Step 3: Iām Late, Iām Late, for a Very Important Debate!
Bernie Sanders really let Hillary Clinton feel the #BERN last Wednesday, and Hillary Clinton bit right back with her infamous Cedar Rapids #CHILL.
Televised on Univision, March 9thās Democratic Debate live from Miami spoke to several issues, many regarding immigration reform, international disputes, and leadership qualification. Beginning the night, former Secretary of State Clinton was posed with a question by Jorge Ramos regarding immigration. Ā In response to, āCan you promise tonight that you wonāt deport children, and that you wonāt deport immigrants without a criminal record?ā she replied with a stammering no, that her policies aim to bring families together rather than rip them apart. Clinton continued to further her position by proclaiming that in 2006, Bernie Sanders voted in support of indefinite detention for those facing deportation in the United States.
A stand-out moment of the evening came from a story told by Lucia, a Guatemalan immigrant living in the United States without her husband. She explained that her husband was deported three years ago, and she was supporting her family basically on her own. Translated by Ramos, Lucia asked Senator Sanders and Hillary Clinton how they would tackle immigration and deportation. Sanders spoke to his progressive immigration plan, one that aims to unite families. Clinton added that she wanted to highlight the human cost of government policies in place. Her policies have the goal to protect and unite children and parents from across the border. Both candidates promised not to deport undocumented children, and both denounced Donald Trumpās proposal to build a wall between the United States and Mexico. Sanders called it āa vulgar, absurd idea.ā
When posed with a question regarding leadership to Clinton, she refuted, āI am not a natural politician, as you may have noticed, like my husband or President Obama. So I have a view that I just have to do the best I can, get the results I can, make a difference in peopleās lives.ā But in todayās modern society and national campaign, what constitutes a ānatural politicianā? A white male born to a wealthy upper class family? A college graduate? Someone who volunteers on the weekend? A male or female who represents a district of a state? A politician in the 21st century has been redefined, no longer attached to political party values and ideals. As a young person looking at this campaign, anyone with a genuine interest in state affairs and a voice for the people can be defined as a āpoliticianā today. Bernie Sanders faced the topic of leadership by calling for a political upheaval of sorts. He commented, āIām the candidate who says no president, notĀ Bernie Sanders, can do it all. You know what we need? We need a political revolution in this country.ā
Former Secretary of Clinton was also faced with questions regarding her email scandals and incident in Benghazi. She restated that she refused to drop out of the campaign regarding her emails, promising to release the transcripts if other politicians release their own transcripts as well. To best summarize her conversation about Benghazi on the night of the 9th, she continued to keep the h in Benghazi silent. (Hillary, we have not forgotten and would still like answers.)
At one point, Bernie Sanders lightened the mood with a Donald Trump impression: āLet me answer that question, because itās a huge one. Well, not a HUGE one...ā A phallic joke or an innocent imitation? You can decideā¦
Bernie Sanders throughout the night faced some tough criticism throughout the night. A tape from 1985 was presented of Sanders praising Fidel Castroās actions in Cuba; within moments he turned the blame suddenly on the Monroe Doctrine and Reaganās enforcement of embargos in the 1980s.
In all, Wednesday night was a bit of a he-said-she-said. It was a night to look at the facts of the past and see how candidates plan to change the future. You may ask yourself, āAre we there yet?ā Unfortunately, November isnāt around the corner yet. One thing is for sure; itāll be a long ride. Buckle in, folks!













