This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/nov/20/democratic-debate-buttigieg-biden-sanders-warren-atlanta

The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 8 Version 9
Democratic debate: 2020 presidential hopefuls tear into 'criminal' Trump Democratic debate: 2020 presidential hopefuls tear into 'criminal' Trump
(about 4 hours later)
Debate comes hours after a US ambassador gave testimony directly implicating Trump in a quid pro quo deal with UkraineDebate comes hours after a US ambassador gave testimony directly implicating Trump in a quid pro quo deal with Ukraine
Democratic 2020 candidates tore into Donald Trump at the fifth presidential debate in Atlanta on Wednesday night, hours after a senior US diplomat gave explosive testimony during impeachment hearings that directly implicated the president in a quid pro quo deal with Ukraine.Democratic 2020 candidates tore into Donald Trump at the fifth presidential debate in Atlanta on Wednesday night, hours after a senior US diplomat gave explosive testimony during impeachment hearings that directly implicated the president in a quid pro quo deal with Ukraine.
Gordon Sondland, the US ambassador to the European Union, stunned Washington with bombshell evidence that blew a hole in the White House’s defences, implicated numerous senior officials and left the US president facing probable impeachment.Gordon Sondland, the US ambassador to the European Union, stunned Washington with bombshell evidence that blew a hole in the White House’s defences, implicated numerous senior officials and left the US president facing probable impeachment.
In a two-and-half-hour debate that featured 10 candidates and raced through a wide range of issues from healthcare, housing and race to climate change and white nationalism, Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren argued it was both Democrats and Republican senators’ “constitutional responsibility” to remove Trump from office. In a two-and-half-hour debate that featured 10 candidates and raced through a wide range of issues from healthcare, housing and race to climate change and white nationalism, Elizabeth Warren argued it was Democrats and Republican senators’ “constitutional responsibility” to remove Trump from office.
“We have a criminal living in the White House,” said California senator Kamala Harris. “Ambassador Sondland by his own words told us that everyone was in the loop. That makes it a criminal enterprise.” “We have a criminal living in the White House,” said Kamala Harris. “Ambassador Sondland by his own words told us that everyone was in the loop. That makes it a criminal enterprise.”
Referring to the fact that Sondland was appointed to his position after making a $1m donation to Trump’s inaugural fund, Warren focussed her criticism on corruption: “We are not going to give away these ambassador posts to the highest bidder.”Referring to the fact that Sondland was appointed to his position after making a $1m donation to Trump’s inaugural fund, Warren focussed her criticism on corruption: “We are not going to give away these ambassador posts to the highest bidder.”
Vermont senator Bernie Sanders, by contrast, warned that the party must not become “consumed” by Trump and the impeachment inquiry or risk losing the election to him again in November 2020. Bernie Sanders, by contrast, warned that the party must not become “consumed” by Trump and the impeachment inquiry or risk losing the election to him again in November 2020.
Former vice-president Joe Biden, in a reply riddled with verbal stumbles, argued that the impeachment inquiry is evidence that Trump fears him more than any other candidate. At the heart of the impeachment inquiry is whether Trump abused the power of his office by attempting to enlist Ukraine to open an investigation into Biden and his son, Hunter. Joe Biden, in a reply riddled with verbal stumbles, argued that the impeachment inquiry is evidence that Trump fears him more than any other candidate. At the heart of the impeachment inquiry is whether Trump abused the power of his office by attempting to enlist Ukraine to open an investigation into Biden and his son, Hunter.
Biden has continued to maintain his status as frontrunner in the crowded field of 2020 Democratic candidates, based in large part on his enduring support from African American voters.Biden has continued to maintain his status as frontrunner in the crowded field of 2020 Democratic candidates, based in large part on his enduring support from African American voters.
But in the month since the last presidential debate, rising star Pete Buttigieg, the South Bend, Indiana, mayor has emerged as a threat to “top tier” candidates Biden, Warren and Sanders in the key early voting state of Iowa, while Warren has seen her lead slip as she faces sustained attacks over how she would pay for her sweeping policy proposals.But in the month since the last presidential debate, rising star Pete Buttigieg, the South Bend, Indiana, mayor has emerged as a threat to “top tier” candidates Biden, Warren and Sanders in the key early voting state of Iowa, while Warren has seen her lead slip as she faces sustained attacks over how she would pay for her sweeping policy proposals.
The evening’s debate was moderated by an all-female panel for only the third time in US history. Between the moderators – NBC News White House correspondent Kristen Welker, Washington Post White House reporter Ashley Parker and MSNBC hosts Rachel Maddow and Andrea Mitchell – and the four female candidates there were more women on stage than men. It was a striking image that reflects the diverse base of the Democratic party, which is increasingly led by women and people of color.The evening’s debate was moderated by an all-female panel for only the third time in US history. Between the moderators – NBC News White House correspondent Kristen Welker, Washington Post White House reporter Ashley Parker and MSNBC hosts Rachel Maddow and Andrea Mitchell – and the four female candidates there were more women on stage than men. It was a striking image that reflects the diverse base of the Democratic party, which is increasingly led by women and people of color.
Harris and New Jersey senator Cory Booker, the two black senators on the stage tangled with Biden during a discussion on how the party can appeal to African American voters. Harris and Cory Booker, the two black senators on the stage tangled with Biden during a discussion on how the party can appeal to African American voters.
Booker said he has plenty of experience with this black voters: “I’ve been one since I was 18.” He then rebuked Biden for his recent comments objecting to the legalization of marijuana. “I thought you might’ve been high when you said it,” Booker quipped of Biden’s argument that research hasn’t shown it is not a gateway drug.Booker said he has plenty of experience with this black voters: “I’ve been one since I was 18.” He then rebuked Biden for his recent comments objecting to the legalization of marijuana. “I thought you might’ve been high when you said it,” Booker quipped of Biden’s argument that research hasn’t shown it is not a gateway drug.
In his response, Biden said he believes marijuana should be decriminalized and that “everyone anyone who has a record should be let out of jail. Their records expunged”.In his response, Biden said he believes marijuana should be decriminalized and that “everyone anyone who has a record should be let out of jail. Their records expunged”.
Biden then started boasting about his enduring support among African American voters. “I come out of the black community in terms of my support,” Biden said and listed some of his prominent endorsements. “Three former chairs of the Black Caucus. The only black African-American woman who had ever been elected to the United States Senate.”Biden then started boasting about his enduring support among African American voters. “I come out of the black community in terms of my support,” Biden said and listed some of his prominent endorsements. “Three former chairs of the Black Caucus. The only black African-American woman who had ever been elected to the United States Senate.”
Harris threw her hands in the air, laughing: “Nope. That’s not true. The other one is here.”Harris threw her hands in the air, laughing: “Nope. That’s not true. The other one is here.”
Carol Moseley Braun, the first African-American woman to be elected to the Senate, has endorsed Biden. But the second, Harris, was standing right next to him. Carol Moseley Braun, the first African American woman to be elected to the Senate, has endorsed Biden. But the second, Harris, was standing right next to him.
The issues of voting rights, paid family leave and climate change received a rare substantive exchanges.The issues of voting rights, paid family leave and climate change received a rare substantive exchanges.
“It is the number one threat to humanity, it is an existential issue,” Biden said, after billionaire candidate Tom Steyer accused him of not addressing the crisis with an appropriate level of urgency.“It is the number one threat to humanity, it is an existential issue,” Biden said, after billionaire candidate Tom Steyer accused him of not addressing the crisis with an appropriate level of urgency.
The tone was far less confrontational than past debates as candidates mostly argued for a united front on issues like abortion while distinguishing themselves on healthcare, taxes and foreign policy.The tone was far less confrontational than past debates as candidates mostly argued for a united front on issues like abortion while distinguishing themselves on healthcare, taxes and foreign policy.
It was widely anticipated that Buttigieg, 37, would be a prime target for the other candidates after he emerged this week as the frontrunner in Iowa, but the attacks mostly came in the final moments.It was widely anticipated that Buttigieg, 37, would be a prime target for the other candidates after he emerged this week as the frontrunner in Iowa, but the attacks mostly came in the final moments.
“I think experience should matter,” Senator Amy Klobuchar said, noting the young mayor’s lack of a governing record. Earlier in the evening, the three-term senator lamented the double standard women face when running for office. “I think experience should matter,” Amy Klobuchar said, noting the young mayor’s lack of a governing record. Earlier in the evening, the three-term senator lamented the double standard women face when running for office.
Hawaii congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard also took a stab at Buttigieg, the only other veteran on the stage, in one of the sharpest clashes of the evening. Hawaii congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard also took a swipe at Buttigieg, the only other veteran on the stage, in one of the sharpest clashes of the evening.
She said military experience alone wasn’t enough to qualify someone for the presidency. The mayor retorted that Gabbard’s decision to sit down with the “murderous dictator” Syrian president Bashar al-Assad showed a lack of judgement.She said military experience alone wasn’t enough to qualify someone for the presidency. The mayor retorted that Gabbard’s decision to sit down with the “murderous dictator” Syrian president Bashar al-Assad showed a lack of judgement.
In another exchange Harris, who Gabbard assailed in an earlier debate, was given the opportunity to respond to Gabbard’s critique of the Democratic party’s foreign policy. Harris unloaded, saying it was a shame to share a stage with a candidate who spent Barack Obama’s presidency criticizing him on Fox News, “buddied up” to former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon and wouldn’t call out a war criminal. In another exchange Harris, who Gabbard assailed in an earlier debate, was given the opportunity to respond to Gabbard’s critique of the Democratic party’s foreign policy. Harris unloaded, saying it was a shame to share a stage with a candidate who spent Barack Obama’s presidency criticizing him on Fox News, “buddied up” to former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon and would not criticize a war criminal.
There were plenty of lighter moments, too. Asked what he would say to Russian president Vladimir Putin if he was to win the election, tech entrepreneur Andrew Yang said he might begin by saying: “Sorry I beat your guy.” There were lighter moments. Asked what he would say to Vladimir Putin if he was to win the election, tech entrepreneur Andrew Yang said he might begin by saying: “Sorry I beat your guy.”
The already–crowded field of Democratic candidates vying for the party’s nomination has recently expanded, with at least one more contemplating a late-entry White House run. The turn of events is evidence of widespread anxiety less than three months before the Iowa caucuses in February, which kick off primary voting for the nomination. Of the candidates who qualified for the October debate in Ohio, only Julián Castro, the former housing secretary, failed to meet the required polling threshold for this one. Beto O’Rourke, the former Texas congressman, dropped out of the race earlier this month.
Of the candidates who qualified for the October debate in Ohio, only Julián Castro, the former Housing secretary, failed to meet the required polling threshold for this one. Beto O’Rourke, the former Texas congressman, dropped out of the race earlier this month.
The former Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick entered the race last week and the former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg has filed to appear on the ballot in a handful of Super Tuesday states, in a sign that he intends to run.The former Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick entered the race last week and the former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg has filed to appear on the ballot in a handful of Super Tuesday states, in a sign that he intends to run.
Neither were on stage on Wednesday, but their interest in joining the race at this relatively late stage is indicative of a growing concern among Democrats that the party’s frontrunners lack the strength to beat Trump in the November 2020 election. Some believe Biden, 77, is too old, and Buttigieg is too young, while Warren and Sanders are too liberal. Harris and Booker, once viewed as strong contenders for the nomination, have largely failed to gain traction. Six candidates – Biden, Sanders, Warren, Buttigieg, Harris and Klobuchar – have so far qualified for the sixth Democratic debate due to be held on 19 December in Los Angeles.
Six candidates – Biden, Sanders, Warren, Buttigieg, Harris and Klobuchar – have so far qualified for the sixth Democratic debate due to be held on 19 December in Los Angeles.