The seats were filled Friday night as Winthrop University hosted its first political forum in Byrnes Auditorium. Commentated by Rachel Maddow of MSNBC, democratic candidates Martin O’Malley, Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton were questioned individually on live television about policy issues, health care, and much more.
O’Malley was first to sit down and speak with Maddow and stated the importance of the Democrat Party sticking together. “As a party, we need to start acting like a party again,” O’Malley said.
O’Malley said he likes a tough fight and his campaign is on track even though according to the polls, he is far behind Clinton and Sanders. “Our country needs new leadership in order to move out of these divided times,” O’Malley said.
Up next Bernie Sanders immediately went into the huge tax breaks given to corporations.
“I believe we have an economy that is ridged that benefits the wealthiest people,” Sanders said.
It was no surprise to the audience when Sanders specifically addressed the importance of millennia’s that his campaign represents.
video courtesy of MSNBC
“I believe that a Bernie Sanders nomination for president can excite a number of young people,” Sanders said. “We need to greatly expand voter turnout.”
Clinton raised a loud applause as she stepped on stage last to speak. After crediting Winthrop University, she instantly spoke well of President Obama stating he does not get the credit he deserves.
After stating that that she wants to be a president for the struggling and striving, she then went into the importance of health education.
Clinton also addressed the strong issue of voter turnout. “What I want is a real dialogue with leaders in the South,” Clinton said. “We need to understand why people are not voting at all.”
She closed stating, “you don’t just do it once and you’re done, you’ve got to keep doing it,” Clinton said in regards to making a difference in discrimination and equal rights.
Maddow prepared questions that did not refer to policy for the candidates. One of which asked Clinton who she would pick as her vice president.
O’Malley stated the most impractical item he owns is a kilt, and surprisingly none of Sanders’ questions were directed at the amount of underwear he owns. Sanders also said that his dream job right now if he could not be a politician would be the president of CNN, in which the crowd broke out into laughter.
Winthrop University has been a huge focus for political attention over the past couple of years. President Obama and Mitt Romney have both made an appearance to the campus, and in the last three months, candidates such as Jeb Bush, Mike Huckabee, Rand Paul, and Bernie Sanders have spoken to the Rock Hill community.
All photos by Hannah Strong