Is Hillary Clinton a Liberal?

Below is a portion of the transcript from the Democratic Presidential Debate:

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QUESTION: Hi. My name is Rob Porter, and I'm from Irvine, California.

I have a question for Hillary Clinton.

Mrs. Clinton, how would you define the word "liberal?"

And would you use this word to describe yourself?

Thank you.

(LAUGHTER)

CLINTON: You know, it is a word that originally meant that you were for freedom, that you were for the freedom to achieve, that you were willing to stand against big power and on behalf of the individual.

Unfortunately, in the last 30, 40 years, it has been turned up on its head and it's been made to seem as though it is a word that describes big government, totally contrary to what its meaning was in the 19th and early 20th century.

I prefer the word "progressive," which has a real American meaning, going back to the progressive era at the beginning of the 20th century.

I consider myself a modern progressive, someone who believes strongly in individual rights and freedoms, who believes that we are better as a society when we're working together and when we find ways to help those who may not have all the advantages in life get the tools they need to lead a more productive life for themselves and their family.

So I consider myself a proud modern American progressive, and I think that's the kind of philosophy and practice that we need to bring back to American politics.

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I like that definition of Liberal, at least what Senator Clinton describes as the original definition. The new definition she gives would seem to be more in line with her approach to politics. Universal Health Care is about big government and lowered individual freedoms, Senator Clinton is for Universal Health Care.

There was an essay written back in the 1800's entitled "The Forgotten Man". It is based on an algebraic equation as to how governments cause problems.

Stay tuned for my post on "The Forgotten Man" tomorrow.