Nearly the entire field of 2020 Democratic presidential candidates “convened” in South Carolina over the weekend at House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn’s world famous “Annual Fish Fry” where they practiced their respective “pitches” before an eager crowd in what “promises” to be a crucial primary state.
After 4,400 pounds of fish, 6,400 slices of white bread and a lot of “cringe-worthy” punch lines, they gathered together on stage for a “group photo” in their matching blue shirts, looking like a bunch of “High School Seniors” getting ready to graduate and go off to college. Their parents must have been so proud.
Just as the food supplies “ran out” the 21 Democratic presidential “hopefuls” took the stage to each make a brief pitch to thousands of attendees.
Seen in this context, this photo is an epic sight to behold. Every face is “reminiscent” of someone you once knew in those salad days of combination locks and chemistry finals. You can almost imagine an entire “yearbook” full of 2020 candidates might look like.
Joe Biden, who “boasts” a close friendship with Clyburn as a veteran third-time “fish fry” attendee, focused on delivering one concise message in his short speech: “Whomever the Democratic nominee is, we have to stay together and elect a Democratic president of the United States of America.”
Cory Booker, who was seen “hugging” Biden off-stage after a week of “animosity” between the two over comments on ”segregation” followed Biden in emphasizing the importance of “unity” in the party.
“This election is not about one person and one office, it is about who we are as a nation and who we must be to each other. We all must make sure that we may be in the midst of a primary, but when the primary is over, we become a united force. Not just to beat one guy in one office, but we become a united force to put the indivisible back in this one nation under God and stand up for liberty and justice for all,” closing his remarks with “Let’s not flounder, let’s get out there and kick some bass.”
Elizabeth Warren quipped: “We make this government work for us, and that means we’re just getting started. We need to attack our problems head on. We need to attack climate change head on. We need to attack the control of the NRA head on. We need to have courage in this country. So for me, it’s about building a future. This is our chance. 2020. We can dream big, fight hard, and win!”
Bernie Sanders, the only one in his button-down while all 20 other candidates were wearing matching Clyburn T-shirts, emphasized the power of unity in defeating the current president.
“Brothers and sisters, at the end of the day, the 1 percent, they got a lot of money and they got a lot of power. But we got something they don’t have. We are the 99%. And 99%, is a hell of a bigger number than 1%. Let us stand together. Let us defeat Trump. Let us transform this country.”
Michael Bennet, one of the lesser known candidates, drew laughs from the audience by taking a jab at President Donald Trump.
“In my view, we have a president who doesn’t care about America. I don’t think he loves America. I don’t think he loves anybody but himself.”
Kamala Harris, took a more somber tone, reminding the crowd of the South Carolina mass shooting that killed nine people at Mother Emanuel AME Church four years ago.
“And in this fight, this is a fight not only to recognize our history and honor the ancestors and honor the heroes. It is a fight for our future, and a vision of our future.”
Pete Buttigieg skipped the fish fry to hold community meetings following the fatal shooting of Eric Logan, a black man, by a white police officer in his hometown. He traveled back to South Bend after his remarks earlier at the “National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials” (NALEO) in Miami, where he was surrounded by members of the community and activists, including individuals holding Black Lives Matter signs, who jeered and heckled the candidate.
Nancy Pelosi also skipped the world famous annual fish fry claiming “What’s the point?”
Many others, addressed some of the big issues the country is facing, such as health care, public schools, criminal justice reform and climate change.
The largest gathering so far for the 2020 contenders ended with remarks from Tulsi Gabbard followed by a group photo with all the candidates on stage.
