Democratic debate: candidates questioned on Trump impeachment and healthcare – live updates – The Guardian, Theguardian.com

Tulsi Gabbardis continuing to criticize her fellow Democratic presidential candidates offstage, sending an email to supporters slammingKamala Harrisfor attacking the Hawaii congresswoman.

Gabbard had previously gone after Harris at the July debate, and the California senator responded in kind tonight by accusing Gabbard of spendingBarack Obama‘s whole presidency trashing him on Fox News.

Here are some of the main takeaways from the night:

• Candidates largely avoided attackingPete Buttigieg, the newly minted frontrunner in Iowa, until the very end of the debate. With just a few minutes left until the event’s conclusion,Amy KlobucharandTulsi Gabbardraised doubts that the Indiana mayor had enough experience to become president. Buttigieg deftly responded by attacking Gabbard’s judgement in sitting down withBashar al-Assad,calling the Syrian leader a “murderous dictator.”
• Joe Bidenappeared shaky, stumbling over some rather simple facts and choosing poor wording on an answer about gender violence. The former vice president incorrectly identified former senatorCarol Moseley Braunas the “only” African -American woman elected to the Senate untilKamala Harrisnoted she also fit that description, and Biden promised to keep “punching” at the issue of gender violence.
• Amy Klobuchardelivered one of the best answers of the night by describing the double standard that exists for women in politics. She earned applause and Twitter plaudits for saying, “If you think a woman can’t beatDonald Trump,Nancy Pelosidoes it every single day. ”
• The debate’s four women moderators won praise for their questions, which focused on previously undiscussed issues like paid family leave and housing affordability. Tonight’s event was also historic; for the first time ever, the majority of debate participants (counting moderators and candidates) were women.

The blog will have more reactions to the debate coming up, so stay tuned.

Elizabeth Warrenused her closing statement to emphasize the need to get money out of politics and celebrate America for giving the “daughter of a janitor” the chance to run for president.

Joe Bidensimilarly praised the promsie of America as a country and told viewers we now have an oppotunity to “get up and take it back” fromTrump.

And with that, the fifth Democratic presidential debate has concluded. Stay tuned for more analysis.

In his closing statement,Pete Buttigiegremarked upon the debate’s setting of Atlanta to celebrate the black middle-class and argued he would help lead “the era that must come afterTrump.”

Bernie Sandersnoted his participation in the civil rights movement to emphasize he was “committed to the fight against all forms of discrimination” and promised to “lead an administraion that looks like America.”

Andrew Yangsaid in his closing statement that his presidency would offer “a new way forward for our people” and rewrite the rules of the US economy for the next generation.

Amy Klobucharpitched herself as a candidate who could win “Red districts, suburbran purple districts and bright blue districts” to forge a new path afterTrump’spresidency.

Echoing her campaign slogan,Kamala Harrissaid a number of forms of justice, such as reproductive justice and economic justice, were on the ballot in 2020.

Tom Steyerattempted to distinguish himself from the rest of the large primary field by arguing he was the candidate who can enact change and call outTrumpfor being “a fraud and a failure on the economy.”

Tulsi Gabbardoffered a message of unity after attacking several of her fellow candidates onstage, calling for “peace, inclusion and true equality.”

Candidates have started to deliver closing statements, even though the debate was scheduled to end a five minutes ago.

Cory Bookerclosed by asking viewers to help him qualify for the December debate and thanked civil rights leaders likeJohn Lewis, who was in the debate stage, for their incredible work.

With just five minutes left in the debate,Amy Klobuchardelivered her most direct attack onPete Buttigieg, emphasizing her governmental experience level over the Indiana mayor.

After Buttigieg laid out the need for fortifying voting rights, Klobuchar said it was one example where the mayor said the right words while she had actually championed legislation that could enact change.

Buttigieg responded that experience beyond Washington mattered, citing his experience as a veteran who fought in the Afghanistan war.

And then Buttigieg was criticized by …Tulsi Gabbard, surprisingly. Gabbard, the only other veteran onstage, said military service was not enough to make one experienced for the Oval Office and criticized Buttigieg’s foreign policy proposals.

Buttigieg then shot back by slamming Gabbard for sitting down withBashar al-Assad,calling the Syrian leader a “murderous dictator.”

Lauren Aratani

People are celebrating thatvoting rightsfinally made it to the debate stage.

Less than ten minutes remain in the fifth Democratic deabte, and the conversation has turned to abortion.

Amy Klobucharcalled forRoe v Wade,the Supreme Court that legalized abortion, to be codified into law.

Elizabeth Warrenreminded viewers that outlawing abortion would only prevent low-income women from having abortions, while wealthy women would still be able to access the procedure.

AndBernie Sandersemphasized that men must play an active role in strengthening reproductive rights across the country.

Joe Biden‘s last answer before the commercial break was undeniably bungled from beginning to end.

The former vice president also incorrectly identified former senator Carol Moseley Braun as the “only” African-American woman elected to the Senate, even thoughKamala Harriswas standing feet away from him. The California senator quickly corrected him.

The moment has inevitably become a gif.

AfterElizabeth Warrenanswered a question aboutTrump‘s proposed border wall,Cory Bookerpivoted back to discussing the importance of black voters and went on to specifically address marijuana legalization.

The New Jersey senator criticizedJoe Bidenfor not supporting marijuana legalization. Booker said of recent comments Biden made criticizing legalization, “I thought you might have been high when you said it.” That was arguably the biggest laugh line of the night so far.

Responding to Booker’s criticism, Biden seemed to reverse his position on marijuana legalization and inexplicably added, “I come out of the black community in terms of my support.”

AfterKamala Harrisdelivered her answer on black voters,Pete Buttigegwas asked to respond. The Indiana mayor said: “My response is I completely agree.”

Buttigieg, who is polling at close to 0% among African-American voters in South Carolina, added he “welcomes the challenge” of reaching out to blackDemocrats.

He went on to connect the question to his own faith and background. “I do have the experience of feeling like a stranger in my own country,” Buttigieg said.