Clinton and Sanders Battle in Sixth Democratic Debate

Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders squared off in the sixth Democratic presidential debate, and here’s my play-by-play. This isn’t a column, but simply an assortment of my tweets during the debate. Think of it as journalism on the fly — the first rough draft of the first rough draft of history. Here goes!

Hillary Clinton says Bernie Sanders would increase the size of govt by 40%. He wouldn’t, not least because Congress would block expansion.

— Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) 12 Feb 16

The disagreement on health care is overstated. Both Clinton & Sanders would prefer single-payer, neither can achieve it.

— Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) 12 Feb 16

On the Democratic Debate stage tonight, one man and three women. Women now hold up three-fourths of the sky! History!

— Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) 12 Feb 16

RT @factcheckdotorg: Sanders repeats his claim “real unemployment” for black youths is 50%. We wrote about that here: https://t.co/8qce1xza…

— Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) 12 Feb 16

I’m skeptical of making college tuition free for all. Why subsidize the education of Bill Gates’s kids?Rather, help those who need it.

— Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) 12 Feb 16

In other words, subsidize college for those who need the help, but not for the wealthy. When resources are scarce, focus them.

— Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) 12 Feb 16

“I think a Sanders victory would be of some historical accomplishment as well.” –Bernie Sanders. Eugene Debs would agree.

— Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) 12 Feb 16

RT @michaeldroy: @NickKristof The 1% already pay below market rates as colleges count on their philanthropy to make up for the money left …

— Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) 12 Feb 16

A question about incarceration of blacks. Critical issue: Sentencing Commission said a person gets 20% longer sentence for being black.

— Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) 12 Feb 16

Blacks and whites smoke marijuana at equal rates, surveys say. But blacks are arrested for this at 3 times the rate of whites.

— Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) 12 Feb 16

Compared to the Republican debate brawls, Clinton and Sanders agree on so much.

— Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) 12 Feb 16

I’m not sure I agree with Clinton that Obama’s presidency advanced race relations. I think a lot of whites wrongly decided: Problem over.

— Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) 12 Feb 16

Both candidates citing the Anne Case/Angus Deaton study on white working class rising mortality. Good to see wonkishness!

— Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) 12 Feb 16

In GOP debate, Trump gets applause for calling for a giant wall; in #DemDebate, Sanders gets cheers for welcoming Central American kids.

— Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) 12 Feb 16

Still, the common thread in Democratic and GOP debates: A deep sense that the system is rigged and no longer works for ordinary Americans.

— Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) 12 Feb 16

Here’s the study that Sanders and Clinton were talking about re rising mortality among working class whites: https://t.co/eVIPglZfdj

— Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) 12 Feb 16

RT @danpfeiffer: Sanders & Clinton are playing by 2 set of rules. She’s constrained by political reality; Sanders isn’t. That’s a hard game…

— Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) 12 Feb 16

Overwhelming evidence that if we want to address inequality, we need to start early, first five years. Let’s talk pre-k! #DemDebate

— Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) 12 Feb 16

“Why does Wall Street make huge campaign contributions?” Sanders is right: Obviously to buy influence. Res Ipsa Loquitor.

— Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) 12 Feb 16

Because of Big Pharma campaign contributions, Congress bans negotiating Medicare drug prices–a $50 billion annual gift to the companies.

— Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) 12 Feb 16

Clinton genuinely does have a tough Wall Street reform plan, a good one. But her credibility on this is undermined by her ties to WS.

— Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) 12 Feb 16

I think it’s fair to say that on balance Sanders is less interventionist in foreign affairs and Clinton more so.

— Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) 12 Feb 16

Sanders keeps waving his hand. I keep waiting for a taxi to pull up and take him away.

— Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) 12 Feb 16

It’s kind of ridiculous that the #DemDebate on foreign policy is about Kissinger, Mossadegh and agreed aversion to unintended consequences.

— Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) 12 Feb 16

It’s more interesting to tweet a GOP foreign policy discussion, when candidates are competing to see who can endorse more war crimes.

— Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) 12 Feb 16

What does a Sanders foreign policy consists of other than hating Kissinger and deploring unintended consequences. China? Palestine? N Korea?

— Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) 12 Feb 16

Intervention has mixed record. Vietnam, terrible. Kosovo, good. Sierra Leone, good. Iraq Kurdistan, good. Iraq, awful.

— Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) 12 Feb 16

In previous debates, Sanders was painfully thin on foreign policy. This time, somewhat better but still his weakest area.

— Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) 12 Feb 16

Clinton is accusing Sanders of being anti-Obama. Feels fake and contrived to me, and rather nasty.

— Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) 12 Feb 16

I think the candidates should have faced tougher questions. Fox raked Republican candidates over the coals; Dems should endure the same.

— Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) 12 Feb 16

Decent debate. Sanders has pulled Clinton to the left. Both did fine, but neither is an obvious winner to me. Thoughts?

— Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) 12 Feb 16