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Harris attacks Biden's record on race in Democratic debate's key moment Harris attacks Biden's record on race in Democratic debate's key moment
(32 minutes later)
Ten more Democratic presidential candidates clashed in Miami on Thursday night over the best approach to remove Donald Trump from office at the 2020 election, in a contentious debate that saw an explosive exchange on race that rattled the field’s frontrunner, Joe Biden. Ten more Democratic presidential candidates clashed in Miami on Thursday night over the best approach to remove Donald Trump from office at the 2020 election, in a contentious debate featuring an explosive exchange on race that rattled the field’s frontrunner, Joe Biden.
On a stage divided along generational and ideological lines, the debate – the second over two days to accommodate the huge field of candidates – saw Biden square up against the Vermont senator Bernie Sanders.On a stage divided along generational and ideological lines, the debate – the second over two days to accommodate the huge field of candidates – saw Biden square up against the Vermont senator Bernie Sanders.
But the two veteran politicians were overshadowed by strong performances from other candidates, which highlighted the deep rifts in the party over how aggressively the next president should push to transform the US economy, including on issues of healthcare and how much to tax the wealthiest Americans.But the two veteran politicians were overshadowed by strong performances from other candidates, which highlighted the deep rifts in the party over how aggressively the next president should push to transform the US economy, including on issues of healthcare and how much to tax the wealthiest Americans.
The most dramatic moment of the evening came in response to a question about race and policing, when California senator Kamala Harris interjected, saying that she had a right to respond as the only black candidate on stage. She then directed her comments to Biden, zeroing in on his record on race. It was a good night for South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, who has soared from near-anonymity to near the top of the Democratic field, and was warmly received on the debate stage. Buttigieg, who is openly gay, spoke about his husband, Chasten, and their experiences of student debt.
But the most dramatic moment of the evening came in response to a question about race and policing, when California senator Kamala Harris interjected, saying that she had a right to respond as the only black candidate on stage. She then directed her comments to Biden, zeroing in on his record on race.
“I do not believe you are a racist,” Harris said, looking directly at the former vice-president. “But,” she continued, “it is personal and it was actually hurtful to hear you talk about the reputations of two United States senators who built their reputations and career on the segregation of race in this country.”“I do not believe you are a racist,” Harris said, looking directly at the former vice-president. “But,” she continued, “it is personal and it was actually hurtful to hear you talk about the reputations of two United States senators who built their reputations and career on the segregation of race in this country.”
Her attack was a reference to a remark Biden made recently on the campaign trail in which he spoke fondly of his relationship with segregationist senators. When called on by his rivals to apologize, he refused.Her attack was a reference to a remark Biden made recently on the campaign trail in which he spoke fondly of his relationship with segregationist senators. When called on by his rivals to apologize, he refused.
“That is a mischaracterization of my position across the board. I did not praise racists,” Biden said.“That is a mischaracterization of my position across the board. I did not praise racists,” Biden said.
Harris then attacked Biden for his past opposition to bussing minority students to schools in majority-white districts. She says when he opposed bussing, there was a little black girl in Oakland, California, who was being bussed to a better school Harris then attacked Biden for his past opposition to bussing minority students to schools in majority-white districts. She said when he opposed bussing, there was a little black girl in Oakland, California, who was being bussed to a better school.
“And that little girl was me,” Harris said.“And that little girl was me,” Harris said.
Growing visibly upset Biden replied, saying he did not oppose bussing: “What I opposed is bussing ordered by the Department of education. That’s what I opposed.” Growing visibly upset, Biden said he had not opposed bussing: “What I opposed is bussing ordered by the Department of education. That’s what I opposed.”
There was a little girl in California who was bussed to school. That little girl was me. #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/XKm2xP1MDHThere was a little girl in California who was bussed to school. That little girl was me. #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/XKm2xP1MDH
For the candidates on stage at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the second installment of back-to-back debates, the evening presented a national platform to present their pitch to be the one Democratic challenger to take on Trump in the 2020 election. For the candidates on stage at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the second installment of back-to-back debates, the evening presented a national platform to present their pitch to be the Trump’s Democratic opponent in the 2020 election.
Unlike the previous night, the candidates savaged Trump by name. Sanders called Trump a “pathological liar” who conned American workers and said the best way to beat Trump to “expose him for the fraud that he is”.Unlike the previous night, the candidates savaged Trump by name. Sanders called Trump a “pathological liar” who conned American workers and said the best way to beat Trump to “expose him for the fraud that he is”.
Trump, who was attending the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan, found time to comment on the debate, criticizing the candidates for their stances on immigration and healthcare, tweeting: “How about taking care of American Citizens first!? That’s the end of that race!”Trump, who was attending the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan, found time to comment on the debate, criticizing the candidates for their stances on immigration and healthcare, tweeting: “How about taking care of American Citizens first!? That’s the end of that race!”
The candidates broadly embraced an ambitious agenda, a sign of Democrats’ leftward shift on social and economic issues and a trend Republicans hope to exploit by broadbrushing the party as socialist in the election race. The candidates broadly embraced an ambitious agenda, a sign of Democrats’ leftward shift on social and economic issues and a trend Republicans hope to exploit by painting the party as socialist in the election race.
“If we don’t clearly define that we are not socialists, the Republicans are going to come at us every way they can and call us socialists,” said Hickenlooper said, who has been critical of Sanders’ policies. “If we don’t clearly define that we are not socialists, the Republicans are going to come at us every way they can and call us socialists,” said Hickenlooper, who has been critical of Sanders’ policies.
Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist, and Biden, an avowed moderate, represent the two competing visions for the party and the country.Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist, and Biden, an avowed moderate, represent the two competing visions for the party and the country.
Biden was asked to explain a remark he made at a closed-door fundraiser in New York earlier this month in which he told the donors that “ No one’s standard of living would change. Nothing would fundamentally change.”
“What I meant by that is, look, Donald Trump thinks Wall Street built America,” Biden responded. “Ordinary, middle-class Americans built America.”
Sanders later invoked the remark to make the case for his “political revolution.”
Sanders had kicked off proceedings, launching into his classic stump speech, followed by former vice-president Biden, who began with an attack Donald Trump.Sanders had kicked off proceedings, launching into his classic stump speech, followed by former vice-president Biden, who began with an attack Donald Trump.
But it was California congressman Eric Swalwell who provided the first surprise of the night, with an attack on Biden, repeatedly saying he needed to “pass the torch” to younger Democrats.But it was California congressman Eric Swalwell who provided the first surprise of the night, with an attack on Biden, repeatedly saying he needed to “pass the torch” to younger Democrats.
As moderators tried to move the discussion on, squabbling erupted, prompting the first standout line from Harris: “America does not want to witness a food fight. They want to know how we’re gonna put food on the table.”As moderators tried to move the discussion on, squabbling erupted, prompting the first standout line from Harris: “America does not want to witness a food fight. They want to know how we’re gonna put food on the table.”
Each candidate would have been hoping for the kind of positive reception the New Jersey senator Cory Booker, Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren and former housing secretary Julián Castro received on Wednesday night, during the first of the two debates.Each candidate would have been hoping for the kind of positive reception the New Jersey senator Cory Booker, Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren and former housing secretary Julián Castro received on Wednesday night, during the first of the two debates.
Democratic 2020 candidates clash on healthcare, immigration and economy in first debateDemocratic 2020 candidates clash on healthcare, immigration and economy in first debate
As on Wednesday, the debate lineup reflected the diversity of a party that is increasingly led by women and people of color. On stage, there were three women – the Harris, New York senator Kirsten Gillibrand, and author Marianne Williamson – as well as an openly gay man – Mayor Pete Buttigieg. Andrew Yang is Asian American and Harris is black and Asian American. As on Wednesday, the debate lineup reflected the diversity of a party that is increasingly led by women and people of color. On stage, there were three women – the Harris, New York senator Kirsten Gillibrand, and author Marianne Williamson – as well as Buttigieg. The tech entrepreneur Andrew Yang is Asian American and Harris is black and Asian American.
But even more so than the first debate, the candidates represented the ideological and generational span of the party. Forty years separate Buttigieg, who is 37, and Sanders, who is 77.
The debate also included two Coloradans: Senator Michael Bennet, who had previously served as the chief of staff for the other, former governor John Hickenlooper.The debate also included two Coloradans: Senator Michael Bennet, who had previously served as the chief of staff for the other, former governor John Hickenlooper.
Biden is the best-known candidate in the field and has consistently led national and state polls since he entered the race in April. But he has stumbled in recent weeks, clashing with his rivals over comments touting his civil working relationship with segregationist senators. Yang spoke for just 2.4 minutes during the debate, the shortest time of any candidate, while Biden spoke longest, at 11.5 minutes, and Harris spoke for 10.8 minutes.
For those who have not followed the 2020 election, which is still 15 months away, it was likely to be their first time seeing lower-profile candidates like Yang and Williamson, a new age guru and author, on the national stage.
Biden is the best-known candidate in the field and has consistently led national and state polls since he entered the race in April. But he has stumbled in recent weeks.
Where do the 2020 Democratic candidates stand on the key issues?Where do the 2020 Democratic candidates stand on the key issues?
With support from black voters and an appeal to disaffected Democrats in the midwest, Biden believes he can rebuild the multiracial coalition that twice elected Barack Obama, under whom he served as vice president. Obama remains one of the most popular Democrats in the country. Still, with support from black voters and an appeal to disaffected Democrats in the midwest, Biden believes he can rebuild the multiracial coalition that twice elected Barack Obama, under whom he served as vice-president.
Sanders, by contrast, has called for a political revolution, championing progressive policies that would transform the US economy. His political influence is reflected in the Democratic field, where two candidates on stage on Wednesday night raised their hand in support of a key pillar of his Medicare for All healthcare proposal that would eliminate private insurance companies. Sanders, by contrast, has championed progressive policies that would transform the US economy. His political influence is reflected in the Democratic field, where two candidates on stage on Wednesday raised their hands in support of a key pillar of his Medicare for All healthcare proposal that would eliminate private insurance companies.
For all the attention on the field’s heavyweights, the evening offered an opportunity for Harris to break out, and she did. Despite a strong entry into the race, the California lawmaker had struggled recently to stand out in the way she was able to during contentious Senate hearings with Trump appointees on Capitol Hill. For all the attention on the field’s heavyweights, the evening offered an opportunity for Harris to break out, and she did.
It was also a big night for Buttigieg, who has soared from near-anonymity to the top of the Democratic field. But he has faced sharp criticism for his handling of a fatal shooting of a black man by a white police officer in South Bend. No one has ever jumped from mayor to president but Thursday was an opportunity to demonstrate that he has the experience and leadership for the nation’s highest office. It was also an opportunity for Buttigieg to demonstrate that he has the experience and leadership for the nation’s highest office.
Buttigieg, who is facing sharp criticism over his handling of a fatal shooting of a black man by a South Bend police officer who had not turned on his body camera, acknowledged his failure as a mayor to diversify the city’s police force with a powerful statement.
He said: “I am determined to bring about a day when a white person and a black person driving a vehicle feels the exact same thing when they see a policeman – a feeling of safety and not fear.”
US elections 2020US elections 2020
US politicsUS politics
DemocratsDemocrats
Bernie SandersBernie Sanders
Joe BidenJoe Biden
Kamala HarrisKamala Harris
Pete ButtigiegPete Buttigieg
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