Amazing how CNN and Clinton placed African-American moms in the audience...

[TheProgressive]

And then had them stand up.

Is our media being honest and professional to stack the deck for Clinton?

Just saying...

[Renew Deal]

1. They are probably Hillary's guests

[onenote]

2. One is tempted to ask where you would prefer them to be seated

[stevenleser]

59. Boom.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

64. Cuz you know that's our place. Sit down and just shut up.

[HerbChestnut]

65. OMG

The OP is suggesting that Hillary and CNN asked them to sit there in an effort to show how "in touch" she is with the African American community. And you have to try and suggest they're racist. W...T...F...

This is why we can't have nice things.

[onenote]

67. No, I'm suggesting it takes a certain lack of sensitivity and historical perspective

to complain about where African Americans get seats.

I don't think the OP is racist. I just think he/she was thoughtless.

[stevenleser]

72. Thoughtless is definitely what I am going with. This OP is extremely ill considered. nt

[FlatBaroque]

106. No, it's not him/her, it's you. /

[jwirr]

133. Okay, but IF the OP is correct and the Clinton campaign told

them where to set isn't that just about as bad.

When I went to Bernie's event they asked me where I wanted to set.

[Vattel]

138. You can't be serious.

There is nothing even slightly insensitive or thoughtless about the OP in relation to the history of the oppression of African Americans.

[CorporatistNation]

82. PERFECTLY POSITIONED FOR THE CAMERA!

Ck Mika Bryzyski MSNBC "Print media has transcripts!"

[William769]

93. I think we know the answer to that one.

[ismnotwasm]

112. Damn

[obamanut2012]

120. BOOM

As the young folks say.

[BlueMTexpat]

3. Oh noes!

[HillDawg]

4. Yeah God forbid

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

5. Propaganda is propaganda.

Don't look for anyone but Bernie to be there with honest reasons. Everyone else is there to support the Hillary Show.

[EffieBlack]

6. It's only propaganda because Bernie didn't think of it first.

[Adrahil]

11. Ya see, if they were Bernie supporters, they would obviously....

... be honest and upright real people.

[senz]

113. Bernie doesn't do that shit. He doesn't manipulate.

He's honest and real. Don't you with you could support a decent person for president?

[bkkyosemite]

7. She is talking to stretch the time.

[Skwmom]

30. It's not the first time she has done that. In the Benghazi hearing she would ramble on to

stretch out her answer. More than one person tried to get her to just get to the point. However, than she wouldn't have the "she survived 11 hours" meme.

[oasis]

35. Hillary is a storehouse of knowledge. A truly remarkable individual.

Madam President.

[Skwmom]

39. That hearing was political stagecraft. n/t

[onenote]

40. In which she completely outmaneuvered the repub opposition.

[Skwmom]

41. My child's YMCA basketball team was playing against a team of very short players. The parents

wanted to run up the score and I was like, give those little kids a chance to score, the kids will still win. And winning against someone who is not much of a challenge is really not much of a win at all (and certainly not something to crow about).

[onenote]

44. So you think that Clinton should have given the repubs a chance to score?

You're not making a lot of sense here.

It's politics. I wouldn't expect Bernie to take his foot off the neck of his repub opposition, so why should anyone think Clinton would do the same?

[Skwmom]

48. Focus on the second part. It is not something to crow about (not like a monumental feat was

accomplished).

[oasis]

49. Yeah, Hillary and Elijah Cummings tag teamed on Gowdy.

[rbrnmw]

70. is this shit real?

Hillary is evil now because she staged the Benghazi Hearing so she could campaign on being there 11 hours??

[oasis]

79. Fact is, Hillary has been nothing less than magnificent. That's hard

For them to admit when they've been chucking rocks at her for the longest time.

"This cannot be" they say to themselves, it then becomes necessary to trot out something from the "Twilight Zone".

[CorporatistNation]

109. She Is Amazing At Preparing "Word Salad!"

The combination of name dropping and irrelevant minutiae is mind bogglingly impressive to the average listeners unfamiliar with her "sophisticated" techniques.

[Politicalboi]

129. Hopefully, she'll be breaking rocks soon

[oasis]

131. While waiting for that to happen, the AntiHills will be kicking rocks.

Hopefully they'll have access to boxcars of steel toed boots.

[mcar]

100. It boggles the mind

[TheFarS1de]

47. Hillary is a storehouse of knowledge ....

So no problems with her releasing those speeches then .

[oasis]

54. Why? She's too smart to let her enemies cherry pick

through her transcripts, knowing they will manufacture something from nothing. Wise woman that she is.

[TheFarS1de]

88. So the electorate are the enemy ?

They are the ones who want to see the details , who cares what the opposition thinks .

[oasis]

90. So you speak for the electorate now?

Do I have the honor of addressing Wolf Blitzer?

[TheFarS1de]

94. No , just a member of the voting base .

I am so glad that fills you with glee , such a telling comment .

[oasis]

95. Let me put it this way then. Those who obsess about the

transcripts, we're not voting for Hillary anyway.

The debates in the GE will deal with the important issues facing America.

[TheFarS1de]

119. Assumption .

[NanceGreggs]

130. The "electorate" ...

... aren't asking for the transcripts. The only people wanting them are BS supporters hoping to find a "gotcha" statement, because Bernie can't win the nomination on his own merits. His only hope is a major scandal that will take HRC out of the running - which ain't gonna happen.

[TheFarS1de]

132. O'Malley supporters , undecideds ...

there are other voters out there . All I am getting from your statement is that there is something to be wary of in those speeches . That does not bode well imo .

[NanceGreggs]

134. There are all kinds of voters out there ...

... and yet the only ones clamouring for those transcripts are BS supporters.

Something to be "wary of" in those speeches? I sincerely doubt it. HRC has been involved in politics for decades. If you think she was either stupid or naive enough to make statements to rooms full of people that could potentially be used against her, you haven't been paying attention.

It's too bad that Bernie's campaign is down to hoping for a "gotcha" comment from HRC. I guess his "message" - you know, the one that was going to win over everyone who heard it, and bring droves of first-time voters out to support him - didn't work out as planned.

[Marr]

114. You are defending a Presidential candidate's decision to hide remarks made to wealthy corporate

interests in behind-closed-doors speeches. Remarks on policy that would effect all of us.

Think about that. Is that really something you admire, or are you just defending your team?

[oasis]

118. yes. I admire the wisdom of a presidential candidate who chooses

not to give her opponents potentially damaging material.

[Marr]

127. How sadly servile. /nt

[AgingAmerican]

57. She knows what's in the transcripts

So she wont be releasing them.

[oasis]

62. So what? I don't blame her. No upside. (eom)

[AgingAmerican]

80. No upside to honesty?

[oasis]

85. No way her enemies are getting their hands on loads of transcripts.

What's to stop them from cherry picking little tidbits from here and there and manufacturing a controversy? Oh no ya don't!

[AgingAmerican]

91. So honesty isn't the best policy for Hillary...

...cuz her enemies might find out? Obviously she has a lot to hide.

[oasis]

92. Maybe she does, maybe she doesn't. Either way, not a

problem with me. As the late Oakland Raiders owner, Al Davis would say "Just win baby".

[AgingAmerican]

98. She does

[rbrnmw]

8. .....

[Mnpaul]

137. Not a conspiracy, it's standard operating procedure

Three days after Hillary Clinton's campaign was forced to admit it had planted a question at an Iowa campaign event, an eagle-eyed tipster noted that this wasn't the first time the former First Lady's camp arranged for a friendly voice to lob a softball question.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/11/12/clintons-planted-question_n_72294.html

[TheProgressive]

9. To the previous responders to my post...

Its about fairness and honestly. Stacking the deck is unethical...

[riversedge]

21. So why didn't Bernie bring his own guests?? You call it stacking the deck. ha ha. Grow up

[Armstead]

75. He has better taste than to exploit tragedy in a candidates forum

They are free to endorse her and campaign for her...But in this setting it is unseemly.

[procon]

36. Sounds more like sour grapes.

Obviously Sanders had the same opportunity in invite his own guests, but for whatever reason, it would appear that he did not. Rather than fault his opponent for optimizing her strengths among blacks and women, perhaps you should be lambasting Sander's media handlers for doing him a poor service in missing an easy opportunity to showcase his own popular positions.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

101. 'obviously'?

Did he? Did the candidates invite their own guests, and decide where they sat?

[procon]

103. Yes.

The networks routinely allocate preferred seating for the candidates to invite their own special guests to the broadcast as a demonstration of support. It's a win-win for both, and we've all seen TV hosts call out well known guests that are sitting in the audience to endorse their preferred candidates. These are often of high profile figures from news events who are intended to bolster the candidates political statements and policies, and the network gives them a camera closeup because the visibility of VIPs increases viewer interest and provides the hosts opportunities to highlight current events that relate to the candidate's issues.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

104. Thanks for the answer.

I didn't actually know that.

[BainsBane]

111. What does it say that having black moms in the audience

is perceived to be anti-sanders? Whose fault is that?

[Marr]

115. Well, we've got Hillary fans right here in this thread saying effectively, 'screw ethics-- so long

as you win'.

It seems like Hillary Clinton has always attracted a very cynical, bitter, almost Republican-like constituency.

[jillan]

10. AND she gets one question after another directed to the black community.

Last edited Wed Feb 24, 2016, 05:22 PM - Edit history (1)

Edit to add - and Bernie did not get the same opportunity.

[EffieBlack]

13. That's awful. Why should questions be directed to THEM?

[rbrnmw]

63. I know right??

why are they so important??

[TNProfessor]

15. No...

Not questions for the black community?!?!?! Horrible!

[leftofcool]

74. Wow!

[obamanut2012]

121. Gasp

Think of the children!

[dsc]

12. maybe they should have had a separate entrance for them

or maybe separate water fountains, or restrooms. I mean really, the nerve of those African American women to show up to a town hall.

[TheProgressive]

14. 'To show up'? Really?

And thanks for the totally inappropriate response..

[dsc]

16. you are the one with the problem that these African American women are in the audience

and I am inappropriate, really.

[TheProgressive]

19. No. Wrong...

These women were staged to be in the audience. That simple.

A statesperson, like Sanders, would not need to resort to these tactics...

[PeaceNikki]

27. Tactics? Giving these women a voice is a wonderful and admirable thing.

The cynicism you express at their expense is, frankly, shameful.

[TheProgressive]

33. No, not 'shameful'

The shame is using these ladies as a political prop coordinated with CNN and Clinton.

[PeaceNikki]

34. Shameful AND disgusting. They lost loved ones to police and gun violence

She's giving them a voice.

Shame on you.

[TheProgressive]

37. Using those who suffered as a political prop is 'shameful and disgusting'...

And, I hope you can stop the personal attacks...thanks.

[PeaceNikki]

38. Giving them a voice is a good thing. Shame. On. You.

[onenote]

42. Did you feel that way about Eric Garner's daughter appearing in a Bernie ad?

Personally, I thought that ad was powerful. I'm for Bernie and the more he plays the political cards that one needs to play to win an election, the happier I am.

[TheProgressive]

45. There is a difference between an 'ad' and a CNN national townhall with a limited audience

[onenote]

46. So using someone who suffered in an ad isn't using them as a prop

Those are some mighty invisible distinctions you're trying to draw.

Like I said, I like the ad. And I'd be applauding Bernie if he had well placed supporters in his audience.

[dsc]

69. I had no problem with it whatsoever

and said so in real time. I have consistently said that people should endorse whom they want, when they want, and in the way that they want.

[obamanut2012]

122. Do you believe these women are unintelligent to be used as props?

No snark, no baiting, I am sincerely curious about what you think, because what you've written reads like that.

[riversedge]

31. These are strong women who have lost their kids to gun violence. Shame on you for demeaning

their effort to bring gun violence to the Attention of the American people. Shame on YOU.

[stevenleser]

61. This OP is really ill considered. nt

[Starry Messenger]

17. She's even talking to moms now.

Surely, this portends the downfall of America. Verily, the end of days.

[PeaceNikki]

20. Oh, the HUMANITY¡!!!!!!!!!!!!!+!!!

[Starry Messenger]

22. MOMMAGGEDON!!111

[PeaceNikki]

23. You're making me bust a gut tonight!

Seriously, though. It's wonderful that she's giving these women a platform.

[TheProgressive]

28. So you agree - it was staged...

Clinton News Network strikes again!

[PeaceNikki]

32. It's a wonderful thing that she gives them a voice and a platform.

It's disgusting that you find that something to criticize her for.

[Starry Messenger]

29. Completely agree.

A platform and a voice.

[stevenleser]

73. MommaGate!!!!!11!!11!!!!!111elevens!!!!

[PeaceNikki]

99. Momghazi. The "gate" suffix is used for actual scandals. "Ghazi" is for bullshit "scandals".

[obamanut2012]

125. Okay, Momghazi wins this n/t

[obamanut2012]

123. There is a reason why I love you

Your love of good coffee is one reason, but this is another.

[Starry Messenger]

135. Your being here is keeping me sane.

And no, I'm not sharing the Blue Bottle.

[obamanut2012]

136. Just got some in the mail today

I swear.

[Jitter65]

25. For God's sake. She IS a mom. And now a grand mom. Pick something else to trash her on. nt

[Starry Messenger]

26. It's sarcasm, friend.

I'm a Hillary supporter.

[riversedge]

18. It was a powerful moment. I am glad Hillary brought their grief to the attention of

America.

[PeaceNikki]

24. This ^

[alcibiades_mystery]

43. Um, what?

[brooklynite]

50. So once again, you'r saying Sanders is too scared to challenge the "rigged" rules?

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

51. OH NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's blackmomgate.

[leftofcool]

71. Well, we had red T-shirtgate, why not?

This is getting pathetic!

[workinclasszero]

52. Oh here we go again....DRINK!!!

Its a conspiracy!!

[FSogol]

53. It's Not Fair!

[msongs]

55. sanders should call a press conference and denounce this massive conspiracy to make him look bad lol

[obamanut2012]

126. Am imagining a presser

denouncing this.

[workinclasszero]

56. Whaaaaaaaahhh!!!!

?w=258&h=212

[chillfactor]

58. my my....

where were the African-American women supposed to sit? in a closet? Hillary does have a HUGE African-American following. Good grief....grow up!

[BainsBane]

60. Black women allowed in a debate?

Horrible. How dare the candidates be asked to address something as inconsequential as the murder of black people.

[rbrnmw]

66. ............

[Quayblue]

68. Perhaps she asked them to come and they said

"Yes"?

[bettyellen]

76. that audience had more POC than Sanders at Moorehouse. It's about time.

[valerief]

77. It's all fuckin' theater. nt

[leftofcool]

78. I bet those mothers of dead kids don't think so

[riversedge]

87. Shame on you for degrading these moms and their grief. Just plain SHAME ON YOU.

[valerief]

96. Talk about theater! You're putting on quite a show.

Clearly, the post was about the media not the moms. You know it but can't pass up a chance to finger-wag! Oh, well, off to my Forever Ignored club. Sorry to see you go.

[riversedge]

102. “There are no payments being made, there are no secret emails about this,” Ms. Reed-Veal said,.....

Gabrielle Giffords Joins Hillary Clinton in South Carolina to Pay Tribute to Victims of Gun Violence
Source: nytimes



Feb.23





10:19 pm ET By Patrick Healy

Gabrielle Giffords Joins Hillary Clinton in South Carolina to Pay Tribute to Victims of Gun Violence





Hillary Clinton campaigned on Tuesday in Columbia, S.C.Credit Gabriella Demczuk for The New York Times

COLUMBIA, S.C. — A plainly confident Hillary....

Introducing the women on stage and sharing the stories about the loss of their children, Mrs. Clinton drew an “amen” from the racially mixed audience as she said, “That’s too many deaths. Too many lives cut short.”

One by one, the mothers described their relationships to Mrs. Clinton in strongly personal terms, saying that she showered attention on them when they were deep in grief and continued to check in on them as they turned their mourning into a movement, as one of them put it.

“I endorse her because she endorsed us first,” said Gwen Carr, the mother of Eric Garner,.............................

Ms. Reed-Veal drew laughter after she noted that Mrs. Clinton had not put the mothers up to campaigning for her in South Carolina this week.

“There are no payments being made, there are no secret emails about this,” Ms. Reed-Veal said, perhaps inadvertently reminding people about the controversy over Mrs. Clinton’s use of a private email server as secretary of state.

Ms. Giffords, the last to address the audience, drew a standing ovation as she called Mrs. Clinton “courageous” and said she would “stand up to the gun lobby” as president.

“Speaking is difficult for me, but come January, I want to say these two words: madam president,” Ms. Giffords said.................................

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2016/02/23/gabrielle-giffords-joins-hillary-clinton-in-south-carolina-to-pay-tribute-to-victims-of-gun-violence/

[grossproffit]

81. Momgate!

[Arazi]

83. As a Sanders supporter, I have to give some props to HRC's campaign

It was an excellent tactic

Wish we'd thought of it

[brooklynite]

84. I get the distinct impression that Sanders people are getting irritated in advance of SC...

...I can't imagine why they don't feel more optimistic.

[riversedge]

86. You cannot fake the compassion --says Sandra Blands mom of Hillary at the meet up tonight.

Also try to catch the hour long program on cspan. These moms met with Hillary prior to the DemTownHall.


http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2016/02/hillary-clinton-moms-black-lives-matter

[BainsBane]

107. Good article. This part is interesting

They all described an intensive courtship by the Clinton campaign that began quietly, through back channels and outside the glare of the national media. Hamilton got her first meeting with Clinton after she promised on Facebook to shut down a Clinton rally with a protest in Milwaukee last spring. When the two met, they hugged for three minutes, and Hamilton cried on Clinton's shoulder. Reed-Veal met Clinton at a Congressional Black Caucus dinner. "She walked up, held my hand, and she said, 'What is it that you want?'" Reed-Veal recalled. She got a personal letter from Clinton afterward. Then she got a second letter, inviting her to a Democratic debate. After a Texas grand jury decided not to indict anyone for her daughter's death, she got a third letter from Clinton.

Clinton sealed the deal, they explained, when she met with the five of them last fall in a conference room in Chicago. It was a low-key affair. The candidates' staffers shooed reporters from the room before it began, and Clinton showed up with a notepad to jot down what she heard. They were told they had 30 minutes; the meeting lasted for two hours. "She knew which cases went to jail," Fulton said, when she told the story at the second stop of the day, a church in Sumter. "She knew specifically what happened in our tragedies. She knew that information and she knew because she cares. She cares. Not only does she care about victims of gun violence but she cares about women, she cares about African Americans. She cares!"

http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2016/02/hillary-clinton-moms-black-lives-matter

Bernie could have taken this approach himself, but that doesn't seem to be his style. What he and his supporters dont' get is that speeches aren't enough. Relationships matter; listening matters.

[riversedge]

117. Yes, it was --and is a good history

[Marr]

116. You can definitely fake compassion. Politicians have been doing that since Rome was a republic.

[firebrand80]

105. So, when Bernie Sanders joins a Verizon picket line

It's because he cares about working people. When Hillary does this, it's because she's evil.

Have I got that right?

[Adrahil]

108. I honestly thought this thread must be satire...

I mean.... really? People are upset by African-American moms in the audience? Un-fucking-believable.

[PeaceNikki]

110. Mothers of dead children, even. Killed due to gun and police violence.

Anyone who has an issue with them getting a seat on a national stage really needs to assess their priorities.

[DrDan]

124. and if they were not there - would you have noticed and commented on that

[Politicalboi]

128. More pandering

It's disgusting, but some here just love it. She is soooooo FAKE!!!!

[rbrnmw]

139. I bet you guys are so proud of yourselves

denigrating women who lost their children through gun violence. GDP has become reprehensible. Post after post asking minorities why they want to vote for Hillary, even though several have told you they aren't voting in the primaries or haven't made up their minds. Now this you really don't want AA's vote or you wouldn't continue down this path.

[nc4bo]

140. Tim Black, radio host & social commentator, is not very happy with Hillary after Town Hall

credit to Jillian for OPing this: http://www.democraticunderground.com/1280125323#post23

Not everyone is in agreement with what HRC did and it's not just on DU.

[TheProgressive]

141. Thanks ncrbo for this post...

I somehow missed 'Jillian's post. Much appreciated, especially after all the crap I had to ignore on my thread!

[nc4bo]

142. You're welcome! nt