Booker slams Democratic debate rules as he ends Iowa tour

[question everything]

5. He has a point, which was articualted by Delaney

Posted here several weeks ago

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287328320

He argues that a large reason for this early nationalization—and for the move left—has been the rules the Democratic National Committee established for inclusion in the party’s nationally televised debates, which provide the crucial oxygen campaigns need. Those rules set thresholds for both standing in national and early-state polls and, crucially, the number of small-dollar donors attracted. That requirement for many small donors, Mr. Delaney argued, pushes candidates to appeal on social media to the activists on the party’s left, who are most likely to jump in early with their dollars. “If you need to raise a dollar online, you don’t talk about bipartisan solutions,” Mr. Delaney says. “You talk about extreme partisan positions.”

He offers this example: “If I were to post something about getting rid of the Electoral College, it would do really well on social media among Democratic activists. If I were to post something about expanding early childhood education, and talking about a bipartisan way to make that happen, it would go over like a thud on social media. No one cares. So the feedback loop really encourages people to run on things that are more extreme.” If that’s the case, this dynamic has fed and amplified the rush of support for Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, and pressure on other candidates to follow them leftward.

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I wish that Booker and others would have realized this earlier. Yes, I know, there were comments here that the candidates knew and agreed to the rules but, of course, once they are tested, things are different.

He appeared this morning on the ABC show