Discussion: Clinton On Protester's Critiques: 'I Shouldn't Have Used Those Words'

khaaannn · February 25, 2016, 10:00pm

IOKIADDI rules again.

feathered_head · February 25, 2016, 10:01pm

I was an early supporter of Obama and I heard everything she said in a racial context. I hated her by the end of the 2008 primary. However, as much as I like Sanders – he is never going to be elected. Hillary is is the strongest person we have going into the general election and tearing her down only makes her job of defeating the GOP more difficult. Criticism of the Crime Bill is valid – but the unintended consequences were recognized in hindsight, not at the time. To keep harping on her words spoken years ago is just political fodder. She apologized just as the young woman asked her to – but you don’t want her apology. You want to make political hay out of it. So stop pretending you are some grand defender of african americans.

stephen_maturin · February 25, 2016, 10:02pm

This is true but it would have been better to have done it before a kid had to shame her into it.

skippyflipjack · February 25, 2016, 10:02pm

Here’s the full context, for people who like facts.

But we also have to have an organized effort against gangs, just as in a previous generation we had an organized effort against the mob. We need to take these people on. They are often connected to big drug cartels; they are not just gangs of kids anymore. They are often the kinds of kids that are called super predators, no conscience, no empathy. We can talk about why they ended up that way but first we have to bring them to heel, and the president has asked the FBI to launch a very concerted effort against gangs everywhere.

Everyone (including this TPM article) seem to be relying on a 12-second video that makes it seems like she’s talking about (presumably black) kids in general rather than specifically about gang members. I agree that her terminology is trying too hard to be tough and can see how it’s insensitive (‘bring them to heel’), but I’m thinking that if the whole passage were on YouTube we wouldn’t even be talking about it.

jinx_tpm · February 25, 2016, 10:07pm

If you look at atchka’s limited comment history, this is all it is interested in.

I don’t think I found anything positive (like supporting Sanders) in the comments.

dswx · February 25, 2016, 10:08pm

I don’t think Trump’s comments will bite him at all. Because of the two comments, which do you think the media will keep alive? Hint: It ain’t going to be Trump’s. I all but guarantee that this Sunday the talk shows will talk about Hillary’s comment and hardly a peep will be said about Trump’s. And that pattern will continue through the summer. Remember, the media will do anything they can to dis Clinton.

manhattan123 · February 25, 2016, 10:13pm

Bernie Bros very excited now. Helpfully forgetting Bernie voted for the bill. See, that was different.

jinx_tpm · February 25, 2016, 10:13pm

Who are you to tell any respected commenter, like feathered_head to STFU?!?

Then you told me that I underestimate our TPM audience.

I don’t think that any of us who have been commenting here for years have any need to subscribed to your ‘underestimate’ or ‘STFU’ standards.

sandi · February 25, 2016, 10:14pm

They’ve picked her every word apart forever. That’s why I don’t think she should ‘release the transcripts’ . And I’m unhappy w/ progressives who keep spouting that ol’ trope “honest folks have nothing to hide”.

seedeevee · February 25, 2016, 10:15pm

Only 8 short years ago Clinton supporters were saying the same exact thing.

seedeevee · February 25, 2016, 10:16pm

Lying politicians have plenty to hide, though.

exspectator · February 25, 2016, 10:18pm

I tend to agree. The protester who started this told Hillary that she was not “a super-predator.” But Hillary never said, or implied, that the protester was, unless the protester was also a member of a violent gang. I agree that it was not a good choice of words, but it is hard for me to get worked up over semantics used to discuss violent gang members.

feathered_head · February 25, 2016, 10:18pm

Yes they did. But there is a big difference between Obama and Sanders.

emilianoelmexicano · February 25, 2016, 10:19pm

Hope is a good thing to have. That’s why FDR did the Doolittle Raid (which inflicted very small damage on Tokyo–but was a morale booster as well as drawing out Yamamoto).

What we do NOT do well, in Progressive and Democratic politics and writing, is positive points of view. I am guilty of this as well.

atchka · February 25, 2016, 10:20pm

Yup, this is exactly how I see it: overcompensating for misogyny.

See, this is an utterly ridiculous way to view politics. “We shouldn’t criticize Hillary because it will weaken her.” Are you kidding? You realize Presidential politics is bloodsport, right? That if we ignore Hillary’s flaws that the GOP isn’t going to go “Oh well, Democrats didn’t criticize her, so we don’t have anything to attack her on.” And I don’t get why you, or anyone else in this thread is bringing Bernie into it. This is about Hillary alone. Stop treating her with kid gloves. When she makes mistakes, she should be called on it, just like Bernie or any other Democrat.

Responding to the spike in crime that culminated in the Crime Bill was understandable at the time. The context about lead poisoning wasn’t known, so politicians responded the way they do. HOWEVER, what Hillary did was contribute to the demonization of Black children by calling them superpredators.

Are you really suggesting that in the 1990s, talking about gang members was not shorthand for Black people?

That may be, but I doubt it will be an ongoing meme, unless more Hillary comments come out, which I doubt they will. I still think Trump has attacked too many groups to not have them come back to bite him in the ass this Fall.

Um, I’m the guy that feathered_head just made a bunch of unfounded, BS accusations against. So again, I say STFU.

Yeah, because you act like the people in this forum aren’t aware of the context of the Crime Bill and need you to educate us. We’re aware of the context and we’re still pissed about her comments.

I’ve started threads about Matt Bevin and the ACA, Ben Carson’s religion, and what Hillary or Bernie would accomplish in their first two years. And now I say to you, go fuck yourself, asshole.

jinx_tpm · February 25, 2016, 10:24pm

Yiou are a bitter little child, Skippy.

This may not be the commenting community for your level of venom to be taken seriously.

wtf1 · February 25, 2016, 10:27pm

No she shouldn’t have since there is no such thing!

atchka · February 25, 2016, 10:28pm

I don’t take kindly to condescension and smarmy comments. This was the first comment I got from feathered_head and you expect me to respond with sunshine and happiness? Sorry, but if you’re going to talk to me like that, you should expect me to respond in kind.

And you make some stupid comment about my past posts. You think you earn my respect for trying to smear me? GTFOH.

cuwrs · February 25, 2016, 10:36pm

No. We should hold all presidential candidates to the same standard. That some candidates have much (, much, much) farther to go to meet those standards is true but not relevant.

jinx_tpm · February 25, 2016, 10:36pm

I have no desire to do so. I look for respect from those I respect. You … not so much.

I have never used bad language against you, Skippy. Unless you consider “Skippy” to be on the same level as:

Please get help for your anger issues and enjoy your evening.