2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumClinton underestimates the grassroots energy around Keystone XL at her own peril
Hillary Clinton's answer Tuesday to a question on the Keystone XL pipeline was a refusal to comment because the decision was up to President Obama and she didn't want to "second-guess" him. She said, If its undecided when I become president, I will answer your question.
For real? I'll tell you after you elect me? This is a completely misguided strategy by the Clinton campaign and it will deeply undermine her credibility with the progressive base even as she rolls out her climate change policies. On its face, it looks like a total equivocation. Worse yet, it follows news last week that the Clinton campaign has now hired Democratic strategist Jeff Berman, who also happens to be a former lobbyist for TransCanadathe company that's pushing Keystone XL.
The newest hire for Hillary Clintons presidential campaign is a longtime strategist who played a key role in her 2008 primary defeat while working for then-Sen. Barack Obama.
Hes also a Washington lobbyist who lobbied the State Department -- led, at the time, by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton -- on behalf of the company seeking to build the controversial Keystone XL pipeline.
The Clinton campaign is deeply underestimating the grassroots appetite for shutting down the Keystone XL. Her hedge today is punctuated by the presence of Berman in her campaign. If she wants to maintain her integrity on Keystone, she must do one of two things:
1) Dismiss Berman so that her policy approach isn't unduly influenced by his presence;
2) Actually say what she would do as president about Keystonethen voters can judge for themselves.
Hillary Clinton's team may not recall the 2011 Keystone protests that drew thousands to Washington for arrestable actions and thousands more to form a human chain several-people deep around the White House. But if she thinks climate change activists are going to be any easier to dodge than Dreamers or Black Lives Matter activists, she is mistaken.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/07/29/1406641/-Clinton-underestimates-the-grassroots-energy-around-Keystone-XL-at-her-own-peril?detail=facebook#
JaneyVee
(19,877 posts)Obama's massive coalition at his own peril. Ya know, the guy he suggested a 2012 primary challenge for. Or how about gun control advocates? Bernie seems to underestimate them. Or Bernie's unwavering support for lockheed martin and sandia laboratories, all of whom make weapons of mass destruction. There's plenty of criticism to go around.
Divernan
(15,480 posts)"I know you are but what am I?" is getting tiresome.
YOHABLO
(7,358 posts)I think she doesn't want to do anything about Keystone and had to find a way around answering the question. God forbid she disagree with Obama. I'm already sick of her. But more than likely she'll be our next Corporate President of the U.S. Simply because the voting populace of the U.S are so fucking stupid.
arcane1
(38,613 posts)Because she approves of the pipeline and knows it will cost her some votes if she admits it.
winter is coming
(11,785 posts)All it takes is one straight-talking candidate to make you look like a chickenshit opportunist.
Maedhros
(10,007 posts)with the spectre of a Republican President, then ram Keystone XL through once she's President (that is, if Obama doesn't beat her to it).