On Wednesday's CNN Newsroom with Carol Costello, during a discussion of the Democratic presidential debate, liberal CNN political analyst Marc Lamont Hill defended Bernie Sanders' socialist views and griped about Hillary Clinton apparently taking a jab at the Vermont Senator as the CNN analyst complained that "she's playing to people's insecurities and fears," and "play[ing] to the cheap seats."
Inspiring laughter from normally left-leaning host Carol Costello, Hill ended up cluelessly lamenting that, "for some reason, that word 'socialism' is a trigger for people." After an amused Costello quipped that "I can think of many reasons," Hill's cluelessness continued as he responded, "Like what?"
The exchange began at about 9:52 a.m. when Costello asked Hill to respond to Clinton taking a jab at Denmark in the debate. Costello:
And, of course, as you know, Marc, Bernie Sanders was talking up Denmark and Hillary Clinton slammed -- not slammed Denmark -- she said she loved Denmark, but we're the United States. Go ahead, Marc.
The liberal CNN analyst began by complaining:
I mean, she's playing to people's insecurities and their fears, and people often vote their fears rather than their dreams. Bernie Sanders has a vision of the world that resonates with most people. It's a populist vision. He's not a radical Leninist. He's not a person trying to impose a radical or despotic dictatorship. He's a democratic socialist. That's a fancy way of saying he's a real liberal. He wants companies to be accountable. He wants government to be accountable. And he wants everyday working people to be okay.
He added:
But the problem is, because he's used that label, "democratic socialist," Hillary Clinton knows that she can play to the cheap seats, and she can play to people's insecurities and say, "Hey, wait a minute, Bernie wants to make us another country, Bernie wants to make us something other than what Americans are, which is unfettered, free market fundamentalists." That's the problem here. Americans want working people to have a chance. Americans do think it's unfair that CEOs make so much more -- sometimes thousands and tens of thousands more than their workers.
Hill ended on note of wondering why the word "socialism" is viewed so negatively:
But, for some reason, that word "socialism" is a trigger for people, and Hillary is wisely playing on it for a political perspective.
Turning to her other guest, Democratic strategist Chris Kofinis, Costello laughed and partially quoted Hill as she responded:
"For some reason," Chris? I can think of many reasons.
After Hill jumped in, asking, "Like what?" he was ignored initially as Kofinis went on to complain that Republicans have labeled Democratic Presidents as "socialists" for several decades. Costello then turned back to Hill and expanded on her previous amused reaction to his commentary. Costello:
And just to address your point, Marc -- and I understand where you're coming from -- but I do believe that Americans embrace capitalism, and many of them think that's what defines our country, and are really not interested in becoming a socialist country. So, in that sense, I think that-
As Hill argued that Sanders does not wish to change the U.S. into a country like "Cuba or other nations," he made a point of suggesting that Cuba is not really "bad" as he qualified that "I'm not saying those nations are bad." Hill:
But, just to be clear, Bernie Sanders isn't suggesting that we dismantle American capitalism and become a socialist country. I think part of the problem is Americans, American voters often aren't educated about what "democratic socialism" is. This is not -- he's not trying to become Cuba or other nations. And I'm not saying those nations are bad, I'm just saying that's not what Bernie Sanders is suggesting. That's why the term "democratic socialism" has to be understood as being vastly different than other forms of socialism.
