes put the recovery at risk, and you have two minutes to answer uninterrupted. Thank you. On the issue of the economy, i think there couldnt be a more fundamental difference between donald trump and joe biden. Joe biden believes you measure the health and the strength of americas economy based on the health and the strength of the American Worker and the American Family. On the other hand, you have donald trump who measures the strength of the economy based on how rich people are doing. Which is why he passed tax bill benefiting the top 1 and the biggest corporations of america, leading to a 2 trillion deficit that the American People are going to have to pay for. On day one joe biden will repeal that tax bill. Hell get rid of it. And what hell do with the money is invest it in the American People. And through a plan that is about investing in infrastructure something that donald trump said he would do, i remember hearing about some infrastructure week, i dont think itll ever happen but joe biden will invest in infrastructure. Its about upgrading our roads and bridges but also clean energy and renewable energy. Joe is going to invest that money in what we need to do around innovation. There was a time when our country believed in science and invested in research and development so that we were an innovation leader on the globe. Joe biden will use that to invest in education. For example, for folks who want to go to a twoyear community college, it will be free. If you come from a family that makes less than 125,000, youll go to a Public University for free, and across the board well make sure that if you have student loan department, its cut by 10,000. Thats how joe biden thinks about the economy. Its about investing in the people of our country as opposed to passing a tax bill which had the benefit of letting american corporations go offshore to do their business. Thank you, senator harris. Vice president pence, your administration has been predicting a rapid and robust recovery. But the latest economic report suggests thats not happening. Should americans be braced for an economic comeback that is going to take not months, but a year or more . You have two minutes to answer uninterrupted. President trump and i took office, america had gone through the slowest economic recovery since the great depression. Thats when joe biden was Vice President , they tried to tax and spend and regulate and bail our way back to a growing economy. President trump cut taxes across the board. Despite what senator harris says, the average American Family of four had 2,000 in savings in taxes. And with the rising wages that occurred, most predominantly for blue collar, hardworking americans, the average Household Income for a family of four increased by 4,000 following President Trumps tax cuts. But america, you just heard senator harris tell you, on day one joe bidens going to raise your taxes. Its really remarkable to think right after a time when were going through a pandemic that lost 22 million jobs at the height, weve already added back 11. 6 million because we had a president who cut taxes, rolled back regulation, unleashed American Energy, fought for free and fair trade and secured 4 trillion from the congress of the United States to give direct payments to families, saved 50 million jobs through the paycheck protection program. We literally have spared no expense to help the American People and the American Worker through this. Joe biden and Kamala Harris want to raise taxes, they want to bury our economy under a 2 trillion Green New Deal which you were one of the original cosponsors of in the United States senate. They want to abolish fossil fuels and ban fracking which would cost hundreds of thousands of american jobs all across the heartland. And joe biden wants to go back to the economic surrender or to china that, when we took office, half of our International Trade deficit was with china alone. And joe biden wants to repeal all of the tariffs that that President Trump put into effect to fight for american jobs and American Workers. Joe biden says democracys on the ballot. Make no mistake about it, susan, the american economy, the american comeback is on the ballot with four more years thank you. Of growth and opportunity, four more years of President Donald Trump thank you, Vice President biggest economic year in the history of this country. Thank you, Vice President pence. Senator harris . Well, i mean, we saw enough of it in last weeks debate, but i think this is supposed to be based on facts and truth, and the fact and the truth is joe biden has been very clear, he will not raise tax on anybody who makes less [inaudible] mr. President , im speaking. [laugher] im speaking. You said its the truth. Joe biden said twice [laughter] in the debate last week that hes going to repeal the trump tax cuts. That was tax cuts that gave the average working family 2,000 in a tax break every single that is senator absolutely not true is he only putting, is he only going to repeal if you dont mind letting me finish, we can have a conversation, okay . Please. Okay. Joe biden will not raise taxes on anyone who makes less than 400,000 a year. He has been very clear about that. Joe biden will not end fracking. He has been very clear about that. Joe biden is the one who during the Great Recession was responsible for the recovery act that brought america back, and now the Trump Pence Administration wants to take credit when they ran when they rode the coattails of joe bidens success for the economy that they had at the beginning of their term. Of course now the economy is a complete disaster, but joe biden on the one hand did that. On the other hand, you have donald trump who has reigned over a recession that is being compared to the great depression. On the one hand, you have biden who was responsible with president barack obama for the Affordable Care act which brought health care to over 20 million americans and protected people with preexisting conditions, and what it also did is it saved those families who otherwise were going bankrupt because of hospital bills they could not afford. On the other hand, you have donald trump whos in court right now thank you, senator trying to get rid of the Affordable Care act which means that you will lose protections if you have preexisting conditions. And this is very pocketer susan yes. Important, susan we need to give Vice President he interrupted me, and id like to finish if you have a preexisting condition diabetes, Breast Cancer theyre coming for you. Thank you, thank you, senator if you are under the age of 26 op your parents coverage, theyre coming for you. Senator harris, thank you. Youre welcome. You have a chance to respond. Obamacare was a disaster. The American People remember it well. President trump and i have a plan to improve health care and protect preexisting conditions for every american. But, look, senator harris, youre entitled to your own opinion, but youre not entitled to your own facts. Am i . You yourself said on multiple occasions when you were running for president that you would ban fracking. Joe biden looked his supporter in the eye and pointed and said i guarantee, i guarantee that we will abolish fossil fuels. They have a 2 trillion version of the Green New Deal, susan, that your newspaper, usa today, said really wasnt that very different from the original Green New Deal. More taxes, more regulation, banning fracking, a abolishing fossil fuel, crushing American Energy and economic surrender to china is a prescription for economic decline. President trump and i will keep america growing. The vshaped recovery thats underway right now will continue with four more years of President Donald Trump. Thank you very, very much, Vice President pence. Once again, youve provided the perfect segway to a new topic which is Climate Change. And, Vice President pence, id like to pose the first question to you. This year weve seen recordsetting hurricanes in the south, another one, hurricane delta, is now threatening the gulf. And we have seen recordsetting wildfires in the west. Do you believe, as the Scientific Community has concluded, that manmade Climate Change has made wildfires bigger, hotter and more deadly and have made hurricanes wetter, slower and more damaging . You have two minutes uninterrupted. Thank you, susan. Well, first, im very proud of our record on the environment and on conservation. According to all of the best estimates, our air and land are cleaner than anytime ever recorded. Our waters among the cleanest in the world. And just a little while ago the president signed the outdoors act, the largest investment in our public lands and public parks in a hundred years. So President Trump has made a commitment to conservation and to the environment. Now with regard to Climate Change, the climate is changing. The issue is whats the cause and what do we do about it. President trump has made it clear that were going to continue to listen to the science. Now, joe biden and Kamala Harris would put us back in the paris climate accord. Theyd impose the Green New Deal which would crush American Energy, would increase the energy costs of American Families in their homes and literally would crush american jobs. President trump and i believe that the progress that we have made in a cleaner environment thats been happening precisely because we have a strong free market economy. You know, whats remarkable is the United States has reduced co2 more than the countries that are still in the paris climate accord, but weve done it through innovation. And weve done it through natural gas and fracking. Which, senator, the American People can go look at the record. I know joe biden says otherwise now, as you do, but the both of you repeatedly committed to abolishing fossil fuel and banning of fracking. And so by creating the kind of american innovation, were actually steering toward a stronger and better environment are. With regard to wildfires, President Trump and i believe that Forest Management has to be front and center, and even governor gavin newsom from your state has agreed. And with regard to hurricanes, the National Oceanic administration tells us that, actually thank you, Vice President as difficult as there are, there are no more hurricanes today than there were a hundred years ago. Thank you. But many of the [inaudible conversations] to try and sell a bill of goods of a Green New Deal. And President Trump and i are going to always thank you, Vice President pence. American workers first. Senator harris, as the Vice President mentioned, you cosponsored the Green New Deal in congress, but Vice President biden said in last weeks debate that he does not support the Green New Deal. But if you look at the Biden Harris Campaign web site, it describes the Green New Deal as a crucial framework. What exactly would be the stance of a Biden Harris Administration toward the Green New Deal . You have two minutes uninterrupted. All right. So, first of all, i will repeat and the American People know that joe biden will not ban fracking. That is a fact. That is fact. I will repeat that joe biden has been very cheer clear that he thinks about growing jobs which is why he will not increase taxes for anyone who makes less than 400,000 a year. Joe bidens economic plan, moodys which is a reputable wall street firm has said will create 7 million more jobs than Donald Trumps. And part of those jobs that will be created by joe biden are going to be about a clean energy and renewable energy. Because, you see, joe understands that the west coast of our country is burning including my home state of california. Joe sees what is happening on the gulf states which are being battered by storms. Joe has seen and talked with the farmers in iowa whose entire crops have been destroyed because of floods. And so joe believes, again, in science. Ill tell you something, susan, i served when i first got to the senate on the committee thats responsible for the environment. Do you know this administration took the word science off the web site and then took the phrase Climate Change off the web site . We have seen a pattern with this administration which is they dont believe in science. And joes plan is about saying were going to deal with this, but were also going to create jobs. Donald trump, when asked about the wildfires in california and the question was, you know, the science is telling us you know what donald trump said . Science doesnt know. So lets talk about who is prepared to lead our country over the course of the next four years on what is an existential threat to us as human beings. Joe is about saying were going to invest that in renewable energy, its going to be about the creation of millions of jobs. We will achieve net zero emissions by 2050, Carbon Neutral by 2035. Joe has a plan. This has been a lot of talk from the Trump Administration and really it has been to go backward instead of forward. We will also reenter the climate agreement with pride. Senator harris just said that Climate Change is an existential threat. Vice president pence, do you believe that Climate Change poses an existential threat . As i said, susan, the climate is changing. Well follow the science. But once again senator harris is denying the fact that theyre going to raise taxes on every american. Joe biden said twice in the debate last week that on day one he was going to repeal the trump tax cuts. Those tax cuts delivered 2,000 in tax relief to the average family of four across america. And with regard to banning fracking, i just recommend people look at the record. You yourself said repeatedly that you would ban fracking. You were the first senate cosponsor of the Green New Deal. And while joe biden denied the Green New Deal, susan, thank you for coirchting out pointing out that its on their web site, and its essentially the same plan as you cosponsored with aoc when she submitted it in the senate. And you just heard the senate say shes going to resubmit america to the paris climate accord. Look, the American People have always cherished our environment. Well continue to cherish it. Weve made great progress reducing co2 emissions through the development of natural gas through fracking. We dont need a massive 2 trillion Green New Deal that would impose all new mandates on american businesses and American Families which thank you. Joe widen thank you. It makes no sense. It cost jobs. President trump thank you, Vice President. America first, hes going to put jobs first, and were going to take care of our environment and follow the science. You know, on the issue of jobs senator harris. Lets talk about that. You, the Vice President earlier referred to as part of what he thinks is an accomplishment that the president s trade war with china. You lost that trade war. You lost it. What ended up happening is because of a socalled trade war with china, america lost 300,000 manufacturing jobs. Farmers have experienced bankruptcy because of it. We are in a manufacturing recession because of it. And when we look at where this administration has been, there are estimates that by the end of the term of this administration they will have lost more jobs than almost any other president ial administration. And the American People know what im talking about. You know. I think about 20yearolds. You know, we have a 20yearold. 20somethingyearold who are coming out of high school and college, and youre wondering is there going to be a job there for me. Were looking at people who are trying to figure out how theyre going to pay rent by the end of the month. Almost half of American Renters are worried about whether theyre going to be able to pay rent by the end of the month. This is where the economy is in america right now, and it is because of the catastrophe and the failure of leadership of this administration. Thank you, senator harris. Vice president pence, let me give you 15 seconds to respond, and then i want to move on. Well, id love to respond. Look, lost the trade war with china . Joe biden never fought it. Joe bidens been a cheerleader for communist china over the last several decades. And, again, senator harris, youre entitled to your opinion, youre not entitled to your own facts. When joe biden was Vice President , we lost 200,000 manufacturing jobs, and president obama said they were never coming back. He said we needed a magic wand to bring them back. In our first three years thank you, Vice President rolled back regulation, unleashed American Energy, this administration saw 500,000 thank you, Vice President. And thats exactly the kind of growth were going to continue to see as we bring thank you, Vice President pandemic. Green new deal, paris climate accord, its going the kill jobs susan, i just need to respond very quickly 15 seconds and then well thank you. Thank you. Joe biden is responsible for saving americas auto industry, and you voted against it. So lets set the record straight. Thank you. Id like to talk about china. We have as our next topic, we have no more complicated or consequential foreign relationship than the one with china. It is a huge market for american agricultural goods. Its a potential partner in dealing with Climate Change and north korea. And in a video tonight, President Trump again blamed it for the coronavirus saying china will pay. Vice president pence, how would you describe our fundamental relationship with china . Competitors, adversaries, enemies . You have two minutes. Thank you, susan. Well, let me before i leave that, let me speak to voting records, if i can. You know, Everybody Knows that nafta cost literally thousands of american factories to close. We saw automotive jobs go south of the border. President trump fought to renegotiate nafta. And the United States mexico Canada Agreement is now the law of the land. The American People deserve to know senator Kamala Harris was one of only ten members of the senate to vote against the usmca. It was a huge win for american autoworkers, it was a huge win for american farmer, especially dairy in the upper midwest. But, senator, you said it didnt go far enough on Climate Change, that you put your radical environmental agenda ahead of american autoworkers and ahead of american jobs. I think the American People deserve to know that. Its probably why Newsweek Magazine said that Kamala Harris was the most liberal member of the United States senate in 2019. More liberal than bernie sanders, more liberal than any of the others in the united unid states senator. Now, with regard to china, the susan, first and foremost, china is to blame for the coronavirus. And President Trump is not happy about it. Hes made that very clear, made it clear again today. China and the World Health Organization did not play straight with the American People. They did not let our personnel into china to get information on the coronavirus until the middle of february. Fortunately, President Trump in dealing with chai from from the outside of this administration, standing up to china that had been taking advantage of america for decades in the wake of joe bidens cheerleading for china, President Trump made the decision to suspend all travel from china. And again, the American People deserve to know, joe biden opposed President Trumps decision. He said it was hysterical thank you, Vice President , pence. Vice president pence, your time is up. Continue to stand strong finish. Thank you, Vice President pence. We want to level the playing field, were going to hold china accountable for what they did to america with the coronavirus. Thank you. Senator harris, let me ask you the same question that i asked the Vice President. How would you describe our fundamental relationship with china . Are we competitors . Adversaries . Enemies . Youll have two minutes uninterrupted. Susan, the Trump Administrations per spentive and approach to china has resulted in the loss of american lives, american jobs and americas standing. There is a weird obsession that President Trump has had with getting rid of whatever accomplishment was achieved by president obama and Vice President biden. For example, they created within the white house an office that basically was responsible for monitoring pandemics. They got rid of it. Not true. There was a team of disease experts that president obama and Vice President biden dispatched to china to monitor what is now predictable and what might happen. They pulled them out. We now are looking at 210,000 americans who have lost their lives. Lets look at the jobs situation. We mentioned before the trade deal, the trade war they wanted to call it with china. It resulted in the loss of over 300 manufacturing jobs and a manufacturing recession. And the American Consumer paid thousands of dollars more for goods because of that failed war that they called it. And lets talk about standing. Pew, a Reputable Research firm, as done an analysis that shows that leaders of all of our formerly ally cups have now decided countries have now decided that they hold in greater esteem and respect xi jinping, the head of the Chinese Communist party, than they do donald trump, the president of the United States, the chabder in chief of the United States do the commander in chief of the United States. This is where we are today because of a failure of leadership by this administration. Senator harris, weve seen changes in the, in the role of the United States in terms of Global Leadership are over the past four years. And, of course, times do change. Whats your definition weve seen strength with china, of course, as the Vice President mentioned. What is your definition of the role of American Leadership in 2020 . So, you know, joe i love talking with joe about a lot of these issues and, you know, joe, i think he said it quite well. He says, you know, Foreign Policy might sound complicated but really its relationships. Just think about it as relationships. So we know this in our personal professional relationship are. Youve got to keep your word to your friends. Youve got to be loyal to your friends. People who have stood with you, youve got to stand with them. Youve got to know who your adversaries are and keep them in check. But what we have seen with donald trump is that he has betrayed our friends and embraced dictators around the world. Lets take, for example, russia. So i serve on the Intelligence Committee of the United States senate. Americas Intelligence Community told us russia interfered in the election of the president of the United States in 2016 and in 2020. Christopher wray, the director of the fbi, said the same. But donald trump, the commander in chief of the United States of america, prefers the take the word of Vladimir Putin over the word of the american Intelligence Community. You look at our friends at a nato. He has walked away from agreements. You can talk look at the Iran Nuclear Deal which now has put us in a position where we are less safe because they are building up what might end up being a significant nuclear arsenal. We were in that deal, guys, we were in the Iran Nuclear Deal with friends, with allies around the country. And because of Donald Trumps unilateral approach to Foreign Policy coupled with his isolationism, he pulled us out and has made america less safe. So, susan, its about relationships. And the thing that has always been part of the strength of our nation in addition to our great military has been that we keep our word. But donald trump doesnt understand that because he doesnt understand what it means to be honest. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, senator harris. Vice president , let me give you a chance to respond. Well, thank you. Well, President Trump kept his word when we moved the American Embassy to jerusalem, capital of the state of israel. When joe biden was Vice President , they promised to do that and never did. We stood strong with our allies, but weve been demanding. Nato is now contributing more to our common defense than ever before thanks to President Trumps leadership. Weve strengthened our alliances across the asiapacific. And weve stood strong against those who would do us harm. You know, when President Trump came into office, isis had captured an area of the middle the size of pennsylvania. But President Trump unleashed the american military, and our armed forces destroyed the isis caliphate and took out their leader,ral a bag a daddy, without when joe biden was Vice President , we had an opportunity to save kayla mueller. Breaks my heart to reflect on it, but the military came into the oval office, presented you. Last administration transferred 1. 8 billion to the leading state sponsor of terrorism. President donald trump got us out of the deal. When soleimani was traveling to baghdad to do harm to americans, President Donald Trump took him out and america is safer, our allies are safer and the American People know p the donald trump will never. Thank you, Vice President pence. Give senator harris a chance to respond not at such great length. There are other topics we want to talk about. I would like equal time. Go ahead. First of all to the mueller family. I know about your daughters case, im so sorry. Im so sorry. What happened to her is awful and it should have never happened. I know joe feels the same way. And i know that president obama feels the same way. But you mentioned soleimani. Lets start there. So after the strike on soleimani there was a counterstrike on our troops in iraq. And they suffered serious brain injuries. You know what donald trump dismissed them as . Headaches this is about a part tern of Donald Trumps he referred to our men who are serving in our military as suckers and losers. Donald trump, who went to Arlington Cemetery and stood above the grave. Our stood above the grave of Fallen Heroes saud what is in it for them. It is only in hit for him. What he said about john mccain, a Great American hero. Donald trump says, he doesnt deserve to be called a hero because he was a prisoner of war. This is very important, when you want to talk about who is the current commander in chief and what they care about, what they dont care about. Public reporting that russia has bounties on the heads of american soldiers. You know what a bounty is . Its somebody puts a price on your head and they will pay it if you are killed and donald trump had talked at least six times to Vladmir Putin and never brought up the subject. Joe biden would never do that. Thank you. Joe biden would hold russia to account for any threat to our nations security or to our troops who are sacrificing their lives for the sake of our democracy and our safety. Thank you, senator harris this is such an important issue. We have other important issues as well. I want to make sure. I have to really respond to that. 15 seconds because. I got to have more than that. Im sorry, Vice President you had more time than she has had so far. Against President Donald Trump regarding men and women much our armed forces are absurd. Im sorry Vice President pence. Captain in the United States marine corps. My soninlaw is deployed in the United States navy. I can assure all of you the sons and daughters serving in our military. President donald trump not only respects you about reverse all of those who serve in our armed forces any suggestion otherwise is ridiculous. Let me also say the American People deserve, susan the American People. Vice president pence i did not create the rules for tonight. Joe biden. Your am pain agreed rules on the debate with commission on president ial debates. I am here to enforce them. Moving from one topic to another, giving roughly equal time to both of you. Go ahead. I want to go ahead to move to the next topic an important one as the last topic was, that is the Supreme Court. On monday, the . The Judiciary Committee is scheduled to open hearings on Amy Coney Barretts nomination to the Supreme Court. Senator harris, you will be there as a member of the committee. Her confirmation would cement the courts conservative majority and make it likely open to more abortion restrictions, to even overturning landmark roe v. Wade ruling. Access to abortion would be up to the states. Vice president pence, youre the former governor of indian, if roe v. Wade is overturned what would you want indiana do . Would you want your home state to ban all abortions . You have two minutes uninterrupted. Thank you for the question. I will use a little bit of my time to respond to the very important issue before. The American People deserve to know Kassem Soleimani was responsible for deaths of hundreds of american servicemembers. President trump didnt hesitate and soleimani is gone. You deserve to know that joe biden and Kamala Harris criticized the decision to take Kassem Soleimani. It is inexplicable with regard to joe biden it is explainable. History records that joe biden opposed the raid against osama bin laden. It is absolutely essential that we have a commanderinchief who will not hesitate to act to protect american lives and to protect american servicemembers. That is what you have in President Donald Trump. Now with regard to the Supreme Court of the United States, let me say President Trump and i could be not more enthusiastic about the opportunity to see judge Amy Coney Barrett become justice Amy Coney Barrett. She is a brilliant woman and she will bring a lifetime of experience and a sizable American Family to the Supreme Court of the United States. And our hope is in the hearing next week unlike Justice Kavanaugh received with treatment from you and others we hope she gets a fair hearing and we particularly hope that we dont see the kind of attacks on her Christian Faith that we saw before. Democrat chairman of Judiciary Committee before when judge barrett was being confirmed for the court of appeals expressed concern that, dogma of her faith lived loudly in her. Dick durbin of illinois said it was a concern. Senator, i know one of our judicial nominees you actually attacked because they were a member of the catholic nights of columbus because the knights of columbus hold prolife views. My hope when the hearing take place, that judge Amy Coney Barrett will be respected to the Supreme Court of the United States. Thank you, mr. Vice president. Senator harris, former attorney general of california. Let me ask you a parallel question to you one i posed to the Vice President. If roe v. Wade overturned what would you want california to do. Would you want your home state to enact no restrictions on accessabortion. You have two minutes uninterrupted. Thank you, susan. Joe biden and are both people of faith and it is insulting to suggest that we would knock anyone for their faith. In fact joe, if elected will be only are the second practicing catholic as president of the United States. On the issue of this nomination joe and i are very clear as are the majority of the American People. We have 27 days before the decision about who will be the next president of the United States and you know before, when this conversation has come up, you know it has been about Election Year or election time. Were literally in an election. Over four Million People have voted. People are in the process of voting right now and so joe has been very clear, as the American People are, let the American People fill that seat in the white house and then well fill that seat on the United States Supreme Court. To your point, susan. The issues before us couldnt be more serious. There is the issue of choice and i will always fight for a womans right to make a decision about her own body. It should be her decision and not that of donald trump and the Vice President michael pence but also look at also what is before the court. It is the Affordable Care act. Literally in the midst of a Public Health pandemic when over 210,000 people have died and 7 Million People probably have what will be in the future considered a preexisting condition because you contracted the virus donald trump is in court either now trying to get rid of the Affordable Care act. I said it before. And it bears repeating this means that there will be no more protections, if they win, for people with preexisting conditions. No. This means, that over 20 Million People will lose your coverage. It means that if youre under the age of 26 you cant stay on your parents coverage anymore. And heres the thing. The contrast couldnt be more clear. Theyre trying to get rid of the Affordable Care act. Joe biden says expand coverage. Give you choice of public option or private coverage. Bring down premiums. Thank you, senator. Lower medicare eligibility to 60. That is true leadership. You mentioned earlier, Vice President pence the president was committed to maintaining protection for preexisting conditions but you do have the court case you are supporting, your administration is supporting that would strike down the Affordable Care act. The president says, President Trump says that he is going to protect people with preexisting conditions but he has not explained how he would do that. And that was one of the toughest nuts to crack when they were passing the Affordable Care act. So tell us specifically how would your administration protect americans with preexisting conditions, have access to affordable insurance, if the Affordable Care act is struck down . Well, thank you, susan but, let me just say, addressing your very first question, i couldnt be more proud to serve as Vice President to a president who stands without apology for the sanctity of human life. Im prolife. I dont apologize for it. And this is another one of those cases where the such a traumatic contrast. Joe biden and Kamala Harris taxpayerfunded of abores all the way up to moment of birth. Lateterm abortion. They want to increased funding to planned parenthood of america. For our part i would never presume how judge Amy Coney Barrett would rule on the Supreme Court of the United States but well continue to stand strong for the right to life. When you speak about the Supreme Court though i think the American People really deserve an answer, senator harris. Are you and joe biden going to pack the court if judge Amy Coney Barrett is confirmed . I mean there have been 29 vacancies on the Supreme Court during president ial Election Years from George Washington to barack obama. President s nominated in all 29 cases but your party is actually openly advocating adding seats to the Supreme Court which hassed had nine seats for 150 if you dont get your way. This is a classic case if you cant win by the rules you will change the rules. Now you refused to answer the question. Joe biden refused to answer the question. So i think the American People would really like to know if judge Amy Coney Barrett is confirmed to the Supreme Court of the United States are you and joe biden if somehow you win this election going to pack the Supreme Court to get your way . Im so glad we went through a little history lesson. Lets do that a little more. In 1864 i would like you to answer the question. Mr. Vice president was speaking. Im speaking, okay . In 1864 one of the, i think political heroes, certainly of the president , i assume of you also, mr. Vice president is abraham lincoln. Uhhuh. Abraham lincoln was up for reelection and it was 27 days before the election and a seat became open on the United States Supreme Court. Abraham lincolns party was in charge not only of the white house but of the senate. But honest abe said not the right thing to do. The American People deserve to make the decision about who will be the next president of the United States and that person can select who will serve for a lifetime on the highest court of our land. And so joe and i are very clear. The American People are voting right now and it should be their decision about who will serve on this most important body for a lifetime. Thank you. Senator harris. Susan voting like know they would like to know if you and joe biden will pack the Supreme Court if you dont get your way in this nomination . Talk about packing. Gave a nonanswer. American people deserve a straight answer, if you havent figured it out yet the straight answer they are going to pack the Supreme Court if they somehow win this election. I got to tell you people across this country, if you cherish our Supreme Court, if you cherish separation of powers you need to reject the bidenharris ticket come november the 3rd. Reelect President Trump who stands by nine seat of the court. Lets talk about the packing the court. Please. Im about to. So, the trumppence administration, has, i sit on the senate Judiciary Committee and i witnessed Lifetime Appointments to district courts, to courts of appeal, people idealogical, people reviewed by legal professional organizations found to have is been not competent or substandard. Do you know of the 50 people who President Trump appointed to the court of appeals for lifetime appointment, not one is black . This is what they have been doing. You want to talk about package court. Lets have that discussion. All right. Thank you, senator. Lets go on to talk about the issue of racial justice. I just want the record to reflect she never answered the question. But the maybe next debate joe biden will answer the question but i think the American People know the answer. Thank you, mr. Vice president. In march Breonna Taylor, a 26yearold emergency room technician in louisville was shot and killed after Police Officers executing a search warrant in a narcotics investigation broke into her apartment. The police said they identified themselves. Taylors boyfriend he didnt hear them do that he used a gun registered to him to fire a shot which wounded an officer. The officers then fired more than 20 rounds into the apartment. They say they were acting in selfdefense. None of them have been indicted in connection with her death. Senator harris, in the case of Breonna Taylor was justice done . You have two minutes . I dont believe so. I have talked with breonna mother to make a promise to her family. Her family deserves justice. She was a beautiful young woman. She had her life goal to become a nurse as a goal become an emt to learn what was going on out on the street so she could become a nurse and save lives and her life was taken unjustifiably, tragically and violently. It brings me to you know, the eight minutes and 46 seconds that america witnessed during which an american man was tortured and killed under the knee of an armed Uniformed Police officer. And people around our country of every race, of every age, of every gender, perfect strangers to each other, marched, shoulder to shoulder, arm in arm fighting for us to finally achieve that ideal of equal justice under law. I was a part of those peaceful protests. And i believe strongly that first of all, we are never going to condone violence but we always must fight for the values that we hold dear including the fight to achieve our ideals. And that is why joe biden and i have said on this subject, look im, i former career prosecutor. I know what im talking about. Bad cops are bad for good cops. We need reform of our policing in america and our criminal Justice System which is why joe and i will immediately ban chokeholds and carotid holds. George floyd would be alive today if we did that we will require a National Registry for Police Officers who break the law. We will on the issue of criminal Justice Reform get rid of private prisons and cash bail and we will decriminalize marijuana and we will expunge the records of those who have been convicted of marijuana. This takes time for leadership, on tragic tragic issue. Senator harris. Thank you, senator harris. Vice president pence let me pose the same question to you in the case of Breonna Taylor was justice done . You have two minutes uninterrupted. Our heart breaks for the loss of any innocent life and the family of Breonna Taylor has our sympathies but i trust our Justice System of grand jury that reviews the evidence. It is really remarkable as a former prosecutor you would assume that an impaneled grand jury looking at all the evidence got it wrong. Youre entitled to your opinion, senator. I think look, with regard to george floyd, there is no excuse for what happened to george floyd. Justice will be served. There is no excuse for the rioting and looting that followed. I mean it really is astonishing, flora westbrook is here with us tonight in salt lake city. A few weeks ago i stood at what used to be her salon was burned to the ground by rioters and looters. And flora is still trying to put her life back together. I must tell you this, this presumption, that you hear consistently from joe biden and Kamala Harris that america is systematically racist, that as joe biden said he believes that Law Enforcement has an implicit bias against minorities, is a great insult to the men and women who serve in Law Enforcement. I want everyone to know who puts on the uniform of Law Enforcement every day that President Trump and i stand with you. And it is remarkable that when senator tim scott tried to pass a Police Reform bill brought together a group of republicans and democrats senator harris, you got up and walked out of the room. And then you filibustered senator tim scotts bill on the senate floor that would have provided new accountability and new resources. We dont have to choose between supporting Law Enforcement, improving Public Safety and supporting our africanamerican neighbors and all of our minorities. Under President Trumps leadership we always stand with Law Enforcement. Thank you. Well do want to improve the lives of africanamericans with record unemployment. Record investments in education. Your time is up. Fight for School Choice for all of americans. I like to respond. Senator harris. I will not be lectured by the Vice President what it means to enforce the laws the of our country. Im only one on this stage personally prosecuted everything from child Sexual Assault to homicide. Im only one on this stage who has prosecuted big banks for taking advantage ever american homeowners. Im only one on this stage who for taking advantage of our veterans of the reality walk talking about election in the next 27 days, the president of the United States took a debate stage in front of 70 million americans and refused to condemn white supremacist. Not true. It wasnt like he didnt have a chance. He didnt do it and then he doubled down. And then he said, when pressed stand back. Stand by. And this is a part of a pattern of Donald Trumps. He called mexicans racist and criminals. He instituted as his first act a muslim ban. He on issue of charlottesville where people were peacefully protesting be the need for racial justice. Where a young woman was killed. On the other side there were flee owe neonazis carrying tiki torches shouting racial ephithet s and racial slurs, when asked about it, President Trump said there were fine people on both sides. This is who the president of the United States. America you deserve better. Joe biden will be a president who brings our country together. Senator harris. Recognizes beauty in our diversity that we have so much more in common than what stem rates us. Vice president give you a minute to respond. Thank you, susan. I appreciate that very much. I think this is one of the things that makes people dislike the media so much in this country, susan. That you selectively edit just like senator harris did comments that President Trump and i and others on our side ever the aisle make. I mean senator harris conveniently omitted after the president made comments about people on either side of the debate over monuments, he condemned the kkk, neonazis and white supremacist has done so repeatedly. The concern that President Trump doesnt condemn neonazis. President trump has jewish grandchildren. His. I am glad you brought up your record, senator. Thank you. When you were d. A. In San Francisco, when you left office, africanamericans were 19 times more likely to be prosecuted for minor drug offenses than whites and hispanics. When you were attorney general of california thank you. You increased the disproportionate incarceration of blacks in california. You did nothing on criminal Justice Reform in california. You didnt lift a finker to pass the First Step Act on capitol hill. I mean the reality is your record speaks for itself. President trump and i have fought for criminal Justice Reform. Thank you, Vice President pence. Fought for educational choice and opportunities for africanamericans all of our well do it for four more years. Thank you. There is no more important issue than the final issue we talk about tonight. That is the issue of the election. He attacked my record. I would like an opportunity to respond. Let me give you 30 seconds because were running out of time. I appreciate that. First of all having served as the attorney general of the state of california the work that i did is a model of what our nation needs to do and we will be able to do under a joe biden presidency. Our, our agenda includes what this administration has failed to do, it will be about not only instituting a ban on chokeholds and carotid hold. Thank you. Thank you, senator harris. I would like to go through. These are points you made earlier in the hour i want to talk about the election. I want to talk about the connection what joe and i will do about my record. Which ink clouds i was the first statewide officer to institute a requirement that my agents would irwear body camerases and keep them on full time. We were the first to initiate requirement for training on Law Enforcement on implicit bias. Joe biden and i recognize implicit bias does exist, mr. Vice president. Contrary to what you may believe. We did the work ever instituting reforms that were about investing in reentry. This is the work that we have done the work we will do Going Forward and again i will not be lectured by the Vice President on our record of what we have done in terms of Law Enforcement and keeping our communities safe and commitment to reforming the criminal Justice System of america. Thank you, senator harris. I would like to pose the first, like you to respond first to the question on our final topic, the election itself. President trump has several times refused to commit himself to a peaceful transfer of power after the election. If your ticket wins and President Trump refuses to accept a peaceful transfer of power what steps would you and Vice President biden take . What would happen next . You have two minutes . So ill tell you, joe and i are particularly proud of the coalition that weve built around our campaign. We probably have one of the broadest coalition of folks you have ever seen in a president ial race. We have the support of democrats but also independents and republicans and in fact Seven Members of president george w. Bushs cabinet are supporting our ticket. We have the support of colin powell, cindy mccain, john kasich. Over 500 generals, retired generals and former National Security experts and advisors are supporting our campaign. I believe they are doing that because they know that joe biden has a deep, deep, seeded commitment to fight for our democracy. And to fight for the integrity of our democracy and to bring integrity back to the white house. We believe in the American People. We believe in our democracy. And here is what i would like to say to everybody, vote, please vote, vote early. Come up with a plan to vote. Go to i will vote. Com. Go to joe biden. Com. We have it within our power the next 27 days to make the decision about what will be the corporation of our course of country the next four years. It within our power if we use our vote, we use our voice we will, and we will not let anyone subvert our democracy what donald trump has been doing as he did on the debate stage last week, in front of 70 Million People he openly attempted to suppress the vote. Joe biden on the other hand on that same debate stage clearly donald trump doesnt think he can run on the record because its a failed record, joe biden on that stage said, hey, just please vote. So i will repeat what joe said of the please vote. Thank you, senator. Vice president mike pence President Trump refused several times to commit himself to a peaceful transfer of power after the election. In Vice President biden declares the winner and President Trump refuses to accept a peaceful transfer of power, what would be your role and responsibility as Vice President . Would you personally do . You have two minutes. Susan first and foremost i think were going to win this election because while joe biden and Kamala Harris rattle a long litany of the establishment in washington, d. C. And establishment joe biden has been a part of 47 years, President Donald Trump launched a movement from Everyday Americans from every walk of life. I have every confidence the sam americans that delivered that historic victory in 2016, they see this president s record where we rebuilt our military, we revived our economy through tax cuts and rolling back regulation, fighting for fair trade unleashing American Energy. We appointed conservatives to our federal courts at every level and we stood with the men and women of Law Enforcement every single day. I think that movement of americans is only grown stronger in the last four years. When you talk about accepting the outcome of the election, i must tell you senator, your party has spent the last 3 1 2 years trying to overturn the results of the last election. It is amazing. When joe biden was Vice President of the United States the fbi actually spied on President Trump and my campaign. I mean there were documents released this week that the cia actually made a referral to the fbi documenting that those allegations were coming from the Hillary Clinton campaign. Of course weve all seen the avalanche, what you put the country through for the better part of three years until it was found there was no obstruction, no collusion, case closed. And then senator harris you and your colleagues in the congress tried to impeach the president of the United States over a phone call. And now Hillary Clinton is actually said to joe biden that in her words, under no circumstances should he concede the election. So let me just say i think were going to win this election. President trump and i are fighting every day in courthouses to prevent joe biden and Kamala Harris changes rules, creating universal mailin voting that creates a massive opportunity for voter fraud. That we have a free and fair election. We have confidence in it. And i believe in all my heart that President Donald Trump will be reelected four years. Ive given all the questions i have tonight, for final question of the debate i want to read a question someone else wrote. Debate commission asked students in the state to write essays what they would like to ask you, i want to close tonights debate with a question posed by bricklin brown. She is an 8th grader at springville junior high in springville, utah. Here is what she wrote. When i watch the news, all i see is arguing between democrats and republicans. When i watch the news is all i see citizen fighting against citizen. When i watch the news, all i sigh are two candidates from opposing parties trying to tear each other down. If our leaders cant get along, how are the citizens supposed to get along . Then she added your examples could make all the difference to bring us together, end quote. So to each of you in turn i would like you to take one minute and respond to breklin. Breklin, that is wonderful question. Let me commend you for taking an interest in public life. I started following the news when i was very young and in america we brief in a free and open exchange of debate. We celebrate that. And it is how weve created literally the freest and most prosperous nation in the history of the world. And i, i will tell you that dont assume that what youre seeing on your local News Networks is synonymous with the American People. You know i look at the relationship between Justice Ruth Bader ginsburg, the late justice who we just lost in the Supreme Court and the late justice antonin scalia. They were on polar opposites on the Supreme Court of the United States. One very liberal, one very conservative but what has been learned since her passing was the two of them and their families were the very closest of friends. Here in america we can disagree, we can debate vigorously as senator harris and i have on this stage tonight but when the debate is over we come together as americans. That is what people do in big cities and small towns all across this country. So i just want to encourage you
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