Democratic Debates: Here’s What You May Have Missed

The 10th democratic debate took place on Tuesday, Feb. 24 in Charleston, South Carolina. Many have taken note of the tension among the Democratic candidates on the stage as Super Tuesday is fast approaching. Former Vice President Joe Biden attacked the debate with the intensity of an opponent who knows he needs this win. As the front runner, Senator Bernie Sanders experienced collective accusations thrown his way. Mayor Mike Bloomberg even accused him of taking help from Russia to win, which Sanders all but laughed at as he continues to ride the momentum he gained from his win in the Nevada caucuses.

Senator Sanders also received criticism from fellow candidates for his recent comments on the current regime in Cuba. He complimented the literacy program introduced by the late Cuban leader, Fidel Castro. Biden vehemently protested Sanders’s claim that he was reflecting comments made by former President Obama. Biden said, “The fact of the matter is [Obama] in fact does not, did not, has never embraced an authoritarian regime and does not now.” 

Candidates were also asked about how they feel the Coronavirus outbreak should be handled. Klobuchar, Biden, and Sanders all agreed more federal funding needs to be placed in the Center for Disease Control (CDC). Biden made it clear that if elected, he will “be on the phone with China,” and that we need to be in China with full knowledge of what is going on. 

While discussing the issue of pregnancy discrimination in the workplace, Senator Elizabeth Warren brought up accusations against Bloomberg made by women in his corporation of derogatory comments, and nondisclosure agreements that stop the women from speaking against Bloomberg. The New York mayor insisted that the women have been freed of this agreement and his company will not be using these types of agreements in the future. He also denied Warren’s accusation that when Bloomberg learned about a female employee’s pregnancy, he told her to “kill it.” Senator Warren demanded that all employees bound by this nondisclosure agreement need to be released, and Bloomberg responded by saying “…we just cannot continue to relitigate this every time. We did what she asked and thank you, we’ve probably made the world a better place because of it.” 

The intense debate ended with the candidates being asked to address one misconception about themselves and share their personal mottos. The candidates took this opportunity to end the night on a lighter note, which will hopefully carry into Super Tuesday on March 3rd.