USC Cancels Gubernatorial Debate Because Lineup Not Diverse Enough

LOS ANGELES, CA - This is almost too hilarious to be true.

An open California gubernatorial debate scheduled to be held at the University of Southern California (USC) was canceled by the school’s president because some candidates who were not included in the debate complained they weren’t invited because they’re not white, the Post Millennial reported. 

USC President Beong-Soo Kim (not white) bowed to pressure from candidates, including former Biden administration HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. Other “candidates of color" who were not invited to participate apparently included Tony Thurmond, Betty Yee, and Antonio Villaraigosa (we haven’t heard of them either). 

Candidates not invited to California gubernatorial debate

According to The New York Times, “The debate would have featured six candidates, all white. The inclusion of a low-polling mayor drew scrutiny in particular.” The Times complained that there was “backlash over including only white candidates.” The debate was canceled with less than 24 hours' notice. 

The feckless Becerra took to social media and praised Kim’s decision. 

“We fought. We won! We stood up against an unfair candidate debate set-up that prematurely chose winners and losers,” he wrote. “Tonight USC made the right decision to cancel their March 24 gubernatorial forum…so hopefully next time it’s done right. Thank you to everyone who stood up, raised hell, and demanded justice. Never give up when you’re fighting for fairness.” 

Read the comments. They do not disappoint.

In canceling the debate, Kim said, “I know this will make several of you extremely disappointed. I hope you will understand the decision was made in good faith based on my long-term view as to what was best for the university.” 

USC had faced pressure from Democrat lawmakers in California, who complained about the lack of diversity on stage. 

“The outcry over this debate is deafening and includes legal demands from the excluded candidates’ attorneys, public calls by elected leaders across the state, concerns from the included candidates’ own campaigns, and growing alarm from California voters,” said Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, Senate President Pro Tem Monique Limón, and the heads of the Latino, Black, Asian and Pacific Islander, Native American, LGBTQ, Jewish, and women’s caucuses. 

In a statement issued Monday, USC said the university objected to the selection criterion of the candidates who would appear on stage. 

“We recognize that concerns about the selection criteria for the debate have created a significant distraction from the issues that matter to voters. Unfortunately, USC and KABC have not been able to reach an agreement on expanding the number of candidates at the debate. As a result, USC has made the difficult decision to cancel the debate and will look for other opportunities to educate voters on the candidates and issues,” they said. 

USC attempted to get KABC-TV to expand the debate criteria to let the lower-tier candidates polling in the single digits the opportunity to participate in the debate. The Los Angeles Times reported that USC and KABC were “unable to reach an agreement.” The cancellation is forcing candidates to “organize a new event and keep a spotlight on the race,” the Times reported. 

Tom Steyer, a billionaire climate change fanatic, said he was trying to find a new venue for the debate. 

“We will definitely have an event,” Steyer said. “There are a lot of reporters in Los Angeles to talk about this race; we’re trying to put this together on the fly.” 

Republican Steve Hilton, who has been leading the polling, slammed the cancellation. 

“What a pathetic humiliation. USC receives over a billion dollars in federal funding, and I have written to Education Secretary Linda McMahon, calling for an immediate suspension of federal payments to USC pending a full investigation into this anti-free-speech shambles. Whoever is responsible at USC should be fired."

Hilton has been leading the pack, with fellow Republican and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco in second place. Due to California’s “top-two primary system,” the top two candidates run head-to-head in the general election, even if they’re both in the same party. This was the system that Democrats designed to freeze out Republicans. Now it may bite them in the keester. 

Ballots are set to be sent to voters in less than two months, which means Democrats have little time to make up the difference. Currently, Hilton has 16%, Bianco 14%, and then Democrats Rep. Eric Swalwell (lover of Chinese spies), and former Rep. Katie Porter (domestic abuser) are both polling at 10%, as is Steyer. Some Democrat leaders are asking Porter or Swalwell to drop out to consolidate the Democrat votes, but neither has shown a willingness to do so.