DEM DEBATE: Democratic Candidates on Greatest Geopolitical Threat: China, Climate Change–and Trump

A Crisis of Clerical Manhood, by Stephen Wynne
June 27, 2019
Pelosi Rips Trump for What Obama Did to Kids in 2014, by Michael F. Haverluck
June 27, 2019

By Patrick Goodenough, CNSNews, June 27, 2019

(CNSNews.com) – Asked during Wednesday night’s debate to name the “greatest geopolitical threat to the United States right now,” ten Democrats running for the presidency offered a range of replies including China, Russia, nuclear war, climate change – and President Trump.

The candidate who named Trump as the biggest threat, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, won the most enthusiastic audience reaction, although climate change and Russia were also applause lines.

NBC News’ Chuck Todd asked for one-word answers, but the request was largely ignored.

The responses, in the order they were given, were as follows:

Former Rep. John Delaney (Md.): “The biggest geo-political challenge is China, but the biggest geopolitical threat remains nuclear weapons, so those are different questions.”

Inslee: “The biggest threat to the security of the United States is Donald Trump.”

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (Hawaii): “The greatest threat that we face is the fact that we are at a greater risk of nuclear war today than ever before in history.”

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (Minn.): “Two threats: Economic threat, China. But our major threat right now is what’s going on in the Mideast with Iran, if we don’t get our act together –”

Former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (Texas): “Our existential threat is climate change. We have to confront it before it’s too late.”

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (Mass): “Climate change.”

Sen. Cory Booker (N.J.): “Nuclear proliferation and climate change.”

Former Housing Secretary Julian Castro: “China and climate change.”

Rep. Tim Ryan (Ohio): “China without a question. They’re wiping us around the world economically.”

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio: “Russia, because they’re trying to undermine our democracy. And they’ve been doing a pretty damn good of it. We need to stop ’em.”

https://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/patrick-goodenough/2020-candidates-biggest-threat-right-now-russia-china-climate-change