9 Most Shared Takeaways from CNN’s Democratic Town Hall Forum

Featured Article, Politics
on February 4, 2016

On Wednesday night, the remaining Democratic candidates took to a Derry, New Hampshire, stage in a presidential town hall forum hosted by CNN. While Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders appeared separately and did not go head to head during the two-hour broadcast, the candidates underscored their differences while attempting to gain the support of undecided voters ahead of the state’s primary election next week. Here are the top shared highlights from the event.

 

9 Most Shared Takeaways from CNN's Democratic Town Hall

Left: AP/John Minchillo; Right: Getty

 

THE TWO CANDIDATES ARE AT ODDS OVER THE DEFINITION OF PROGRESSIVE.

Clinton, Sanders clash over what it means to be progressive

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CNN – “I do not know any progressive who has a super PAC and takes $15 million from Wall Street,” Sanders told CNN moderator Anderson Cooper. “That’s just not progressive... The progressive community was pretty united in saying, ‘Don’t listen to Bush. Don’t go to war.’ Secretary Clinton voted to go to war…” Read more.

 

SANDERS REFERENCED HIS RECORD IN PASSING A BIPARTISAN BILL TO ADDRESS VETERANS’ HEALTH CARE WHEN ASKED ABOUT HIS POSITION ON VETERANS’ ISSUES.

Democratic Town Hall: CNN’s Reality Check team inspects the claims

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CNN – Sanders said: “It was the most significant piece of veterans health care legislation passed in modern history. We put some $16 billion into veterans’ health care, as well as in taking care of veterans in a number of other areas…” Read more.

 

INSTITUTIONAL RACISM WAS ALSO ADDRESSED DURING THE QUESTION OF HOW SANDERS WOULD APPEAL TO A WIDE GROUP OF VOTERS.

POLL: Who ‘Won’ the Dem Town Hall?

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Heavy – Sanders said that “no one would fight harder” to end institutional racism, and pointed to his efforts protesting school segregation… Read more.

 

9 Most Shared Takeaways from CNN's Democratic Town Hall

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images via USA Today

 

CLINTON VOICED A DESIRE TO ALTER THE CURRENT NATIONAL HEALTHCARE PLAN RATHER THAN STARTING OVER FROM SCRATCH.

Poll: Who won Wednesday’s Democratic 2016 presidential town hall forum?

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Syracuse.com – “I know what it’s like to go up against the status quo and special interests,” Clinton said referring to her previous work on health care reform. But Clinton added she doesn’t believe it’s worth scrapping Obamacare and re-starting a “contentious national debate…” Read more.

 

SOME EXPRESSED DISCOMFORT WITH ANDERSON COOPER’S ROLE AS MODERATOR DUE TO HIS FORMER MEMBERSHIP OF CLINTON’S CHARITY.

Former Clinton Global Initiative Member Hosts CNN Democratic Town Hall

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Breitbart – Anderson Cooper was picked by CNN to moderate the Democratic presidential town hall on Wednesday night, despite the fact that he is a former member of Hillary Clinton’s far-reaching and wealthy charity… Read more.

 

FROM THE AUDIENCE, RABBI JONATHAN SPIRA-SAVETT PRESENTED A QUESTION OF HUMILITY IN THE AMERICAN PRESIDENCY.

Hillary’s humility moment: A rabbi walks into a Town Hall and asks a question you’d never hear in the GOP debates

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Salon – Spira-Savett’s question is one of balance, which is discussed more here, and it was directed specifically at Former Secretary Hillary Clinton—meaning that each candidate’s half of the town hall each contained a sprinkle of Jewish spirituality. It is a totally bizarre question to ask a presidential candidate. Read more.

 

9 Most Shared Takeaways from CNN's Democratic Town Hall

Michael Reynolds/EPA via The Guardian

 

CLINTON STATED SHE COULDN’T PROMISE NOT TO EXPAND THE U.S. MILITARY PRESENCE ABROAD.

Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders battle over meaning of ‘progressive’

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USA Today – [Clinton] said military force must always be a last resort. “I will be a very careful, deliberate decision maker when facing hard choices because I know what’s at stake,” she said… Read more.

 

COOPER AND AN UNDECIDED VOTER QUESTIONED SANDERS ON WHETHER HE SAW HIS AGE AS A LIMITATION IN HIS ABILITY TO SERVE TWO TERMS.

New Hampshire town hall: Clinton and Sanders spar over progressive record

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The Guardian – “You know, I am, thank God, in good health. And one can’t predict the future, one never knows what happens tomorrow,” Sanders said. “I’ve had good endurance and good strength my whole life. So, you know, if I am fortunate enough to win the general election, and we do well, yes, I would like to run for re-election…” Read more.

 

CLINTON OPENED UP ABOUT PERSONAL OBSTACLES IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS.

6 Highlights From Clinton and Sanders at CNN’s New Hampshire Town Hall

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New York Magazine – “You know, I never thought I’d be standing on a stage here asking people to vote for me for president… And so I have had to come to grips with how much more difficult it often is for me to talk about myself than to talk about what I want to do for other people.” Read more.