Hillary Refuses to Explain Difference Between a Democrat and a Socialist
Three times she was asked, three times she refused to answer
Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders has made life difficult for centrist Democrats. Sanders self-identifies as a Democratic Socialist; a label most Democrats avoid like the plague.
During and interview airing Tuesday, Hardball’s Chris Matthews asked Hillary Clinton to explain the difference between a Democrat and a Socialist. Not once, not twice, but three times Matthews asked Hillary to explain how Democrats and Socialists are different. Clinton refused. Instead she talked about peace, love, and unity. Yes, really.
The transcript:
Matthews: “But see I’m asking you. You’re a Democrat, he’s [Bernie Sanders] a Socialist. Would you like someone to call you a Socialist? I wouldn’t like someone calling me a Socialist.”
Clinton: “Well, but I’m not one.”
Matthews: “Ok. Well, what’s the difference between a Socialist and a Democrat?”
Clinton: “I can tell you what I am. I am a Progressive Democrat…”
Matthews: “How’s that different than a Socialist?”
Clinton: “…who likes to get things done and who believes we are better off in this country when we are trying to solve problems together; get people to work together. There will always be strong feelings, and I respect that, from the far right, the far left, Libertarians, whoever it might be — we need to get people working together.”
Sanders, who made a video for the sole purpose of explaining Democratic Socialism, described it as, “having a government which reflects the interests of the ordinary people, rather than is currently the case, the billionaire class.” See? That’s wasn’t so hard.
Last year, Democratic National Committee Chairwoman, Debbie Wasserman Shultz struggled with the same question, as Matthews noted.
The exchange between Matthews and Wasserman Shultz in July of 2015 was almost identical to yesterday’s conversation between Matthews and Clinton. The only difference being Wasserman Shultz went on an unsolicited diatribe about right-wing extremism.
Real Clear Politics posted at the time:
On MSNBC’s Hardball Thursday night, host Chris Matthews stumped DNC Chairwoman Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) when he asked her what the difference is between a Democrat and a socialist.
“What is the difference between a Democrat and a socialist?” Matthews asked, leaving Wasserman Schultz at a loss for words.
“I used to think there is a big difference. What do you think it is?” Matthews tried again. “A Democrat like Hillary and a socialist like Bernie Sanders.”
Wasserman Schultz again was unable to answer and instead tried to tell Matthews what the difference between a Democrat and a Republican is.
“The more important question is what is the difference between being a Democrat and being a Republican,” she said.
“What’s the big difference between a Democrat and a socialist?” Matthews again asked.
“You’re chairman of the democratic party. Tell me the difference between you and a socialist,” Matthews reminded her.
“The relevant debate that we’ll be having this campaign is what’s the difference between a Democrat and a Republican,” Schultz said.
Schultz, however, was able to tell the difference between a Democrat and a Republican.
“The difference between a Democrat and Republican is that Democrats fight to make sure everybody has an opportunity to succeed and the Republicans are strangled by their right-wing extremists,” she said.
At least they have their messaging down?
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Comments
Remember, though, that Hellary has been drain bamaged, and she might be suffering a “spell” at any time.
Be nice to the puuurrr ol’ criminal harpy.
Kinda like asking her the difference between water and water, isn’t it? Can’t fault her for not understand the question.
A Democrat seeks to use taxpayer money to buy votes and thereby expands government power while a Socialist buys votes using taxpayers’ money and thereby expands government power.
A distinction without a difference! Their goal, regardless of the political label they use, is total goal over our economy and lives.
In the case of Obama being succeeded by Hillary: The King is gone, all hail the Queen.
Not even a distinction 🙂 That’s the point, eh
Instead she talked about peace, love, and unity.
Maybe she could explain the difference between a Democrat, and a hippie.
This dishonesty is expected with the Dem leadership. The sobering realization is is that voters don’t know the difference.
Better to ask which dems are socialists and which are communists. The people who were dems moved into the GOP.
This is the good part of the Obama legacy. He radicalized the Dim partly so completely that they actually have a self-professed Socialist vying for their nomination. Just a few years ago the Dims would go apoplectic with indignation if you suggested they were Socialists or Marxists. The lines are now starkly drawn for any R candidate who dares to actually be conservative.
“Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders has made life difficult for centrist Democrats”
What is a “centrist democrat”?
An extinct species, now only found in history.
Well, and occasional votes on critical issues in swing districts and states. See Manchin, Joe.
There’s absolutely no difference between the two, and that’s a huge problem. It’s why Matthews was trying to help Hillary out by throwing what he thought was a softball question.
I discussed this a bit on my blog: http://triggerwarningblog.blogspot.com/2016/01/democrat-or-socialist-hillary-clinton.html
“Truly I tell you,” Lenin answered, “this very night, as the jester crows, you will disown me three times.”
So sayeth the Sacred Book of Socialism.
Hillary apparently thinks that however she characterizes socialism, she has a problem.
I’m surprised that Hillary didn’t reprise, “What difference at this point does it make?”
And this is just about the only time that particular answer actually makes sense.
A Socialist is a patient Communist , Transcendental Meditation helps.
“Progressive Democrats” are Socialists. Using the word “progressive” was a way to separate themselves from garden variety liberals in the days when communism and socialism were still considered evil. Now we have a lot of younger voters who were very young or not even born yet when the Soviet Union fell and they have no idea of the oppressive nature of communist and even socialist governments.
Ask her to explain the difference between a Democrat and a tyrant.
Obama & Hillary are both Marxists/Socialists/Communists. They both have been. The Progressives have taken over the Democrat Party & now trying to take oer the Republican Party. The Millenia have no idea how vicious and murderous the Communist Party really operates. The Hippies from the 60’s & 70’s ( Including Hillary ) are now in Colleges, teaching the trash from the Hippie era. Obama has Muslims & Hippies working in the White House.
The only difference is in degree. They are both left of center and pushing the envelope further left toward full government control of all aspects of your life.
Hildebeest says “…we need to get people working together.”
And federal power — laws, money, guns — is the lever.
Can’t expect someone to articulate the difference between being a Democrat and being a socialist who couldn’t differentiate between smiling children and snipers, terrorists and Youtube videos, or political opponents and rape victims.
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Hopefully some smart conservative media people will start asking GOP candidates to explain the differences between being a Republican or a conservative and being a socialist, on which most candidates could speak all day without repeating themselves. That is how you expose Democrats’ inability to differentiate themselves from socialism. (“Mrs. Clinton, Republicans have had no problem delineating their differences from socialism, why can’t you?”)
Christ Matthews may be a useful idiot after all.