“However, according to Clinton, Sanders paved the way for Trump and his “crooked Hillary” negative campaign.”
Hillary Clinton’s new book “What Happened”, which is due to hit bookshelves next week, is going to settle some scores. It’s important to be careful about speculation regarding a book that’s yet to even be released, but the tell-all recount of her failed 2016 Presidential Campaign is rumored to be quite blunt with its words. Apparently, Bernie Sanders, who staged a surprisingly powerful in-party Democratic insurgency against Clinton, is going to be the subject of some particularly harsh words.
Clinton claims that she took it easy on Sanders throughout the course of the actual campaign, not wanting to alienate Sanders’ supporters. In leaked pages, Clinton wrote that it “felt like I was in a straightjacket.” Well, for better or worse, that straight jacket has been removed.
Among other things, Clinton suggested that some of Sanders policies were “little more than a pipe dream.” The Vermont Senator was pushing some rather big money plans, such as free college tuition for all, without fully explaining how such costs would be paid for. Further, given how divided Congress is, it would have been difficult for Sanders to push any major legislation through.
According to Clinton, so-called “Bernie Bros” were also a bit on the sexist side, harassing her supporters online and otherwise challenging her gender. Clinton has cited sexism as one of the chief reasons she lost. This will be a subject of much debate and research in the years ahead. Real Clear Politics, however, recently noted that Gallup data suggests that sexism was not the cause of Hillary Clinton’s loss.
In a page released via Twitter, Clinton did admit that Sanders was right to focus on working families, and that “our insane campaign finance system” does place too much emphasis on donors. Clinton also acknowledged that Sanders was able to energize young people, something she herself failed to do, likely costing her the election. You can read the full details here:
Wow – “I am proud to be a Democrat and wish Bernie were, too.” #ShePersisted pic.twitter.com/jSv7ilP5Nv
— Tom Watson (@tomwatson) September 4, 2017
Unfortunately for Clinton, American voters are increasingly skeptical of words without action. Clinton can say that campaign finance is “crazy”, and she may well mean it. However, she still jet-set to meet with donors, and spent more time behind the curtains with people cutting checks then out in the streets and assembly halls with the people.
Clinton will also raise some eyebrows for noting that Sanders “isn’t a democrat.” This is true, Sanders has generally run for office as an independent, and has self-identified as a Democratic Socialist. Regardless, the strong wording is sure to raise at least some eyebrows.
It wasn’t all disagreements. Clinton claims that both she and Sanders shared “horror” at the idea of Donald Trump being President. However, according to Clinton, Sanders paved the way for Trump and his “crooked Hillary” negative campaign. This claim seems dubious as many right-wing sources were already pushing a similar narrative before Sanders entered the race.
Of course, at the end of the day, none of this likely matters. Sanders lost, Clinton lost, and Donald Trump won. A book is not going to change that. Many within political circles and the Democratic party now believe that Clinton’s presidential aspirations are effectively over.
