Luis Gutirrez receives most vigorous applause and standing ovations amongst 2020 hopefuls

Democratic 2020 hopefuls toe progressive line at liberal conference

Potential presidential hopefuls argued for a social safety net and condemned Trump

Potential Democratic presidential candidates set out their 2020 credentials on Tuesday for a gathering of liberal activists, with barely a hint of daylight between them on a range of key progressive issues.

Speaking to an energetic crowd of hundreds in a Washington hotel ballroom, the candidates took turns touting their liberal bona fides in both prepared remarks and in answers to questions from questioners who had been chosen in advance.

<snip>

Perhaps the most vigorous applause in the room was for the outgoing congressman Luis Gutiérrez, who received standing ovations and loud cheers when he condemned the Trump administration’s immigration policy and its efforts to crack down on asylum seekers and separate migrant families at the US-Mexico border. “I can think of nothing more cruel, more evil than to rip a child from a mother’s arms who is fleeing systematic rape, murder, torture.”

The Illinois Democrat also received loud cheers when he insisted that Puerto Rico’s energy grid should be rebuilt with “no carbon footprint”.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jun/13/democratic-2020-hopefuls-progressive-conference-we-the-people