“Once a Dodger, always a Dodger,” Rep. Katie Porter retorted.
Democratic Reps Adam Schiff, Barbara Lee and Porter largely refrained from attacking each other, finding common cause with their embrace of policies like Medicare for All.
But they broke sharply over Israel’s counteroffensive in Gaza — an issue that has broadly divided Democrats and galvanized the left, with Lee urging an immediate cease-fire and Schiff rejecting that call.
‘Once a Dodger, always a dodger’: Garvey sidesteps Trump — and Democrats pounce
The sole Republican on the stage declined to answer a question about how a second Trump presidency would affect Americans — and Democrats quickly went after him for it.
“I think the single greatest currency we have is the right to vote,” Garvey said. “I think we should take this personally, I think when we vote for a president and he’s duly elected, I believe we should support that president, that office, because that’s the leader of the free world.”
Lee quickly noted that Garvey had voted for Trump twice. Schiff took a much sharper jab, lambasting him for not saying whether he’d vote for him a third time, even after the events of Jan. 6.
“What more do you need to see what he’s done to be able to say that you will not support him?” Schiff asked.
Garvey still didn’t commit, but did say he didn’t think President Joe Biden had been good for the country.
“I’ve heard it said Trump was terrible for the world,” Garvey said.
“He was,” Porter interjected.
“We were safer under him than under Biden,” the Republican continued.
Porter continued to dig in, however, not letting up on Garvey for his lack of a clear answer.
“Once a Dodger, always a dodger,” Porter zinged. “Ballots go out in six weeks, Mr. Garvey, this is not the minor leagues. Who will you vote for?”
The candidates spent nearly 10 minutes cross-talking over each other on the Trump issue, but Garvey still never committed to a third vote.
Garvey wants ‘Medicare for those who deserve it’
Garvey clearly rejected Democrats’ embrace of government-run health care, saying he prefers “Medicare for those who deserve it” to Medicare for All.
“I don’t believe in government being involved,” Garvey said.
But the Republican wasn’t ready to dismantle Democrats’ signal health care policy, saying the overhaul championed by former President Barack Obama “works for some people.”
Democrats were more in alignment. They all backed Medicare for All — a reminder of how Schiff, Porter and Lee have all positioned themselves as progressives, adopting a healthcare platform that was once confined to the party’s left (and once known as “single payer”).
‘Cease-fire is not a magic word’: California Senate candidates diverge on Israel-Hamas war
The three Democrats volleyed arguments back and forth on the fighting in the Middle East, with Lee pressing hard for a cease-fire.
The Oakland lawmaker touted that she is the only candidate who has called for a permanent cease-fire, while also arguing that an end to the fighting would benefit the security of Israel.
“The only way Israel is going to be secure is through a cease-fire,” Lee said.
Schiff, who has been a steadfast supporter of Israel, said a cease-fire would hurt the country’s ability to defend itself. “We can’t leave Hamas governing Gaza,” Schiff said. “I don’t know how you can ask any nation to cease-fire when their people are being held by a terrorist organization.”
Porter cautioned that an end to fighting would not solve the conflict: “Cease-fire is not a magic word,” she said. “You can’t say it and make it so.”
Garvey said he stands with Israel, “yesterday, today and tomorrow.”
Lee and Porter split on earmarks
Right out…
This article was originally published by a www.politico.com . Read the Original article here. .