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Hillary Clinton: Businesses and corporations don't create jobs

Some people are comparing her statement to Obama's "You didn't build that" moment.

By Thor Benson

BOSTON, Oct. 25 (UPI) -- Hillary Clinton was in Boston on Friday showing support for Democrat gubernatorial candidate Martha Coakley, and her comments on economics have stirred controversy.

"Don't let anybody tell you it's corporations and businesses create jobs," Clinton said. "You know that old theory, 'trickle-down economics,'" she continued. "That has been tried, that has failed. It has failed rather spectacularly." She also jested that she tells people her husband brought arithmetic to Washington, D.C.

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The context of the statement is unclear, as the video only shows just over 30 seconds of the speech. A Clinton aide told Politico she was referring to unnecessary tax breaks for profitable corporations. Some are calling it her "You didn't build that" moment, similar to comments President Barack Obama made while running for reelection in 2012.

"If you were successful, somebody along the line gave you some help. There was a great teacher somewhere in your life. Somebody helped to create this unbelievable American system that we have that allowed you to thrive. Somebody invested in roads and bridges. If you've got a business -- you didn't build that. Somebody else made that happen," the president said at the time.

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Clinton also gave high praise to Elizabeth Warren while at the rally, who some see as a possible competitor for the Democratic ticket in the 2016 presidential election. Warren also attended the event.

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