Clinton’s New Formula For Trump: Sharp, Stately And A Heap Of Mockery

[RandySF]

The trial balloons were meant to see how the nicknames were received and whether they miraculously stuck. But they also seemed to highlight a problem vexing the Clinton camp: mainly, how to balance the need to seem presidential with the demands (perhaps enticements) of mudslinging at The Donald.

“I think you have to run your campaign in a way that is honest of who you are and what you are promising the American people you are going to do,” said Clinton’s top strategist, Joel Benenson. “I don’t think that precludes being very aggressive in exposing a demagogue and a divisive character in Donald Trump.”

In a speech on Thursday, Clinton seemed to find that balance, dipping between a broad outline and defense of her geopolitical worldview and biting mockery of her likely opponent.

“Donald Trump says we shouldn’t have done the [Iran] deal. We should have walked away. But that would have meant no more global sanctions, and Iran resuming their nuclear program and the world blaming us. So then what? War?” she said at one point, in reference to the international agreement to limit and monitor Iran’s nuclear program. Soon after, she offered this: “Of course Trump doesn’t have answers to those questions. Donald Trump doesn’t know the first thing about Iran or its nuclear program. Ask him. It’ll become very clear, very quickly. There’s no risk of people losing their lives if you blow up a golf course deal.”

This was not so much a foreign policy address, as it was billed, as a prologue to the general election. And a timely one at that.

Benenson and other aides haven’t disguised the fact that they’re still finding the right footing as they gingerly move away from the Democratic primary. But for them, Thursday’s speech showed a formula that can work. It certainly appeared to have calmed preternaturally skittish Democrats, who have looked on in horror as Trump has made a show of it in recent polls. It also drew compliments from veterans of the Obama administration, perhaps the only entity with notable success in downsizing Trump (see: White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, 2011).


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/clinton-new-formula-trump_us_5751784ce4b0eb20fa0d9401?utm_hp_ref=politics

[Tarc]

1. +1

"Ridicule is our most potent weapon"

[DesertRat]

2. k&r

[Silver_Witch]

3. She must tread lightly...

How can she come off as not a war eager Hawk and yet point out that Donald is not strong....tough dilemma.

This quote "no risk of people losing their lives if you blowup a golf course deal" is one she should step away from ...or her own quotes might come back to haunt her...

“If I’m President, We Will Attack Iran… We would be Able to Totally Obliterate Them."

Or her support of cluster bombs.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/12/21/425303/-

[Agnosticsherbet]

4. You misquoted her...badly.

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-politics-iran-idUSN2224332720080422
"I want the Iranians to know that if I'm the president, we will attack Iran (if it attacks Israel)," Clinton said in an interview on ABC's "Good Morning America."
"In the next 10 years, during which they might foolishly consider launching an attack on Israel, we would be able to totally obliterate them," she said.

"That's a terrible thing to say but those people who run Iran need to understand that because that perhaps will deter them from doing something that would be reckless, foolish and tragic," Clinton said.


I am sure the misquote was unintentional.

[azurnoir]

7. Let's get a bit more recent than "08 like '15 Hillary @ Brookings Institute

Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Rodham Clinton tempered her support for President Obama’s nuclear deal with Iran by pledging Wednesday that, if elected, she would back it up with the threat of military action, subtly breaking with the war-averse president she served as secretary of state.

The strong stances on both sides signaled that Mr. Obama’s Iran deal will remain a campaign issue long after it likely prevails in a vote in Congress later this month.

While voicing support for the deal as the best option available, Mrs. Clinton gently distanced herself from Mr. Obama by promising to bring a firmer hand to American foreign policy.

“I will not hesitate to take military action if Iran attempts to obtain a nuclear weapon,” Mrs. Clinton said in a speech at the Brookings Institute, a liberal think tank in Washington.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/sep/9/hillary-clinton-threatens-war-enforce-iran-deal/?page=all

[Agnosticsherbet]

9. Qualifiers make a sentence, " if Iran attempts to obtain a nuclear weapon"

Every word is important.

[azurnoir]

12. oh yes parsley does make things seem more 'fresh'

[Silver_Witch]

10. The quote was accurate!

Perhaps not as detailed as yours. The words around it only indicate Hillary Clinton will seek to have justification of her declaration of war! She even acknowledgeds it is a terrible thing to say! It is called sabgre rattling when others do it to us!

If it makes you feel good to have a hawkish president that is fine. I am not comfortable with one who provokes or sees war and bombing as a good solution.

I note you have noting to say about this KOS article granted it was from a time before Daily Kos went Hillary supporters only.

[Agnosticsherbet]

11. That quote was 100% inaccurate because it removed the context of the quote, (If Iran attack Israel)

and the word "if."
By taking out the context and qualifiers, it changed the entire meaning.

[MFM008]

5. you can speak softly and carry the stick

especially for rump.

[Armstead]

6. I can foresee a really deep and engaging campaign

How many creative ways to say "Trump is a moronic bully" can we come up with?

Real issues beyond that? Not so much.

[geek tragedy]

8. Obama beat Romney by turning the election into a referendum on Romney

this is how modern presidential elections go.

also, Trump changes his positions on an hourly basis, so there's no point going after him on larger policy issues, he'll just say he always held the popular position if she draws blood