#NNPA BlackPress
First Democratic Debate of the 2020 Race Features Almost No Questions on the Black Agenda
NNPA NEWSWIRE — The first presidential debate for the 2020 campaign in the race for the White House featured five moderators, ten candidates, two hours and only one question on the voting block that comprises the base vote for the Democratic party: African American voters.
By Lauren Victoria Burke, NNPA Newswire Contributor
The first presidential debate for the 2020 campaign in the race for the White House featured five moderators, ten candidates, two hours and only one question on the voting block that comprises the base vote for the Democratic party: African American voters.
The one question came an hour and thirty minutes into the debate and was delivered by MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow to candidate Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota. But even that question, which started out focused on the Democratic party’s reliance on African American voters, pivoted over to a question on Latino voters.
Hispanic voters continue to underperform at the ballot box as compared to other demographics. Additionally, exit polls and other data demonstrated that 25 to 30 percent of Hispanic voters supported Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election.
In 2016, numerous reports on Russian interference demonstrated that Black voters were targeted for voter suppression, one of many obvious signs of the importance of Black voter support. According to PEW research, in 2016, the black voter turnout rate declined for the first time in 20 years in a presidential election. The turnout rate for African American voters was 59.6% in 2016 after reaching a record-high 66.6% in 2012. For Hispanics it was 47 percent.
One of two African American candidates for President in 2020, New Jersey Senator Cory Booker, refocused the discussion on African Americans several times during the debate. Much of the two hours of debate discussion focused on immigration policy. President Trump’s obsessive focus on a wall at the Mexican border and keeping Mexican immigrants out of the United States was revealed from the moment he announced his candidacy for president in 2015 to his first month in office in early 2017.
There were ten Democratic candidates on stage for the first of two debates in two nights. They were: Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ), former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julian Castro of Texas, Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), former Rep. Beto O’Rourke of Texas, New York Mayor Bill deBlasio, Ohio Congressman Tim Ryan, former Maryland Rep. Tim Delaney and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii.
Typically, moderators and subject focus for each debate controls what the topics will be. Even though Lester Holt was a moderator for the first debate on June 26, corporate media largely ignores issues disproportionately impacting African Americans, unless there is a pre-planned structured debate where specific subject matter is to be focused on.
Sen. Warren and former Housing Secretary Castro were viewed as winners of the first debate as they focused on middle class issues and social economic parity.
“From a candidate’s perspective, it’s about who comes to the game ready to play the game. The only person, in my view, who came to the game last night and ready to play it was Julian Castro,” said former Republican National Committee Chair Michael Steele on MSNBC on June 27.
The second of the first two debates of the 2020 campaign will be June 27 in Miami. A second African American candidate, Sen. Kamala Harris of California, will be featured.
Lauren Victoria Burke is an independent journalist and writer for NNPA as well as a political analyst and strategist as Principal of Win Digital Media LLC. She may be contacted at LBurke007@gmail.com and on twitter at @LVBurke
#NNPA BlackPress
LIVE! — ASK ALMA — TUES. 5.30.23 7PM EST
This week, guest host Leah Farmer King and her panel share tips and advice to reader mail. Leah and the panel, along with the …
The post LIVE! — ASK ALMA — TUES. 5.30.23 7PM EST first appeared on BlackPressUSA.
This week, guest host Leah Farmer King and her panel share tips and advice to reader mail. Leah and the panel, along with the …
The post LIVE! — ASK ALMA — TUES. 5.30.23 7PM EST first appeared on BlackPressUSA.
#NNPA BlackPress
LIVE! — ASK ALMA! — TUES. 1.9.24 7 PM EST
HAPPY NEW YEAR! Welcome back for our first show of the year! This week, Alma and her panel answer viewer mail. As always …
The post LIVE! — ASK ALMA! — TUES. 1.9.24 7 PM EST first appeared on BlackPressUSA.
HAPPY NEW YEAR! Welcome back for our first show of the year! This week, Alma and her panel answer viewer mail. As always …
The post LIVE! — ASK ALMA! — TUES. 1.9.24 7 PM EST first appeared on BlackPressUSA.
#NNPA BlackPress
LIVE! — ASK ALMA! — TUES. 1.30.24 7PM EST
Think you’re the only one with problems? Each week, NNPA advice columnist Alma Gill, along with her panel of guest advisors …
The post LIVE! — ASK ALMA! — TUES. 1.30.24 7PM EST first appeared on BlackPressUSA.
Think you’re the only one with problems? Each week, NNPA advice columnist Alma Gill, along with her panel of guest advisors …
The post LIVE! — ASK ALMA! — TUES. 1.30.24 7PM EST first appeared on BlackPressUSA.
-
Community3 weeks ago
Financial Assistance Bill for Descendants of Enslaved Persons to Help Them Purchase, Own, or Maintain a Home
-
Business3 weeks ago
V.P. Kamala Harris: Americans With Criminal Records Will Soon Be Eligible for SBA Loans
-
Activism3 weeks ago
Oakland Post: Week of April 10 – 16, 2024
-
Community3 weeks ago
AG Bonta Says Oakland School Leaders Should Comply with State Laws to Avoid ‘Disparate Harm’ When Closing or Merging Schools
-
Activism1 week ago
Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024
-
Community2 weeks ago
Richmond Nonprofit Helps Ex-Felons Get Back on Their Feet
-
Community2 weeks ago
Oakland WNBA Player to be Inducted Into Hall of Fame
-
Community2 weeks ago
RPAL to Rename Technology Center for Retired Police Captain Arthur Lee Johnson
3 Comments