The first round of Democratic Primary Presidential debates for the 2016 presidential election occurred last evening, Tuesday, October 13th. Discussion topics included gun control, the shrinking of the middle class, the raising of the minimum wage, imminent climate change, college affordability, Hillary Clinton’s email scandal, and injustices surrounding the criminal justice system.

According to New York Times highlight coverage, Clinton had the most speaking time at 31:05 minutes during the over-two hour debate, while Chafee spoke the least, commenting for a total of 9:11 minutes. The other candidates fell between this range.

We’ve captured a memorable line from each candidate here.

Former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley:

“Injustice does not solve itself. What I’m talking about is this: our middle class is shrinking, our poor families are becoming poorer, and 70% of us are earning the same or less than we were earning twelve years ago…our economy isn’t money; it’s people, it’s all of our people. And so we must invest in our country and the potential of our kids…”

Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont:

“Today in America, we have more people in jail than any other country on earth. African American youth unemployment is 51%, hispanic youth unemployment is 36%. It seems to me that instead of building more jails, and providing more incarceration, maybe, just maybe, we should be putting money into education and jobs for our kids.”

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton:

“But for me this is about bringing our country together again and I will do everything I can to heal the divides, the divides economically, because there’s too much inequality– the racial divides, the continuing discrimination against the LBGTQ community–so that we will work together and, yes, finally fathers will be able to say to their daughters, ‘you too can grow up to be president.'”

Former Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee:

“I’m very proud that in my almost thirty years of public service I have had no scandals. I have always been honest, I have the courage to take the long term view, and I’ve shown good judgement. I have high ethical standards.”

Former Senator Jim Webb of Virginia:  

“We’re looking for a leader who understands how the system works, who has not been co-opted by it, and also has a proven record of accomplishing different things. I have a record of working across the political aisle, I’ve also spent more than half of my professional life away from politics in the independent world of being an author, a journalist and a sole proprietor.”

The next Democratic Presidential Primary Debate will occur on November 14th. Check the Polaris Press for continuing coverage.