They invited her to the debate...and then they mocked her. Marianne Williamson gave passionate responses at Tuesday night's CNN Democratic debate in Detroit, only to be derided by the network later that night.
Sure, she didn't have much in the way of policies, and even less in the way of political experience, but no one can say Williamson wasn't firing up the crowd last night. For the second time, she won the people's vote with her entertaining, yet thoughtful answers.
Answers like this.
If you think any of this wonkiness is going to deal with this dark psychic force of the collectivized hatred that this President is bringing up in this country then I'm afraid that the Democrats are going to see some very dark days. #BigTruth #Marianne2020 pic.twitter.com/QKAb0E1bpk
— Marianne Williamson (@marwilliamson) July 31, 2019
CNN convened a few panels right after the debate, and, from what I heard, not one analyst mentioned Williamson's name for at least half an hour. Finally, former Michigan governor turned CNN commentator Jennifer Granholm brought up Williamson to praise her for her answers on reparations and the Flint Water crisis.
“I know a lot of people like to mock her, but honestly she brought it,” Granholm reasoned.
The CNN panel got quiet and just stared at their colleague, until an amused David Axelrod, a former campaign adviser for President Obama, asked Granholm if she actually thinks Williamson has a chance at the nomination.
"Oh no," she said.
And the panel had a good laugh.
Former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm on 2020 candidate Marianne Williamson: “I know a lot of people like to mock her, but honestly she brought it” #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/D2l6qAGsC9
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) July 31, 2019
The panel also joked about all those dark, psychic forces Williamson mentioned at the debate.
The network was a little kinder to her on Wednesday morning. As she reflected on her debate performance, Democratic strategist Maria Cardona said Williamson did something no other Democrat onstage had done - she was "speaking to the heart."
"She's incredibly impressive," Cardona said.
How can you not like this woman?
I asked Marianne Williamson if the debate night went the way she thought it would. “I’ll tell you later when I see the memes,” she said, laughing.
— Sarah Mucha (@sarahmucha) July 31, 2019