FEBRUARY 12, 2016
Photo: AP
In contrast to last Saturday’s GOP debate’s murder/suicide takedown of Marco Rubio by Chris Christie, Thursday’s Democratic debate from Milwaukee, WI wound up with a lot less blood on the floor. It was very much issue-oriented, but that doesn’t mean it was totally venom-free.
Clinton strode onstage with confidence, not looking like a candidate who suffered a 22-point loss in New Hampshire just 48 hours before. Sanders, with the wind at his back, seemed ready to engage as well.
Clinton had the stronger first hour, possibly because the topics asked played to her strengths. When the issue of race relations came up, Clinton immediately went into her husband Bill’s “I feel your pain” mode and, with an eye on the majority of African-American voters in South Carolina, began to personalize her outreach to minority communities. Sanders, who has taken recent steps to introduce himself to the African-American community, started empathetically but then immediately shifted to his comfort zone, arguing the income inequality is at the root of the problem with race relations. An arguable point, but he missed a chance to show how he personally felt about those African Americans effected by that inequality.
There was also an awkward moment when Clinton, as many candidates do, prefaced her comments with “When I’m in the White House…” Sanders then shot back, “Secretary Clinton, you’re not in the White House yet.” An effective zinger, but it did bring back memories of Barack Obama’s 2008 debate putdown of Clinton, “Hillary, you’re likable enough,” that has continued to come back to haunt him.
In fact, there were several odd moments in tonight’s exchange, including one about, of all people, Henry Kissinger. Clinton has previously said that she has consulted with Kissinger, Nixon’s Secretary of State, on foreign affairs, and Sanders slammed her for relying on advice from someone whom Sanders seemed to imply was a war criminal. When Clinton raised the issue of on whom Sanders relies for military advice, he quickly replied, “Not Henry Kissinger.” Advantage Sanders for those of us who know Kissinger’s checkered history. But I can’t help that think that 50% of voters will react, “Henry Who?”
Also awkward was PBS moderator Gwen Ifill’s question as to whether Sanders feels any guilt about possibly thwarting the historic ascendancy of the first woman to the Presidency. He responded that it would also be historic for “someone with my…..background” to become President. It felt like he was straining to avoid saying the actual word “Jewish.”
When in hour 2, the topic turned to income inequality and Wall Street, Sanders shone, as usual, and when foreign policy took center stage, Clinton was able to strut her stuff. No surprises there.
But the debate ended on an oddly contentious note. On Thursday, Sanders gave an interview with Kasie Hunt on MSNBC where he stated, “There’s a huge gap right now between Congress and the American people. What presidential leadership is about is closing that gap.” When Hunt followed up with “You don’t think President Obama has closed that gap?,” Sanders replied “No.” Clinton, who had been clinging to the Obama record throughout the entire debate (maybe because she believes it or maybe because of the loyalty to Obama among South Carolina voters), decided at that moment to pounce, citing numerous instances of Sanders’ criticism of the President. Effective enough, but Sanders ended the back-and-forth with “One of us ran against Barack Obama. I was not that candidate.” Mee-ow.
The next Democratic debate will take place after the Nevada caucuses, the South Carolina primary and Super Tuesday, so there’ll be lots to talk about. It’s set for March 6 from (uh-oh) Flint, Michigan. It may be explosive. Be there, or be square!
