Michelle Nunn, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, is engaged a swing through north Georgia.
On Wednesday, the former president of the volunteer-oriented Points of Light Foundation spoke at a homeless outreach charity in Dalton. Today, Nunn met with members of M.U.S.T. ministries, who are operating a summer meal service for poor children at New Life Church in Canton.
Afterwards, AJC staffer Nick Fouriezos tossed her a few questions on international affairs and other topics before she headed for Jasper and Ellijay:
A: "It is very troubling and disturbing to see the violence and the continued despair that the Iraqi people are having to endure. I think we need to be rightly concerned, we have a large interest there and have shed lots of U.S. blood. I also think that we have to think about ensuring that we do not enable a terrorist haven there.
"I also think we need to recognize that there are extraordinary sectarian divisions which are part of a complex and long history. We have to look to the Iraqi government and Iraqi people to reconcile those differences. I think the President and Congress have to work together and be informed by our military, by the best intelligence and work with our allies, to do the best that we can, but also understand that we can't engage in an Iraqi civil war. We have to really think carefully about our intervention and engagement."
Q: How does that relate to your overall stance on foreign affairs?
A: "Well, I think we have to recognize that America has an extraordinary role to play in the world, but it's predicated on our economic strength. It's predicated on the capacity for us to build a strong military. We have to have our strength at home and I think we have a war-weary nation and a military that has been stretched for over a decade.
"We have to be cognizant of, when we are engaging, making sure its deliberate and thought out."
Q: What is your view on increasing the minimum wage?
A: "I do believe we need to raise the minimum wage. I think we need to do it in a way that makes sense and balances economic imperatives and enables businesses to continue to thrive and employ individuals. But I also think we need to enable families to be self-sufficient. Two-thirds of the folks who are on minimum wage are women. We need to give them a pathway to self-sufficiency.
"As people talk about it, what it means to have a living wage. I think this legislation that is being put forward is a good step toward increasing minimum wage over a period of time."
Q: What do you think needs to be done to address the issues that come with immigration, specifically with the reports about more young migrants crossing the border?
A: "I have said along the campaign trail a lot that I think we need comprehensive immigration reform. I think we saw the framework for that, which was put forward through the bipartisan legislation in the Senate with folks as diverse as [Senators] John McCain [R-Arizona] and Chuck Schumer [D-New York], with the unions and the Chamber of Commerce coming together and saying this is the right template for moving forward.
"I think it provides the security on the border we need and also makes the investment in the capacity for individuals to take a long path way - including background checks, including learning English and paying back taxes, allowing them to be contributors.
"It also addresses the issue of Dreamers, children who have been brought to the U.S. and are looking for a path forward to be real contributors. We want to make sure they can be citizens who are actively participating and giving back to the United States."
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