Currents News Staff
Right off the bat, the big showdown on the debate stage wasn’t between Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren.
It was Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren defending their progressive positions on issues like border security and health care, against more moderate candidates on the stage.
“I’m the only one on this stage who has experience in the healthcare business and with all due respect, I don’t think my colleagues understand the business,” said John Delaney.
To which Sen. Bernie Sanders retorted, “It’s not a business.”
With two top-tier progressives taking center stage, moderate candidates further back in the polls tried to make a case for democrats taking a different direction.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar said, “That is incorrect I just have a better way to do this.”
John Hickenlooper said, “This notion that you are going to take away private insurance away from 180 million Americans. You might as well Fedex the election to Donald Trump.”
Gov. Steve Bullock said, “This is an example of wish-list economics. It used to be Republicans that wanted to repeal and replace, now many Democrats do as well.”
Sen. Elizabeth Warren said, “Let’s be clear about this. We are the democrats. We are not about trying to take away health care from anyone.”
With a much steeper bar for the next round of debate entry, some candidates are taking one more chance to get voters’ attention on the national stage.
Marianne Williamson said, “Everything that we are talking about here tonight is what’s wrong with American politics.”
Candidates also touched on gun control.
Mayor Pete Buttigieg said, “High school is hard enough without having to worry about whether you’re going to get shot.”
And the best ways for democrats to defeat President Trump come next year.
Beto O’Rourke said, “There’s a new battleground state. Texas.”