Presidential hopeful Marianne Williamson rebuked her Democratic primary opponents on Tuesday for accepting political contributions from corporate lobbies while simultaneously criticizing corporate influence in politics.
"The issue of gun safety, of course, is that the NRA has us in a choke hold," Williamson said during CNN's Democratic debate. "But so do the pharmaceutical companies, so do the health insurance companies, so do the fossil fuel companies, and so do the defense contractors."
"None of this will change until we either pass a constitutional amendment or pass legislation that establishes public funding for federal campaigns," she continued.
The remark came after all the Democrats on the stage were asked to illustrate what specifically each would do to address gun violence in America if elected to the presidency, the majority of whom contended that the National Rifle Association’s (NRA) contributed to the problem.
After candidates repeatedly placed blame on the gun rights organization while touting their poor NRA rating, Williamson pivoted to the influence of all lobbies on political agendas and slammed her challengers for taking their money.
"For politicians, including my fellow candidates who themselves have taken tens of thousands, and in some cases hundreds of thousands of dollars from these same corporate donors," Williamson said. "To think that they now have the moral authority to say 'We're going to take them on' — I don't think the Democratic Party should be surprised that so many Americans believe that yadda, yadda, yadda."
"It is time for us to start over with people who have not taken donations from any of these corporations and can say with real moral authority, that is over," she continued.
Her use of "yadda, yadda, yadda," a phrase made popular by "Seinfeld," immediately drew reaction on Twitter and #MarianneWilliamson began trending on the social media platform.
“So many Americans believe yada yada yada.” - Marianne Williamson taking a strong anti-Seinfeld stance
127 people are talking about this
Marianne Williamson comes through, doesn't disappoint, hits me with a "Yadda Yadda Yadda"#DemDebate
43 people are talking about this
"We are going to establish public funding for federal campaigns — that’s what we need to stand up to," Williamson said. "We need to have a constitutional amendment, we need to have legislation to do it, and until we do it, it’s just the same old, same old."
The best-selling author and self-help guru also separated herself from many of her Democratic challengers, including Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), when she expressed concern that the socialist policies they promote such as Medicare for All will be unpopular with the American people.
"I do have concern about what the Republicans would say," Williamson said earlier in the night. "That’s not just a Republican talking point, I do have concern that it will be difficult. I have concerns that it will make it harder to win, and I have concerns that it will make it harder to govern."
"If that’s our big fight, the Republicans will so shut us down on everything else," she added before her time ran out.
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