Documenting the Democratic fight for Michigan

Democratic candidates Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders met in Flint for a debate broadcast by CNN on March 6 preceding the March 8 Michigan primary.

Reporters from both local and national publications were welcomed into CNN’s Spin Room, housed in the University of Michigan-Flint Recreation Center.

Chris and Anne Savage of Eclectablog, a progressive news and commentary source, shared their perspectives of working in a spin room and covering politics.

Chris said all reporters in the spin room have physical equality, yet each produce stories with different slants.

“The way they have this room set up is more equal, in terms of we could be sitting next to the Washington Post people and they get the same respect that we do,” he said.

As an observer of this particular presidential race, he said the Republicans have enticed the media by acting outrageously.

“Not just Trump, because all of their people have crazy ideas,” said Savage. “I mean, everybody thinks Kasich is this moderate guy, he’s not. They’re insane in a way that nobody’s ever been insane before.”

As a photographer, Anne said she has noticed the prevalence of a hierarchy amongst media outlets has changed over the years.

“10 years ago, when I worked for the St. Louis Post Dispatch and when you came to something like this, the tables would be labeled: St. Louis Post Dispatch, CNN, CBS, ABC, Fox, Washington Post, New York Times,” she said. “The lines are blurred now.”

However, she said there are a handful of photographers that are allowed to be in the debate hall the whole time in a press riser.

“Everybody else is going to shoot down the aisle, take what you can get and you’re out. They move you through quickly,” said Savage.

She said an interesting aspect of the Democrats are their differences in terms of familiarity with the media.

“We have one candidate who I’ve covered as photo editor of my college newspaper 25 years ago or something, and she came to campaign for her husband and I met her,” she said. “So we’ve got one that’s been around a long time and a new guy with great ideas, and I know he’s been in politics, but in terms of the public eye, not so much.”

From 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., a group entitled #JUSTICE4FLINT planned a rally at Wilson Park that would would turn into a march over the Flint River. However, at approximately 2:30 p.m., protesters gathered at the entrance to the CNN Spin Room.

Armed with water droplet shaped signs, posters of Gov. Rick Snyder embellished with devil horns and drums and megaphones, the crowd stood at the edge of a police line shouting some of the following chants: “Show them what democracy looks like, this is what democracy looks like,” “Raise the wage or we won’t work,” and “We don’t care shut it down.”

Shortly after the arrival of protesters, Sanders called for an impromptu press conference at approximately 3:30 p.m. There, Senator Donald Riegle publicly endorsed Sanders.

Sanders went on to criticize NAFTA, “disastrous trade policies,” the Iraq War, climate change and Flint. He advocated for the rights of working class families and allowed questions from the audience.

Afterwards, the press was guided back to the spin room to view the debate live from several personal television screens attached to long tables.

The debate began promptly at 8 p.m.

Both candidates called for the resignation of Gov. Snyder and went on to discuss the Flint Water Crisis.

“What is going on is a disgrace beyond belief,” said Sanders. “What is absolutely incredible to me is that water rates have soared in Flint. You are paying three times more for poison water than I am paying in Burlington, Vermont, for clean water.”

Sanders said the people of Flint should not be paying for their poisonous water, the CDC needs to examine the citizens and the infrastructure of the water system needs to be rebuilt.

Clinton said she would launch a full investigation to determine exactly who played what kind of role in the Flint Water Crisis.

“Yes, people should be fired. How far up it went, I don’t know. But as far as it goes, they should be relieved, because they failed this city,” said Clinton.

The candidates also answered questions from Michigan residents in the audience and touched on the following topics: outsourcing jobs, mental health, religion, race and the decorum of their Republican opponents.

Tensions were evident on stage as both candidates demonstrated moments in which they interrupted each other and reciprocated frustrated comments, trying to hold each other accountable for past actions.

Upon completion of the debate, representatives from the camps of both candidates were available for questions in the spin room. In addition, Mayor of Flint Karen Weaver, Michigan Representative Dan Kildee, Sen. Debbie Stabenow, Sen. Gary Peters, Former NAACP President Ben Jealous, actor Mark Ruffalo and DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz were among the notable figures present.

Sander’s advisor Tad Devine praised his candidate’s performance and the substance of his policies.

“I think what we saw tonight between the two of them was a very respectable debate between two colleagues, two people that respect one another,” said Devine.

In terms of the way Sanders carried himself throughout the debate, Devine denied that he acted rude or evasively.

“Bernie is going to be Bernie, that’s who he is. I think that’s one of the reasons people like him so much, because he’s genuine, because he’s authentic, because he’s honest, because he’s real. That’s the appeal he has to voters,” said Devine.

Sen. Peters took the time to praise the content of the debate in comparison to the GOP performance at the Fox Theatre in Detroit on Thursday, March 3.

“It was fabulous. I just want to say how substantive this debate was. It was such a clear contrast with the Republican debate where it was about name calling and personal issues,” said Peters. “This debate was about substance and focused on issues with importance to Michiganders.”

Peters has chosen to back Clinton’s campaign and believed she out-performed Sanders on stage.

“Clinton showed the breadth of her knowledge and the fact that she has been actively engaged in a hands-on way here in Flint,” said Peters. “I think some of the questions really gave her the opportunity to talk about how she formulates decisions, how she thinks about the country and how she thinks about how to solve some of the problems we face. I believe she’s going to win here on Tuesday, and she’ll be the next President of the United States.”

Michigan polling places will remain open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, March 8. 147 democratic delegates are up for grabs based on the results.

For more information contact Features Editor Aleanna Siacon at aleannasiacon.tse@gmail.com. Follow her on Twitter @AleannaSiacon.