Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Feinstein, De León Spar on How Democrats Can Best Resist
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 6 years ago on
October 18, 2018

Share

SAN FRANCISCO — California Sen. Kevin de León tied U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein to Washington dysfunction during a Wednesday event and pledged to “fight like hell” for immigrants and other Californians if elected to replace her, while Feinstein crafted herself as a problem solver and argued resistance is futile with Republicans dominating Washington.

“It’s like hitting your head against a concrete wall — you can march, you can filibuster, you can talk all night, it doesn’t change anything. What changes things are elections.” — U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein 
“It’s like hitting your head against a concrete wall — you can march, you can filibuster, you can talk all night, it doesn’t change anything,” she said. “What changes things are elections.”
The exchange represented the stylistic differences between the two Democrats. De Leon says Feinstein is too passive in today’s political climate, while Feinstein argues her experience and steady hand is a boon to California.
But de León failed to land a winning moment during the hourlong discussion full of mostly polite disagreements. The two took questions from moderator Mark Baldassare of the Public Policy Institute of California and engaged little with each other. De Leon hugged Feinstein after, seemingly to her surprise.
He’s struggled to gain a foothold against Feinstein, and California Democrats are far more focused on winning U.S. House seats than they are on a safe Senate seat. California’s primary system sends the two highest primary vote-getters to the general election regardless of party. She’s far ahead of him in name recognition, polling and campaign cash.
Feinstein later told reporters she sees herself “in the center of the political spectrum” and hoped Republicans who didn’t plan to vote in the election would change their minds.

Painting California as the Breeding Ground for Progressive Policies

But de León repeatedly painted California as the breeding ground for progressive policies, noting his own role in authoring a “sanctuary state” law that restricts cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities and a law to move California toward 100 percent clean energy for electricity.

“Because of the lack of action in Washington, I’ve had to lead in California.” — California Sen. Kevin de León 
“Because of the lack of action in Washington, I’ve had to lead in California,” he said.
Feinstein largely ignored his criticisms and instead trumpeted her work passing an assault weapons ban, which has since expired, and presented herself as a realist about what’s achievable for Democrats. Several times she told him she agreed with his positions, attempting to stifle any room for contrast.
Perhaps his harshest criticism came on immigration. De León, the son of a Guatemalan woman who came to the United States illegally, noted that Feinstein voted for homeland security legislation that reconstituted federal migration agencies and created Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the federal department that detains immigrants living in the country illegally.
Feinstein said comprehensive immigration reform is one of her top priorities. She’s introduced legislation to release parents and children together if they are caught at the border.
On health care, de León supports a “Medicare for all” plan that would extend the government health plan to all Americans. Feinstein favors a public option but does not support an entirely government-run health care program.

Feinstein Has Not Appeared Onstage With an Opponent Since 2000 Election

At 85, Feinstein is the oldest U.S. senator, but her age did not come up during the debate. De León, 51, did say it’s time for a “new way of thinking” in Washington.

“I’ve had a number of women come to me with allegations of sexual impropriety and when they’ve asked me to keep it confidential I have.” — U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein
Feinstein has not appeared onstage with an opponent since the 2000 election; deLeon sought a more robust debate but agreed to the more tepid moderated conversation.
He treaded carefully around Feinstein’s role in the confirmation hearings for Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. He criticized her in September for failing to share allegations by California professor Christine Blasey Ford that Kavanaugh had sexually assaulted her in high school. Ford sent Feinstein a letter detailing the allegations but asked her to keep it confidential.
Feinstein defended her actions and reminded the crowd of her long role in the women’s movement.
“I’ve had a number of women come to me with allegations of sexual impropriety and when they’ve asked me to keep it confidential I have,” she said.
The two agreed that if Democrats take control of the U.S. Senate the allegations against Kavanaugh should be reopened.
Likewise, Feinstein didn’t criticize de León’s handling of sexual misconduct allegations in the California capital. He was a Senate leader when nearly 150 women signed an open letter last year calling out a pervasive culture of harassment. Another senator who had been his roommate resigned after an investigation found he likely behaved inappropriately toward multiple women. De León has defended the Legislature’s response.

DON'T MISS

Automakers to Trump: Please Require Us to Sell Electric Vehicles

DON'T MISS

President Biden Welcomes 2024 NBA Champion Boston Celtics to White House

DON'T MISS

Ohtani Makes History With 3rd MVP, Judge Claims 2nd AL Honor

DON'T MISS

Trump Chooses Pam Bondi for Attorney General Pick After Gaetz Withdraws

DON'T MISS

Average Rate on a 30-Year Mortgage in the US Rises to Highest Level Since July

DON'T MISS

Cutting in Line? American Airlines’ New Boarding Tech Might Stop You at Now Over 100 Airports

DON'T MISS

MLB Will Test Robot Umpires at 13 Spring Training Ballparks Hosting 19 Teams

DON'T MISS

Death Toll in Gaza From Israel-Hamas War Passes 44,000, Palestinian Officials Say

DON'T MISS

Jussie Smollett’s Conviction in 2019 Attack on Himself Is Overturned

DON'T MISS

Fresno Council Lowers Speed Limits on Friant and Audubon

UP NEXT

Major Storm Drops Record Rain, Downs Trees in Northern California After Devastation Further North

UP NEXT

Newsom Heads to Fresno, a County That Voted for Trump

UP NEXT

Conservative Professors and Students Are Beating CA Community Colleges in Court

UP NEXT

Thousands of University of California Workers Go on 2-Day Strike Over Wages, Staff Shortages

UP NEXT

Gavin Newsom Pledged to Release His Tax Returns Every Year. The Last One Was for 2020.

UP NEXT

California Governor Will Not Make Clemency Decision for Menendez Brothers Until New DA Reviews Case

UP NEXT

Fewer Kids Are Going to California Public Schools. Is There a Right Way to Close Campuses?

UP NEXT

California Voters Reject Measure That Would Have Raised Minimum Wage to Nation-High $18 Per Hour

UP NEXT

With Democracy Supposedly at Stake, California Voters Stayed Away in Droves

UP NEXT

Volunteers Came Back to Nonprofits in 2023, After the Pandemic Tanked Participation

Trump Chooses Pam Bondi for Attorney General Pick After Gaetz Withdraws

47 minutes ago

Average Rate on a 30-Year Mortgage in the US Rises to Highest Level Since July

1 hour ago

Cutting in Line? American Airlines’ New Boarding Tech Might Stop You at Now Over 100 Airports

1 hour ago

MLB Will Test Robot Umpires at 13 Spring Training Ballparks Hosting 19 Teams

2 hours ago

Death Toll in Gaza From Israel-Hamas War Passes 44,000, Palestinian Officials Say

2 hours ago

Jussie Smollett’s Conviction in 2019 Attack on Himself Is Overturned

2 hours ago

Fresno Council Lowers Speed Limits on Friant and Audubon

2 hours ago

How About an Honest Conversation About the Range of Light Monument Proposal?

3 hours ago

UConn Coach Geno Auriemma Breaks NCAA Wins Record With 1,217th Victory

4 hours ago

Fresno Doctors Will Pay $2.4 Million to Settle Kickback Allegations, DOJ Says

4 hours ago

Automakers to Trump: Please Require Us to Sell Electric Vehicles

Three of the nation’s largest automakers, Ford, General Motors and Stellantis, are strategizing with other car manufacturers on how to make ...

2 minutes ago

President Joe Biden with Mary Barra, the chief executive of General Motors, at the Detroit Auto Show, Sept. 14, 2022. President-elect Donald Trump has promised to erase the Biden administration’s tailpipe rules designed to get carmakers to produce electric vehicles, but most U.S. automakers want to keep them. (Doug Mills/The New York Times)
2 minutes ago

Automakers to Trump: Please Require Us to Sell Electric Vehicles

6 minutes ago

President Biden Welcomes 2024 NBA Champion Boston Celtics to White House

26 minutes ago

Ohtani Makes History With 3rd MVP, Judge Claims 2nd AL Honor

Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, speaks before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump arrives to speak at a campaign rally at First Horizon Coliseum, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Greensboro, NC. (AP/Alex Brandon)
47 minutes ago

Trump Chooses Pam Bondi for Attorney General Pick After Gaetz Withdraws

1 hour ago

Average Rate on a 30-Year Mortgage in the US Rises to Highest Level Since July

1 hour ago

Cutting in Line? American Airlines’ New Boarding Tech Might Stop You at Now Over 100 Airports

2 hours ago

MLB Will Test Robot Umpires at 13 Spring Training Ballparks Hosting 19 Teams

2 hours ago

Death Toll in Gaza From Israel-Hamas War Passes 44,000, Palestinian Officials Say

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend