Iowa Democratic Debate 2020: Billionaire Tom Steyer wants US to tackle tragedies like Australian bushfires
Billionaire businessman Tom Steyer might be among the low-ranked contenders in the Democratic presidential fray, but he did not let go of the opportunity that came his way in the seventh Democratic debate in Des Moines, Iowa, on Tuesday, January 14.
The New York-born Steyer spoke on issues related to foreign policy and was the first to touch upon the issue of climate change. He linked the two saying Washington also needed to make a constructive contribution by building alliances to tackle tragedies like the Australian bushfire that have devastated the fauna there. Over 100 firefighters from the US, many of them from California, went to Australia recently to help tame the raging fire.
Steyer even went to the extent of saying that he would declare a state of emergency on his first day if he gets elected as the 46th president of the US. The 62-year-old said: “I’m still shocked that I’m the only person on the stage who will say this. I would declare a state of emergency on day one on climate. I would do for the standpoint of environmental justice and make sure we go to the black and brown communities where you can't breathe the air or drink the water out of the tap.”
On foreign policy, Steyer said Trump had no plans and strategy on the Middle East. His stand followed his earlier stands on the president in which he slammed the latter’s personalized foreign policy as “so darn dumb and so darn self-centered”. He said he learnt the skills as a businessman to deal with the outside world by vastly traveling and meeting with people.
Creating millions of jobs
Steyer, who surprised a lot of people with his showing in the recent polls in Nevada and South Carolina, also said Trump has to be defeated on the economy and cited his own expertise in the subject. He also said his plan would create millions of jobs.
"It’s going to be the biggest job program in American history. So I know we have to do it and I know we can do it. I know that we can do it in a way that makes us healthier. That makes us better paid and is more just,” he added.
Steyer qualified for the seventh debate that many experienced politicians could not and he spent over $116 million on television ads to reach the stage. He said it is his established identity as a businessman is the reason that keeps him in the run for the White House.