Democratic Presidential Debate: 7 Moments That Mattered at the Las Vegas Forum
Las Vegas, Nev. -- Hillary Clinton may have stepped onto the stage at the first Democratic presidential primary debate Tuesday as the frontrunner to be her party’s nominee, but she did not shy away from a fight.
Her second quest for the White House has hit several roadblocks since she announced her candidacy, including persistent questions about the private email account she used as secretary of state and a more vigorous-than-expected challenge from Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.
The debate was dominated by sparring -- intense at times -- between Clinton and Sanders with the other candidates, former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, former Virginia Sen. Jim Webb and former Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee playing supporting roles.
The most intense skirmishes of the night were over gun control, differences on foreign policy, Clinton’s emails and her handling of the terrorist attacks in Benghazi. Here’s a look at seven moments that mattered at the first debate:
1. Hillary Clinton on the Attack Over Gun Control
Sanders may have been the most liberal candidate on the debate stage on most issues, but not on gun control. And Hillary Clinton pounced.
“No. Not at all,” Clinton forcefully asserted when asked whether Sanders was tough enough on gun control. “We have to look at the fact that we lose 90 people a day from gun violence. This has gone on too long and it's time the entire country stood up against the NRA.”
“It wasn't that complicated to me,” she continued on Sanders’ vote on a bill that would shield gun companies from lawsuits. “Everybody else has to be accountable, but not the gun manufacturers?”
But Sanders said that sometimes compromise may be necessary to pass bills in Congress.
“We can raise our voices. But I come from a rural state, and the views on gun control in rural states are different than in urban states, whether we like it or not,” Sanders said.
O’Malley also jumped into the fray. “We were able to pass this and still respect the hunting traditions of people who live in our rural areas,” he said. “We did it by leading with principle. Not by pandering to the NRA and backing down.”
2. Sanders Says Enough With the “Damn Emails”
Sanders came into this debate saying he wanted to discuss the issues and he didn’t want to attack Clinton. He stood by that comment tonight, even backing up his rival over the email scandal that has rocked her campaign over the last seven months.
Moderator Anderson Cooper questioned Clinton about the controversy and at the end of their back and forth Clinton said she wanted to “talk not about my emails, but about what the American people want for the next president of the United States.”
Sanders jumped in agreeing and said, raising his voice: “Let me say something. I think the secretary is right. And that is that the American people are sick and tired of hearing about your damn emails!”
Sanders added, “Let's talk about the real issues facing America.”
Clinton thanked Sanders, shaking his hand. The crowd then let out a huge cheer and rose to its feet.
But Chafee did not back down, saying “there’s an issue of credibility.” But when Cooper asked Clinton if she wanted to respond, she didn’t hesitate, quipping, “No.”
3. Bernie Sanders Goes Full Socialist
