MSNBC host Chris Matthews asked DNC chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (D-FL) what should have been a pretty straightforward question: "What's the big difference between being a Democrat and being a socialist?" But as the DNC chair's response made clear, that question has become, well, unwelcome.
After a discussion of whether or not to allow the openly socialist presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) to speak at the Democratic Convention, Matthews asked Wasserman-Schultz to clarify their terms.
"What is the difference between a Democrat and a socialist?" Matthews asked.
After getting only a laugh out of the DNC chair, Matthews tried again: "I used to think there was a big difference. What do you think?"
"The difference between—the real question is what’s the difference between being a Democrat and being a Republican," Wasserman-Schultz replied in an attempt to steer the discussion in a politically acceptable direction.
But Matthews would not let her off the hook, saying, "Yeah but what’s the big difference between being a Democrat and being a socialist? You’re the chairwoman of the Democratic Party. Tell me the difference between you and a socialist."
"The relevant debate that we’ll be having over the course of this campaign is what’s the difference between being a Democrat and being a Republican," she repeated lamely.
Earlier in the interview Wasserman-Schultz praised the avowed socialist Sanders for being a "good Democrat," so perhaps that's her real answer.