Mega-billionaire Michael Bloomberg is in the spotlight during the Las Vegas, Nevada, Democratic presidential debate on Wednesday night. As his star and poll numbers have been rising (undoubtedly partially thanks to an overwhelming amount of spending on ads — and memes), he’s also sustained criticism from the left for discriminatory policies such as “stop and frisk” and “redlining” from his days as New York City mayor. He will also be answering questions about the nearly 40 sexual harassment and discrimination lawsuits brought against him and his media empire over the years.
The other 2020 candidates running for office have not held back when it comes to Bloomberg. Former Vice President Joe Biden has questioned his status as a Democrat (Bloomberg switched his registration to run for NYC mayor as a Republican in 2001 — and switched back to Democrat about, uh, a minute ago), and others have accused him of trying to buy his way to the nomination. After Bloomberg made the debate, Sen. Elizabeth Warren tweeted that “at least now primary voters curious about how each candidate will take on Donald Trump can get a live demonstration of how we each take on an egomaniac billionaire.”
On-stage on Wednesday: Bloomberg, Biden, Warren, former Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, and Sen. Bernie Sanders.
Bernie vs. Bloomberg takes an unexpected turn.
The debate kicked off with Bernie vs. Bloomberg. In the first question of the night, NBC’s Lester Holt asked Sanders, a self-proclaimed socialist democratic, how his “revolution” will beat Bloomberg’s. But, it was Elizabeth Warren who stole their big moment. “I’d like to talk about who we are running against: a billionaire who calls women fat broads and horse faced lesbians,” she said. Warren called out Bloomberg, whose billionaire status is a huge issue for multiple candidates on stage. It was her first big “a-ha!” moment of the night, but set the tone for a fiery debate.
Elizabeth Warren name checks every candidate on health care.
Warren, who set the tone for a fiery debate, proceeded to call out every single candidate’s health care plans, saying that even Amy Klobuchar’s was practically a post-it note of details. She took particular offense saying that “post-it notes were invented in my state!”
minnesota: pic.twitter.com/cfbeFPYYD3
— David Mack (@davidmackau) February 20, 2020
Bloomberg’s failed #MeToo moment is put on blast.
“I hope you heard what his defense was — ‘I’ve been nice to some women’.” Warren calls out Bloomberg after he brags about his company’s high-rated work space and calls out #MeToo offenders in one fell swoop. Warren immediately clapped back and called for women who are under non-disclosure agreements at his company to be able to come forward. Ultimately, other candidates got in on the conversation demanding that Bloomberg allow the women out of their non-disclosure agreements, but he was fairly unprepared to address the issue.
Warren comes to Klobuchar’s defense and it’s absolute GIRL POWER.
After Buttigieg harped on Klobuchar forgetting the name of Mexico’s President, Warren comes in to her defense and says that this little faux pas is not the same as having in-concrete policies and plans like some of the other candidates on stage.
For all the folks who are shocked that Steyer and Klobuchar didn’t know the President of Mexico’s name, simmer down.
There’s a guy in the Oval Office right now who doesn’t even know who the President of Puerto Rico is.
Seriously.
— BrooklynDad_Defiant! (@mmpadellan) February 15, 2020
Warren brings up environmental justice.
“For generations now in this country, toxic waste dumps and polluting factories have been located in or near communities of color,” Warren said.
Um, should billionaires exist?
The question that everyone except Bloomberg has been waiting for finally comes up: should billionaires exist? Klobuchar says she believes in capitalism, but it’s an unbalanced system. Sanders, to no surprise, completely denounces the existence of billionaires and calls Bloomberg “immoral” for being one. Obviously, when the question comes to him, Bloomberg defends himself saying that a lot of the money he makes is donated back into the country’s infrastructure. Reminder that Bloomberg is currently worth $61.8 billion, and is the richest person to ever run for president.
Bernie is more of a millennial than Pete.
When asked why Bernie Sanders was connecting more with young voters than Pete Buttigieg, who is actually a millennial, he replied saying: “Actually, I liked Bernie before it was cool.” Even top millennial former candidate, Andrew Yang, is feeling the Bern.
If Bernie was the frontrunner coming into this debate – which he was – then he’s got to feel good about tonight.
— Andrew Yang🧢 (@AndrewYang) February 20, 2020
Klobuchar stands by DREAMERS, and Pete replied in Spanish.
“I wish everyone was as perfect as you, Pete.” Klobuchar and Pete are going head-to-head (again) and this time it’s over the DREAM Act. Klobuchar voices support for immigrants in the U.S. and Buttigieg claps back, saying that she cannot possibly make that case if she’s voted for the most Trump judges out of all the Democratic candidates. There’s a moment where Buttigieg tries to call her out in Spanish, but Klobuchar quickly retorts, saying, “You just memorized a bunch of talking points.”
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