My stream cut out before that part, so I didn't see it, but it looks like he misspoke, and that such a policy that he supports may actually have
such an effect. Either way, I didn't see him say it, and I don't consider it an issue as I would like some strong, albeit optional, maternity leave in this country (which Bernie endorses).
Overall thoughts on the debate. Webb fucked up. Being unknown, he had golden opportunities to move to the left and make himself relevant. He was content to remain a blue dog, and alienate the base. Bad showing. He tried too hard, and having seen him debate several times before in VA, he's better than his showing. He choked under pressure.
Chaffee came off as the oddball of the group. I'm guessing in his spare-time he freelances as the most boring man in America. He doesn't always cross the road, but when he does it's at a crosswalk with the "walk now" symbol flashing. He doesn't always always have sex, but when he does it's with his wife, after 5 years of marriage and mutual consent contracts which have been drafted by some of the top law firms in the nation. He doesn't always drive, but when he does it's at 5 miles below the speed limit. You get the idea.
O'Malley came off as an Irresponsible White Person. He spoke too much of the Baltimore riots and acted as though he understood the underlying problem while doing nothing substantively to explain race relations in this country. His highlight came when he went at Bernie on gun control. His low-point was criticizing Hillary for being Hawkish, only to be reminded that he endorsed her over Obama (who did not support Iraq) in 2008. Overall, he failed. He didn't fail miserably, but believe me, he tried.
Bernie had a decent first showing for democrats and liberals who may not be familiar with him. He came of as unscripted and authentic, which helped and hurt him at times. His focus on addressing citizens united instead of emails was one of, if not the, highlight of the debate. His fans were definitely in attendance. He had a bad exchange with O'Malley in which he did nothing to substantively distinguish his record on gun-control, except to say rural and rural over and over. Made him look weak, angry, and inarticulate. The maternity leave thing may turn into a gaffe, we'll know by the end of the week. Nonetheless, overall, he had positives tonight, and he had negatives tonight, and in my opinion, the positives outweigh the negatives.
Hillary won the debate. In debates, the best thing you can do when you're the front-runner is look presidential, not fuck up, and not let it get away from you. She did all of those things. Her biggest weakness of the night was when she tried to criticize Sanders for his socialist record, by appealing to the crowd that "we're America." It seemed corny, out of touch, and lacking substance; it seemed more fitting for a Republican debate. Fortunately for her she never got called on it. She did a good job addressing the issue of her vote to invade Iraq, and I think she found the answer to put that attack point to rest (Obama appointing her Secretary of State and trusting her international judgment). Overall, she spoke well, was polished, her answers were concise and (for the most part) addressed the questions. She did everything a front-runner in these debates needed to do, get out of the debate to see the light of another day.
Now the only question is, "will Biden jump in?"
