Fast Forward

Republicans Donate To Marianne Williamson To Keep Her In Democratic Debates

Democratic presidential hopeful Marianne Williamson speaks during the second Democratic primary debate of the 2020 presidential campaign season, June 27, 2019. Image by SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images

By Marcy Oster July 1, 2019

(JTA) — Republicans are opening up their checkbooks to keep Jewish self-help author Marianne Williamson in the race for the Democratic nomination for president.

It’s not they are falling in line with her idea to “harness love” to defeat President Donald Trump. It’s that they want to keep her in future Democratic debates. For her entertainment value.

Republican strategist Jeff Roe, who ran the 2016 presidential campaign for Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, posted a tweet at the end of the second debate on Thursday night calling on Republicans to donate $1 to Williamson’s campaign.

“Please, calling on all republicans to go to https://www.marianne2020.com/ and donate $1 to keep this vibrant democrat on the debate stage. One debate performance is not enough. #DemDebate2020,” he tweeted.

Another two nights of debates are scheduled for next month. But In order to appear in future debates, beginning in September, candidates for the Democratic presidential nomination must garner 2 percent of support in the polls, and at least 130,000 unique donors, according to requirements set out by the Democratic National Committee.

Republicans began responding to Roe’s call, according to USA Today, posting photos of the receipts of their campaign donations.

Williamson said during Thursday night’s debate of Trump: “This man has reached into the psyche of the American people and he has harnessed fear for political purposes. So, Mr. President, if you’re listening, I want you to hear me, please. You have harnessed fear for political purposes, and only love can cast that out.”

“So I, sir, I have a feeling you know what you’re doing. I’m going to harness love for political purposes; I will meet you on that field and, sir, love will win,” she said.

Please, calling on all republicans to go to https://t.co/fFZ5mdLRRq and donate $1 to keep this vibrant democrat on the debate stage. One debate performance is not enough. #DemDebate2020 https://t.co/MFHWVfHXey

— Jeff Roe (@jeffroe) June 28, 2019

A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO