Clinton Defends Accepting Wall St. Speaking Fees
Clinton sought to explain why she accepted huge speaking fees from Wall Street firms after she stepped down as secretary of state. "They wanted me to talk about the world," Clinton said.
Clinton said she warned Wall Street about their "risky shenanigans with mortgages" ahead of the 2008 financial collapse. She added that negative ads against her from investors and super PACs prove that they are worried about her cracking down on the financial sector."I will be the person who prevents them from ever wrecking the economy again. Sanders, meanwhile, used the moment to rail against the big banks and the executives who lead them.. "These guys are so powerful that not one of those executives on Wall Street have been charged with anything" after paying billion-dollar fines to the Justice Department related to the financial crisis. Clinton Accuses Sanders of "Attacks by Insinuation"
Early on in Thursday's Democratic presidential debate on MSNBC, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders explained Republican opposition to action on climate change in a single word: money. All the top GOP candidates are skeptical about man made climate change, or at least skeptical of the claim that it is a serious, multi-level threat to the planet. Their skepticism is dangerous and misplaced, according to scientists. But nonetheless they are pursuing it as a political pose this election season. By contrast, Sanders and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have pledged to continue and even deepen President Obama's historic efforts to cut emissions and cool the planet. Sanders explained this split by invoking the campaign donations of the Koch brothers and other industrialists, many of whom believe that addressing climate change would torpedo the economy. He also called out the alleged anti-science, counter-programming efforts of ExxonMobil and other major energy companies, some of which now face inquiries into what they actively mislead the public and their investors about the risks of greenhouse gas emissions."Do you think there's a reason why not on Republican" presidential candidate will take a position against climate change, Sanders asked rhetorically, trying to slap down Clinton's claim that donations don't change her political positions. "Do you think that has anything to do with the Koch brothers?...That's what goes on in America."
CLinton said that the question she's been hearing a lot recently is "do you vote with your heart or your head?""I'm asking you to bring both your heart and your head Tuesday," she said, looking ahead to the New Hampshire primary. She brought up LGBT, racism and sexism as issues that weren't discussed during the night that the U.S. needs to stand up to -- and "diminish" from our society."I have been moved by my heart," she said, "...I will bring that heart with me, but I will also tell you we have to get our heads together to come up with the best answers to solve problem ... for now and into the future."Clinton: We need heads, hearts voting on Tuesday.
Sandersbegan by talking about his dad coming to the U.S. from Poland without money and unable to speak English. It would be "beyond his wildest dreams to see his son up here running for president," Sanders said. "I love this country, my dad loves this country.""But today in America, we're the only major country on Earth that doesn't guarantee health care, paid family medical leave," Sanders said, also bringing up childhood poverty and the families who can't afford to send their kids to college."I'm running for president because I feel it is too late for establishment politics and economics," he said. "I believe we need a political revolution."
Clinton came out very aggressive, maybe too aggressive. It was clear she wanted to shake things up because she's trailing badly in New Hampshire. Tonight there was much less of the cautious, general election strategy that we've seen from her in the past, including at times in debates. As the night went on, she settled down and, especially on foreign policy, gave her usual authoritative, in-command performance.
Asked by Chuck Todd what she'd focus on first as president, she seemed to light up at the thought of rolling her sleeves up and governing, though she declined to specify top priority. She was in her element. She found chances to emphasize similarities with Sanders and to reach out to his supporters, as when she said he'd be her first call about which direction to go in after winning the nomination). She brought up racism and sexism as evils that we need to fight in addition to economic inequality, drawing an implicit contrast with Sanders, who has put less stress on those issues. She even got to show a bit of charm a few times, as when, asked whether she wanted to say more about counting disputes from the Iowa caucus she answered simply "no."
Sanders said that he "fully, fully concedes" that Sec. Clinton has more experience in foreign affairs. However, he said, "experience is not the only point. Judgement is."Clinton shot back that she has both. When it comes to judgement, she said she was chosen by President Obama to be secretary of state and at the table during pivotal moments that shifted the country's foreign policy. And, she said, "I know from my own experience that you got to be ready on day one. There's just too much unpredictable threat and danger in the world today to say I'll get to that when I can."Clinton reminded voters, "You are voting both for a president, and a commander-in-chief."
Sanders and Clinton jousted over the United States' relationship with Iran, which recently struck an agreement with world powers to curb its nuclear program. The two candidates tried to jab each other on their approach to dealing with Iran and other adversaries of the U.S. Sanders said Clinton disagreed with then-Sen. Barack Obama in the 2008 campaign about whether to meet with America's enemies. "I think those are exactly the people we should talk to," Sanders said."Let me correct the record, as I certainly recall the question was to meet with without conditions," Clinton responded. "And you're right, I was against that then, I would be against that now."In the end, both Sanders and Clinton support the landmark Iran deal, which is fiercely opposed by Republicans in Congress and on the presidential campaign trail.
Ahead of the candidates' closing statements, Chuck Todd asked Clinton whether she would consider asking Sanders to be her running-mate should we win the Democratic nomination. Clinton said she doesn't want to get ahead of herself, but added that if she wins the nomination, Sanders will be her first call. Sanders returned the kudos. "Sometimes in these campaigns things get out of hand. I respect the secretary, I hope it's mutual." Sanders added that "on our worst days, we are 100 times better than any Republican candidate.""That's true!" Clinton responded, and the two candidates, who have run increasingly heated campaigns, shook hands.
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