The best heated exchange of the evening came between Tulsi Gabbard and Tim Ryan regarding his insistence that the U.S. continue to engage militarily in Afghanistan and Central and South America.
Tulsi: "Is that what you will tell - is that what you will tell the parents of those two soldiers who were just killed in Afghanistan? 'Well, we just have to be engaged?' As a soldier, I will tell you, that answer is unacceptable."
(The audience loudly applauded her reaction.)
"We have to bring our troops home from Afghanistan where we have lost so many lives. We've spent so much money. Money that's coming out of every one of our pockets, money that would be going to communities here at home, meeting the needs of people at home.
"We are no better off in Afghanistan today than we were when this war began. This is why it's so important to have a President and Commander-in-Chief who knows the cost of war and who's ready to do the job on day one. I am ready to do that job when I walk into the Oval Office."
(More thunderous applause)
Ryan was given extra time (unlike Tulsi when Booker went after her) to respond to Tulsi comments. Among Ryan's statements as to why we had to stay in Afghanistan was his claim that the Taliban had flown planes into buildings on 9/11.
Tulsi was ready. "The Taliban didn't attack us on 9//11. Al Quida did."
Apparently, Ryan had forgotten the official story of 9/11.
After the debate, I spoke with members of a focus group who had watched the event and had been deciding between the candidates. In spite of the limited time Tulsi was given, the members of the group voted unanimously that Tulsi was the winner of the debate.
The times given to each candidate don't lie. Before the debate, the candidates were each told they would receive twelve minutes. In Tulsi's case, she only received six minutes and 39 seconds. Had it not been for the interchange between her and Ryan, which was counted into her time, she would have received even less.
Tickets to the debate for a couple were sold for $4500. An individual was $3000, The hosts of the debate were working for a war profiteer and this may explain why Elizabeth Warren and other war hawks were promoted during this debate. Observers are hoping the next debate will be presented more fairly.
In spite of the limited opportunity to speak, Tulsi got her message across. She will end the regime change wars and bring the money home to meet the needs of the American people. Tulsi has declared housing to be a human rights, supports Medicare for All and College for All and is pushing the strongest green act being proposed.
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