Democrat Debate This Week Is in Jeopardy — Here’s Why

'I will not cross the union's picket line,' insisted Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, 'even if it means missing' her party's Los Angeles event

By David Kamioner | December 15, 2019

Democratic primary candidates for the White House, making sure to cover their labor agitator base, are for the second time in several days refusing to participate in a scheduled California debate for this coming Thursday in Los Angeles because the latest college venue is engaged in a labor dispute.

The first locale was UCLA — but it had labor problems.

So the locale was changed to Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles.

But that school, too, has labor issues — and the labor provocateurs at Marymount threaten a picket line if the Dems go ahead and hold the debate there.

All the top-tier Democratic contenders and several also-rans refuse to cross a picket line.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass) tweeted, “The DNC should find a solution that lives up to our party’s commitment to fight for working people. I will not cross the union’s picket line even if it means missing the debate.”

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) followed the parade and tweeted, “I will not be crossing their picket line.”

And former Vice President Joe Biden tweeted, “We’ve got to stand together with @UNITEHERE11 for affordable health care and fair wages. A job is about more than just a paycheck. It’s about dignity.”

So the location for the event has yet to be resolved.

Meanwhile, Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez has turned down the identitarian plea of some candidates to be included in future debates on the basis of “diversity” rather than on political support.

From the head of a political party that prides itself on racial, ethnic, gender, and lifestyle-associated quotas — this is a refreshing response.

His smart and inadvertently correct position is surely due to this knowledge on Perez’s part: The reason the field is winnowing is that weak candidates such as Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) are dropping out.

As they do, it makes the eventuality of a chosen nominee that much closer.

When the primary race is over and a winner is clear that, in turn, saves resources and funds for the November race against President Donald Trump.

Among the list of signers of the diversity plea is Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.).

He wrote in a letter to the DNC, “The escalating thresholds over the past few months have unnecessarily and artificially narrowed what started as the strongest and most diverse Democratic field in history before voters have had a chance to be heard.”

Candidates who want to be given special privileges to stay in the race likely think they’ve not made enough of an impact, as of yet, to be considered for a mid- to top-tier Cabinet post in a theoretical upcoming Dem administration.

Perez, to his credit, turned down Booker’s argument in a Saturday interview with The New York Times.

“I’m not doing the polling. I’m a huge fan of Cory Booker. I think the world of him. I worked with him dating back to when he was mayor,” said Perez.

“And if voters are disappointed that he hasn’t qualified, then when they answer the phone, they need to express their preference for Cory Booker.”

This piece originally appeared in LifeZette and is used by permission.

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