Time to Debate the Debate

Given the opportunity, the sisterhood would open the first 2020 Democratic presidential debate season by yelling: “Introducing the 46^th President of the United States” as candidates walk on stage. Some might hedge this prediction, tempering the heading a bit by saying, “Introducing the Democratic presidential candidates.” But we are an optimist bunch. We know what the sisterhood can do.

In the Democratic primaries – especially the second one in South Carolina, Black women are a key voting bloc. We are the most reliably Democratic voters and the most likely to go to the polls. Both the Wall Street Journal (“Black Women Voters Emerge as Top Target in 2020 Democratic Race”) and USA Today (“Black Women’s Groups Exercising New Political Power Going into 2020 Presidential Campaign”) wrote about this trend. 

Now consider the rest of the sisterhood.  In this election cycle, 20 percent of primary state voters are women of color. In swing states, our influence is even greater. We are 25 percent of swing voters. White women make up more than 40 percent of the 2020 electorate. So, if we vote our interests we win.

Democratic primary debates are job interviews and Black women are officially part of the screening committee. These events are big deals because the position is president of the United States and leader of the free world. It is also the first-time many voters will hear directly from presidential candidates.

There is too much at stake to treat debates like a reality TV show. Ideally, the winning debater represents and leads us, serving as the 46^th president and preventing a continuation of number 45.  

But before that happens, we have work to do. 

A divide and conquer strategy that picked at our nation’s race and gender insecurities won in 2016. Today a campaign is rolling out this tried and true method of attacking Black communities to fan the flames of division. During the first debate, new Club for Growth ads will attempt to use race to suppress Black support for the Democratic frontrunner. Fortunately, Black women are paying attention. We will watch, listen and read candidates’ positions for ourselves and choose the candidate that best supports Black women, our families and our communities. 

Each of us can use social media to ask questions and demand answers. #SisterWatch, as the name of the effort implies, will monitor the debates on Twitter.

Watching and sharing news nuggets from the debates with friends and family are the first orders of business. In this effort, we are the citizen journalists, cheerleaders and critics, holding all debate players accountable. 

The best questions reflect our issues. How would you strengthen the equal pay law? Name the single biggest thing that you would do to end police brutality? What is your plan to improve access to health care and childcare?  Would you put a Black woman on your short list for a Supreme Court justice? And so many more, share your concerns using #SisterWatch and don’t be afraid to direct tweet moderators.

Directing all 20 candidates to address our concerns about the healthcare, gun violence, education and civil rights among other issues is essential. It is the top responsibility of all moderators.

Check out Election Central as an unbiased resource to report on all thing presidential, including the debates. The June 26th and 27th debate is a two-night affair. 

With links to candidate’s websites and articles analyzing candidates’ social media posts, check out the  Washington Post and another one in the New York Times on the issues. 

Finally, as you prepare to join us online, here is a cheat sheet to help anyone live tweeting the debate with @SistersLead:  

Night One

Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ), @CoryBooker

Mayor Bill de Blasio, @BilldeBlasio

Former Rep. John Kevin Delaney (D-MD), @JohnDelaney

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), @TulsiGabbard

Gov. Jay Inslee, @JayInslee

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), @amyklobuchar

Former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-TX), @BetoORourke

Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH), @TimRyan

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), @ewarren

Night Two

Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO), @MichaelBennet

Former Vice President Joe Biden, @JoeBiden

Mayor Pete Buttigieg, @PeteButtigieg

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), @SenGillibrand

Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA), @KamalaHarris

Former Gov. John Hickenlooper, @Hickenlooper

Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT), @BernieSanders

Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA), @ericswalwell

Marianne Williamson, @marwilliamson

Andrew Yang, @AndrewYang

Thanks to former Rep. Donna Edwards (D-MD), there is a good preview of the June 26-27 debate in the Washington Post (What I’m looking for in the Democratic debates).

We’ll look for comments on Twitter. Use #SisterWatch to stay connected. Let’s help each other become informed voters. 

Holli L. Holliday is president of Sisters Lead Sisters Vote, a nonprofit c4 organization for, by and of black women. Melanie Campbell, Sisters Lead Sisters Vote Chair, will be attending the debates live.  Check out her perspective on Twitter @colitionbuildr.