Tonight was the first debate in this presidential election, and only the third in history, to feature an all-female panel of moderators.
In spite of women comprising a shade more than 50% of the United States’ population, and having voting rights nationwide for a century, females have been largely trapped beneath the glass ceiling in national politics until recent years.
Much like the four female candidates onstage, tonight NBC News’ Rachel Maddow, Andrea Mitchell, and Kristen Welker, and Ashley Parker from the Washington Post were literally breaking through that ceiling in real-time.
“Elect more women,” Christina Reynolds of EMILY’s List tweeted. “Have more women as moderators. Make sure more women are at the table…wherever the table is.”
“Just awesome to see 4 women moderators for tonight’s #DemDebate. Past time!” Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) tweeted.
“Well it took four women moderators to make it happen – but on the FIFTH Democratic debate we are FINALLY hearing questions about women-related issues,” activist Amy Siskind said, nodding to complaints that previous debates didn’t delve nearly enough into abortion, maternity leave, and other issues that are of particular importance to women.
Paid family leave was just brought up at the #DemDebate for the first time.
— Jennifer Wexton (@JenniferWexton) November 21, 2019
I don’t think it’s a coincidence that this is also the first debate we’ve had with all female moderators.
More 👏 of 👏 this!
It’s the first time in history that women are the majority of the debate stage!
— Adrienne Watson (@Watson_Adrienne) November 21, 2019
8 women — 4 moderators and 4 candidates — and 6 men. https://t.co/tCycpXpBkg
Four female moderators asking two female presidential candidates to debate their paid family leave plans is real progress.
— Laura Bassett (@LEBassett) November 21, 2019
Feels like a wider range of topics tonight than in previous Dem debates – speaks well of the moderators
— Kyle Kondik (@kkondik) November 21, 2019
https://twitter.com/MonicaHesse/status/1197353862933491713?s=20
Four renowned female journalists will be the moderators for tonight’s #DemDebate:@maddow @mitchellreports @kwelkernbc @AshleyRParker https://t.co/jzF6tiuNK3 pic.twitter.com/W7sOusSLdW
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) November 20, 2019
How far we have come! Four, count them, four women moderators of tonight’s Democratic presidential debate! pic.twitter.com/M1hKu5kIph
— Judy Woodruff (@JudyWoodruff) November 21, 2019
4 women moderators. Maybe someone could ask about why US is so terrible at maternal health?
— julie rovner (@jrovner) November 21, 2019
We’re so glad the moderators asked about paid family leave, an issue that affects all parents. “There are only two countries in the world that don’t have paid family leave….I would pass paid family leave as one of the first things I do.” Thanks @andrewyang for prioritizing this. pic.twitter.com/KlN1JR0Z5H
— Reproductive Freedom for All (@reproforall) November 21, 2019
Paid family leave was just brought up at the #DemDebate for the first time.
— Jennifer Wexton (@JenniferWexton) November 21, 2019
I don’t think it’s a coincidence that this is also the first debate we’ve had with all female moderators.
More 👏 of 👏 this!
Seeing only women shouldn’t be so radical, but it is. I smile every time the camera goes to the moderators. https://t.co/fUf2Wwjxyw
— Erin Zwiener (@ErinForYall) November 21, 2019
An interesting effect of having more women moderating the debate, as Vox editor Kay Steiger pointed out, is that the four women on stage were also getting more speaking time than in previous debates.
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