2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumHillary Clinton, campaign bully
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I have always admired Hillary Clintons ambition. Whats distressing is how far shes willing to go to fulfill it. As we learned in 2008, Clinton plays nice when an unlikely rival first appears out of nowhere, steadily gaining in popularity and momentum. But as soon as its clear that her challenger poses a real threat, she panics and whips off the gloves.
In 2008 she assured 60 Minutes that then-Sen. Barack Obama was not a Muslim, as far as I know. Many interpreted the qualifying phrase as insinuating that Obama could be a Muslim. Others insisted that members of the media were reading too much into that final clause.
That remark was open to interpretation; other tactics were unambiguously dirty. It was reported in 2008 that Clinton staffers circulated a photo of Obama in African dress to fuel rumors that he was a Muslim. Her campaigns New Hampshire co-chairman, Bill Shaheen, resigned in 2008 after raising questions about Obamas teenage drug use, and two Iowa volunteer coordinators resigned after forwarding emails about Obamas nonexistent Muslim identity. Mark Penn, Clintons chief campaign strategist early in her 2008 run, advised the campaign in a 2007 memo to emphasize Obamas lack of American roots. Penn, too, ultimately resigned.
By contrast, the most notable resignation from the Obama campaign was that of Samantha Power, now the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, who resigned after calling Clinton a monster who would stoop to anything to get elected.
It is possible neither Clinton nor her senior advisers, aside from Penn, knew of or condoned these dirty tactics. But she certainly has a high tolerance for slimy operatives who specialize in sewing doubt and fear. During this years campaign, she has accused her top rival, Bernie Sanders, of wanting to tear up the Affordable Care Act and dispatched her daughter to frighten voters with the specter of a Sanders health care plan that would strip low-income people of Medicaid. Both claims are patently false. He favors a single-payer health care system that would extend coverage to all Americans, not take it away. Clinton knows this, and it is disingenuous to say otherwise.
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It is possible Clinton has a set of core principles from which she would never deviate, even in a tight race for a position she really wanted. But aside from a belief that women should not be limited by gender a view Sanders shares its not at all clear what those are. So far, the worst the Sanders campaign has said about Clinton is that she has accepted obscenely high speaking fees from Goldman Sachs (she has) and should be ashamed of her affiliation with Brock (she should be).
Plenty of politicians will do or say anything to get elected. Whats alarming about Clintons shady tactics is that she seems to believe her ends always justify her means. Back in 08, angered by her transparent triangulation on guns, Obama chided Clinton in absentia, saying, She knows better.
Thats precisely what makes her campaign behavior deliberately misrepresenting her opponents beliefs and biographies when she feels threatened, altering her own positions whenever its expedient and stoking voters fears when she cant win on substance so appalling.
Raina Lipsitz writes about feminism, politics and pop culture. Her work has appeared in TheAtlantic.com, Kirkus Reviews, McSweeneys, Nerve.com, Ploughshares, Salon.com and xoJane, among others.
hrmjustin
(71,265 posts)stonecutter357
(12,697 posts)frylock
(34,825 posts)elias49
(4,259 posts)Mike Nelson
(9,959 posts)...did not get the impression Hillary was suggesting Obama was Muslim or that it would be bad if he held that faith. She's seemed unconcerned with his religious identification.
cali
(114,904 posts)She is not and was not politically naive or ignorant.
thereismore
(13,326 posts)I am not blaming her for that one.
Jarqui
(10,126 posts)they're selling, then there's something wrong with what they're selling. The truth should suffice.
I've yet to see Hillary ever consistently behave honestly in her scandals and in her national campaigns. 60% of Americans think she's untrustworthy for a reason.
She has a law degree and worked as a lawyer. She's worked in the Governor's Mansion and the White house. She's been a two time Senator and Secretary of State. She is a policy wonk - knows that well. All kinds of good experiences relevant to doing the job. But she lacks an ideological rudder, integrity and judgement.
Come November that's better than what the GOP are going to offer. But for me, it leaves a bunch to be desired.
immoderate
(20,885 posts)--imm
DanTex
(20,709 posts)sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)her supporters, but since you clearly insinuated Sanders himself was out and about impersonating people, I nearly did the same dishonest thing and blamed Hillary herself. But I'm a Sanders supporter and don't engage that kind of deceptive accusation. But yes, a very similar incident occurred in 2008 which apparently her supporters have completely forgotten. At the time, I thought it was way too trivial to bother with.
But seeing how AWFUL it was for a few supporters of a candidate in this race to wear some union buttons, and OMG the Candidate himself was responsible, I am going to take a look again at the incident in 2008 and post it so we can compare.
Sometimes I have a habit of ignoring stuff that doesn't directly relate to Issues, such as What are we going to do about the police murdering AAs on our streets and in our jails?
Maybe I have my priorities wrong. Flint too occupied my mind while the more 'serious' people were obsessed with the Union button thing.
I'm going to have to think about this, where I should be focusing my attention.
NCTraveler
(30,481 posts)retrowire
(10,345 posts)anybody remember my astrological analysis?
shit was legit.
BainsBane
(53,035 posts)Wanna make something of it?
I have to say, it's ironic to see a Sanders supporter calling someone else a bully.
retrowire
(10,345 posts)BainsBane
(53,035 posts)to live up to stereotype.
retrowire
(10,345 posts)ha.
first you confront me with "I'm a Scorpio, want to do something about it" attitude. which is fitting of a Scorpio.
then you tried referring to the Bernie bro article going around. that's the b8 BTW. I don't really have an obligation to speak for bad apples.
then after I laugh off your confrontation, which is the healthy thing to do. I would do so in real life if you stepped to me with that attitude, you then mocked me of fitting a stereotype.
A Scorpio you are. wanna continue?
BainsBane
(53,035 posts)Clearly it was a mistake. You prefer enmity. Your choice.
retrowire
(10,345 posts)and tralalala.
let us be merry and frolic through the dandelion fields!
how the hell was I supposed to infer through text that you were in jest? this is the DU, one must keep their guard up, no one is prepared for these outbursts of kindred merriment!
let me know before you start spreading the joy next time, geez!