Bill Richardson in 2007 Democratic Primary Debate at Howard University, sponsored by PBS

On Civil Rights: Diversity isn't just talking points; it's facts of life

A: Leading on the issues of race is about being authentic, about speaking honestly. Race is a major issue in this country, and the next president has to talk about it. Race is not just passing new laws. Race is not just naming solid Supreme Court justices. Race is also dealing with bigotry and racism that exists in this country.

And I believe very strongly that the next president is not just going to have to pass laws and take the steps necessary to reaffirm affirmative action and take steps to make sure that our schools are integrated, but also the next president is going have to lead and speak passionately about a dialogue among all people.

And I believe very strongly that issues of diversity, for me, the first Latino to run for president, aren't talking points; they're facts of life.

On Corporations: Reward companies that pay over the prevailing wage

We need to rebuild this economy by being pro-growth Democrats. We should be the party of innovation, of entrepreneurship, of building capital. We need to find a way that globalization works for the middle class.

On Education: Nobody asks how we pay for war; why do we ask on education?

You know, I want to just state that for the record, I am for a minimum wage for teachers. The key to a good education is to pay our teachers and have accountability.

And we have to make sure that we deal with this achievement gap. One out of two minorities in this country, one out of two African-American, Latino kids don't make it through high school. They drop out. That has to be combated with at-risk programs, with programs that deal with more parental involvement. We have to start early, universal preschool. We did this in New Mexico. Kids under 4 have full-day kindergarten. And finally, we have to find a way to give every American access to a college education.

On Environment: Katrina response "disgraceful"; reform FEMA & insurance

GRAVEL: Yes.

DODD: I would as well. New Orleans and Katrina have become a symbol of everything that went wrong with this administration's failure to respond to a people in need.

CLINTON: I have proposed a 10-point Gulf Coast Recovery Agenda, because even if we were to give people a right, there is nothing to return to.

RICHARDSON: Yes, I would support that. I would also support the Katrina Recovery Act. This has been the most disgraceful episode in an American response to help our own people. What we need to do in this country is not just atone for a miserable performance before, during and after Katrina, but for the future [by reforming FEMA & federal emergency loan rules]. We also need to say to the insurance companies: You have to insure these people and rebuild homes in Louisiana.

EDWARDS: This is an issue I care about personally & deeply.

On Foreign Policy: Pressure China & Europe to enforce no-fly zone in Darfur

RICHARDSON: You know, in the last debate I upset some people because I said we should use the levers on China, on them hosting the Olympics, to do something on Darfur. You know, I believe that fighting genocide is more important than sports. So what I would like to do is, one, a no-fly zone. Get economic sanctions backed by the Europeans. We need to find ways to stop the massive rapes. I was in Darfur three months ago. Today a report by Refugees International laid out a plan to deal with that. We should not forget about Africa. American policymakers should take stands not just on the Middle East and Iraq.

EDWARDS: I agree, a no-fly zone; a security force on the ground; sanctions; pressure on the Chinese. But Darfur is part of a bigger question for America: how do we re-establish ourselves after Iraq as a force for good in the world?

On Free Trade: Fair trade includes no slave labor & no child labor

On Health Care: Fund fight on HIV/AIDS both nationally and internationally

A: It is a moral imperative that America have a policy to fight this dreaded disease both nationally and internationally. You got to make some tough choices. First, we've got to have needles [in exchange programs]. We have to be sure that we have efforts in the African-American community to have comprehensive education. In addition, we have to deal with Africa. Close to 20% of the African people have some kind of HIV virus. It's important that the president of the US make a major funding effort, a major commitment to deal with this issue. And here I'm going to say something positive about President Bush. His funding for Millennium accountability and Millennium appropriations has been relatively impressive.

On Health Care: FactCheck: AIDS rate in Africa is 5.8%, not 20% as claimed

That's a huge overstatement. It is true that there are some individual countries in Africa with a 20% or higher rate of HIV infection. In fact, when we contacted the Richardson campaign, an aide cited statistics showing seven countries with that level of infection. However, that's out of 48 countries in sub-Saharan Africa alone.

While the number of HIV cases in sub-Saharan Africa is quite large--25 million, according to the UN--it is not nearly 20% of the total population of the region. In fact, it's 5.8%, according to the World Bank. Adding in North Africa, with its lower rate of HIV infection, would further reduce the overall percentage for all the "African people." The UN did estimate that more than 25% of Africans were directly affected, though not infected, by HIV; this included spouses, children & elderly dependents of HIV sufferers.

On Tax Reform: Replace Bush tax cuts with cuts for middle class

A: There's no question that there's tax unfairness in this country, but we have to rebuild the economy. Yes, the Bush tax cuts have to go. But I would replace those Bush tax cuts with tax cuts for the middle class. We need to rebuild this economy by being pro-growth Democrats. We should be the party of innovation, of entrepreneurship, of building capital.

On Technology: 250 science & math academies to limit technical outsourcing

RICHARDSON: Outsourcing is a problem. Most outsourcing jobs are technical. We need to upgrade our science and math standards in our school. It's education. And I would create 250 science and math academies to deal with that gap. I would have an industrial policy where we invest in high-growth industries, in health industries, in high-tech, in renewable energy, to keep those jobs here.

On Welfare & Poverty: Strategy to deal with poverty: unions; living wage; EITC