Hillary channels Elizabeth Warren: It’s not businesses that create jobs

There is no doubt that with a statement taking a swipe at big corporations, Hillary Clinton is channeling her inner Elizabeth Warren. The Clinton’s have long been friends of Wall Street and with the 2016 Democratic primary coming around in a year, Hillary is most vulnerable from her left, as in 2008.

Report from USAToday:

An odd moment from Hillary Clinton on the campaign trail Friday – and one she may regret.

Speaking at a campaign event Friday for struggling Massachusetts gubernatorial candidate Martha Coakley, Clinton offered this argument against “trickle down” economics – which focuses on cutting taxes and regulations so businesses can grow:

“Don’t let anybody tell you that it’s corporations and businesses that create jobs. You know that old theory, trickle-down economics. That has been tried, that has failed. It has failed rather spectacularly. One of the things my husband says when people say, ‘What did you bring to Washington?’ He says, ‘I brought arithmetic.’ [Emphasis added]

If the former secretary of State runs for president in 2016, as she is widely expected to do, there is no doubt Republicans will make hay out of this comment.

It is reminiscent of President Obama’s “you didn’t build that” comment in July 2012 that became a pillar of Republican Mitt Romney’s campaign against him and a primary theme of the Republican convention.

Yes, Hillary’s remarks are similar to President Obama’s which have their origination with Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren.

To quote Warren, in September of 2011:

“You built a factory out there? Good for you,” she says. “But I want to be clear: you moved your goods to market on the roads the rest of us paid for; you hired workers the rest of us paid to educate; you were safe in your factory because of police forces and fire forces that the rest of us paid for. You didn’t have to worry that marauding bands would come and seize everything at your factory, and hire someone to protect against this, because of the work the rest of us did.”

President Obama picked up the sentiment in 2012 and it appears Hillary is at least giving it lip service in 2014 ahead of the 2016 cycle.


Nate Ashworth

The Founder and Editor-In-Chief of Election Central. He's been blogging elections and politics for over a decade. He started covering the 2008 Presidential Election which turned into a full-time political blog in 2012 and 2016 that continues today.

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