Saturday's democratic debate covered national security, ISIS, the middle least, foreign policy, the economy, jobs, the ACA, gun control, the minimum wage, median income wage and Wall Street. ABC's moderators for the most part kept the debate on track. Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders and Mark O'Malley stood their ground and were specific concerning most of the issues.
O'Malley came out swinging in the beginning. His poll numbers remained low going into the debate so his approach was different than the last time. Clinton and Sanders performed well this writer thought and the debate probably will not move the poll numbers a great deal. All three candidates helped themselves and offered a clear distinction from the republican Presidential candidates.
The moderators did not touch immigration reform for good reason. Like "PolitiDose" they realized the republican candidates have taken the issue off the table until after the 2016 elections and the people know where the democratic candidates stand on the issue. The republican debates waste time on the issue so less time is spent on the real issues facing America and its people. That is the way the republicans want it.
One of the ABC moderators tried a "got you" question on Clinton when she asked Clinton if she took responsibility for the problems left in Libya after Gadhafi was overthrown. It was a silly question at best since it is the President who sets foreign policy and not the secretary of state. If one follows the moderators thoughts credit would be given to Clinton for bringing Bin Laden to justice since she was secretary of state at the time it happened and she was even in the situation room with the President and his advisers at the time. Clinton handled the question well.
None of the debaters ran away from the President's record and Sanders pointed out the people are better off today than they were 8 years ago. Sanders, Clinton and O'Malley also did not use fear as a political tool to gain possible votes like the republicans do. The moderators spent to much time on ISIS and tried their best to interject fear in the debate but the candidates did not take the bait.
Who ever wins the democratic Presidential nomination will be far superior to any nominee the republicans choose. The democrats have a better take and understanding concerning the problems and solutions facing the country and its people. The debates have already settled that.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
