Hillary Clinton’s Proxies Ramp Up Attacks Against Sanders

[Purveyor]

The front-runner’s campaign is more closely guarding its talking points recently, briefing surrogates only by phone.

By Annie Karni
09/04/15, 07:48 PM EDT

Stumping for Hillary Clinton in New Hampshire, a trip partly paid by Clinton's campaign, Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy did more than defend the former secretary of State's email use -- he criticized Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders’ record on guns.

In Des Moines the same week, Texas Rep. Joaquin Castro, whose travel expenses were paid for by the Clinton campaign, knocked Sanders for a lack of outreach to Latinos.

And Thursday, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who has endorsed Clinton, drew another unflattering contrast between the top Democrats in the race. “I don’t think there’s any comparison between Hillary Clinton’s credentials and qualifications and positions, and Bernie Sanders,” Cuomo told reporters. “I do not see that as a close call.”

Clinton’s campaign, it appears, is unleashing the hounds. While the wounded front-runner is ignoring her competition in the primary race altogether -- she still does not utter Sanders’ name on the campaign trail – Brooklyn is paying the travel costs for proxies who are using their appearances in the early-voting states to criticize the surging senator.

Sen. Claire McCaskill first opened the floodgates on Sanders in June, arguing in a “Morning Joe” appearance that her Senate colleague is too liberal to be elected. “I very rarely read in any coverage of Bernie that he’s a socialist,” she said. Last month, she reiterated those attacks on CNN: "I think the question that some of us have is can someone who has said, 'I'm not a Democrat,' has chosen the title of socialist, is that person really electable?"

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2015/09/hillary-clinton-2016-proxies-attack-bernie-sanders-213359#ixzz3kv7Mfiq1

[Ron Green]

1. 2016 is a test for the American people, not for the minions of the plutocrats (these have already

failed in their governance and basic honesty.)

We may yet fail this test, but we certainly ought to try: to build a real and transformative politics in this country - of, by and for the people.

[Juicy_Bellows]

18. I agree, it's now or never.

We've got the right candidate that only seems to come around once a generation - now it's time to catch that lightning.

[malokvale77]

2. All I have to say is...

To hell with Hillary and all her surrogates.

I don't hate Hillary, but I strongly dislike her.

Go Bernie.

[HerbChestnut]

7. The dislike just intensified these last few days.

What a low ball campaign "tactic"

[ladjf]

29. I don't hate Hillary. I just don't see that she has the kind of mindset that America

needs to be able to guide us out of the mess we are in.

[moobu2]

3. Hope it works if it is a tactic

but I dont think we have anything to worry about in any case.

[HerbChestnut]

10. I hope it backfires.

Not criticizing you or your support of Hillary, but these types of tactics are sickening.

[Capn Sunshine]

4. Claire makes a good point, but no one wants to hear that.

Sanders fans, don't lightly dismiss this shot across the bow of the campaign. This is Presidential politics. People vote by a process that starts out in the lizard brain.

"Socialist" might seem insignificant to you, because you know what a "Democratic Socialist" is. But the general public doesn't.

Seriously, Bernie's job one is to address this right the F now. He's already proven he can get the people out to the rallies. Now comes the hard part.

[AgingAmerican]

17. Democratic attacks on him from the right will blow up in their faces

Every time.

[SonderWoman]

5. Good.

[HerbChestnut]

8. Victory at any cost, eh?

[nichomachus]

15. Of course

That's how the Clintons roll. Don't ever turn your back on them.

[cali]

21. good to see Clinton supporters openly endorsing sleazy, dishonest

tactics.

[LondonReign2]

38. Well, after getting her two posts hidden trying to smear Bernie as a pedophile she is

relegated to merely cheering for sleazy tactics.

[tularetom]

26. Good, huh?

It's politics right? If you can't stand the heat get out of the kitchen?

Don't come boo hooing around here if she gets the nomination and the republicans start tearing her limb from limb. Because they will do it and they're a lot better at it than she is. And she's given them plenty of ammunition.

[HerbChestnut]

6. This disgusts me.

It signifies everything that's wrong with our political system and the people who run it. One of the reasons I'm so enthusiastic about Bernie is the fact that he's never run a negative political ad in his life, runs his campaigns on the issues, and refuses to attack anybody (including Hillary Clinton) on a personal level. The only time you hear him say anything "negative" about Clinton is when he's comparing his stances on the issues to hers. That's it. And he doesn't send out surrogates to do the dirty work for him. Seriously Hillary, is this the impression you want people to have of you? You're too calculating to mention Bernie on your own so you have others do it for you? Boy, that speaks volumes...

[beam me up scottie]

9. It also speaks volumes that some of her supporters applaud these tactics.

Yet when Republicans do the same thing to their candidate they scream bloody murder.

I'm proud of Bernie and I'm proud to support him.

[malokvale77]

11. I'm right there with you bmus,...

I'm a proud supporter of Bernie Sanders.

[beam me up scottie]

12. No matter what happens we'll be able to hold our heads high.

Our candidate has integrity and honour.

Bernie's trying to make the campaign about issues, not politics as usual.

[malokvale77]

13. Yes indeed.

I often wonder if the Democratic Party ever thinks about the number of voters they are running off or the new voters they are failing to capture.

I'm not sure the GOP is the only party in collapse.

[Purveyor]

16. I don't see the GOP in a collapse at all. They will keep the

Congress and if the "coronation" of Clinton succeeds, most likely the WH.

The situation is is dire and of our own making. Plan accordingly...

[malokvale77]

39. Disagree and agree.

I think both parties are collapsing.

I believe the situation is dire and have and will continue to plan accordingly.

[Skidmore]

32. Sanders'

supporters do a great job of catapaulting the negativity. I haven't made my mind up yet, but some of the stuff I've read on DU lately has made me take a second look at Hillary.

This statement brings to mind something about a pot and a kettle.

[HerbChestnut]

33. A candidate's supporters...

Should not be a reason whether or not to support that candidate. I'll also add that while a candidate cannot control what their supporters do or say (especially on the internet), the campaign that they run is a direct reflection of who they are as people.

[Skidmore]

34. I'm interested in who

can be trusted to reach out to those not like them or to get their backs. I'm not sensing that much right now. I am seeing lot of fingerwagging and lecturing. Right now I'm sick to death of this election. It is one of the worst campaign seasons I've seen in my lifetime. Another year of this crap is incomprehensible. There is so much to lose and I think lots of people don't really care if the world blows up.

[malokvale77]

40. What a crock...

you don't see negativity being catapulted from Hillary supporters?

Yup, pot and kettle.

[David__77]

14. Of the criticism noted, I really dislike McCaskill's and Castro's.

OK, so I get Malloy stating his position that Clinton is more qualified. Alright.

Castro is a little worse, stating "I didn't come here to knock any of the candidates, but..." Often, whatever comes before "but" in a sentence is an attempt to deflect from what one really intends to communicate, in my opinion. I think that, yes, Castro did intend to "knock" a candidate.

As for McCaskill, she says "the question that some of us have is... is that person (Sanders) really electable?" Who is "some of us"? Does "some of us" include her or does it not include her? It strikes me as weasel words.

I get that everyone will have their position and they certainly don't need to cohere with what I think is ethical. This is me stating my opinion.

I haven't endorsed anyone for president.

[Juicy_Bellows]

19. I have to agree wth Cuomo here -

And Thursday, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who has endorsed Clinton, drew another unflattering contrast between the top Democrats in the race. “I don’t think there’s any comparison between Hillary Clinton’s credentials and qualifications and positions, and Bernie Sanders,” Cuomo told reporters. “I do not see that as a close call.”

Yep, Sanders is head and shoulders above Hillary. That's probably not what he meant.

[Armstead]

23. Coming from Cuomo, I'd take that as a compiment

[99Forever]

20. Hillary, always a class act.

Didn't learn a damn thing from 2008. Still tone deaf, still a dirty campaigner.

[uponit7771]

22. Hillary is teh evil !!!! rolls eyes.. "travel paid for by Clinton"?! What about Supporters inspired

.. by Sanders for any type of weak association!?

The Sanders "shit don't stink" meme is starting to ....

Stink

No need to demonize another to turn them into the enemy, Sanders policies et al should be standing on their own

[Scootaloo]

27. "No need to demonize another to turn them into the enemy"

Wow. I'm just going to bask in the deep irony there.

[socialist_n_TN]

28. Yeah, I noticed that........

[uponit7771]

30. I'm going to bask in post that now accept weak associations as operational ties as Bush admin did

... with Iraq and Al-qeada.

This article looks like a needless lowered standard to associate someone who takes a dig at Sanders with Clinton.

I haven't heard Clinton attempting to call out Sanders.... sounds like dems are running a clean campaign

[Scootaloo]

31. Funny you bring up Iraq, there.

[uponit7771]

35. Yeap, she's "evolved" like sanders has done on a number of issues over his years in office

... cause none of those guys can throw stones

[Scootaloo]

36. Name one that resulted in three hundred and twenty thousand dead people

[L0oniX]

24. I guess they signed the oligarchy pledge too.

[bigwillq]

25. It's a campaign.

Sometimes it will get dirty and nasty.

I can't stand Malloy. I live in CT and I think he's been awful.

[bunnies]

37. Citicized Bernies record on guns? In NH?!

Ha. Good luck with that.