There’s a good chance you missed tonight’s Iowa Black and Brown Forum featuring the three Democrat candidates for president, as the forum, which focuses on issues affecting minority communities, aired on Fusion, which is still fighting for a place on many cable providers’ channel lineups.
Will there be a single Democratic event during this primary season that the party wants the public to see?
— Charles C. W. Cooke (@charlescwcooke) January 12, 2016
Finding a photo of the contenders in tomorrow’s paper might be a challenge as well.
News outlets won't have photo/footage of the 3 Dems together at Iowa Black & Brown – DNC prohibited them on stage together even for pic.
— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) January 12, 2016
Is there a need for a forum specifically geared toward minority issues? Like what?
Questions about reparations, privilege, white terrorism, abortion, police violence, Puerto Rico, weed, black unemployment, and more. Bravo.
— Jamil Smith (@JamilSmith) January 12, 2016
The forum was hosted by broadcaster and immigration activist Jorge Ramos, a well-known figure to viewers of Univision and Fusion who became well known for being escorted out of an early Donald Trump campaign event. Hillary Clinton even had the presence of mind to treat Trump as He Who Shall Not Be Named.
In response to Ramos question about Trump, Clinton describes him as "the person you're referring to." #Voldemort
— Tony Leys (@tonyleys) January 12, 2016
If we had to pick a standout from the forum, it would be Bernie Sanders, who kicked off the one-at-a-time forum and continually reminded the audience that he was the only socialist running for office.
Bernie thunders about revolution & moderator Akilah Hughes fans herself. "Senator, sorry, you’re like raising my blood pressure." #demforum
— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) January 12, 2016
At #DemForum @BernieSanders on @HillaryClinton : the inevitable candidate "may not be so inevitable today."
— Kevin Hardy (@kevinmhardy) January 12, 2016
Time for a Democratic Socialist to take on the billionaire class?
"Yassss." —Bernie Sanders #DemForum https://t.co/XXqXxD5d0k
— Fusion (@ThisIsFusion) January 12, 2016
If you’re going to stick it to the rich, you have to know how much is “rich,” correct?
"How Much do you have to earn to be rich?" Great question by @AliciaMenendez to @BernieSanders speaks volumes abouts his relatability
— The Root (@TheRoot) January 12, 2016
Bernie Sanders says he defines "rich" as making $250,000 a year. #DemForum
— Grant Rodgers (@GrantMRodgers) January 12, 2016
But if he’s elected, won’t Sanders be moving into an extravagant mansion paid for by the taxpayers?
Is it wrong for socialist to live in a mansion like White House? @SenSanders "i would treat it like public housing"! #DemForum @bandbforum
— bikobaker (@bikobaker) January 12, 2016
Is it off brand for Dem socialist to live in mansion like White House?
Sanders: "I would consider it more like public housing." #demforum— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) January 12, 2016
Turning up the charm, @BernieSanders on a Democratic Socialist in the White House: " Well ,I would consider it more like public housing."
— Kevin Hardy (@kevinmhardy) January 12, 2016
What does that mean, exactly? Do we want to find out?
Sanders also had the advantage of calling for a demilitarization of police departments, a standard demand of the #BlackLivesMatter movement, whereas former mayor of Baltimore Martin O’Malley, home of the Freddie Gray riots, had to pass the buck.
"We've got to demilitarize police departments and make them a bigger part of the community." – @BernieSanders #BrownAndBlackForum #DemForum
— B&B Forum (@bandbforum) January 12, 2016
O'Malley says there was already a distrust between communities and police during his campaign for Baltimore mayor pic.twitter.com/HlIMS6FK4c
— Andrew Peng (@TheAPJournalist) January 12, 2016
O'Malley asked if he takes any blame for mistrust of police in Baltimore. "We all bear responsibility." #DemForum
— Adam Auriemma (@adamauriemma) January 12, 2016
These answers on Freddie Gray, Baltimore police relations are essentially straight out of the O'Malley stump speech. #DemForum
— Grant Rodgers (@GrantMRodgers) January 12, 2016
Sanders wrapped things up by nearly falling off the stage, but it looks like he’ll survive both the forum and the tumble.
.@BernieSanders just got a standing ovation, then tripped walking off stage. The crowd reacted with alarm but he steadied himself #DemForum
— Rekha Basu (@rekhabasu) January 12, 2016
Oh, and a much different Hillary Clinton was there than the one who grudgingly agreed to meet with a handful of #BlackLivesMatter representatives for 15 minutes, serving up plenty of cheery non-answers like this one:
.@HillaryClinton answering question from the audience on white privilege and if she's benefited from it in the past. #BrownAndBlackForum
— B&B Forum (@bandbforum) January 12, 2016
Q: What does white privilege mean to you and how has it affected you?
A: Well where do I start? – @HillaryClinton #DemForum— Brittany Packnett (@MsPackyetti) January 12, 2016
Hillary didn't really answer the white privilege question. At all. #DemForum
— Anthony De Rosa (@AntDeRosa) January 12, 2016
Let’s exercise our Twitter privilege and vote!
After tonight's #BrownAndBlackForum, who are you supporting for the #Democratic nomination?
— B&B Forum (@bandbforum) January 12, 2016
