While everyone else was talking about her authenticity, Hillary Clinton changed her position

[portlander23]

While everyone else was talking about her authenticity, Hillary Clinton changed her position

The revelation that Hillary Clinton is planning to be more spontaneous and authentic brought a booming collective laugh from Republicans, some Democrats, and opinion writers last week. The group guffaw drowned out a related shift in her positioning that is far more important: Now she wants to be known as a moderate.

"You know, I get accused of being kind of moderate and center," Clinton said in Ohio September 10, according to CNN. "I plead guilty."

That's a tire-squealing turn from the first five months of her campaign, when Clinton emphasized her progressive credentials. She built a policy platform significantly to the left of where many Democrats expected her to stand — in favor of new regulations of the financial services industry, "ending the era of mass incarceration," and reforming campaign finance laws, to name a few items on her agenda. The focus on populism was described as a newfound affinity for the left, a return to liberal roots, an effort to crowd out the competition, a general election strategy based on energizing Democrats, or some combination thereof. The truth is that Clinton's record is pretty liberal, except when it comes to national defense and trade.

Now she's pivoting back toward the centrist label that defined her husband's campaigns and presidency. The obvious reason for Clinton to switch tacks now is that her initial strategy didn't work: On the strength of backing from liberals, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders has surged to leads in New Hampshire and Iowa. That's a good reason for her to shake things up a bit, but it's only part of a story that is more about drawing a contrast with Sanders, sending a signal to her supporters that she's ready to really fight for the nomination, and making sure that she's comfortable in the political skin she's wearing for the rest of the campaign.

[hedgehog]

1. Give me a minute there-

OK, proceed.

[Lancero]

2. As quickly as the 'evolutions' are happening now...

Won't be long before someone makes a drinking game out of it.

[restorefreedom]

8. we better pace ourselves....nt

[magical thyme]

3. good. now that she's decided that really, deep down, she's a centrist, she has a reason to debate

the left.

So now can we have more debates, and earlier please?

I want to compare "moderate" Hillary v.8.0 with "extremist" Bernie on the issues.

[LondonReign2]

4. Not possible. One nice DUer, now unfairly forced on vacation, has posted a chart

again and again that PROVES Hillary is a lefty Liberal.

[YabaDabaNoDinoNo]

5. Goldwater Girl, Republican, Centrist, Moderate, Progressive and

Democrat

She needs to make up her mind about who she is and what she really supports.

I have been the same for over 50 years now and what I believe and support has never changed


Luckily for me I can make a decision and stick with it.

[Metric System]

7. You better not use that argument with the Elizabeth Warren supporters. She was a Republican well

into the Reagan years, after all.

[YabaDabaNoDinoNo]

10. Focus, this is a thread about floppy floppy Hillary not Senator Warren

[Jim Lane]

11. Hey, she's consistently been a not-Libertarian.

At least so far.

[Blus4u]

6. If my memory serves me correctly,

Bernie officially declared before Hillary. She stayed "unofficial" while Bernie began to gain momentum and larger and larger crowds. Eventually she was compelled to jump in.

And everyone was surprised at how "left leaning" her message was. IMO that was driven by the obvious popularity of Bernie's messaging.

It didn't work for her and nothing else has seemed to either is because the passionate voting base is simply sick and tired of the way things are and where they are headed. And this is true for both the Democratic and Republican wings of our political system.

In this regard, Trump and Carson (outsider/outlier) no matter how buffoonish the message are leading; and Sanders radical messaging is resonating soundly are symptomatic of how disgusted the voters are.

Just my opinion.
Peace

[corkhead]

9. Hillary: Something for Everyone!

[AgingAmerican]

12. What is a 'moderate'?

Seriously, what does a 'moderate' believe? Calling herself a 'moderate' is refusing to take a position on where she stands. IT's like punting.

She is 'Center'? What does a 'center' believe? Half right wing and half Democrat? Which right wing policies does she believe in? I can't think of one that has ever done anything good for this country.

So uninspiring.

[EndElectoral]

13. A moderate is on the fence between Dem/Repub ideas,so essentially they're the rightest wing of Dem's

[Avalux]

14. Hillary Clinton is grasping at anything she can to keep her lead.

If that means claiming she's a progressive and/or a liberal one day, then a moderate centrist the next, so be it.

This is just another example of not being able to trust her - which is she??

[Armstead]

15. The "Center" is where I am. Or where You are, Or where that person is.

We tend to define the "true center" as our own set of beliefs. So it;s a meaningless phrase when used collectively.

[hifiguy]

16. Our own hootinholler's graphic is more relevant than ever

[snooper2]

17. Are we seeing bitter Hilary already? I can't wait for the first debate-

She is to a point she better really kick ass or people are just going to start laughing at her....

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