Chris Matthews had Progressive Change Campaign Committee founder Adam Green and Democratic strategist Ruth Marcus on Hardball to discuss Hillary Clinton's recent economic populist statements.
Green made the case that Elizabeth Warren style economic populism is the key for Democrats winning.
"There's a rising economic populous tide in America that Elizabeth Warren has certainly been the personification of and I think Hilary Clinton is more and more recognizing that.
Certainly before an election that's when you want to say popular things things that resonate in red purple and blue states and Elizabeth Warren is the most popular and the most sought after campaigner for Democrats across the country for a reason and that's because her positions are popular. Hilary Clinton is smart to embrace them.
Matthews argues for Clinton going center and asks "Is it smart to go to the progressive left?" Green comes back:
"It's not just smart. It would be a brilliant strategy if that was actually her strategy. We'll find out."
In the clips Clinton looks uncomfortable and stumbling as she repeats phrases made famous by Elizabeth Warren. But if we've got Clinton auditioning these positions, hey - that's a step in the right direction.
Green points out that Warren's priorities like expanding Social Security (instead of cutting it) is popular throughout the nation and even supported 3-1 in Texas. Matthews mocks him that "Are you surprised that raising benefits would be popular?"
One thinks that Matthews is unaware that Republicans and New Dems are trying to cut Social Security. That would be incorrect because later on it becomes clear that Matthews supports Simpson-Bowles.
Green points out:
"There are some Democrats around the country that actually are adopting the Simpson-Bowles plan to cut social security and they are down in the polls."
Matthews comes back with: "That's why Simpson-Bowles was tough to do...I think there's going to be bottom for the Democratic Left here. I personally wouldn't go the direction that Adam's going. I would go to the center."
OK. Now we know why Matthews is such a big supporter of Clinton.
Ruth Marcus asked about Clinton's statement that corporations don't create jobs: "That was a dumb thing to say."
The interview descends into a biased exposition of Matthews' centrist (can we say New Dem?) positions but Adam Green is hanging in there, getting his points across and coming off as the civil adult in the room.
Green:
"Holding big corporations and Wall Street accountable is smart politics and as you are pointing out not just in a primary but its a smart general election strategy.
But what I'm worried about is that we could have fake populists like Rand Paul or Mike Huckaby in the 2016 general election and if the Democratic party isn't firmly embracing Elizabeth Warren's economic populist positions - fighting for the little guy against the big guy - we could lose."
Matthews scoffs: "How does the right wing snake the Democrats as the party of the people?"
Green:
"by co-opting our populist message. The reason Elizabeth Warren is so popular and getting record crowds in places like Kentucky is because people want someone to fight for their economic interest - the little guy.
And again, some Republicans are pretty good at faking that game while Elizabeth Warren is the real deal.
And that's why I think that Hilary Clinton might be recognizing that this is a smart general election strategy - to adopt Elizabeth Warren's populist message and that's why I think, as you point out, that Bruce Braley in Iowa and Mark Begich in Alaska are now winning because they are campaigning on Elizabeth Warren's message."
Some Republicans are pretty good at faking populism? Maybe some New Dems also?
Matthews asks, "Do you see Hilary Clinton as a leader on the left?"
After a moment of stunned silence, Green replies:
"In this case, she's a follower"
Later Matthews asks Green again whether Clinton is a leader on the left.
"Look I think she's shown an ability to evolve smartly on some positions and hopefully she is evolving on the economic populist position."
We'll let Matthews have the last word on that:
"If you are who you are, you are who you are and people can tell"
Note: Matthews was actually talking about Republicans but if the shoe fits...
View video here.