Hillary Clinton took fire from the CNN debate moderator and fellow presidential candidates from the get-go of the first Democratic presidential debate.
After former Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee took a subtle shot at Clinton in his opening remarks, moderator Anderson Cooper took direct aim at the front-runner.
“Secretary Clinton, I want to start with you. Plenty of politicians evolve on issues, but even some Democrats believe you change your positions on political expediency,” Cooper said. “You were against same-sex marriage, now you’re for it. You defended President Obama’s immigration policies, now you say they’re too harsh. You supported his trade deal [Trans-Pacific Partnership] dozens of times, you even called it the ‘gold standard.’ Now suddenly last week you were against it. Will you say anything to get elected?”
“Well actually I have been very consistent over the course of my entire life,” Clinton responded. “I have always fought for the same values and principles, but like most human beings, including those of us who run for office, I do absorb new information. I do look at what’s happening in the world.”
After reversing her position on the Obama administration’s trade deal with Pacific Rim countries, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, Clinton drew heavy criticism from all sides. She took the criticism head on at the first Democratic debate.
“Take the trade deal. I did say when I was secretary of state three years ago that I hoped it would be the gold standard,” Clinton said. “It was just finally negotiated last week. And in looking at it, it didn’t meet my standard, my standards for more new good jobs for Americans for raising wages for Americans. And I want to make sure that I can look into the eyes of any middle class American and say this will help raise your wages.”
While Clinton’s reversal on the trade deal aligns her with the liberal left, she sought to draw a distinction with her fellow candidates onstage by describing herself as a “progressive who gets things done.”
