What Went Down At The CNN Democratic Debate

The earlier exchange with Clinton about transcripts and tax returns highlighted a couple of contradictions in her candidacy. She’s running as Obama’s successor and trying to pivot to general election mode, but she also has to fend off this challenge from the left. She tried to deflect questions about her speeches by mentioning the Republicans, but the moderator reminded her that it’s her fellow Democrats who want to see these documents. Although Clinton is popular with Democrats, she represents the status quo while Sanders promises change. She also emphasized that everyone should be treated the same and that she would release her documents when everyone else did. That’s not an unreasonable stance, but it doesn’t fit a candidate who’s trying to run for a unique and powerful office. Clinton is right that it stinks when people are treated differently — and holding the sole female candidate to a higher standard carries gendered baggage. But being a presidential front-runner pretty much means you’ll be treated differently than other people.