Update: the demonstrators who interruptedJoe Bidenduring the final question of the debate appear to have been immigration protesters, according to a Daily Mail reporter.
Emily Goodin(@ Emilylgoodin)
Protester at# DemDebatewas wearing a “Defend DACA, abolish ICE, citizenship for all” t- shirt according to wire photos from inside the room. Also photos show at least protester made it on to the debate stage
(September) , 2019
Moderator Jorge Ramos pushed Biden on the high number of deportations under the (Obama administration) , but the former vice president defended Obama, arguing the president had done the best he could at the time.
Updated
Beto O’Rourke‘s team appears to be taking a victory lap after his debate performance, which has attracted donors and plaudits.
From his rapid response director:
Lauren Hitt(@ LaurenHitt)
Beto for America has had our best hour of fundraising this quarter tonight
(September) , 2019
Lauren Hitt(@ LaurenHitt)
CNN homepage right nowpic.twitter.com/fXMhgKOGL6
(September) , 2019
Lauren HittO’Rourke’s answers on gun control, in which he repeatedly mentioned the recent mass shooting in his hometown of El Paso, in particular attracted enthusiastic applause from the Houston crowd.
The debate has ended
The debate has concluded – about 15 minutes earlier than expected, but this blogger is not complaining.
We’ll have more post-debate analysis and spin as it comes in, so stay tuned.
Beto O’Rourkegave a stirring answer on resiliency by honoring his hometown of El Paso as it continues to heal from the mass shooting that killed 22. He referenced those who are still recovering from their injuries.
Amy Klobuchartalked about pushing her state legislature to change the law on hospital stays for mothers will ill newborns after her daughter was born unable to swallow.
Julián Castrorecounted quitting his high-paying law firm job so that he could vote against a controversial land deal as a member of San Antonio’s city council.
Anti-socialism advert with burning photo of AOC sparks outrage
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Max Benwell
A bizarre advert showing a burning photo of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has prompted outrage after playing during an earlier debate break.
Paid for by the group New Faces GOP, the ad describes the progressive congresswoman as “the face of socialism” while issuing a very morbid warning against the economic model.
You can see the advert here:
This is the very strange PAC ad featuring a burning pic of@ AOCthat aired during the# DemDebate:pic.twitter.com/YZcHp0FMTi
(September) , 2019
Here’s how Ocasio-Cortez has responded:
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez(@ AOC)
Republicans are running TV ads setting pictures of me on fire to convince people they aren’t racist.
Life is weird!
(September) , 2019
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez(@ AOC)
Know that this wasn ‘t an ad for young conservatives of color – that was the pretense.
What you just watched was a love letter to the GOP’s white supremacist case .https://t.co/ zvp1EB 02 C5
(September) , 2019
Many others have also expressed their alarm at the advert:
Bend the Arc: Jewish Action(@ jewishaction)
This is the ad@ ABCallowed to run during tonight’s# DemDebate: right-wing propaganda depicting@ AOCset on fire, burning into images of skeletons.
This is right out of the white nationalist playbook. No news network should be profiting off such hatred.pic.twitter.com/11 g7k6hf3c
(September) , 2019
Mehdi Hasan(@ mehdirhasan)
Trump officials and GOP senators were asked to leave a few restaurants and we had a whole news cycle about a lack of ‘civility’ on the part of the left.
The GOP, on the other hand, just set (@ AOC) ‘s face on fire.# bothsideshttps://t.co/zzJrNNCIZb
(September) , 2019
UltraViolet(@ UltraViolet)
This ad is abhorrent. Literally burning@ AOCand promoting violence against a sitting member of congress. How did you let this on the air@ ABCNetwork?# DemDebatehttps://t.co/IIasHeoyXc
(September) , 2019
Updated
Meanwhile, the debate has passed by without any question on reproductive rights, which was a central campaign plank of senatorKirsten Gillibrand.New York senator dropped out of the race late last month.
A former adviser to Gillibrand argued the oversight demonstrated the need for a candidate focused on those issues.
Emmy Bengtson(@ EmmyA2)
Reproductive rights are under greater threat than they’ve been since before Roe v. Wade.
We’ve had a three-hour, 10 – candidate# DemDebatefor the presidency and not a single question * or mention * about that crisis.
But ok. We don’t need a candidate who runs on women’s rights.
This question of what resiliency means to each candidate has given them the chance to dive more into their personal histories.
Elizabeth Warrenspoke about being discriminated against as a teacher because she was pregnant.
Bernie Sanderstalked about repeatedly losing races and finally seeing his vision prevail with voters.
Kamala Harrisrepeated her common line of being the first African-American woman to hold several offices and not listening to people telling her it wasn’t her time.
Pete Buttigiegtalked about coming out as gay while running for office and learning to trust voters with that knowledge.
Biden interrupted by protesters
Joe Bidenwas just beginning his answer on resilience when he was interrupted by a group of protesters in the Houston audience.
Once the protesters were cleared out, Biden spoke about his personal tragedies, losing his wife and daughter before being sworn in as a senator and later seeing his son die from brain cancer while he was serving as vice president.
A Daily Beast reporter said the optics weren’t the best for the protesters.
Sam Stein(@ samstein)
yeah. Great time to protest guys as he’s about to talk about the personal horrors he’s faced in his life.
(September) , 2019
Updated)
Moderator Linsey Davis, who previously askedKamala Harrisa tough question about her record on criminal justice, has now posed a similarly difficult question to (Joe Biden.)
Davis specifically asked about Biden’s1975 commentthat he didn’t “feel responsible for the sins of my father and grandfather” when it came to segregation.
“There is institutional segregation in this country,” Biden acknowledged off the bat, claiming he has worked against such discrimination from the beginning of his career. But the former senator has attracted criticism for his past opposition to government-mandated busing to racially integrate schools.
When Davis tried to cut off Biden, he said he was going to blow past the time limit like all of his opponents, prompting laughter. But he then oddly segued into an answer onVenezuela, which came up about (minutes ago.)
Updated
Kamala Harrisused her education answer to trumpet the importance of historically black colleges and universities, one of which she attended (Howard University in Washington).
The site of tonight’s debate, Texas Southern University, is also a historically black university – which may partly explain the healthy applause Harris ’answer attracted.
The audience was similarly receptive to Harris ’citations of statistics showing that black children with black teachers are more likely to go on to college.
The discussion has turned toward education.Andrew Yangwas pressed about his stance toward public education, and the tech entrepreneur emphasized he was “pro-good school”.
Pete Buttigiegemphasized teachers need to be better paid so that the positions can attract the best possible candidates.
AndElizabeth Warrendismissed claims that she was “in bed with the teacher unions.” Warren emphasized she was the person onstage who has previously been a teacher and argued that educational funding needs to stay in public schools.
Updated
Beto O ‘Rourke‘s campaign is trying to capitalize on his gun-control answers, which attracted some of the loudest applause of the debate so far, by spinningElizabeth Warren
Beto O’RourkeUpdated
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