Rep. Garamendi (D-CA) Slams Chaos, Personal Attacks at 2nd Dem Debate as 'Circular Firing Squad'

[highplainsdem]

From Mediaite. Video at the link.

https://www.mediaite.com/election-2020/dem-rep-slams-chaos-personal-attacks-at-2nd-dem-debate-as-circular-firing-squad/

Democratic Rep. John Garamendi slammed the infighting and personal attacks between his party’s presidential primary candidates at the second 2020 debate, saying he cringed at the “circular firing squad” nature of the event.

-snip-

“I was flying across the country at that moment and I just cringed. Here goes the beginning of the circular firing squad,” Garamendi told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, effectively arguing that the candidates should train their fire exclusively on President Donald Trump. “We really can’t do that. There’s so many issues out there. The integration issue goes back to the ‘70s. It was very, very difficult. We have to press forward. We have to press forward to make sure that every part of our society has access to the education they need, to the jobs that are out there, and so we need to move beyond that and please, no more circular firing squads for our team. We’ve got a great team out there. They’re all very qualified, all very capable. Let’s take a deep breath and really deal with the fundamental issue of the president. He has got to go.”

Blitzer pointed out that this advice essentially defeats the purpose of a debate and wouldn’t help Democratic voters determine who should be the best choice to unseat Trump. “Don’t you want a serious debate between these Democratic presidential candidates to underscore where they agree and disagree with each other? Don’t voters have a right to know that?” he asked.

“I’m quite sure you and other journalists will be more than capable of doing that, we just don’t need to do it to each other,” Garamendi responded.

-snip-

“I think the first debate was the kind of debate we should have. Stated the issues, talk about what you want to do,” Garamendi said. “This second debate, Kamala wasn’t the only person that was going after the frontrunner. I know how that works. I’ve been a front-runner and I’ve also been number two and three in campaigns. I much prefer to talk about the things that I want to do, that I need to do. And let’s talk—if it’s education and busing, recognize the fact that the federal budget spends a whole heck of a lot more money on nuclear bombs than it does the education. Those are the things we want to be talking about if you want to be president.”

-snip-

[RHMerriman]

1. What a hurtful thing for Rep. Garamendi to say...

What a hurtful thing for Rep. Garamendi to say...

Someone gets it. How rare.

[democrank]

2. Right.

ALWAYS bring a bouquet of forget-me-nots to a debate, then lock arms and sing.That way nobody will be able to accuse you of having a mind of your own, which apparently is a no-no.

[Big Blue Marble]

3. I could not agree more.

It was demoralizing to see the infighting. Do not tear others apart to gain position.
Each candidate needs to show why they will be beat Trump, not how affectively they can
create devision in the party and weaken other candidates.

The Republicans and Trump are smiling today.

[peggysue2]

5. Indeed they are!

The Republicans and Trump are smiling today.

Trump is having a giggle fest with Putin and boasting how HE won the debate.

He's not far off the mark.

[Cha]

4. I can understand some people's

apprehension about "the firing squad" because we have such an intractable monster asshole in the WH that we need to get out of there.

I also get that the candidates who aren't in first place feel they need to attack the leader.. we'll see out that turns out.

Thank You for Rep. John Garamendi's view on it.. I can imagine his frustration being in Congress and up close and personal with the crap that Psycho leaves behind

[Raven123]

6. Nonsense

You can’t have it both ways. You can’t argue for a return to “normal” and not expect scrutiny of what that means. You can’t claim your experience and record as a strength and not expect your record to be studied.

I recorded both debates and then watched them. There was a lot less circular firing than has been portrayed. The media loves a dust-up and playing the ratings game. Don’t fall for it.

Its hard to sort out 20+ candidates, but if you record and then watch, you may see it differently.

[Blue_true]

9. Bingo. nt

[TexasTowelie]

7. I think that some of the voters that criticized O'Rourke the previous night

received some instant karma as they saw their preferred candidates flail on the second night.

That being said, it was one debate and each of the candidates has room for improvement. While there are some candidates that should leave the race since they are focused on only one or two issues, or have little political experience, calling for candidates to exit the race when they still have supporters and money for their campaigns is bogus. If Obama had done that in 2012 after the first debate we would have President Romney instead.

[LiberalLovinLug]

8. Oh for the love of gawd

Some of them need to grow a spine.

[msongs]

10. didnt seem to be that antagonistic except for one example nt

[RandySF]

11. It was a pillow fight.

[Cha]

14. It was a "plate of Spaghetti.." that she

said the "Voters didn't want a food fight.." right before she threw it at Biden's face.

[Cha]

12. KICK!

[highplainsdem]

13. Thanks, Cha!