Live: A Democrat’s Response to Eric Cantor

7:02 pm: Event over, thanks for tuning in. Post-event discussion to come later.
7:01 pm: Harvard freshman asks Cantor about Pence Amendment and whether it was an economic or ideological issue. Cantor responds by saying that “Planned Parenthood was engaging in some very ugly tactics.” Upsetting, to say the least.
6:59 pm: Kennedy School student asks Cantor about recent reports that Republicans’ proposed $61 billion cuts in domestic spending will hurt our economy and whether Cantor cares about how the cuts will “sabotage the economy.” Cantor goes back to talking points about how our economy is in distress and people are without jobs… and then he doesn’t answer the original question.
6:54 pm: M.P.P. student at Kennedy School asks Cantor why “his tough choice is to choose tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires over programs like health care reform, Americorps, Pell Grants, etc.” Cantor responds by railing against big government and taxes and saying his choice is to “expand the pie and find ways for more people to succeed.” Uh, Pell Grants, health care, Americorps, access to reproductive health (etc., etc., etc.) don’t help people succeed? I beg to differ, Mr. Majority Leader.

6:50 pm: Harvard graduate student asks Cantor whether he believes in furthering the rights of gay and lesbian Americans. Cantor first calls it a “very tough question,” then says he supports traditional marriage, then doesn’t answer the question, saying his record should speak for itself. It’s disappointing (but not surprising) to know that Cantor doesn’t believe in the Fourteenth Amendment.
6:47 pm: “Our wealth can create health everywhere in the world.” Then why don’t we put our wealth to work and save lives? Oh right, because since our country is a “fiscal train wreck” right now, we should prioritize tax cuts for the rich over human lives…
6:43 pm: Harvard graduate student asks Cantor how we can be sure that jobs are created here at home and not overseas. Cantor: “Countries that can perhaps expand overseas are not working in a vacuum.” If House Republicans are supposedly focused on creating jobs and improving the environment, how can they not, at the very minimum, ensure that those jobs are created here?
6:40 pm: Harvard senior, who is taking part in Teach for America upon her graduation, asks Cantor about the Republicans defunding Americorps. Huge round of applause after her question. Cantor’s response: “It goes back to the same answer to HIV/AIDS funding… we’re going to have to make some choices.” So, we eliminate possibilites for future leaders, teachers, and American heroes? Down what path are the Republicans trying to lead us?
6:30 pm: Group of students asked to leave after they started loudly chanting “Budget cuts kill, fund global health!”. Although I obviously agree that we need to fund global health efforts and that Cantor referring to it as a “cause” is a shame to our nation, we must fight for these funds through civil discourse.
6:29 pm: Cantor just asked about the recent $1.5 billion cut to AIDS funding by House Republicans. Cantor: “As passionate as we are about your cause… right now, we have too many people out of work.” So, short-term economic prosperity is more important than saving millions of lives? Disgraceful.
6:27 pm: Question and answer period, here we go.
6:26 pm: Cantor just listed off “individual liberty” as something that the American people should be ensured. Does the access to reproductive health not fall under the umbrella of individual liberty?
6:20 pm: We should reconsider health care reform, Rep. Cantor? Didn’t you say just 11 minutes ago that we shouldn’t “dwell on the past” and, instead, move forward?
6:18 pm: Cantor is talking about how we should focus on the private sector and creating jobs. If this is the case, why are the House Republicans leading our country toward a potential government shutdown, which would greatly damage, not benefit, America’s job climate?
6:14 pm: Cantor is lauding Harvard’s work. I appreciate his words, as I’m sure do all students, but shouldn’t all students in this country have equal access to higher education? If so, why is Cantor’s party refusing to reform for-profit colleges, that are doing more harm than good for students?
6:09 pm: Cantor speaking now, and quoting President Kennedy in saying that he is not here to dwell on the past. Then why is Congress wasting its time attempting to futilely repeal last year’s health care legislation?
6:06 pm: Excellent introduction by Institute of Politics Executive Director Trey Grayson. The protests outside can be heard from the second floor.
6:03 pm: I’m in and waiting for the forum to get underway. It was encouraging to see large numbers of supporters of Americorps, Planned Parenthood, and AIDS prevention funding outside. But, seriously- how are such common sense things even on the budget chopping block?
Photo credit: Wikimedia