Thread by @MollyMcKew

I've been thinking about this photo. They should have included Marianne Williamson.

This is not an endorsement of her views, by any means.

But she beat out elected officials to be on that stage, & the way she was visibly shunned by others felt...bad.
cnn.com/2019/07/02/med…

Our president is a man with no credentials beyond creating a brand. Surely, we've all lost the right to say who "deserves" to stand before us for consideration as a national leader.

She qualified. She has done the work to be in the race, met the standard for the next debate too.

She should get the time to explain her views, because regardless how she got it, she has a constituency.

Most likely, I will continue to snark at them -- just as I will Tulsi, because 🙄🙄

This is a sea change. But how many Zuckerbergs & Trumps & movie stars & reality hosts & frickin' daughters of famous people are thinking about running for office, because why shouldn't their fame and money = political power, too??

I don't like it either. But it's where we are.

And until both the Republicans and the Democrats learn to deal with this new reality, the danger of the least qualified candidates floating to the top will persist.

And btw -- 16% of the women in the Senate are running for president.