9:32 PM: I think that’s about as good a job as Clinton could do with this question. But it’s a bit of a dodge to say that Democrats have working since Truman to get the Affordable Care Act. And Sanders answer is pretty solid.
9:34 PM: “Contention debate” … “tearing this up” vs “going forward”. I think Clinton’s best argument – in political terms – is to speak to the risk aversion of people who have things they like. For starters, Medicare. People who have Medicare like it a lot. They don’t want to lose it or see it changed. There’s a good argument that want Sanders wants doesn’t change Medicare at all. It just gives a version of it to everyone. But again, if you have Medicare, do you want to see it rolled into a whole new program? If you have private care do you like, do you want it rolled into a public program? I’m not saying these are good arguments on the policy merits. But these are politically powerful arguments. And I’m curious that she isn’t making them.
9:39 PM: Hillary’s close on the health care reform question was very strong.
9:42 PM: “I do” … on calling himself a democratic socialist … Bern.
9:42 PM: Watching this I think back to the point I made in the post below. It’s a great irony that the DNC hammered down the number of debates at least partly on Hillary’s behalf. She needed more of them, rather than fewer of them.
