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Students gathered around on Thursday night to watch the Democrat debates put on by the Young College Democrats of CSU Bakersfield. Many of them were a part of the Young College Democrats club and others were simply taking a chance to catch part of the debates before their next class. Either way, everyone was welcomed into the room, and whether you were “Feeling the Bern” or “Ready for Hillary” you were in good company.
“I respect the fact he is such a consistent person and he’s such an honest person. All of the values he’s had, you know, he’s not a flip-flopper like Hillary,” said Sylvia Brown, a twenty-year-old, music and political science major, as well as a Bernie Sanders supporter.
“I’m a socialist, I’ve been a socialist so to have somebody who’s a socialist running is just exactly what I want. I like the fact that he has always respected women and minorities and he protects them,” said Brown. “It’s an advocate that’s a leader.”
Brown was drawn to his campaign for many reasons.
“Somebody asked him if you were to win president wants one where you want to describe your Presidency and his answer touched me so deeply, his answer was ‘Compassion’ and I was just like that is exactly what I want in a leader and advocate.”
Another student in attendance, Amelia McKee, also supports Sanders.
“At this point I’m still in the Bernie train,” said McKee.
The debated came to end, and while Mckee still a Bernie supporter, she said, “I do feel like he didn’t do as well. I feel like he was really repeating the same thing. A lot of the time he would rebrand the question and you know they all do that though.”
“I am ready for Hillary,” said Pedro Naveiras, President of the College Democrats at CSUB.
“I think she’s got the best chance to beat any Republican presidential candidate and that I think her ideas are much more realistic within the political system that we have; as opposed to Bernie Sanders,” said Naveiras.
As a Hillary supporter, he responded to the New Hampshire primary.
“She didn’t win in New Hampshire but I know we’re ready for South Carolina and hope to go in and win there in that state,” said Naveiras.
After the two hours of debate, Naveiras responded to how he felt Hillary did.
“I think she did really well tonight. I was happy she was able to, you know, hit at Senator Sanders kind of revolution around the same point of inequality which I think is a very valid point that needs addressing but I think she hit home at her very closing statement that she’s not a single issue candidate. Bernie Sanders managed to make a lot of his comments revolve back to the one percent having all the wealth; which is like I said again a serious issue but not the only issue that this country is facing right now,” said Naveiras.
You can find the Young College Democrats of CSUB on Facebook and Instagram under the name, “Bakersfield Young Democrats.”
