(USA Features) Michigan Democratic Rep. Debbie Dingell blasted the Tuesday evening debate performance of her party’s seven 2020 presidential contenders ahead of a critical South Carolina primary, saying they only came to tear each other down.
Dingell, who was elected to the seat long occupied by her late husband, John Dingell, compared the event to a “circular firing squad” that did all candidates damage, Fox News Wednesday.
“It was a disgrace,” Dingell, who has deep ties in the Democratic Party and in swing-state Michigan, said Wednesday. “It was a circular firing squad. They’re forgetting about what we need to be focused on.
“They’re contributing to the fear and hatred in this country. I’m sure Russia and China were delighted at their performance.”
Some blamed the CBS News moderators for allowing the debate to get out of hand. But Dingell laid the blame right back at the feet of the candidates.
“It was disgusting. They [talked over] each other. They fought each other. They came with lines to destroy each other,” Dingell said.
Sen. Bernie Sanders in particular came under sustained assault all night long, particularly for his praise of Communist dictators and regimes. They also said that Sanders as the Democratic nominee would lead to the election of more Republicans and allow the GOP to retake the House.
Dingell said she was “tired of people stirring that pot.”
“They are all strong candidates,” said Dingell, who hasn’t endorsed a candidate yet, “but if they keep tearing each other apart, they are helping each other make sure none of them are strong at the top of the ticket.”