Here’s What You Missed in the First Round of the Democratic Debate in Detroit
On Tuesday night, 10 Democratic presidential candidates took to the stage in Detroit to discuss immigration, gun violence, climate change, student loan debt, and race relations in America.
To advance to the next round of debates, to be held in Houston in September, many candidates took on the most-voted Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren to gain national attention; Meanwhile, on Wednesday night, we’ll see a re-match between candidates including Joe Biden and Kamala Harris on a second night of debate in Detroit.
The first half of the debate was an extensive plunge into political divisions between more moderate and liberal candidates and a debate over which of them could defeat President Trump in the 2020 election.
Sanders cut Tim Ryan off from Medicare for all discussion
The first topic of debate was an ongoing discussion of candidate support for Medicare for All. Ohio rep. Tim Ryan said he supports the buy-in option, using unions as an example of people who will not benefit from public health. At one point, Ryan accused Sanders of not understanding the full Medicare volume for all bills – and Sanders quickly closed it: “I know that, I wrote this damn bill.”
Ryan later claimed that he was referring to unions, although this was not initially clearly stated.
Pete Buttigieg summons Republican congressmen
During the debate, moderator Jake Tupper asked Buttigieg if voters should consider age when choosing a presidential candidate. Buttigieg responded by arguing that age doesn’t matter and called on Republican congressmen in the same response.
“Today they support blatant racism in the White House or, at best, are silent about it. And if you’re watching this at home and are a Republican Congressman, consider the fact that when the sun goes down over your career and they write your story, of all the good and bad things you’ve done in your life, then, what you will be remembered is whether you found the courage to confront him or continued to party over the country. “
Sanders defended his democratic-socialist views
When asked if Sanders was too left-wing to defeat President Trump, former Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper responded by stating that if a candidate supports programs like Medicare for All and Green New Deal, you could just as well use FedEx in the election. Trump. Sanders defended himself, claiming that he is currently beating Trump in several early polls.
When asked about the denial, Hickenlooper said that the Americans would not accept radical changes and would “raise their hands in the air.” Sanders cut him off, literally throwing up his hands; Hickenlooper made the same gesture with an awkward exchange of views.
Warren defended his campaign against John Delaney
When asked if she would make herself a safer choice than Sanders to call herself a “capitalist,” Warren said it was part of her strategy. Former representative of Maryland. John Delaney responded and hinted that Warren was driven by “impossible promises” and “fairy-tale economics.”
Warren defended himself again: “You know, I don’t understand why anyone is wasting their energy running for president of the United States just to talk about what we really can’t do and shouldn’t fight for.”
Marianne Williamson summoned dark psychic power
In discussing the water crisis in Flint, Michigan, writer Marianne Williamson argued that injustice was to blame; then her answer turned to a discussion of “dark” power. “If you think any of these oddities will deal with this dark psychic force of collective hatred that this president is fostering in this country, then I fear very dark days for Democrats.”
Honorable mentions
Tim Ryan (on Green New Deal with Sanders): “Well, I would say – I didn’t say we can’t get to 2040, Bernie. Don’t shout. “
Pete Buttigieg (on Medicare for All): “If it’s true that if we adopt a far-left agenda, they’ll say we’re a bunch of crazy socialists. If we adopt a conservative agenda, do you know what they are going to do? They are going to say that we are a bunch of crazy socialists. So let’s just defend the right policy, go out and defend it. “
Elizabeth Warren (on the recent shooting in Gilroy, California): “We need to claim white supremacy for what it is: domestic terrorism. And that poses a threat to the United States of America. “