A Recap on the Democratic Debate
By: Brett Blair
Tags: Politics, Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders

The second Democratic debate, hosted by CBS News, proved fast-paced driven by productive, tough questioning toward the three Democratic candidates: former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, and former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley.

After the tragic Paris attacks the prior evening, CBS News understandably made national security and foreign policy a top priority for the first part of the debate. The evening began on a somber note, with the candidates and lead moderator John Dickerson expressing their condolences through a moment of silence.

Soon after, the candidates ran head first into their first disagreement: terrorism and ISIS. Sanders felt that then New York Senator Hillary Clinton’s 2002 vote for the Iraq Invasion was responsible for Iraq and the Middle East’s situation with ISIS. However, Clinton blames the disbandment of the Iraqi army and said ISIS cannot be “contained,” but rather have to be “defeated.”

In the mix of this, Sanders supports his claim that climate change is the greatest threat toward national security and says that it directly relates to terrorism.

O’Malley is asked if he, having no foreign relation experience, could handle such a dangerous world. He quickly responses by attacking Clinton for the world being dangerous, although he didn’t mention her name (his response also ignores the question).

Either way, all of the candidates were pivotal on using radical “jihadists” rather than the term “radical Islam,” before turning to refugees. O’Malley pointed out he was the first candidate on the stage to call for the United States to take in 65,000 Syrian refugees. Clinton, who also supports the U.S. taking in refugees, says that all refugees should be vetted and screened.

The debate then moves to various different directions including Wall Street, Clinton’s millions of dollars worth of speeches and e-mail use, the corrupt finance system, health care, and education.

In summary, Clinton discusses how she will pay for family paid leave and health care breaks. She mentions taxing the wealthy more and closing corporation loopholes and deductions as a few strategies. O’Malley mentions that his state raised sales tax to get stuff done and Sanders reiterates that large corporations and the wealthy will pay their fair share in order for them to pay for his presidential plans.

While Sanders aspires to “scrap” Obamacare and move to a single-payer system, Clinton states that it is unrealistic. Instead, she feels that the focus should be on preserving the Affordable Care Act and working to improve it.

On the topic of guns, O’Malley talks about what he did in Baltimore to make it safer, while Clinton hit Sanders on his support of a 2005 bill that granted immunity to gun manufacturers. A short-lived cat fight ensues with O’Malley accusing Clinton of taking “three sides” on the gun debate.

In my opinion, Sanders improved since his last debate, answering questions far more effectively and with greater detail this time around. However, voters are looking for policy specifics and he simply couldn’t provide details for his makeover on healthcare and college.

As someone who openly endorses Clinton, I feel that her supporters got what can be described as a win. In response to tough questions, she remained calm with her answers and provided an effective rebuttal when attacked. She was also able to cite her foreign policy experience when topics of terrorism and national security came up.

Overall, the debate proves how productive debates can be and with that, I look forward to many more so Americans can see discussions and branch out to conversations about the candidate that best fits their vision.

Brett Blair is a contributor for Slash Magazine, a website for teens, by teens which launches on November 30, 2015!