21 November 2019 — 0059 mst
Wit and wisdom: the Democratic debate’s best one-liners
A keen sense of humor indicates a keen mind. Therefore, politicians go for laughs, usually with one-liners they insert into the debate when the opportunity arises. A quick-witted comeback to a question, the kind of quip for which John F. Kennedy was famous, is the highest kind of political wit.
Last night’s debate had a number of planted one-liners that were funny or pithy, but Andrew Yang’s response to Ashley Parker’s question about a phone call with Putin was pure JFK, the best of the evening.
Here are my favorites, cut and pasted from NBC News’ transcript of the debate.
Joe Biden on Kim Jong-un
MITCHELL: Mr. Vice President, President Trump inherited the North Korea problem from past presidents, over decades. What would a President Biden do that President Obama didn’t do in eight years?
BIDEN: Well, first of all, I’d go back in making sure we had the alliances we had before since he became president. He has absolutely ostracized us from South Korea. He has given North Korea everything they wanted, creating the legitimacy by having a meeting with Kim Jong-un, who’s a thug — although he points out that I’m a rabid dog who needs to be beaten with a stick, very recently was his comment.
SANDERS: But other than that, you like him.
BIDEN: Other than that, I like him.
Amy Klobuchar on ex-boyfriends and women beating Trump
KLOBUCHAR: And that’s what should happen. So while I appreciate his [Steyer’s] work, I am someone that doesn’t come from money. I see my husband out there. My first Senate race, I literally called everyone I knew and I set what is still an all-time Senate record. I raised $17,000 from ex-boyfriends.
And I’d like to point out, it is not an expanding base.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
And if you think a woman can’t beat Donald Trump, Nancy Pelosi does it every single day.
Cory Booker on black voters, Mary Jane, and Rhoads scholars
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
I have a lot of respect for the vice president. He has sworn me into my office as a hero. This week, I hear him literally say that I don’t think we should legalize marijuana. I thought you might have been high when you said it.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
When I was mayor of the largest city in my state — and this is where I agree with Mayor Pete — mayoral experience is very important. And I happen to be the other Rhodes Scholar mayor on this stage.
Kamela Harris on Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un
MITCHELL: Senator Harris, North Korea is now threatening to cancel any future summits if President Trump does not make concessions on nuclear weapons. If you were commander-in-chief, would you make concessions to Kim Jong-un in order to keep those talks going?
HARRIS: With all due deference to the fact that this is presidential debate, Donald Trump got punked.
John Yang on his first conversation with Putin
PARKER: Thank you. Mr. Yang, if you win the 2020 election, what would you say in your first call with Russian President Vladimir Putin?
YANG: Well, first, I’d say I’m sorry I beat your guy.