Former Sen. Carol Moseley Braun (Ill.), along with Rev. Al Sharpton (N.Y.) and Rep. Dennis Kucinich (Ohio), rounded out the five candidates at the forum who voted against military action in Iraq in November.
Child poverty was a major issue in the evening's debate, and the candidates all agreed action must be taken to quell the problem.
Braun argued the importance of the Children's Defense Fund's attempt to give the 13 million impoverished American children a voice in Congress. Emphasizing the need for Democrats to fight for younger generations, she proclaimed, "How we deal with children now represents how our generation fights for the future of America."
Kucinich received an outburst of applause from the audience when he said the Bush administration should be more concerned with "poverty as a weapon of mass destruction" than with Saddam's threat.
Sens. John Kerry (Mass.) and John Edwards (N.C.) both voted in favor of military action but expressed reservations about priorities following the conflict.
"America needs to put our power here at home to liberate our own children ... We need to make 'leave no child behind' mean something," Kerry said.
Edwards said he stood behind the cause to liberate the Iraqi people but added, "America should lead in a way that brings others to us, not pushes them away."
A number of the candidates expressed concern about the diminishing value that some Americans are placing on family life and called upon all Americans to make time to spend with their families.
Former vice presidential candidate Sen. Joseph Lieberman (Conn.), who is running for the top seat this election, stressed the importance of the family. He said getting rid of disincentives to be married and getting fathers more involved in the welfare of their children is an imperative step toward the success of younger generations.
"A strong family is as important (to the future of the country) as anything the government will do," he said.
Child poverty was a major issue in the evening's debate, and the candidates all agreed action must be taken to quell the problem.
Braun argued the importance of the Children's Defense Fund's attempt to give the 13 million impoverished American children a voice in Congress. Emphasizing the need for Democrats to fight for younger generations, she proclaimed, "How we deal with children now represents how our generation fights for the future of America."
Kucinich received an outburst of applause from the audience when he said the Bush administration should be more concerned with "poverty as a weapon of mass destruction" than with Saddam's threat.
Sens. John Kerry (Mass.) and John Edwards (N.C.) both voted in favor of military action but expressed reservations about priorities following the conflict.
"America needs to put our power here at home to liberate our own children ... We need to make 'leave no child behind' mean something," Kerry said.
Edwards said he stood behind the cause to liberate the Iraqi people but added, "America should lead in a way that brings others to us, not pushes them away."
A number of the candidates expressed concern about the diminishing value that some Americans are placing on family life and called upon all Americans to make time to spend with their families.
Former vice presidential candidate Sen. Joseph Lieberman (Conn.), who is running for the top seat this election, stressed the importance of the family. He said getting rid of disincentives to be married and getting fathers more involved in the welfare of their children is an imperative step toward the success of younger generations.
"A strong family is as important (to the future of the country) as anything the government will do," he said.
