The Most Repeated Words in Last Nights’ Debate and What They Mean for 2016

Last night's Democratic debate offered few surprises. A confident Hillary Clinton battled a passionate Bernie Sanders as a few also-rans tried to their damnedest inject themselves into the national conversation. Though the proceedings left us thinking that Lincoln Chafee would make a fine librarian or adjunct professor, that Jim Webb could kill anyone of us if he felt like it, and that Martin O'Malley could play in the big leagues some day, this is still a two-horse race. The polished moderate Clinton is going to push compromise while disheveled left-winger Sanders will continue to make his case for economic revolution.

This first Democratic debate also gave us a sense of what issues will dominate the conversation leading up to 2016. There were some very clear themes running through the debate, from old stand-bys like "gun control" to newcomers to the conversation like "Black Lives Matter." Though marginal candidates like Chafee and Webb don't seem long for this race, some of the words and phrases we heard last night are going to stick around right through the general election. Here are The Most Repeated Words in Last Nights’ Debate and What They Mean for 2016.

"I am a progressive, but I am a progressive who likes to get things done, and I know how to find common ground, and I know how to stand my ground, and I have proved that in all of the positions I've had." - Hillary Clinton

This picture is appropriate to use when discussing the term "progressive" because it has become clear that it is a term that defines the distance between Hillary and Bernie. Hillary hopes to paint Bernie as idealistic and radical. Bernie hopes voters view Hillary as too moderate, more pragmatic than principled. If Hillary is a progressive, then Bernie is a socialist. If Bernie is progressive, then Hillary is a centrist. It will be interesting watching the two fight over the rights to being the most "progressive" as the primary season unfolds.

It looks like the Democratic nomination and the soul of the party hinge upon how the base of the party defines the word "progressive."

"Economic injustice does not solve itself." - Martin O'Malley

Bernie Sanders and his grassroots movement cobbled together from micro-donations and social media pages have made sure that economics are front and center in this Democratic primary. Every candidate on stage knew they had to have a firm economic platform, and made sure to tout their left-leaning fiscal credentials whenever possible. Sanders continued to advance his message of getting money out of politics and breaking up the big banks. The rest of the candidates shoved their way as far left on the issue they could without disowning their voting record. The Glass-Steagall Act, legislation that separated banks and securities until its repeal during the Clinton administration, was a central topic of conversation. Lincoln Chafee was so intent on distancing himself from the repeal that he claimed he didn't know what he was voting for when he voted for it.

Whoever wins the Democratic nomination will have to make it clear that economic reform is a priority thanks to Sanders steering the candidates hard left on this issue.

"I will do all that I can to make sure that the United States does not get involved in another quagmire like in Iraq, the worst foreign policy decision in the history of this country." - Bernie Sanders

Though the candidates bring a wide variety of experience to the table, they all agreed that the war in Iraq was a mistake. From Jim Webb and Hillary Clinton's point of view, the mistake was tactical. We went after the wrong people in the wrong way. From Bernie Sanders' point of view, the mistake is unilateral decision making in the first place. Lincoln Chafee went as far as the list ending wars as his primary goal as a presidential candidate.

It is clear that Democratic candidates feel that their constituents have had enough war. The exact nature of our involvement overseas will depend on the candidate, but it is clear that a continued move towards ending military action in the Middle East will be the goal regardless of who ends up winning the nomination.

"Black lives matter. And the reason those words matter is the African-American community knows that on any given day, some innocent person like Sandra Bland can get into her car and then three days later she’s going to end up dead in jail." - Bernie Sanders

Law student Sterling Arthur Wilkins asked the candidates, "Do black lives matter or do all lives matter?" As Don Lemon pointed out when introducing the question, this has been a source of negative headlines for most of the Democratic candidates at one point or another. At one point or another, they have all been accused of ignoring or soft-pedaling racial justice issues. With the exception of Bernie Sanders, the candidates were able to largely side-step the question at the debate, showing support for the black community without explicitly saying, "Black lives matter."

Sanders has evolved and expanded his position on the issue as his campaign has gone on. With a long time to go until the election, it is likely that the other candidates will be able to sidestep the issue if they remain in the race for the long haul.

"I believe that now we're finally having debates, Anderson, that we don't have to be defined by the email scandal." - Martin O'Malley

When Anderson Cooper asked about Hillary Clinton's emails, any viewer who doesn't regularly listen to conspiracy theory talk radio probably groaned. After Hillary simultaneously defended herself and apologized, something strange happened: her fellow candidates came to her aid. Everyone on stage agreed that they would rather talk about issues than emails. As Bernie Sanders put it, "The American people are sick and tired of hearing about your damn emails."

Candidates stuck to this approach when other Clinton scandals like Benghazi were brought up as well. It looks like every Democrat in the race is looking to run an issues based campaign, at least for the time being.

"It's time the entire country stood up against the NRA." - Hillary Clinton

While Bernie Sanders has the hearts of young people when it comes to economic justice and racial politics, he loses them when it comes to gun control. Sanders did not come off well in the debate when he explained his voting record on guns. He said, "I come from a rural state. The views on gun control in rural states are different than in urban states whether we like it or not." O'Malley and Clinton confidently hammered Sanders on the issue, boasting about their intention to regulate gun shows, ban assault weapons, enforce strict background checks, and support gun control in other ways. O'Malley has released a lengthy gun control platform on his web site, and it looks like popular sentiment may be dragging the other candidates in that direction as well.

The cold reality is that we will see more mass shootings between now and election day, and while gun control may remain a non-starter in Congress, the Democratic base will be further galvanized with each new tragedy.

"I am for a generous, compassionate America that says we are all in this together. I am for comprehensive immigration reform." - Martin O'Malley

Republican debate discourse around immigration has been about walls and border patrols, and though this probably goes without saying, the Democratic debate saw a far more nuanced discourse. All of the candidates indicated that they are for immigration reform and they they want to help ease the path to citizenship. There was lively disagreement on how this should be done. How immigrants impact the healthcare system and the economy was discussed, as was the possibility of providing free or discounted education to immigrants and their children.

It seems like the candidates are still figuring out what immigration plan is best (i.e. draws the most Latino votes without alienating moderates), but immigration reform promises to be a key election issue as candidates seek the Latino vote.

"I've put forward specific plans about how we're going to create more good-paying jobs: by investing in infrastructure and clean energy, by making it possible once again to invest in science and research, and taking the opportunity posed by climate change to grow our economy." - Hillary Clinton

Much like in their discussion of immigration, each candidate expressed their desire to do something on climate change, but were short on specifics. It is clear the each candidate sees economic possibilities in green energy, and more importantly, they believe it is an issue of national security. Sanders went as far as to list climate change as the top national security threat. Time will tell what policy emerges from this cohesive liberal stance on global warming, but it is at least heartening that Democrats are in lockstep. As far as the left is concerned, the time for debate on the topic is over.

“The only way you can really transform America is to do the thing that the middle class desperately needs . . . a political revolution.” - Bernie Sanders

Whether you're watching Democratic or Republican debates, whether they take place at the beginning or the end of the campaign season, whether they're talking about taxes or abortion, you're going to hear about the middle class. Poll after poll finds that Americans believe themselves to be part of the middle class, so it would be foolish for a candidate not to pander.

As much as things can change from one campaign cycle to another, some things in American politics are a constant. One of those constants is that people love to think of themselves as well off enough to feel good about yourself but not so rich that you start to feel bad about yourself.