In the first Democratic primary debate of 2020, Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Pete Buttigieg, Amy Klobuchar, and Tom Steyer took the stage at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. With Biden, Sanders, Warren, and Buttigieg all within a few points of each other in the latest Des Moines Register poll, the debate offered these four leading candidates an opportunity to lay out their differences and make the case that they’re best suited to defeat Donald Trump.
Here’s what went down:
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COMMANDER IN CHIEF?
The debate kicked off with a question about what best qualified each candidate to be commander-in-chief of the armed services in the context of the ongoing conflict with Iran. That teed up an argument between Biden and Sanders. Sanders highlighted his opposition to the Iraq war, and drew a contrast between his reaction to Republican arguments for the war and Biden’s: “I thought they were lying. I didn’t believe them for a moment. Joe saw it differently." Biden acknowledged his mistake on that vote, and noted that Barack Obama, who won the presidency by opposing the Iraq war, chose him to be vice president anyway.
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In response to a related question about whether candidates would leave troops in the Middle East, Buttigieg, a former naval intelligence officer, took the the opportunity to draw a contrast with Trump, who campaigned against endless war, only to increase troop deployments once in office.
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Warren kept her answer simple: "We need to get our combat troops out." She argued that there’s no use sending the military to solve problems that demand economic and diplomatic responses.
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WOMEN V. TRUMP
Warren and Sanders met face to face for the first time since CNN reported that Sanders privately told Warren he didn’t believe a woman could defeat Trump. Sanders denied making the statement, and Warren responded: “I think the best way to talk about who can win is by looking at people’s winning record... look at the men on this stage. Collectively they have lost ten elections. The only people on this stage who have won every single election that they’ve been in are the women. Amy and me.”
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Warren and Bernie also went back and forth over whether 1990 was really 30 (!!) years ago after Warren noted that she was the only candidate on stage who had unseated a Republican incumbent in the past 30 years. We can’t help but think that Andrew Yang and his “MATH” hat really could’ve shined here.
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PETE'S COLLEGE PLAN
Buttigieg once again faced a question about why his free college proposal would only make college free to some families, instead of a public good available to everyone. Buttigieg responded, “I don’t want cost ever to be a barrier to somebody seeking to attend college… but if you're in that top income bracket… I just need you to go ahead and pay that tuition.” Adding, “I don't think subsidizing the children of millionaires and billionaires to pay absolutely zero in tuition to public colleges is the best use of those taxpayer dollars.”
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Buttigieg pointed out that under his plan 80 percent of families would receive free tuition to public four-year universities, and the money saved by not extending it to the top income bracket would free up money to be used elsewhere.
Although Buttigieg’s plan would make free college available to most families, critics of his plan point out that he’d not only exclude millionaires and billionaires, but families making over $100,000. Warren, who believes free college should be available to everyone, countered, defending her policy by pointing out that her proposed wealth tax would ensure that millionaires and billionaires covered the costs of sending their children to college.
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USMCA
Democrats also aired their differences on trade policy in response to a question about the United States Mexico-Canada agreement (USMCA). While the USMCA deal (which the Senate is likely to adopt in the coming days) promises greater worker protections than NAFTA and the Trans-Pacific Partnership, and has the support of some progressives, including Elizabeth Warren, others, like Bernie Sanders, oppose it for building upon the same basic framework that underpin other key, unpopular trade deals.
Sanders reiterated that he does not support the agreement, noting that jobs will continue to be outsourced and that it doesn’t make any mention of climate change or protections for the environment. Warren described it as a “modest improvement,” and said that we should accept the relief it offers for American farmers and workers, while trying to fight for a better deal (hopefully under a Democratic president).
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- Another debate, another riveting health care policy discussion! Amy Klobuchar took the opportunity to advocate for building upon the Affordable Care Act while taking aim at the high cost of Bernie’s Medicare for All plan, saying, “Yes, I think you should show you're going to pay for things, Bernie.”
- When asked about her childcare plan, Warren explained that her proposed “two cents” wealth tax will pay for universal childcare and will help “stop exploiting the people who do this valuable work, largely black and brown women.”
- During a broader discussion of electability, Buttigieg was pressed directly about his lack of support among black voters. In response, Pete touted his endorsements from black leaders in both South Bend and Iowa, adding "The biggest mistake we could make is to take black voters for granted. And I never will."
- Bernie also got hit with a question about his electability. Asked if identifying as a socialist will hurt his chances of beating Donald Trump, Bernie replied, “Not at all,” and professed the virtues of campaigning on policies like universal health care and raising the minimum wage.
- Tom Steyer tried to position himself as the climate change candidate (RIP Jay Inslee), claiming he’s the only candidate who would declare a state of emergency to address the climate crisis on day one. He also advocated for policies that address the disproportionate impact pollution has on black and brown communities.
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