The losers in Las Vegas--Democrat debate a disaster for all

Washington Examiner:

Michael Bloomberg’s rivals for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination honed in on his political vulnerabilities during his inaugural debate appearance in Nevada, forcing the billionaire former New York City mayor on the defensive for much of the evening.

Confidential agreements over sexual harassment claims at Bloomberg’s financial information and news company, the New York City Police Department’s stop-and-frisk policy during his tenure as mayor, his past comments on the discriminatory housing practice known as “redlining,” and his immense wealth were all fodder for attacks by his five opponents onstage Wednesday, each seeking the right to challenge President Trump in the fall.

Even before the broadcast, the body language of the top Democratic candidates as they gathered in Las Vegas to pose for a photograph revealed Bloomberg was the outsider and that he was their target.

During the opening question, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders dredged up Bloomberg’s previous support of stop and frisk, accusing New York City police under Bloomberg of going after African American and Latino residents in an “outrageous way.”

Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren warned Democrats against “taking a huge risk” in substituting “one arrogant billionaire for another,” bringing up allegations that Bloomberg fostered a toxic work environment for his female employees at his eponymous conglomerate.

"I'd like to talk about who we're running against: a billionaire who calls women fat broads and horse-faced lesbians, and, no, I'm not talking about Donald Trump. I'm talking about Mayor Bloomberg,” she said.

Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar piled on the charges of sexism, referring to a Bloomberg campaign memo that suggested the crowded center-left lane in the primary was elevating Sanders to front-runner status, foreshadowing how the race will come down to Bloomberg, Sanders, and Trump.

"I've been told many times to step aside," Klobuchar said, digging at Bloomberg for "hiding behind his TV ads." Klobuchar, the former district attorney in Minnesota's largest county, Hennepin, said, "I don’t think we can look at Donald Trump and say we need someone richer in the White House.”

Bloomberg’s competitors also ganged up on him over a lack of transparency, including failing to hand over his tax returns and health records, as well as muzzling women with nondisclosure agreements covering their complaints.
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Bloomberg had kind of a bumbling performance, but he did get the zinger of the night at against front runner Bernie Sanders.  His dig, " The only socialist running is a millionaire with three houses."  It makes you wonder why none of the others ever thought of that line.  The attacks on Bloomberg actually show the weakness of his strategy of relying on TV ads and not mixing it up in the arena.

The attacks on "stop and frisk" seem somewhat disingenuous.  The policy did reduce crime and murders in the black and Hispanic communities.  But Bloomberg's sharp tongue will probably continue to get him in trouble if he is in more debates.