Democratic Party Presidential Candidates Clash In Debate

As the race in the 2016 Presidential election heats up and the nomination date draws nigh, candidates were no longer prepared to play coy with each other.

The three Democratic candidates threw down the gauntlet in their debate on Sunday and were in a tussle to position themselves as the best candidate in the minds of voters for the job of leading the Democratic Party into the November presidential election.

Photo Credit: Spark1498 - Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. — Photo Credit: Spark1498 – Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders wrestled over gun control and healthcare issues.

Clinton berated Saunders for his vote with the NRA and the gun lobby numerous times.

Saunders, however, defended his position by arguing that Clinton’s assertion was “disingenuous,” and pointed to his D- rating from the NRA, and said all along he had said he would “re-look” the issue.

“I’ve never met a self-respecting hunter that needed an AR-15 to down a deer,” said former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, the third candidate in the race.

O’Malley has not gained much traction in the past debates and struggled to make his voice heard as the two front-runners, Saunders and Clinton hogged the debate by running roughshod over the moderators time and again.

The debate was at a fever pitch point when the subject of health care was brought to the fore.

Saunders had released his “Medicare-for-all” health care plan just hours before the debate.

Clinton poured scorn on the plan, by declaring that it would “tear up” everything President Obama had accomplished with the Affordable Care Act, which should instead be improved upon.

“We finally have a path to universal health care. We have accomplished so much already. I do not want to see the Republicans repeal it and I do not want to start over again with another contentious debate,” Clinton said.

The issues of policing and racial justice were also a hot topic and all three candidates argued that the police should be reined in and held accountable.

On the topic of foreign affairs, the candidates were generally in support of President Obama’s strategy in dealing with ISIS and his approach towards the nuclear deal with Iran.

Sanders echoed calls to bring more allies into the fight against the terrorist organization.
“They have got to start putting some skin in the game, and not just ask the United States to do it,” he said.

In the meantime, Clinton also pointed to her experience as Secretary of State, saying she was “proud” of the Iran nuclear agreement” and “was responsible for getting those sanctions imposed.”