U.S. Senator Cory Booker was asked about being vegan during the Democratic Debate

It wasn’t a typical U.S. presidential debate question.

But U.S. Senator Cory Booker from New Jersey, who is seeking the Democratic presidential nomination, also happens to be vegan, which also happens to influence his public policy views.

So during his party’s primary debate last week, he was asked about it.

A debate moderator, Jorge Ramos of ABC News, directed a question at Booker about whether “eating less meat is one way to help the environment.”

It’s something experts have quantified, but has been a source of concern for folks like U.S. President Donald Trump, who worry regulations around climate change could hurt economic growth.

“So should more Americans — including those here in Texas and in Iowa — follow your diet?” Ramos finally asked Booker.

“First of all, I want to say ‘no’ — actually, I want to translate that into Spanish — ‘no,’” Booker replied.

The quip got some laughs.

But Booker is serious about climate change. He turned to a vegan diet in 2014.

And he has said industrialized animal agriculture isn’t good for anyone and that it’s incompatible with protecting the planet’s climate.

Booker does have a comprehensive animal welfare plan.

It covers everything from trophy hunting, animal cruelty laws and habitat protection to bans on puppy mills, shark fin sales, private ownership of primates and big cat, animal testing and the expert of U.S. horses for human consumption.

But back to the debate when he was asked about a vegan diet, and whether Americans should follow suit.

Booker turned it into a discussion about factory farming.

“One of the reasons that I have a bill to put a moratorium on this kind of corporate consolidation is because this factory farming is destroying and hurting our environment, and you see independent family farmers being pushed out of business because of the kind of incentives we are giving that don’t line up with our values,” Booker said. “That’s what I’m calling for.”

The reaction to Booker’s response was varied.

Some applauded it. Some said it didn’t go far enough.

About the author

Recovering newspaper reporter.

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