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Hillary Can’t Explain the Difference Between a Democrat and a Socialist
In what was the softest of softball interviews, MSNBC host Chris Matthews gently asked Hillary Clinton a simple question: “What’s the difference between a socialist and a Democrat?”
Now to someone who has been in active in politics continuously since her teen years, this question should be a lay-up. In fact, Clinton had most likely heard the question from Matthews before, when he asked it of DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz. But, like her party’s chair, Hillary fumbled:
https://youtu.be/aqq5q11uK0M
Published in GeneralMATTHEWS: What’s the difference between a socialist and a Democrat? Is that a question you want to answer or you’d rather not, politically.
CLINTON: Well, you’d have to –
MATTHEWS: Well, see, I’m asking you. You’re a Democrat, he’s a socialist. Would you like somebody to call you a socialist? I wouldn’t like somebody calling me a socialist.
CLINTON: But I’m not one. I mean, I’m not one.
MATTHEWS: What’s the difference between a socialist and a Democrat? That’s the question.
CLINTON: I can tell you what I am. I am a Progressive Democrat.
MATTHEWS: How is that different than a socialist?
CLINTON: I’m a Progressive Democrat who likes to get things done and who believes that we are better off in this country when we’re trying to solve problems together. Getting people to work together. There will always be strong feelings and I respect that, from, you know, the far right, the far left, libertarians, whoever it might be. We need to get people working together. We’ve got to get the economy fixed, we’ve got to get all of our problems, you know, really tackled and that’s what I want to do.
MATTHEWS: I think the difference is, and Debbie Wasserman Schultz wouldn’t answer the question either when I asked her. Because I know politically you have to keep together the center-left and the left has to work together. I know all of that.
Here in Florida we have chameleons – I love watching them. They jump on brown wicker and poof-they become the exact same shade of brown – then leap off into the grass and turn bright green, just like that – fascinating. A red flag politician does that – will become whatever the topic is at the moment – Hilary even changes her accent depending on the state. She never directly answers a serious question. Chameleons change color to hide – you really don’t know what she stands for except general blarney. If you “look up” (I’m not saying google anymore) Progressive (noun), it is equal to socialism, and they’re proud if it. Those voters are in the bag – her non-answers are her attempt to change color for the uncertain audiences – which makes her dangerous. And quite honestly, I think she is winging a lot of it, like the job of SoS.
Well said, Brent. I suppose I’m speaking more directly about the presidency, which is where the cult of personality and low-information voters meet.
and Progressives work for change through government means – a teeny step away from socialism.
I weep for the gentleman. Bless you for maintaining the friendship.
Socialism sounds icky to some of the American electorate because it reminds them of Marx and Lenin and Stalin.
Aside from the fact that the average American voter couldn’t tell you who those men were or what they believed, that’s why it’s so important to Sanders and their ilk to re-brand socialism in the light of “Scandinavian social democracies,” itself a thoroughly debunked fantasy.
She didn’t even answer the question and then he attempted to answer for her.
Nearest I can tell, it’s like this:
The Democrat walks into a bar, pulls a gun and makes everyone give him ten dollars, then buys everyone a drink and says ” the drinks are on me. ”
The Socialist does the same, but says ” the drinks are on us. “
So…. What difference at this point does it make?
FIFY
That’s because there is no difference.
KP nearly nails it. They are fascists in touch with their inner child.
Honestly what is climate change but a ploy to control everything.
Hillary is a smart woman. She knows the difference between Blue Dogs, DLC-lite Dems, Nunn Dems, Wall Street Ex-Im Dems and Progressives and Socialists. She also realizes that post-Obama only the last two species matter. First three are extinct. Wall Street Dems are a sort of Piltdown Man.
She’s the most devious and dishonest politician in the country. Wait until the general. She’ll be whatever she needs to be in each swing state. Third way pro-growth progressive. A Goldwater Girl trying to accomplish conservative aims with progressive tools. Really, when you think about it, an Eisenhower Republican.
Finally, Hillary is really neither a progressive nor a socialist.
She is a Clinton.
Hillary calls herself a progressive Democrat. A progressive Democrat is a socialist who is too dishonest to use the correct label.
Remember that as a lawyer working for the House of Representatives on Watergate, Hillary was fired for dishonesty. Leopard…spots.
This is hilarious. :-)
It’s a trick question. Or a nonsensical one. It’s apples and oranges. A Democrat is a member of the Democrat party, or someone who usually votes for them. A socialist is someone who believes government should control the means of production. There are undoubtedly Democrats who are socialists, and there are some who aren’t. I’m not even sure the interviewer realized the question didn’t really make any sense. And obviously Hillary didn’t either.
Stealing it.
Piltdown or perhaps the Cardiff Giant ? Cast Hillary in either as a Giant Hoax – At least they were silenced in the end, now there’s a thought –
It might be more useful and enlightening to ask candidates this question: “What percentage of the American economy is now owned by the government, including state governments? What percentage do you think should be owned by the government, ideally? What is your target percentage for the end of your first presidential term?”
Under a socialist, man exploits man. Under a democrat, it is the other way around.