KHTS Radio Santa Clarita Radio – Santa Clarita News
Cenk Uygur, creator of the progressive news network The Young Turks, talked about the priorities for his Congressional campaign during an interview at the KHTS studio.
https://www.facebook.com/khtsradio/videos/747734502394552/?v=747734502394552
Uygur, who is currently running for the CA-25 Congressional seat, said that he got into the race so that voters had a more progressive choice when they went to the ballot box.
“Within the Democratic party, there’s a real divide, and by the way guys, there’s nothing wrong with that. That’s called democracy,” Uygur said.
Uygur went on to explain that the biggest thing that sets him apart as a candidate is his refusal to accept money from corporate Political Action Committees (PACs) and lobbyists.
“We have got to get the money out of politics,” Uygur said. “That is the corruption that is causing all of the other problems, and that’s a giant difference between the candidates. So make sure that the voters have a choice here.”
Additionally, Uygur’s campaign announced on Friday that he would not be accepting any endorsements from outside of the district after Senator Bernie Sanders, D-Vermont, received wide criticism for endorsing Uygur in light of controversial comments that Uygur had reportedly made in the past.
“People took some of the things that I’ve said in the past that I’ve apologized for, and some of the things that I’ve said that they honestly, 100 percent twisted out of context and was totally wrong,” Uygur said. “What I’ve said is on me, I don’t want it to be on other people.”
Over the course of the interview, Uygur contrasted himself to more centrist Democrats, such as current Assemblywoman Christy Smith, D-Santa Clarita, in areas such as healthcare.
“She’s for, for example, a public option for people who want it,” Uygur said. “I’m for Medicare for all.”
Uygur also expressed his support for the Green New Deal — legislation proposed by Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez that aims to address both climate change and economic inequality — stating that the CA-25 District would be “perfect” for it.
“This district is, in a sense, a microcosm of the whole country and the planet,” he said. “The planet is on fire, and we’ve got to put it out. And for us, it’s literally our homes that are on fire.”
When asked if he thought the fact that he currently lives outside of the CA-25 Congressional District would hinder his ability to represent people within the district, Uygur said that his only motivation was to represent the voters, and that he plans to move into the district at the end of the current school year.
“Look at the issues that matter in your life, because you’re picking a representative,” Uygur said. “If you pick someone who lives a little closer to you for the moment being, but you don’t agree with them on the issues, what have you done? It’s your life that matters, so our job is to make sure that we pass bills that you agree with.”
Ultimately, Uygur expressed that he “really cares” about the issues facing both the district and the country, not just the title of congressman.
“If we don’t pass the bills, it’s just our ego, and it’s totally useless,” Uygur said.
Other topics Uygur discussed include small businesses, transportation infrastructure and gun control. The full video of the interview can be viewed above, or by clicking here.
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Another windbag. I have listened to them for 25 years. Results are always the same.
This guy is a real winner…
“Obviously, the genes of women are flawed. They are poorly designed creatures who do not want to have sex nearly as often as needed for the human race to get along peaceably and fruitfully.”
There must be some serious making out by the third date, If I haven’t felt your t*** by then, things are not about to last much longer. In fact, if you don’t get back on track by the fourth date, you’re done.”
Cenk Uygur
I really don’t think Mr. Uygur has any idea what the citizens of CA-25 want. Progressive policies? Why would you support policies like the Green New Deal that would tax gasoline to a point that the people who are currently commuting 60-90 (and MORE) minutes per day EACH way to work are already burdened with $4/gallon gas prices? Under the GND, gas prices can be expected to increase to $13 per gallon. I guess that’s OK since we’ll all be forced to buy and drive electric vehicles…With the planned power outages that we’ve endured recently, just how does he expect us to charge our (hypothetical) electric vehicles? Technology has to be allowed to evolve on it’s own. The market will drive innovation; not progressive policies that will harm our economy AND our way of life.
No way! We want candidates that talk about individual freedom, responsibility and opportunities for all in our Capitalistic society that raises the level for all people! We don’t need socialism!
Cenk is not a socialist. He’s a capitalist. Just not an insane one, or a sociopath Jimmy. He is basically a social democrat, an advocate for social democracy, which is basically a mixed economy. Private enterprise coupled with more robust public services like healthcare.
We already have over a dozen different healthcare systems in the US right now. The VA is top to bottom government run healthcare (doctors and hospitals are directly funded by the government). Medicare is single payer (government pays for the older population, but private and public hospitals and doctors are funded by that system in addition to private sources). Private insurance is private, but employer private insurance benefits are exempted from income tax calculations (an indirect inflation of the cost of healthcare and insurance and an obvious and pernicious market distortion). Public health clinics, etc etc.
You may not want to expand our current single payer system we already have in medicare, but spare me this talk of socialism. When spoken by conservatives, the word has zero meaning. It’s a catch all term which essentially means random liberal policy they dislike, or random liberal person they dislike. Most conservatives who consider themselves big supporters of the free market have zero problem socializing the cost of k-12 education. Even if they support vouchers, that is still funded via TAXES and redistributed (scary word) to allow free at the point of service education for children.
Because you may draw the line there, while people like Cenk want to expand the line to healthcare, does not make him an actual full on socialist, demanding some top down command and control economy, where private enterprise is banned and the government owns all the means of production. That is the definition, more or less, and you are a confused ignorant child for not knowing something so cosmically basic. I have little doubt you have been on this earth for decades, and absolutely clueless about the nature of your own beliefs. Pathetic. If you ever got outside that withered little bubble world those shriveled up little talking points were spewed from you would be blasted to dust. But for now, here is a taste from outside the conservative bubble.
The young Turks—-Turks/Muslims murdered thousands in the Armenian Genocide!! He wants to bring degenerative Liberal views/behavior to SCV etc. NO to him and Gascon(for DA), creator of Prop. 47 !! More Liberal ruination from Seattle to San Diego!!!
An outsider’s perspective
There must be something seriously wrong with a good portion of Americans. You’ve just decided you’ve had enough of being the world’s number one and have hit that self destruct bottom. You’ve gotten to the point where fellow Americans have become your enemy.
I’ve not known Cenk as a personality for that long and listen to his shows among others. What intrigues me is in all that he says specifically to do with his prospects as CA-25 rep I can’t see what if any you can disagree with as a good human being. Your remarks are just a bunch of political talking points that don’t address anything you may have concerns about in the CA-25 elections. Simply put, just hating without actually saying why you hate.
You guys are tearing your country into factions so if this trend is maintained you’ll become like Europe in the early 1900s.
As an outsider I pray for America for selfish reasons.
“when America sneezes, the world catches a cold.”.
He’s a Liberal & wants/will change SCV like Seattle to San Diego!! Low standards/morals/behaviors!! Look at the “cold” Europe has caught—pickpockets/Middle East terrorists, etc.!!!