MADDOW: Secretary Clinton, senator Sanders iscampaigning against you now, at this point in the campaign basically arguingthat you are not progressive enough to be the Democratic nominee. He\’s said ifyou voted for the Iraq War, if in favor of the death penalty, if you wobbled onthings like the Keystone Pipeline or TPP, if you said single-payer health carecould never happen then you\’re too far to the right of the Democratic Party tobe the party\’s standard bearer. Given those policy positions, why shouldliberal Democrats support you and not Senator Sanders?
CLINTON: I am a progressive who gets things done.The root of that word, progressive, is progress. I\’ve heard Senator Sanderscomments and it\’s really caused me to wonder who\’s left in the progressive wingof the Democratic Party. Under his definition, President Obama is notprogressive because he took donations from wall Street. Vice President Biden isnot progressive because she supported keystone. Senator Saheen is notprogressive because she supports the trade pact. Even the late, great SenatorPaul Wellstone would not fit this definition because he voted for DOMA. Youknow, we have differences, and, honestly, I think we should be talking about whatwe want to do for the country, but if we\’re going to get into labels, I don\’tthink it was particularly progressive to vote against the Brady bill fivetimes. I don\’t think it was progressive to give gun makers immunity. I don\’tthink it was progressive to vote against Ted Kennedy\’s immigration reform. So,we can go back and forth like there, but the fact is most people watchingtonight want to know what we\’ve done and what we will do. That\’s why I\’m layingout a specific agenda that will make more progress, get more jobs with risingincome, get us to universal health care coverage, get us to universal pre-k,paid family leave, and the other elements of what I think that will build astrong economy and ensure Americans will keep making progress. That\’s what I\’moffering and that\’s what I will do as president.
HILLARY CLINTON AS A RIGHT-WINGER
Ken Berwitz
Is Hillary Clinton part of the vast right wing conspiracy? To paraphrase Pogo, has she met the enemy and found that that it is her?
How about Bernie Sanders? Is he a right winger?
Please stop laughing. That question was asked of Hillary Clinton during last night\’s Democrat debate, and Bernie Sanders\’ right wing credentials were enumerated in Ms. Clinton\’s answer. I kid you not.
Let me show you, via a transcript of the exchange between Rachel Maddow (whose left-wing credentials are impeccable) and Ms. Clinton:
Got that? Maddow: Are you too right wing for the Democratic Party, Ms. Clinton? Clinton: I\’m no right winger. But look at how right wing Bernie Sanders is.
This is roughly the equivalent of arguing over whether Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson has done more to promote the White Citizens Council movement.
Me? I just wonder how the country reacts to a battle of right wing records between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders. If voters can stop laughing long enough to think about it, that is.
