Democratic Primaries

DanTex

(20,709 posts) Wed Feb 26, 2020, 10:19 AM Feb 2020

Slate: Tonight's Debate Audience Sure Did Seem to Like Bloomberg for Some Reason

Definitely something weird with the crowd. I mean, they booed comments about Bloomberg's tax returns, about Bloomberg's comments about women, and about billionaires. The fact that tickets cost over a thousand dollars might partly explain the pro-billionaire tilt, but I think more reporting about this is forthcoming.

Last week’s debate was a nightmare for Mike Bloomberg. Not only was it likely the first time in years the business-information tycoon had a conversation that didn’t end with some variation of “very good, sir,” but the audience also seemed to take a particular delight in the billionaire’s public humiliation. Curiously, and for whatever reason, that was not the case in the South Carolina debate tonight.

It’s not entirely surprising that Bloomberg, despite not even being on the ballot in South Carolina, would have had a vaguely friendly audience this evening. A local Charleston news station reported earlier this month that the only “guaranteed” way to get a ticket was to purchase a sponsorship ranging from $1,750 to $3,200. The rest of the tickets, though, were “first handed out to organizers. Then, campaigns may get some tickets to disperse among supporters.”

How those remaining tickets ended up getting doled out is anyone’s guess, but the one thing we do know for certain is that a vocal contingent of the audience really liked Bloomberg. At one point, and for what seems to have been the first time ever, an audience actively, aggressively booed because someone spoke ill of billionaires.

...

We’re desperate to learn more about these suddenly inspired Bloomberg-heads. If you know anything at all about how these passionate pro-billionaire activists came to be under one roof for the first time in history, please do let us know.

https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2020/02/michael-bloomberg-had-very-enthusiastic-audience-support-at-the-debate-for-some-reason.html

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided

13 replies

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Slate: Tonight's Debate Audience Sure Did Seem to Like Bloomberg for Some Reason (Original Post) DanTex Feb 2020 OP

In the first ten minutes or so, especially, I noticed Cal Carpenter Feb 2020 #1

This message was self-deleted by its author democratisphere Feb 2020 #2

Yes. He'd improved much more since the last debate than any of the others. Of course highplainsdem Feb 2020 #4

This message was self-deleted by its author democratisphere Feb 2020 #7

Stop w the conspiracy evertonfc Feb 2020 #3

We need to win down ballot and in state and local delisen Feb 2020 #5

no conspiracy NJCher Feb 2020 #10

Maybe some in the crowd were rooting for him. BusyBeingBest Feb 2020 #6

Interesting. David__77 Feb 2020 #8

... mcar Feb 2020 #9

I read that the seats to the debate sold for between $1000 & $3000 womanofthehills Feb 2020 #11

Who can afford to spend thousands to attend a Democratic Presidential Debate? Tom Rinaldo Feb 2020 #12

Whaddya think did it? Chemtrails, maybe? Fluoride in the water? LanternWaste Feb 2020 #13

Cal Carpenter

(4,959 posts)

1. In the first ten minutes or so, especially, I noticed

Reply to DanTex (Original post)

Wed Feb 26, 2020, 10:24 AM

Feb 2020

What sounded like a chorus of male voices cheering whenever Bloomberg started talking, and booing at others, especially Warren and Bernie. Much more pronounced than any other crowd reaction I could hear. Very low and deliberate booing, not the typical sound of a crowd.

After a while it just seemed to blend in more with the rest of the crowd, but it sounded weird at the beginning.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided

Response to DanTex (Original post)

democratisphere This message was self-deleted by its author.

highplainsdem

(49,006 posts)

4. Yes. He'd improved much more since the last debate than any of the others. Of course

Reply to democratisphere (Reply #2)

Wed Feb 26, 2020, 10:31 AM

Feb 2020

he was completely unprepared last time.

But he showed how fast he could learn.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

Response to highplainsdem (Reply #4)

democratisphere This message was self-deleted by its author.

evertonfc

(1,713 posts)

3. Stop w the conspiracy

Reply to DanTex (Original post)

Wed Feb 26, 2020, 10:29 AM

Feb 2020

I like Mike too

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

delisen

(6,044 posts)

5. We need to win down ballot and in state and local

Reply to evertonfc (Reply #3)

Wed Feb 26, 2020, 10:32 AM

Feb 2020

Bloomberg is helping with these races.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided

NJCher

(35,690 posts)

10. no conspiracy

Reply to evertonfc (Reply #3)

Wed Feb 26, 2020, 10:43 AM

Feb 2020

just more vote buying by bloomberg. He's pretty open about it. Hey, want to make $2500 a month writing for him? Check out the LA Times. He's paying people to write about him.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided

BusyBeingBest

(8,055 posts)

6. Maybe some in the crowd were rooting for him.

Reply to DanTex (Original post)

Wed Feb 26, 2020, 10:33 AM

Feb 2020

Maybe some people like him. I do. No one shits on Steyer for being a billionaire.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided

David__77

(23,423 posts)

8. Interesting.

Reply to DanTex (Original post)

Wed Feb 26, 2020, 10:36 AM

Feb 2020

...

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided

mcar

(42,337 posts)

9. ...

Reply to DanTex (Original post)

Wed Feb 26, 2020, 10:38 AM

Feb 2020

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

womanofthehills

(8,722 posts)

11. I read that the seats to the debate sold for between $1000 & $3000

Reply to DanTex (Original post)

Wed Feb 26, 2020, 10:49 AM

Feb 2020

Could be why.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided

Tom Rinaldo

(22,913 posts)

12. Who can afford to spend thousands to attend a Democratic Presidential Debate?

Reply to DanTex (Original post)

Wed Feb 26, 2020, 10:49 AM

Feb 2020

What on Earth was the DNC thinking to turn a public information presidential debate into a fund raiser, knowing that it would be nationally televised and that crowd reactions would factor into public perceptions of the candidates at a crucial juncture in the primary process?

It might be different if the audience was strictly cautioned to remain silent, and if that admonition was "enforced", but none of that happened. That crowd was a cheering section heavily skewed toward the "well to do", and those who could only be present due to the largess of the "well to do."

This at a DEMOCRATIC Party debate? How in any way can that be considered "neutral sponsorship" of that debate by the DNC?

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

LanternWaste

(37,748 posts)

13. Whaddya think did it? Chemtrails, maybe? Fluoride in the water?

Reply to DanTex (Original post)

Wed Feb 26, 2020, 10:51 AM

Feb 2020

Yeah... definitely weird. What else could explain boos directed at a sacred cow?

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

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