Feingold Listening Session transcript online

[Jackpine Radical]

(Excerpt:)

http://www.progressivepatriotsfund.com/content/367

Russ_Feingold
Welcome and thank you for participating in my first ever national online listening session.

Alyce_from_Rhode_Island
Will Congress press forward with hearings regarding the NSA Illegal Wiretapping on Americans, apparently there is much more to this than what was told by the media to the American people.

Russ_Feingold
Alyce – I’m very concerned that what began as a series of potentially useful hearings in both the judiciary and intell committees, I’m a member of both, have been disappointing at best. In Intell, they have appeared to make every effort not to tell us anything useful and the administration has refused to allow any key witnesses from the justice department who oppose the wiretapping program to appear before the Judiciary committee. I’m not optimistic that without real pressure from the public, more hearings will be held. That’s why we as Dems must be aggressive in pushing for hearings and especially accountability on this illegal program.

Meryl_From_NYC
do you plan to seek our party’s nomination for President?

Russ_Feingold
Meryl – Thanks for the question. I’m still trying to figure that out. I have truly been so consumed with my work on Judiciary, Foreign Relations, Intelligence and Budget Committees, as well as going to places like Colorado and Vermont to try to elect Dem members of Congress, that I think its best for me to evaluate whether I am the right guy for 2008 sometime after the November elections. I am thoroughly enjoying doing my 72 Listening Sessions in WI but let me assure you that I am absolutely determined to have a Dem President in 2008.

Maggie_from_Wisconsin
Do you think this country needs a universal health care system and what does this look like to you?

Russ_Feingold
Maggie – I support a single payer system, but one idea that has gone over well is the idea that the federal government pass a law guaranteeing health care for all Americans, but give states some flexibility on how to do it, whether it be single payer or some other approach. No one should be allowed to fall through the cracks. This push for guaranteed health care should be central to our 2006 strategy.

[Jackpine Radical]

1. One more run up the flagpole...

[radio4progressives]

2. Thanks for posting this!

:applause: