What was the big concern for the liberal hosts of MSNBC’s Democratic debate on Wednesday night? Dealing with the nasty Republicans and figuring out ways to convince them to support impeachment. The first half hour of the event was full of queries on impeachment, as well as fretting over being mean to Joe Biden’s son, and reminders that the GOP opposed Barack Obama. Rachel Maddow offered what could be the most obvious question for the assembled 2020 candidates.

Rather than focus on issues, she wondered if Senator Elizabeth Warren would lobby her GOP colleagues to remove the President. Not shockingly, Warren said she would!

Here’s the first question in full:

There's ten candidates here tonight. No time to waste. Let's get right to it. We're in the middle of the fourth presidential impeachment proceedings in our nation's history. Ambassador Gordon Sondland delivered testimony today in the House impeachment inquiry that buttressed the case that President Trump withheld military aid to Ukraine and a White House meeting with President Zelensky because he wanted the Ukrainian president to announce investigations that would benefit President Trump politically. Senator Warren, you have said already that you've seen enough to convict the President and remove him from office. You and four of your colleagues on this stage tonight who are also U.S. senators may soon have to take that vote. Will you try to convince your Republican colleagues in the Senate to vote the same way? And if so, how?

Andrea Mitchell warned Joe Biden that he couldn’t possibly work with Republicans because they are being mean to his son, Hunter:

Vice President Biden, you've suggested in your campaign that if you defeat President Trump, Republicans will start working with Democrats again. But right now, Republicans in Congress, including some of whom you’ve worked with for decades, are demanding investigations, not only of you, but also of your son. How would you get those same Republicans to work with you?

Mitchell then reminded Mayor Pete Buttigieg that Republicans also opposed Barack Obama. (As though Democrats haven’t provided a unified front against Donald Trump or George W. Bush before him.)

Mayor Buttigieg you have said, quote, “I will never allow us to get so wrapped up in the fighting that we start to think fighting is the point.” The Republican Party never stopped fighting President Obama in his eight years in office. So what would you do that President Obama didn't do to change that?

Meanwhile, Kristen Welker plotted strategy with the Democrats and wondered what Medicare plan they would accept:

Senator Warren you are running on medicare for all. Democrats have been winning elections even in red states with a very different message on health care. Protecting ObamaCare, Democrats are divided on this issue. What do you say to voters who are worried that your position on Medicare for all could cost you critical votes in the general election?

A transcript of the first half hour of questions can be found below: