--- title: Democratic Debate: Clinton and Sanders Talk Differently description: Her answers are complex; his are straightforward. canonical: https://time.com/4253587/democratic-debate-bernie-sanders-hillary-clinton-rhetoric-style/ author: Sam Frizell article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2016-03-10T07:00:31.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-05T08:49:39.552Z article:section: Politics og:title: Why Clinton and Sanders Answer Questions So Differently og:description: Her answers are complex; his are straightforward. og:url: https://time.com/4253587/democratic-debate-bernie-sanders-hillary-clinton-rhetoric-style/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt59b270b9dd273aad/69888a6af887dc63f8e94fb8/democratic-presidential-debate-hillary-clinton-bernie-sanders-election-2016-04.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 4560 og:image:height: 2565 og:image:alt: TIMEPOL Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Why Clinton and Sanders Answer Questions So Differently twitter:description: Her answers are complex; his are straightforward. twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt59b270b9dd273aad/69888a6af887dc63f8e94fb8/democratic-presidential-debate-hillary-clinton-bernie-sanders-election-2016-04.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 video:duration: 02:55 video:published: 2016-03-10 section: politics topics: campaign finance, Wall Street influence, economic inequality, classified emails, immigration reform, deportation, border wall, speaking fees, presidential primary genre: debate, interview tones: combative, confident, critical, earnest emotions: determination (high), indignation (medium), humor (low) sentiment: neutral audience: voters, political observers, primary election followers, policy readers people: Bernie Sanders, Donald Trump organizations: Wall Street, Goldman Sachs, CNN, Univision content_suitability: politics [00:00-02:55]; crime [00:39-00:46]; hate [01:08-01:15] transcript_source: publisher captions transcript_reviewed: not applicable ---  # Why Clinton and Sanders Answer Questions So Differently > Sponsored content. 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It explains the politics, personalities and power dynamics behind the headlines, twice a week. #### Where can I get analysis of Washington politics by email? D.C. Brief is TIME's free Washington politics newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=beb94b66-8373-4987-906d-9199557d3a31&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1) ## Video: Watch the CNN Univision Democratic Debate in Under 3 Minutes [Watch (HLS stream): Watch the CNN Univision Democratic Debate in Under 3 Minutes](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/UdzXOxuL.m3u8) (2:55)  _Published 2016-03-10. Watch the Democratic Debate in Under 3 Minutes_ Description, summary, key points, chapters, key quotes, questions and transcript, where present, were produced automatically from the video or its captions and were not reviewed. ## Summary A condensed look at a Democratic primary debate, in which candidates address campaign finance and Wall Street influence, the economy, and immigration policy. One candidate discusses a classified-email controversy and a question about dropping out if indicted. Candidates also trade remarks about speaking fees, the proposed border wall, and Donald Trump. ## Key points - A speaker says the focus is on good paying jobs with rising incomes and that billionaires and Wall Street should not be buying elections. (00:00) - A speaker claims the message that people must tell corporate America and Wall Street they cannot have it all is resonating across the country. (00:17) - A speaker states they did not send or receive any emails marked classified at the time and calls the issue retroactive classification. (00:35) - A candidate says they are staunchly in favor of comprehensive immigration reform and would not deport children or family members. (00:51) - A speaker says Donald Trump's proposed tall wall is fantasy and that Mexico would not pay for it. (01:15) - A speaker questions a $225,000 speaking fee, suggesting the speech should be shared with the American people. (01:36) - A speaker says they went to Wall Street before the great recession and called them out, and that Wall Street gave the opponent $15 million in campaign contributions. (01:55) - A speaker says the head of Goldman Sachs called them dangerous and states that they are dangerous for Wall Street. (02:22) ## Chapters - [00:00 to 00:35] Economy and campaign finance. The speaker outlines priorities on jobs, incomes, and Wall Street's influence on elections, and reflects on the debate outcome. - [00:35 to 01:08] Classified emails and immigration. A candidate responds to the classified-email issue and a question about indictment, then outlines a stance on immigration and deportation. - [01:08 to 01:36] Border wall and Trump critique. A speaker criticizes Donald Trump's rhetoric and border wall proposal, calling it a fantasy and rejecting racism and xenophobia. - [01:36 to 02:55] Speaking fees and Wall Street. Candidates exchange remarks about speaking fees and Wall Street, and a closing appeal for support in upcoming primaries is made. ## Key quotes - [00:00] Candidate: "Billionaires and Wall Street should not be buying elections." - [00:35] Candidate: "I did not send or receive any emails marked classified at the time." - [00:51] Candidate: "I am staunchly in favor of comprehensive immigration reform and have been so over the course of my public career." - [01:08] Candidate: "No, I will not deport children from the United States of America." - [01:15] Candidate: "And can We do not, as Donald Trump and others have done, resort to racism and xenophobia and bigotry." - [02:22] Candidate: "he said I was dangerous, and he's right." ## Questions this video answers - What is the speaker's focus regarding jobs and the economy? [00:00] - Did the candidate send or receive emails marked classified? [00:35] - Would the candidate drop out if indicted? [00:39] - What is the candidate's position on immigration and deportation? [00:51] - Will Mexico pay for the proposed border wall? [01:15] - Why are speaking fees and Wall Street contributions being questioned? [01:36] ## Content suitability - politics [00:00-02:55]: Entire video is a political debate between candidates. - crime [00:39-00:46]: Hypothetical question about being indicted is raised. - hate [01:08-01:15]: Speaker references racism, xenophobia and bigotry in criticizing an opponent. by [Sam Frizell](https://time.com/author/sam-frizell/) ## Sam Frizell Mar 10, 2016 7:00 AM UTC Watch the Democratic Debate in Under 3 Minutes by [Sam Frizell](https://time.com/author/sam-frizell/) ## Sam Frizell Mar 10, 2016 7:00 AM UTC At debates, Hillary Clinton often answers direct questions like an attorney chewing over a difficult legal brief, while Bernie Sanders sounds like he’s writing bumper stickers. The two Democratic presidential candidates differ on issues from health care to immigration, and their disagreements show in the way they answer the thorny questions posed by debate moderators in the eight times they’ve faced off. Clinton, the Yale Law School graduate whose last job was as the nation’s top diplomat, tends to step lightly and avoid sweeping declarative statements that might cause trouble down the road. Sanders, the former activist and longtime independent, embraces absolutes. **Read More:** [_Full Text of the Eighth Democratic Debate in Miami_](http://time.com/4253623/democratic-debate-eighth-miami-transcript-full-text/) On health care, Clinton defends the tradeoffs of the Affordable Care Act and calls for strengthening the law through careful tweaks; Sanders supports universal health care for everyone. On trade, Clinton wants to look carefully at future trade deals before deciding and restructure the tax code to discourage corporate inversions; Sanders opposes free trade deals. The difference was highlighted again Wednesday as the two met in Miami for a debate co-hosted by CNN and Spanish-language network Univision. Moderator Jorge Ramos attempted four times to pin down Clinton on whether she would deport undocumented children. “Will you deport children?” Ramos asked Clinton. “Let me say this. I would give every person, but particularly children, due process to have their story told. And a lot of children will, of course, have very legitimate stories under our law to be able to stay,” Clinton said before several rounds of questioning, as she explained she would deport criminals and push for comprehensive immigration reform. Clinton finally answered, “I will not,” before ending on a slightly ambiguous note: “I do not want to see them deported,” she said of the undocumented. **Read More:** [_How Clinton Shadowboxed Trump at the Democratic Debate_](http://time.com/4253626/democratic-debate-hillary-clinton-donald-trump-miami/) But when it was Sanders’ turn, his answer would fit in a tweet. “No, I will not deport children from the United States of America,” he said. The differences stem in large part from their backgrounds. As First Lady, U.S. Senator and Secretary of State, Clinton has been at center stage of national politics, absorbing body blows of criticism for her views since 1992, while Sanders has represented the nation’s second-smallest state as an independent as a U.S. Representative and then Senator during that same time period. She has learned to temper criticism by couching everything in nuance, while Sanders drew more attention for making provocative arguments. The two are also waging very different campaigns. Clinton has played the cautious frontrunner, eager to get through the primary fight without committing herself to positions that would hurt her in the fall against a Republican opponent. Sanders, meantime, is cast in the role of the underdog with nothing to lose, attempting to change the terms of the debate by staking out bold positions. The difference showed up at Sunday’s debate hosted by CNN in Flint, Michigan. The two Democratic contenders were asked whether they support fracking as a method of removing natural gas from the ground. Clinton delivered a nuanced answer explaining that she opposes it unless it meets strict conditions. She showed an understanding of methane release, the chemicals used in fracking and various regulations on the practice. Her final answer? It’s complicated. “By the time we get through all my conditions, I do not think there will be many places in America where fracking will continue to take place,” Clinton said. Sanders did not hesitate. “My answer is a lot shorter,” Sanders said. “No, I do not support fracking.” The difference came up again at Wednesday’s debate. Clinton has proposed making college debt-free, a plan that would involve giving grants to states to lower costs and allowing students to refinance their loans, among other measures. Sanders, on the other hand, has proposed eliminating tuition at public colleges altogether. “I do believe we should make public colleges and universities tuition-free, and I don’t believe we should punish millions of young and not-so-young people with outrageous levels of student debt,” Sanders said during the debate. When Sanders was asked directly if he would allow even real estate mogul Donald Trump’s children to go to college for free under his plan—a criticism Clinton often levels at him—he answered unequivocally with a single word. “Absolutely!” he said. ## Transcript [00:00] My focus is on more good paying jobs with rising incomes [00:04] for families. Billionaires and Wall Street should not be [00:07] buying elections. We gotta end this rigged economy. It was [00:11] a very close race. We've had some of those. I've won [00:13] some. I've lost some. But, I was very pleased by the overall [00:17] outcome last night. Our message Of the need for people to [00:21] stand up and tell corporate America and Wall Street [00:25] that they cannot have it all is resonating across this [00:29] country. Bernie Sanders is the strongest candidate to [00:32] defeat Donald Trump. [ APPLAUSE ] I did not send or [00:35] receive any emails marked classified at the time. What [00:39] you're talking about is retro- active classification. If you [00:43] get indicted, would you drop out? For goodness, that is not [00:46] gonna happen, I'm not even answering that question. [00:46] [ APPLAUSE ] I am staunchly in favor of comprehensive [00:51] immigration reform and have been so over the course of [00:54] my public career. My priorities are to deport [00:58] violent criminals. Terrorists and anyone who threatens our [01:02] safety. I would not deport children, I do not want to deport [01:05] family members, either. [ APPLAUSE ] No, I will not deport [01:08] children from the United States of America. And can We do [01:11] not, as Donald Trump and others have done, resort [01:15] to racism and xenophobia and bigotry. He's talking [01:20] about A very tall wall. [ LAUGH ] [01:24] Right? A beautiful, tall wall- [ LAUGH ]- That [01:28] he would somehow magically get the Mexican government [01:32] to pay for. And you know, it's just fantasy. When you [01:36] get paid $ 225, 000 That means [01:40] that that speech must have been an extraordinarily [01:44] wonderful speech. I would think that a speech [01:48] so great that you got paid so much for it, that you'd like to [01:51] share it with the American people, so I think she should. I [01:55] have a public record, and you can go look it up. I [01:59] went to Wall Street before the great recession and basically [02:03] called them out. Rarely do secretary's words [02:08] to Wall Street has really intimidated them and [02:12] that is why they have given her $ 15 million in campaign [02:17] contributions. And I am proud that the [02:22] gentleman who is head of Goldman Sachs, he didn't [02:26] give me $ 225, 000 for speaking fees, [02:30] he said I was dangerous, and he's right. I am dangerous [02:33] for Wall Street. I would be honored to have your support [02:38] In the upcoming primaries on Tuesday and hope to have [02:42] the great honor of serving you as your president. In the [02:45] wealthiest country in the history of the world, if we stand up, [02:49] fight back, we can do a lot better. That's why I'm running for [02:51] president. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4253587/democratic-debate-bernie-sanders-hillary-clinton-rhetoric-style/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4253587/democratic-debate-bernie-sanders-hillary-clinton-rhetoric-style/"},"headline":"Why Clinton and Sanders Answer Questions So Differently","datePublished":"2016-03-10T07:00:31.000Z","dateModified":"2026-10-05T08:49:39.552Z","description":"Her answers are complex and nuanced; his are short and straightforward","url":"https://time.com/4253587/democratic-debate-bernie-sanders-hillary-clinton-rhetoric-style/","keywords":["Debates","Health Care","Hillary Clinton","2016 Election","Immigration","trade","Bernie Sanders","Flint"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt59b270b9dd273aad/69888a6af887dc63f8e94fb8/democratic-presidential-debate-hillary-clinton-bernie-sanders-election-2016-04.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Sam Frizell","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/sam-frizell/"}],"articleSection":"Politics","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt59b270b9dd273aad/69888a6af887dc63f8e94fb8/democratic-presidential-debate-hillary-clinton-bernie-sanders-election-2016-04.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"TIMEPOL Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders","caption":"Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders","creditText":"Wilfredo Lee—AP","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/section/politics/","name":"Politics"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/tag/debates/","name":"Debates"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/4253587/democratic-debate-bernie-sanders-hillary-clinton-rhetoric-style/","name":"Why Clinton and Sanders Answer Questions So Differently"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"Watch the CNN Univision Democratic Debate in Under 3 Minutes","description":"Watch the Democratic Debate in Under 3 Minutes","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/UdzXOxuL/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2016-03-10T04:53:38.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/UdzXOxuL.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/4253587/democratic-debate-bernie-sanders-hillary-clinton-rhetoric-style/","duration":"PT2M55S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/4253587/democratic-debate-bernie-sanders-hillary-clinton-rhetoric-style/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}}] ```