No Primary Debate for the Democrats

By Ophelia Garrett

In Brief:

The Democratic National Convention (DNC) has decided to forgo the traditional and (in most people's opinion) necessary pre-primary debate. It’s almost like they’re trying to keep Biden from having to think on his feet sans teleprompter. 

The Background: 

Why would the DNC cancel pre-primary debates? That is the question many are asking. It is as if the DNC has decided there are no other candidates other than sitting President Joe Biden. And that is simply not the case. 

Democratic presidential candidate Marianne Williamson stated it should be the people who gets to decide, not the party or politicians. The people deserve and need to hear Williamson and fellow candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr debate with Biden. 

"The DNC ‘plans no primary debates.’ As though there simply ARE no other candidates … no other ideas we should discuss about ways to win in 2024, or other ideas we should discuss about ways to repair the country. Too many people are too smart to accept this," Williamson stated. 

Nina Turner, former Ohio state senator and co-chair of Bernie Sanders' 2020 presidential campaign tweeted: 

“The DNC refusing to hold a single primary debate is undemocratic and robs the voters of choice. No one who feels confident in their record and/or ideas would hesitate to stand on them. The DNC should hold debates. 

This is supposed to be a democratic process.”

Notable Quotes: 

"It’s simple — I believe in democracy, therefore I believe in debates. The DNC, RNC, and every third party should hold that same belief in a democracy. This isn’t a radical idea." – Nina Turner 

"The DNC, at this point, has taken the official position that there will be no debate, and I think that’s unfortunate.” – Robert F. Kennedy Jr.