The Mean Season: CNN Joins in the Hillary Clinton Bashing

On CNN this afternoon, political director,  David Chalian blamed Hillary Clinton for making her server and emails political.  Apparently he missed the July 15 letter from Democrats on the Select Committee on Benghazi.

Select Committee Dems Call Out Republicans for Turning Political Turrets on Hillary Clinton

July 15, 2015





As Hillary said at the Iowa Wing Ding dinner this past weekend, it is not she who has turned this issue into a political football.



Not only is Hillary not the one who turned tragedy into a political issue, the ones who have done so have changed the focus of the investigation from physical security in regions at risk to communications security inside the government.   From the beginning, Hillary has promised to cooperate fully, to provide the documents requested, to testify publicly, and to answer all questions.  Proactively, she provided 55,000 pages of work-related email to the State Department and asked the department to release the emails to the public.

Her focus all along has been the American public, her former and, she hopes, future employers.  Dogged by a whiny, overwrought press corps since before she announced her run, she has consistently kept American voters and their concerns central to her campaign from the moment she asked us to hire her.

You really cannot blame Hillary for distrusting the media which long has been critical and adversarial on all things Clinton.  The recent smear effort by the New York Times attests that Hillary-hatred is alive and well in so called "newsrooms."

Blah blah + (Hillary) Clinton + Blah blah + Criminal = Header Formula

July 24, 2015

NYT: Strong on the Hillary Attack – Feeble on the Walk-Back

July 25, 2015

NYTimes Washing its Hands and Dryig them in the Dust on Botched Implication of Hillary Clinton

July 28, 2015

CNN has joined the ranks of Hillary bashers.  Netting the first exclusive interview with the candidate since the campaign launch appeared to be a feather in their cap at first.  But Brianna Keilar abused the opportunity to launch her own campaign - against Hillary.

KEILAR:  I'm wondering if you can address a vulnerability that we've seen you dealing with recently.  We see in our recent poll that nearly six in 10 Americans say they don't believe that you're honest and trustworthy.
Do you understand why they feel that way?
CLINTON:  Well, I think when you are subjected to the kind of constant barrage of attacks that are largely fomented by and coming from the Right and -
KEILAR:  But do you bear any responsibility for that?

It is a mean season.  Megyn Kelly is apparently at fault for her own abuse from the mouth of Donald Trump.   And Hillary is ... what?  Responsible for attacks on her?  Blaming the victim, especially when the victim is a woman, has been going on for millennia.  So CNN's new posture on Hillary is to blame her for attitudes promulgated by the media in the media.

CNN should be very careful taking a page out of the New York Times manual, however.  It did not turn out so well for the Times when their story was shown to be fiction.  Chalian is wrong as the July 15 letter attests,  and Hillary is right when she says that the Select Committee has altered its purpose and done so for political purposes.

They would also be well-advised to think twice about trying to victimize Hillary Clinton.  Another of their anchors, Kate Bolduan, won an interview and plane tour with Philippe Reines back in January 2013 as Hillary was recovering from a scary blood clot.

Philippe Reines: “I felt sorry for the blood clot.”

Hillary Clinton in Iowa Vol. 4: "Organize, Organize, Organize"

In Iowa City today, Hillary Clinton held a brief presser before an organizing rally with a few  hundred supporters at the public library.



After  the rally, she sat for her first one-on-one interview of the campaign with CNN's Brianna Keilar.  She told Keilar that one thing she learned from her 2008 experience in Iowa was "organize, organize, organize," and that her campaign was doing a great job of that this time around. She also reminded Keilar that she was not running this campaign for the [cranky*] press but for the voters whom she is spending her time getting to know before rolling out major policy plans. [*my word] She said she learned a lot from interacting with people.  Hillary will speak about her economic policies on Monday.

You can read CNN's take on the interview and see video here.  The full interview will re-air at 8 p.m. EDT tonight.

CNN exclusive: Hillary Clinton: 'People should and do trust me'

By Eric Bradner, CNN Tue July 7, 2015

Iowa City, Iowa (CNN)In Hillary Clinton's first national interview of the 2016 race, she attacked her Republican rivals on immigration and dismissed the suggestion that the American people have a problem trusting her.

She blamed the "barrage of attacks that are largely fomented by and coming from the right" for fueling a perception that trust is an area of vulnerability for her.

"People should and do trust me," she told CNN's Brianna Keilar.

Read more and see video >>>>

I thought Keilar was an antagonistic interviewer.  She seemed moored in the opposition spin.  The way questions were worded was intended to try to paint Hillary into a corner, but Hillary  would not let that happen.

"You're starting with so many assumptions there.... I had one device. When I mailed anybody in the government it would go into the government system....  I chose to turn over 55,000 pages because I wanted to go above and beyond what was expected of me."

The Hillary we know has always gone above and beyond.  No surprise here! 

On  the woman-on-currency question, Hillary prefers the 20.  In case you do not know, Jackson did not favor paper currency.  Why remove the first Secretary of the Treasury from the 10?  We should relieve Jackson of his duty to appear on the 20.

Asked by Keilar which SNL version of herself the thought better (Amy Poehler or Kate McKinnon) she responded:

"I think I'm the best Hillary Clinton.  I'm just gonna be my own little self.... I'm not looking for ratings.  I'm looking for votes."

We like your own little self, Hillary, and we are going to help you get those votes.
Have you pitched in yet?  Help organizing efforts where you live.  Get your name on the list!

You can also help out by tossing a few dollars into the pot. Every penny counts!

Brianna Keilar Nets Hillary Clinton Exclusive

While the traveling press whines about being roped off from the candidate who is trekking to meet and greet voters rather than than them, CNN announced today that their own Brianna Keilar scored an exclusive interview with Hillary to be aired tomorrow at 5 pm and 8 pm EDT (check your local listings).

Hillary Clinton to do first national TV interview with CNN's Brianna Keilar

By Eric Bradner, CNN

Washington (CNN)Hillary Clinton on Tuesday will give the first nationally televised interview of her presidential campaign to CNN senior political correspondent Brianna Keilar.

Read more >>>>
 

Secretary Clinton's Interview With Brianna Keilar of CNN **Video**

Interview With Brianna Keilar of CNN

Interview

Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State

Grand Hyatt

Bali, Indonesia

November 18, 2011

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QUESTION: You’ll be going to Burma next month. How committed do you think the government is to reform? And also, do you think that there are sort of actual concerns, or do you give much merit to the concerns of some activists who say this is too premature for you to visit?
SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, one of the reasons that I’m going is to test what the true intentions are and whether there is a commitment to both economic and political reform. We have followed the situation very closely. We had the first-ever special envoy to Burma, created by the Congress, appointed by the Administration, over the last several months, has been there several times. I’ve talked to Aung San Suu Kyi; the President has. We’ve had many interactions with her through top officials, along with others. And there certainly does seem to be an opening.
Now how real it is, how far it goes, we’re going to have to make sure we have a better understanding than we do right now. But at least there has been some forward movement. And in this part of the world, we have examples of countries that did finally get on a democratic path after authoritarian regimes, military dictatorships, all of the problems that have been around for a long time. So we’re hoping, most certainly for the people of Burma, that this is real. But if it is, the United States will support and encourage it.
QUESTION: Turning now to Iraq, if the country cannot maintain security once U.S. troops leave at the end of the year, does the U.S. have a responsibility to step in and help? And if so, is there really an ability for the U.S. to provide assistance without U.S. troops there?
SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, first, the assessment by the military experts is that the Iraqi security forces are capable and that they have performed professionally in the last several years. We’re hoping that there is not a breakdown in law and order. But they are now a sovereign country. Under the agreement entered into by President George W. Bush prior to this Administration, a decision was made that unless there was an intervening agreement, U.S. troops would be out by the end of this year. And, in fact, that is what’s going to happen. We stand ready to work with the Iraqi Government and people. We’re going to have a very robust diplomatic presence there. It will include Defense attaches, other military personnel, as we do in so many of our embassies around the world.
But I think that this is going to be an ongoing challenge because we are very committed to supporting this new democracy, but they’re going to have to demonstrate themselves what they’re willing to do to solve their own problems internally.
QUESTION: The special inspector general for Iraq says your Department has been stonewalling on vital information about security contractors, the contractors who will be providing security for State Department officials and other civilians who will be working in Iraq. Why hasn’t State provided that information?
SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, I think we’ve provided an enormous amount of information. And we continue to provide information that is in response to the specific questions and the authorities of the inspector general, and we will continue to do that.
QUESTION: This – there are major concerns that the State Department doesn’t stand ready to essentially manage a large private army. Is the State Department ready for that?
SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, I have to tell you, it’s never been done before. That is something that is a historical change. The State Department has been given an enormous responsibility because we are well aware that our personnel are going to remain in danger from dissident groups within Iraq. All kinds of militias or terrorist kinds of actors. So we have to protect our people. How do we protect our people? A diplomat, an aid worker doesn’t carry a weapon. That’s not in their job descriptions. The military’s gone, as I said. That agreement, dating from 2008, has been implemented. The only way we can defend our people, protect them, is through private contractors.
QUESTION: Why not allow the SIG that audit that it wants to do?
SECRETARY CLINTON: You know, I think that there has been a great deal of information provided, and I have no reason to doubt that the State Department has been responsive. Now, people may want more information and think they’re entitled to more information, but I’m sure we’ve met the legal requirements.
QUESTION: And then on Syria, obviously a number of civilian deaths. The numbers are growing, embassies are being attacked. Are you concerned that the country is spiraling out of control, and if so, what is the next step for the U.S?
SECRETARY CLINTON: We have expressed that concern for weeks. We have warned the Asad government that their failure to protect demonstrators, to enter into a genuine dialogue, not a sham one, to make the reforms that they have promised repeatedly but failed to make, would not cause the problems that people were talking about and demonstrating over to go away. That in fact, they might lead to what we’re now seeing, which is very disturbing. And that is a peaceful opposition morphing into at least partially well-armed and prepared to take action against the Syrian Government. Obviously, the United States is on record of saying that it’s way past time for Asad to go, but perhaps more importantly for influencing what actually happens, the Arab League’s recent actions, statements by Turkey, Jordan, other officials of countries in the region, is sending the same message loudly and clearly that the Syrian Government has to change. And they need to change now, or we all fear what the consequences will be.
QUESTION: We saw the announcement over the last couple of days about the – there will be a new presence of U.S. Marines in Northern Australia. The Chinese were quick to respond, the U.S. responded right after that, and now the involvement with Burma – obviously the economic interests of the U.S. being very much emphasized through the President’s trip and through your travels – what is the risk that China sees this as a hostile presence in its backyard?
SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, it should not. We very much support the integration of the region economically, politically, security-wise – that’s why we’re here in Indonesia attending the meeting of the ASEAN nations, plus the East Asia Summit. Because we think that there have to be – there has to be a concerted effort to create an atmosphere where international norms, rules, values, are implemented and followed. So we have no interest in any hostile action. What we are looking toward is the role that the United States can rightly play. We’re a Pacific power, we always have been. And we, over many years, because we’re also an Atlantic power, built up a transatlantic architecture of alliances and relationships, and we’re working to do the same. And we really welcome everyone to be part of that.
QUESTION: All right, Madam Secretary. Thank you very much.
SECRETARY CLINTON: Good to talk to you. Thank you.
QUESTION: Very nice to meet you.
SECRETARY CLINTON: Nice to meet you. Good luck to you.
QUESTION: Thank you.