Bernie Sanders, I-Vt, and Democratic presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton answer questions during a Democratic presidential primary debate hosted by MSNBC at the University of New Hampshire Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016, in Durham, N.H.
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The two argued over ideas, over tactics and over who has the liberal credentials to deliver on an agenda of better access to health care, more affordable college, dealing with income inequality and more.
But she would never say things like this from Sanders Thursday night: “The business model of Wall Street is fraud”.
Clinton called Sanders’ sweeping proposals on health care and education “just not achievable”, while Sanders countered that Clinton was willing to settle for less than Americans deserve. “We’ve got to get to the bottom of what’s going on here and I hope that will happen”.
“It’s fair to say that in your definition as the self-proclaimed gatekeeper for progressivism – I don’t know anyone else who fits that definition, but I know a lot of hard-fighting progressives in the Democratic party”, she continued.
Where Clinton aimed considerable criticism at Sanders, the Vermont senator focused much of his fire on what he says is a political system rigged against ordinary Americans.
“We looked at it. It turns out to be a disaster”, Sanders said, noting that the system is not equipped to deal with modern campaign finance laws.
She went on, “I think it’s time to end the very artful smear that you and your campaign have been carrying out”.
National Nurses United for Patient Protection brought in $2.3 million in 2015, Politico reported, and it gave significant funds to two other unlimited spending groups supporting Sanders. Sanders, riding his high favorability in a state that borders his stomping ground of Vermont, has a strong advantage, leading Clinton 55% to 37% in the latest CNN Poll of Polls.
Clinton further defended herself against concerns that her use of a private email server as secretary of State would not result in more serious charges against her. “I am 100% confident”, she said. She rounded out her point by also lobbing barbs at Sanders’ history by saying that not even he would fall into his own categorization. President Obama wouldn’t be a progressive because he took donations from Wall Street.
“I’m very proud of the way Senator Sanders has expanded the universe of young people especially interested in the political process”, said House Minority Leader Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA).
He said that when a “kid gets caught with marijuana, that kid has a police record”.
“We both want to reign in the excesses of Wall Street”, said Clinton. Sanders said, to raucous applause.
“I would fight that as long as I can…Let’s fix the VA but we will never let it be privatized and that is a promise”, she said.
Sanders voted against the Iraq War.
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“Was there one word that said we reviewed the endorsement”, Sanders asked about the ad, titled “Endorsed”. Clinton replied: “A vote in 2002 is not a plan to defeat ISIS”. The expansion came after Sanders and former Gov. Martin O’Malley – who dropped out of the Democratic race on Monday – had called for additional debates for months.
