The first night of the second Democratic primary debate is over, an opportunity for America to be introduced to a diverse array of mostly unknown governors and members of congress.
diverse!
Remember: Washington is high school, and the race for class president brings out the truly insufferable.
However, there’s a beacon of hope, a crystal glimmering in the moonlight. It’s Marianne Williamson, the outsider 2020 candidate who’s channeled her career as an author and public speaker into a vision of America in the 21st century.
queen
Debate viewers noticed her quirky, sunny demeanor in night two of the first debate, where the focus was on lightning round introductions and making sure Joe Biden stayed awake.
how does Bernie look younger?
In the second debate, she’s stepped into her own. Google Trends show a coast to coast spike in interest across 49 states for Marianne, excluding Montana where residents are apparently looking up their own Governor.
What received particular praise were her open and closing statements, as well as her pointed remarks on a subject uncomfortable for many political candidates: reparations to African-American descendants of slaves.
Conventional political wisdom is that candidates like Marianne would be uncomfortable with the issues – after all, members of Congress and state government and plain ol politicians have been steeped in these issues since government class in high school. They live and breathe talking points.
this, but with politicians
However, much like Trump, Marianne has shown that a lifetime as an author, public speaker, and media personality puts the candidates from the political world at a disadvantage. She can be off-the-cuff, fluid, steady, and speak in a more human and less rehearsed way. This same ability allowed Trump to steamroll 16 Republican candidates from all over the political field (and poor Dr. Ben Carson, who at least got that sweet cabinet gig).
“magic hands” indeed
History’s repeating itself, and the Democratic field doesn’t know how to handle Marianne. Their first instinct is to laugh and joke – remind you of what they did to that guy 4 years ago?
It would be unprecedented to have a general election between a businessman and a businesswoman – much as it was unprecedented for a businessman to win a primary and a general election four years ago. Much as it was unprecedented for a woman to run for President and win a nomination.
queen
Primary voters now are responsive to a candidate that’s on brand – a candidate that speaks to the soul of a party, not just one that repeats a few rehearsed lines, kisses some babies, and calls it a day. It’s why Trump has a 90% approval rating among Republicans.
And honey, what’s more on-brand for Democrats than: a Department of Peace, an acknowledgment and repair of the racial divide, a statement like: “Where politics has become an instrument of fear, let’s turn it into an instrument of love”?
#MarianneMovement
