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‘Women Are Held to a Higher Standard,’ Klobuchar Says at Debate ‘Women Are Held to a Higher Standard,’ Klobuchar Says at Debate
(32 minutes later)
Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota was asked at Wednesday night’s Democratic debate about her recent comment that she and the other women running for president would not be onstage if they had as little political experience as Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Ind.Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota was asked at Wednesday night’s Democratic debate about her recent comment that she and the other women running for president would not be onstage if they had as little political experience as Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Ind.
“Could we be running with less experience than we had? I don’t think so,” Ms. Klobuchar told The New York Times. “I don’t think people would take us seriously.” “Could we be running with less experience than we had? I don’t think so,” Ms. Klobuchar told The New York Times this month. “I don’t think people would take us seriously.”
Here is a transcript of Ms. Klobuchar’s response at the debate:Here is a transcript of Ms. Klobuchar’s response at the debate:
KLOBUCHAR: First of all, I made very clear I think Pete is qualified to be up on this stage, and I am honored to be standing next to him. But what I said is true. Women are held to a higher standard. Otherwise we could play a game called “Name Your Favorite Woman President,” which we can’t do because it has all been men, including all vice presidents being men. And I think any working woman out there, any woman that’s at home, knows exactly what I mean. We have to work harder, and that’s a fact. KLOBUCHAR: First of all, I made very clear I think Pete is qualified to be up on this stage, and I am honored to be standing next to him. But what I said is true. Women are held to a higher standard. Otherwise we could play a game called “Name Your Favorite Woman President,” which we can’t do because it has all been men, including all vice presidents being men. And I think any working woman out there, any woman that’s at home, knows exactly what I mean. We have to work harder, and that’s a fact. But I want to dispel one thing, because for so long, why has this been happening? I don’t think you have to be the tallest person on this stage to be president. I don’t think you have to be the skinniest person. I don’t think you have to have the loudest voice on this stage. I don’t think that means you will be the one that should be president. I think what matters is if you’re smart, if you’re competent and if you get things done. I am the one that has passed over 100 bills as the lead Democrat in that gridlock of Washington in Congress on this stage. I think you’ve got to win, and I am the one, Mr. Vice President, that has been able to win every red and purple congressional district as a lead on a ticket every time. I govern both with my head and my heart. And if you think a woman can’t beat Donald Trump, Nancy Pelosi does it every single day.
But I want to dispel one thing, because for so long, why has this been happening? I don’t think you have to be the tallest person on this stage to be president. I don’t think you have to be the skinniest person. I don’t think you have to have the loudest voice on this stage. I don’t think that means you will be the one that should be president. I think what matters is if you’re smart, if you’re competent and if you get things done. I am the one that has passed over 100 bills as the lead Democrat in that gridlock of Washington in Congress on this stage. I think you’ve got to win, and I am the one, Mr. Vice President, that has been able to win every red and purple congressional district as a lead on a ticket every time. I govern both with my head and my heart. And if you think a woman can’t beat Donald Trump, Nancy Pelosi does it every single day.
Because Ms. Klobuchar mentioned former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., the moderators asked Mr. Biden to respond:Because Ms. Klobuchar mentioned former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., the moderators asked Mr. Biden to respond:
BIDEN: I think a woman is qualified to be president, and there’s no reason why — if you think a woman is the most qualified person now, you should vote for them. The reason why I think I should be president, and be the nominee, is No. 1, I have brought people together in my entire career. In the United States Senate, I’ve passed more legislation than anybody on this stage combined, from the Violence Against Women Act to making sure we have the chemical weapons and a whole range of things I’ve been engaged in my career. I’ve done it.BIDEN: I think a woman is qualified to be president, and there’s no reason why — if you think a woman is the most qualified person now, you should vote for them. The reason why I think I should be president, and be the nominee, is No. 1, I have brought people together in my entire career. In the United States Senate, I’ve passed more legislation than anybody on this stage combined, from the Violence Against Women Act to making sure we have the chemical weapons and a whole range of things I’ve been engaged in my career. I’ve done it.
I’ve brought people together. I’m always told by everybody around here, “Things have changed, you can’t do that anymore.” I thought the question was initially asked of the senator, “How do you unify this country?” We have to unify this country. I have done it. I’ve done it repeatedly. And lastly, to be commander in chief, there’s no time for on-the-job training. I’ve spent more time in the Situation Room. I’ve spent more time abroad, more time than anybody up here. I know every major leader. They know me, and when I speak when I’m the president of the United States, who we’re for and against and what we’ll do, and we’ll keep our word. I’ve brought people together. I’m always told by everybody around here, “Things have changed, you can’t do that anymore.” I thought the question was initially asked of the senator, “How do you unify this country?” We have to unify this country. I have done it. I’ve done it repeatedly. And lastly, to be commander in chief, there’s no time for on-the-job training. I’ve spent more time in the Situation Room, I’ve spent more time abroad, more time than anybody up here. I know every major leader. They know me, and when I speak when I’m the president of the United States, who we’re for and against and what we’ll do, and we’ll keep our word.