Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders have been debating for days about who is a "progressive" and if they are progressive each day, or just some days. During Thursday's Democratic debate, they really, really debated it.
They've debated it so much that the words "progress" and "progressive" were said 33 times in that political context.
Hillary Clinton: 23
"Well, let me start by saying that Sen. Sanders and I share some very big progressive goals."
"I want to build on the progress we've made."
"A progressive is someone who makes progress."
"Well because I am a progressive who gets things done. And the root of that word, progressive, is progress."
"But I've heard Sen. Sanders's comments, and it's really caused me to wonder who's left in the progressive wing of the Democratic Party. Under his definition, President Obama is not progressive because he took donations from Wall Street; Vice President Biden is not progressive because she supported Keystone; Senator Shaheen is not progressive because she supports the trade pact. Even the late, great Senator Paul Wellstone would not fit this definition because he voted for DOMA."
"But if we're going to get into labels, I don't think it was particularly progressive to vote against the Brady Bill five times."
"I don't think it was progressive to vote to give gun makers and sellers immunity. I don't think it was progressive to vote against Ted Kennedy's immigration reform."
"That's why I am laying out a specific agenda that will make more progress, get more jobs with rising incomes, get us to universal health care coverage, get us to universal pre-k, paid family leave and the other elements of what I think will build a strong economy, that will ensure Americans keep making progress."
"If I could, you know, in the very first debate I was asked am I a moderate or a progressive and I said I'm a progressive who likes to get things done."
"It is fair to say, senator, that in your definition, as you being the self-proclaimed gatekeeper for progressivism, I don't know anyone else who fits that definition, but I know a lot of really hard fighting progressives in the Democratic Party who have stood up time, and time again against special interests, against the powerful on behalf of those who are left behind and left out."
"Let's talk about what we would do as president, and Commander in Chief to make sure the progress continues into the future."
"Democrats, Republicans, independents, we're going to make progress together when I'm president."
"It is who the American people can believe can keep them safe, can get the economy moving again, can get incomes rising, can build on the progressive accomplishments of President Obama."
Bernie Sanders: 3
"But, you can't be a moderate, you can't a progressive."
"Do I think President Obama is a progressive?"
"I am very proud to have people like Keith Ellison and Raul Grijalva in the House, the co-chairmen of the House Progressive Caucus."
Moderator Rachel Maddow: 5
"Secretary Clinton, Senator Sanders is campaigning against you now, at this point in the campaign, basically arguing that you are not progressive enough to be the Democratic nominee."
"Senator Sanders, have you established a list of what it means to be a progressive that is unrealistic?"
"But, some big businesses in this country have also been part of advancing progressive goals like that nationwide initiative to expand employment opportunities for veterans. That was all about cooperation between the Obama administration and some very big business."
"The Affordable Care Act, some of the thorniest problems in that bill were worked out in cooperation with big business in order to accomplish progressive goals."
"Senator Sanders, you have singled out the death penalty, and Senator Clinton's support for the death penalty, as an issue that makes it hard to consider as progressive in your mind..."
Moderator Chuck Todd: 2
"President Obama is for the big Asian trade deal known as TPP, and just yesterday you said you can't be both a moderate or a progressive, but you can't be both."
"Is President Obama, in your judgment, based on these policies positions, a progressive?"