Bloomberg: Clinton controversies create ready-made framework for Republican attacks

[EdwardBernays]

Hillary Clinton is facing a convergence of controversies and questions, old and new, that are likely to drag through the Democratic nominating convention into the general election and offer Republicans a ready-made framework for attacks.

A Wall Street Journal report this week is bringing renewed scrutiny of the Clinton Global Initiative, founded by her husband, and raising questions about whether Clinton would be able to disengage from the tangled personal and business ties of former President Bill Clinton and the family's foundation. A Republican-led House committee is aiming to release its report on the 2012 attack on a U.S. diplomatic outpost in Benghazi, Libya, in July, as both party conventions are getting underway. The FBI, meanwhile, is working to conclude an investigation into her use of a private e-mail server while she was secretary of state.

The most recent questions surrounding the Bill, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton Foundation stem from a report about its subsidiary Clinton Global Initiative helping set up a $2 million financial commitment in 2010 to a for-profit company part-owned by people with ties to the Clintons. The Journal also said Bill Clinton endorsed the company for a federal energy department grant. One of the part-owners of the company, Energy Pioneer Solutions Inc., is a woman whose longstanding personal friendship with the former president has been a source of intrigue and speculation in political books and tabloids.

http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2016-05-13/clinton-enters-next-phase-of-campaign-dragging-controversies-with-her

The way that Clintonites behave - assuming every Clinton scandal is false and therefore won't affect her ability to be elected - is frankly suicidal. Considering how thin skinned many are when Sanders LIGHTLY criticizes her it's frankly unnerving to think how they'll behave when the 24/7 ads attacking her start running. And especially when they start radically hurting her in polls. Trump has been attacked - hardcore - for the better part of a year and yet he's almost tied with her nationally. How many months of intense attacks can Hillary stand without totally collapsing? Not many I'd bet.

And trying to appeal to people with the truth isn't gonna work, because she's widely distrusted. And that's only gonna get worse.

[bkkyosemite]

1. Well I just posted something from the WSJ and had people say it was Murdoch and

right wing. I don't particularly know which sites are right wing. When I see something that makes sense and has been said on other sites I tend to think it has credence. It is the same as you are stating here. And see Bloomberg talks about it too.

[EdwardBernays]

2. Its common sense

Unless you're a Clintonite... Then it's a right-wing smear attack.

[Wellstone ruled]

6. Agree,who are the players that are keeping this thing alive?

As time goes by,the smell gets more intense towards the media and their political ends.

[Faux pas]

3. Kick!!!

[pangaia]

4. If Bernie would just get over himself and quite right now...

mana would fall from heaven, and.. all wpould be right woith thre worls

But he woun';t he just cares to mycj abnout other other bhuman beings...

how selfish of the old dude...

Why, he's even older than I am by a coulpe years.... and i got sick on a flighjt to Seoul// How does he keep goimng?

I don't know but i must be a dumb sucker because i just sent the bguy another $10....

[BillZBubb]

5. The Clinton supporters don't want to see any of this.

They seem to think is they say the magic words "right wing smear" that the voters will all agree and ignore what is being said. After all, that's what they and their pals in the Hillary Safe Zone do.

I have yet to see one Hillary supporter admit that the FBI investigation is both serious and worrying. That level of willful unawareness is frightening.

Reality is going to hit them like a 2 by 4 in November. The republicans have so much ammunition to use against her, most of it self inflicted, that Hillary will be on the defensive the entire campaign. And it won't be things that Bernie used, he was too nice to go after her on the email problem and the Clinton Foundation. The republicans don't play nice and she's given them a lot to work with.

[Babel_17]

7. Well said

Defending what looks like, at best, fast and loose ethics is a real distraction. And these ethical questions cover so much ground, and they're heavily documented. It just doesn't look good. "Never indicted, let alone convicted" is not a campaign slogan, it's frightening to hear when coming from supporters of a Democratic candidate in our most important primary.

Hard to imagine Secretary Clinton's polling numbers regarding trustworthiness and honesty going lower, but recent events suggest that will happen over the next few months. The court of public opinion will issue its ruling, and it will suggest that Clinton is a poor choice versus having Sanders.

[LiberalArkie]

8. I think that the HRC's really don't care whether Clinton or Trump wins as long as their

trust funds are ok.

[coffeeAM]

9. The corporate dems rather lose with Clinton then let the left break through this cycle.

Everyone knows this is the establishments last stand, so they will do whatever it takes to stay in power for a bit longer.

[bjo59]

10. A truer word was never said.

The corporatists can live with Donald Trump - they cannot live with Bernie Sanders. For the corporatists, Sanders must be stopped at all costs.

[pennylane100]

11. I do not think the Democrats should worry too much about rupublican tactics during the campaing

Of course they should campaign as hard as they can but there is a growing chance that Donald Trump will self destruct during the campaign. He is turning himself into a cartoon character on an almost daily basis. His is starting to make this boring race entertaining.

[EdwardBernays]

12. sadly no

he's actually getting more popular with his base on a daily basis... and more and more establishment Republicans are signaling support... and independent hate them both, but probably hate Clinton more... plus progressives largely dislike Clinton... and the campaign has really alienated a lot of wouldbe Dems from the base. Which is why she is reaching out to "mainstream" Republicans... she has lost a huge chunk of her own base, is despised and a vote driver for the right and Trump has thrived in an adversarial environment for almost a year.

Put it all together and add to the fact that Hillary's ONLY tactic (as repeatedly stated by her surrogates in the media) is "be very afraid" of Trump.. and she damn well better worry about her opponent...