Jennifer Rubin: Harris, Buttigieg and Klobuchar Shine in Fifth Debate

[femmedem]

" ... Sen. Kamala D. Harris (D-Calif.), who needed a standout showing, started strongly by displaying her prosecutorial credentials and labeling Trump and his senior officials part of a “criminal enterprise.” She then slammed Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) for refusing to call out war criminal Bashar al-Assad, buddying up to Stephen K. Bannon and bashing the Democratic Party. This was the Harris of the June debate in which she dominated and mounted forceful attacks against Trump and Biden. She also spoke authoritatively on her child care and leave policy, stressing her focus on working women and the extra burden on women of color who don’t get paid equally to men.

Given the opportunity to bash Buttigieg, Harris instead pivoted to admonishing the Democratic Party for taking women of color for granted. She declared, “The question has to be where have you been and what are you going to do?” She was able to show magnanimity but also tout her credentials with people of color. She spoke passionately about rebuilding the Obama coalition.

As for Buttigieg, he was challenged as to how he can bring the country together, at which point he immediately jumped to his defense of “Medicare for All Who Want It” and slighted Warren’s plan to force people off private health care. Challenged on his scant experience as mayor, he played the outsider card, touting his military experience and his Midwest roots. When asked about farming subsidies, he rolled out his agriculture bona fides, speaking of carbon-neutral farms. It was all a call-out to Iowa, where he has been surging.

To the surprise of many, likely including Buttigieg, his rivals only attacked him at the end. He was prepared. He retorted strongly to Sen. Amy Klobuchar’s (D-Minn.) attack on his qualifications by pointing that Beltway experience is not the only experience. He bashed Gabbard for insinuating (falsely) he favored war with Mexico and for meeting with Assad. He showed tenacity and a willingness to defend himself against outrageous attacks, a skill he will need against Trump."

More: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/11/21/harris-klobuchar-rise-buttigieg-defense/