If you live in Delaware and haven't watched the @KerriHarrisDE debate with @SenatorCarper you absolutely should. It paints a stunning contrast between consensus politics and genuine progressivism.
delawareonline.com/story/news/pol…
delawareonline.com/story/news/pol…
It's striking to hear her talk abt the min wage in real terms: how it takes 2 hours at the current min wage to afford a pack of diapers for her son. By contrast, Carper said his parents were children of the great depression w/ no indication he's in touch w contemporary hardship.
Carper speaks often of the ACA - he's work to support & maintain it. But @KerriHarrisDE observes that the vast majority of folks in DE have health insurance, but they can't afford to use it. She emphasizes health care as a "human right," and supports Medicare for All.
When @SenatorCarper suggests canceling student debt is impractical, saying he wishes he had a "magic wand" to pay for it, @KerriHarrisDE suggest he use the same magic wand used to bail out the banks, arguing that resolving the student crisis would do more for the economy.
@KerriHarrisDE says the needs of Delaware corporations shouldn't come before the needs of the people of Delaware, and that job creation needn't come on the backs of workers. When workers do well, corporations do well -- not the other way around.
While @senatorcarper pointed to his work on Dodd Frank, the defended the bail out, & praised the CPFB, Harris pointed out that a recent "consumer protection" bill extended protections to huge banks under the pretext that they're "community" banks.
Carper tried to explain his vote for Kavenaugh by bungling the "fool me once" line -- saying he wouldn't vote for him again. "Kavenaugh was distinguished and respected DE jurist. I voted my hopes over my fears. I will not do that again.” He said.
Meanwhile, @KerriHarrisDE said his vote for Kavanaugh is being used by repubs to claim he's moderate. She says we need diverse perspectives in the Senate bc otherwise, "You get things happening like Kavenaugh bc you spoke to other ppl in your network & they said hew as a good guy
(It's a sick burn. You should watch it -- just before the hour mark).
Senator Carper emphasized his environmental record, but he didn't respond when @KerriHarrisDE pointed out he voted for the KeyStone pipeline, saying: "All of your votes count, not just the ones you can pat yourself on the back for."
Seeming to suggest that the status quo is good enough, when asked what we should do about the opioid crisis, Carper said we should look at what we ARE doing. Harris drew on her organizing work w opioid crisis groups & pointed to the need for more federal funding for states.
She asked him if he would support he Care Act, based on the Ryan White act which did so much for the HIV epidemic, & co-sponsored by Warren. He said it's good legislation, but just an appropriations act... so... 🤷🏾♀️
When asked about abortion, Carper said it was settled law. But @KerriHarrisDE says as a woman, she doesn't feel very settled - the law can be overturned. She says we need to overturn the Hyde act, so that there's more public abortion funding & women needn't take drastic measures.
I didn't intend to write the whole thing up, but now that I did, YOURE WELCOME. I just saved you an hour. You should still watch at least some of it though. Again, the only link to the full debate is here. Skip 25 min in to get to the Dems. delawareonline.com/story/news/pol…
