Last updated on September 25th, 2023 at 01:53 pm
A contrast in strategies and some great questions from the moderators are among the 5 reasons to be that you watched the MSNBC Democratic debate.
1). Hillary Clinton Immediately Tried To Broaden The Discussion
Hillary Clinton successfully anticipated Bernie Sanders’ opening statement. Sanders went with a version of his main campaign economic talking points, but Clinton responded by agreeing to Sanders’ main point, and stating that the conversation needed to be expanded to include topics like racism.
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Instead of staying expanded, the debate quickly covered the same old ground about whether or not President Obama and Hillary Clinton are progressives. Sanders said that Obama and Vice President Biden were progressives. He challenged Hillary Clinton’s progressivism. Clinton defended her record and said that we need to be talking about what we do as president. Sanders agreed and said that the two campaigns need to stop talking about definitions.
An expanded conversation helps the Democratic Party, and when this debate moved to the issues, it got really good. Clinton’s strategy is clear. Sanders has the economic populism message locked up, but
2). Bernie Sanders Wants To See Major Changes In The Democratic Party
In response to a question about how he can lead the Democratic Party when he has only recently become a Democrat, Bernie Sanders admitted that he wants to see major changes in the Democratic Party. Sanders said that he wants to see a big influx of young people into the party and that the party needs to adopt a 50 state strategy. Sanders said that the Democratic Party can’t be the party of 25 states.
The idea that Sanders is calling for changes in the Democratic Party is often an overlooked part of his appeal. Many Democrats, especially those who aren’t in blue states, feel ignored by the party. Sanders isn’t just calling for a political revolution in the country. He is also calling for a revolution, and some would argue a modernization of the Democratic Party.
3). Hillary Clinton Was Non-Committal About Releasing Transcripts Of Her Paid Speeches
The debate featured some outstanding questions. Chuck Todd asked Bernie Sanders why he wasn’t participating in the public financing system. Clinton was asked if she would make transcripts of her Goldman Sachs speeches public. Todd expanded the question to ask if she would make transcripts of all of her paid speeches public. Clinton responded by saying that she will look into it.
It was an unanticipated question, but Clinton’s lack of a clear answer makes it certain the question will come up again and again. One suspects that the transcripts of Clinton’s paid speeches will eventually end up being released.
4). Clinton and Sanders Rip Republicans For Trying To Privatize The VA
Hillary Clinton called out the Koch brothers for forming an organization to convince Americans that we no longer need public healthcare for the VA. Clinton promised that she will never privatize the VA. Sanders said that Republicans give a lot of speeches about how much they love veterans, but only two Republicans voted for his legislation to expand benefits for veterans. Sanders said Republicans talk a good game about caring veterans, but they weren’t there when it was time to put money on the line.
Sanders also hammered the Koch brothers for their front group that is pushing privatizing the VA. Sanders said that we must strengthen the VA. We do not privatize the VA.
5). Clinton Calls Out Republicans For Bogus Scandals
Chuck Todd asked Hillary Clinton to reassure Democratic voters about the email scandal. Clinton said that her emails were the same thing as what Republicans did to her on Benghazi. She called the email scandal an absurdity and pointed to the reclassification of Colin Powell and Condi Rice’s emails. Clinton said that if there is going to be a security review of her, there is going to be a security review of Republican officials.
Bernie Sanders said that he felt the same way that he did at the first debate. He said that he is asked to attack her on that issue every day, and he has refrained from doing that and will refrain from doing that.
Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
