After Harris exit, Booker, Castro, and voters call out billionaires, lack of debate stage diversity

Daily Kos Staff

Wednesday December 04, 2019 · 9:43 AM PST

2019/12/04 · 09:43

Democratic presidential hopeful California Senator Kamala Harris speaks to the press in the Spin Room after participating in the fifth Democratic primary debate of the 2020 presidential campaign season co-hosted by MSNBC and The Washington Post at Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, Georgia on November 20, 2019. (Photo by Nicholas Kamm / AFP) (Photo by NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP via Getty Images)

After California Sen. Kamala Harris announced she was suspending her campaign for the Democratic nomination and dropping out of the 2020 race for president, many took to Twitter to express sadness and disappointment. It hasn’t been just supporters of Harris, either: As many realize that, as of this writing, only white candidates have qualified for the December Democratic primary debate, they are lamenting the reality that candidates of color are being pushed from the debate stage. Speaking to that precise point, former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro spoke with BuzzFeed News about Harris leaving the race—and the reality that he, unlike Harris, hasn’t yet qualified for the next debate.

"I hope that the DNC will reevaluate its threshold" for qualification for debates, Castro said. "What it's resulting in is a lack of diversity on the debate stage. It’s also clear that some have been able to potentially buy their way on stage. I don't think that was the original intention with putting thresholds like this in place, but we need to make sure that voters have the opportunity to hear from a range of candidates."

He was direct when it came to calling out media coverage of Harris too. “To me, they held her to a different standard, a double standard, to other campaigns,” Castro said. “And I don’t know if it impacted her decision to withdraw from the race or not, but I’m sure it didn’t help.”

Video of Castro discussing the media’s treatment of Harris was shared on Twitter:

Sec. @JulianCastro responds to @KamalaHarrisÃ¢ÂÂs treatment by media:

Ã¢ÂÂThe way the media has treated @KamalaHarris has been something else. The way theyÃ¢ÂÂve held her to a different standard, a double standard has been grossly unfair and unfortunate.Ã¢ÂÂ #KHive pic.twitter.com/TIpowCAQLI
Ã¢ÂÂ Sawyer Hackett (@SawyerHackett) December 3, 2019

Sen. Cory Booker expressed similar sentiments. Speaking to Chris Hayes on All In With Chris Hayes on Tuesday, Booker, who, like Castro, hasn’t yet qualified for the December Democratic debate, said, “I’m a little angry, I have to say, that we started with one of the most diverse fields in our history, giving people pride. And it’s a damn shame now that the only African American woman in this race, who has been speaking to issues that need to be brought up, is now no longer in it. And we’re spiraling towards a debate stage that potentially, we’re still trying to get in it, but could have six people with no diversity whatsoever.”

Like Castro, Booker also lamented the DNC debate threshold qualifiers. “Especially with the rules of the DNC,” Booker said, “it is preferencing millionaires and billionaires and a lot of other things that don’t ever translate into viability in Iowa.”

“And to have some artificial rules that would’ve cut out Jimmy Carter, that would’ve cut out Bill Clinton likely, that even Obama, who was 20 points behind Hillary Clinton at this point, in terms of what the polls say is viability, the polling has never predicted who would go on and win from our party,” Booker said on BuzzFeed News' AM to DM.

Here’s Booker pointing out that, as of now, more billionaires will be campaigning in the election than black people.

"If this debate stage stays what it is right now, this 2020 election will have more billionaires than black people," Sen. Booker tells @Morning_Joe after Sen. Harris drops out of the 2020 presidential race. pic.twitter.com/iJvGKx97G1
Ã¢ÂÂ MSNBC (@MSNBC) December 4, 2019

Debate qualifiers can be a little confusing—one can technically remain in the race even if they don’t qualify for a debate. As of now, white candidates former Vice President Joe Biden, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, and Sens. Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, and Amy Klobuchar have all qualified for December’s debate, along with white billionaire Tom Steyer. Former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, Andrew Yang, and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, all candidates of color, have not yet qualified for the debate, along with Castro and Booker. In total, six candidates have qualified so far—and all of them are white.

Notably, Castro’s campaign had its best fundraising day this quarter after Harris dropped out, said Castro’s national press secretary, Sawyer Hackett. Candidates have less than two weeks left to qualify for the next debate.

Many people are expressing the same frustration with seeing billionaires on the debate stage when candidates of color are struggling to survive in the campaign.

The second Black woman in history to ever run for President of the United States. No matter who your candidate was, give @KamalaHarris her propers. We now have 2 billionaires in the race, 3 women and only one woman of color left. pic.twitter.com/X9NKK5L1SE
Ã¢ÂÂ Alicia Garza (@aliciagarza) December 3, 2019

I'm sad about Kamala Harris. Not just for Kamala Ã¢ÂÂ but because white billionaires like Steyer and Bloomberg can buy their way on a stage and Julian Castro is begging for a lifeline. I'm sad for yet another reminder that our supposed democracy works in service of white wealth only
Ã¢ÂÂ Carmen (Campaign Manager of Bette Porter 2020) (@carmencitaloves) December 3, 2019

I said this when @SenGillibrand dropped out, and I'm saying it again now that @KamalaHarris has: it's a shame that we have immensely qualified women dropping out before men with a tenth of their resume and acumen.
Ã¢ÂÂ Will Thomas (@WillCThomas) December 3, 2019

Keep thinking of that moment in the last debate where Biden said he had the support of the only black woman elected to the Senate and Harris had to say she was standing right there. And now this: https://t.co/l6l3934ps1
Ã¢ÂÂ Irin Carmon (@irin) December 3, 2019

IÃ¢ÂÂm not a Kamala Harris fan (Bernie 2020), but itÃ¢ÂÂs quite telling that the only Black woman has dropped out while a host of mediocre white men are still in, wasting our time with their inflated egos.
Ã¢ÂÂ Ã°ÂÂÂ¹ Rebecca Parson for Congress (@RebeccaforWA) December 3, 2019

The fact that Kamala Harris, Jay Inslee and Beto O'Rourke have dropped out of the race but Mike Bloomberg can buy his way into the Democratic primary shows that the DNC needs to reform it's rules for future elections
Ã¢ÂÂ Edward Hardy (@EdwardTHardy) December 4, 2019

Many took to Twitter to thank Harris for being in the race and shared what her run meant to them.

As a Black woman, it was inspiring to see Kamala Harris run for office and be on the stage as a Presidential candidate. Though we disagree on key issues, I hope she inspires confidence in Black children across the country. I wish her the best.
Ã¢ÂÂ Mckayla Wilkes for Congress (@MeetMckayla) December 3, 2019

Recognizing Sen HarrisÃ¢ÂÂs role in history is important

She was the first black woman and first Indian woman in US history to run for president and poll in top 5

Her example will surely inspire others which is always a good thing

(Before you @ me, note how I mentioned polling)
Ã¢ÂÂ Yashar Ali Ã°ÂÂÂ (@yashar) December 3, 2019

I would have loved to see Kamala Harris debate a sweating and steaming and stammering Donald Trump. No more hiding from another Black woman heÃ¢ÂÂs denigrating. Oh, it would have been brutal and beautiful to see.
Ã¢ÂÂ Ibram X. Kendi (@DrIbram) December 3, 2019

Booker also expressed his love for Harris on Twitter.

My dear friend @KamalaHarris is a trailblazer. I've loved serving with her in the Senate and every moment we've run into one another on the trail. Her campaign broke barriers and did it with joy. Love you, sister. pic.twitter.com/HzLXw88NrM
Ã¢ÂÂ Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) December 3, 2019

As did Klobuchar.

Kamala is a good friend and incredibly strong public servant. Sometimes campaigns can tear friendships apart but we have grown closer. Her good work will continue.
Ã¢ÂÂ Amy Klobuchar (@amyklobuchar) December 3, 2019

As for Harris? With a lot of grace, she’s exited the race. She’s also reminded Trump she expects to see him soon.

DonÃ¢ÂÂt worry, Mr. President. IÃ¢ÂÂll see you at your trial. https://t.co/iiS17NY4Ry
Ã¢ÂÂ Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) December 3, 2019

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After Harris exit, Booker, Castro, and voters call out billionaires, lack of debate stage diversity

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