The Debate – Pathetic, Amusing, Surreal

Congressman Joaquin Castro and his twin brother, San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro discuss Texas politics, demographics, and 2018 during a conversation moderated by Evan Smith, CEO and Editor-in-Chief of the Texas Tribune, the evening’s co-sponsor. Photo courtesy of the U.S. National Archives

You almost have to feel sorry for the Democrats.  Last night, a mere 10 of the presidential candidates subjected viewers to a “debate” in which nothing was debated. As Roger Kimball points out, last night had nothing to do with a debate.

It was an exhibition — partly pathetic, partly amusing in a surreal sort of way — of sclerotic virtue-signaling.

Struggling with Success

Here they were, competing not only against themselves, but also against the most ostentatiously successful president in…well, maybe ever.

Look at the white hot economy, the historically low unemployment figures, especially among blacks and other minorities. Look at the rising wages of the working class, the renaissance of manufacturing, the rekindled spirit of national self-confidence.

Love him or hate him, Donald Trump has presided over one of the most — I think it is probably the single most — successful opening years of any president ever. That’s a difficult record to run against.

So what tonight’s 10 candidates did — and I am certain that tomorrow’s will as well — was to deny reality and pretend that they were running against the Donald Trump of their dreams: a dark figure whose policies hurt instead of helped average Americans, who was anti-black, anti-woman, anti-immigrant.

More Talk about ‘African-American Trans-Americans’?

The evening was full of piquant remarks. ‘If billionaires can pay off their yachts,’ Sen. Klobuchar said, ‘students should be able to pay off their student loans.’ OK.

But Sen. Booker may have topped that when he said that ‘we do not talk enough about trans-Americans,’ especially ‘African-American trans-Americans.’ Do we talk about anything else?

Read more from Roger Kimball here.