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The leading Democratic Party candidates for the U.S. presidency held their final public debate Sunday before the all-important Feb. 1 Iowa Caucus.
However, many progressive Twitter users found the fourth debate, held in Charleston, South Carolina, less than impressive, even lackluster.
Although there was considerable interest in Hillary Clinton’s aggressive campaigning against the self-identified socialist Bernie Sanders, who is sharply rising in popularity, many commentators felt that the debate failed to touch upon issues important to the daily lives of U.S. Americans, particularly progressives: the Democratic Party’s main constituency.
The candidates discussed healthcare, racial injustice and the economy, briefly touching on foreign policy.
While some expressed relief that in comparison to the Republican Party’s debate standards, this was progress, many disagreed.
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#demdebate I've listened to every GOP debate and I'm struck with how constructive this debate had been in comparison
— John Underwood (@underwun)
January 18, 2016
In terms of actual policy discussions, there is literally no comparison between the Democrats' debate and the GOP debate. It's astonishing.
— Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan)
January 18, 2016
@dandrezner I mean in comparison to the GOP debate, my blood pressure and sanity aren't likely to be as strained. #DemDebate
— Rhys Weber (@Rhys_sPiecez)
January 18, 2016
Some users asserted the debates did not go far enough in addressing pressing issues on the minds of many U.S. Americans, particularly those from marginalized and oppressed groups.
RELATED: Sanders Says US Must Demilitarize Police at Debate
Just a day before, an Oxfam report released shocking statistics on global inequality, and the concentration of half of the world’s wealth in the hands of a fewer than 100 people, all the candidates rarely mentioned the poor.
has any candidate said " poor people" yet I know I've heard " middle class" & "wealthy" a lot #DemDebates
— MichaelaAngela Davis (@MichaelaAngelaD)
January 18, 2016
On issues of injustice faced by marginalized and racialized groups, some of Twitter’s most outspoken commentators expressed little hope in the candidates for true structural change beyond Hillary Clinton’s rhetorical call for “systemic change.”
As my brother @RevSekou said, we must challenge a mediocre group of candidates to be better within a corrupt system. https://t.co/IXJkbjLxlX
— Marc Lamont Hill (@marclamonthill)
January 18, 2016
Palestinian liberation lies in hands of Palestinians & allies around the world not in the hands of US presidential candidates. #demdebates
— Linda Sarsour (@lsarsour)
January 18, 2016
I don't understand how you can be in #charleston & not acknowledge #CharlestonMassacre this was an American HORROR #DemDebate
— MichaelaAngela Davis (@MichaelaAngelaD)
January 18, 2016
Foreign policy, an often cited sore point for many Democrats, was quickly discussed by the candidates, giving Twitter users an opportunity to critique the views of the purportedly progressive candidates.
Bernie Sanders sounding an awful lot like Ted Cruz right now on Arab authoritarians.
— Daniel Drezner (@dandrezner)
January 18, 2016
Bernie has said he wants Iran and Saudi Arabia to team up to fight ISIS -- which kinda shows exactly how complicated his thinking is on FoPo
— Tim Mak (@timkmak)
January 18, 2016
This is the worst part, because all of these candidates are hawkish to some degree.
— Roqayah Chamseddine (@roqchams)
January 18, 2016
Mia McKenzie, from the popular blog Black Girl Dangerous, critiqued both the main Democratic candidates, arguing that both Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders have failed to advocate for true alternatives to the United States’ oppressive system. Her comments reflect a sentiment growing among social movements amid the rise of protests against racialized police violence, for minimum wage increases, and increasing disillusionment with the political parties.
Hillary Clinton wants power and that's all. She don't give a crunchy fuck abt black people beyond making it sound good enough to get votes.
— Mia McKenzie (@miamckenzie)
January 18, 2016
