Tonight's debate was in Iowa,
because in just three weeks
they will cast the first vote in the Democratic primary.
Just like they do in every presidential election.
And if you want to know what it feels like
to be number one, well, our own Jordan Klepper went on the road
to find out.
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(amplified heartbeat)
Last weekend I went to beautiful, balmy Iowa
to see how they feel about kicking off primary season.
I cannot be more excited to be in the center
-of the universe right now. -Center of the universe?
-Right here. Des Moines, Iowa! -Des Moines, Iowa, baby1
-Let's get this caucus goin'! -Boom!
It's (bleep) caucus time.
Yeah! It's (bleep) caucus time, baby!
The excitement for the Iowa caucus
is like no other primary event.
And that's for one reason: access to the candidates.
Andrew Yang came to my house. He was in my front yard.
He shook my babies and kissed my hands.
-He was awesome! -Was it because he liked your babies,
or was he just testing if they were robots?
I was supporting Joe Biden.
I got a Christmas card from him and Jill.
-Oh, well, that's nice. -I got one from Tom Steyer, too.
-Oh. I didn't get one from him. -Oh, yeah,
-well, you just don't count. -Well. -Steyer's...
You hooked up with Booker over spring break?
Congrats.
It seems like any jackass
can get up close and personal with the candidates.
How have you... how have you enjoyed your time here in Idaho?
Uh, oh, um, maybe you're new at this,
-but we are in Iowa. -What did I say?
-You said Idaho. -I said I...
I've been a lot of places.
I was still learning and had one very important question.
Why is Iowa first?
Oh, God, I don't know.
Uh, we're not really sure why, and I think
a lot of other people are thinking the same thing.
But, um, just 'cause we always have been, maybe, or...?
-Is that a good enough reason? -Not really.
Why do you guys get to be first?
Because it's written into our Constitution.
It's, like, oh, I-I said it, right?
Yes, exactly.
Just because you called shotgun on democracy
doesn't mean you get to sit up front.
It gets... it is what it is, man.
All right, I needed some real Iowa background and a beer,
so I sat down with local columnist Lyz Lenz.
How did Iowa become first?
It happened in 1972 because of paperwork.
And then in 1976, Jimmy Carter came in,
won the caucuses, and showed that if you came to Iowa
you could grab the attention of the nation.
So it was basically thanks to Jimmy Carter
that Iowa became a "thing."
Yeah, so those-those poor little peanut farmers
who one day dreamed of being president,
they were like: Now there's a place I can go,
a place where there are farmers, but they're different me--
they farm corn-- maybe I should be president.
-And soy. -You can do soy as well.
Yeah. I mean, it's very... varied.
It's very diverse here.
That's what I've noticed.
No. It's actually not diverse.
-And that's the problem. -What's the problem?
Uh, with the caucuses-- we're not diverse.
In fact, Iowa is over 90% white.
So Julián Castro, Mike Bloomberg,
and even the famously hostile USA Today
say that Iowa doesn't reflect the country's demographics.
Just look at these whiteys
who qualified for tonight's debate.
I'm sure the rational folks of Iowa would agree.
There's been some criticism of Iowa going first in the nation.
I think they're crazy.
You understand that there's a diversity issue.
Right, but we're not giving up first place, just so you know.
-That's American as (bleep). -Isn't it, though?
You know, Iowa isn't known for its diversity,
but I really contend that Iowa's very diverse.
I like to think that Iowa has a good...
we represent the whole country, we're a melting pot.
It's-it's... it's 90% white.
-Right. -But it's...
but the ten percent that's not white
-is a hundred percent not white. -It is.
Iowa isn't the most diverse place.
Absolutely.
-Rural could be a minority? -Could be.
That's a real hot Iowa take.
You're gonna hear people say we're all white, we're old...
-I would never say that. -Well, you probably do,
you just didn't tell me, 'cause you're being respectful.
Okay, I did, but it was two minutes ago,
-and I've forgotten it. -(laughs)
We try to be diverse.
And, uh, actually, Perry, Iowa,
like, has a huge Hispanic-Latino population.
-Like, where we are now... -You can see it in there, right?
-Yeah, you... well... -Well, not in...
Certainly, but... they-they...
not in the, maybe not in the people.
-In theory, it's definitely... -In theory, yes.
In theory. In practicality and reality, no.
-Right. -But theoretically, a hundred percent. It's almost...
-it's practically 50-50. -Yeah.
Okay, look, Iowa is actually really engaged,
and they take this seriously.
But they've had the opportunity of being first
for over 40 years.
And they're rational people, so I'll ask one more time.
Wouldn't our country benefit from kicking off primary season
with a state that's a bit more representative?
Okay, please don't go there with me.
-I'm not even... -You don't want to go there?
-No, I will. I'll go there with you. -You want to go there?
-I'll go there with you. -Go there with me?
If you are... if you... if you are a... a state
-Uh-huh. -that has civil discourse
and is compassionate and open-minded,
obviously, we are diverse in our heart and by nature.
And I'm not doing that 'cause I'm all white privilege.
I'm saying that 'cause it's real.
Well, but diverse in your heart
is kind of a white privilege-y thing...
-It is a white privilege-y thing, too, but... -Yeah.
we think and we discuss and we say, "Well, wait a minute.
Is that best for all of us?"
I would say that civil discourse here in Idaho is alive and well.
-Okay, except we are in Iowa. -Did I... What...
-I keep doing that. -Yeah. I... Yeah.
-What did I say? -Idaho.
-Idaho. -Yeah.
And we are in Ida...
Iowa. Iowa Iowa.
Whatever. At least I'm not in Ohio.
(cheering, applause)
Jordan Klepper, everybody!