Obama: Clinton campaigned defensively, faced 'double standard'

[portlander23]

Obama: Clinton campaigned defensively, faced 'double standard'
Joe Uchill
The Hill

Asked by David Axelrod, a former Obama chief strategist and current CNN host, whether Clinton needed an overarching economic message, the president said that message might have been lost when Clinton shifted her campaign to protect her lead rather than poach new voters.

"If you think you're winning, then you have a tendency, just like in sports, maybe to play it safer. And the economy has been improving," Obama said. "There is a sense, obviously, that some communities have been left behind from the recovery and people feeling anxious about that. But if she was looking at the campaign and saying 'OK, I'm winning right now' — and her economic agenda was in fact very progressive."

Pressed on the issue, Obama acknowledged that an economic message may have been more successful, but argued that may have been difficult against the unique candidacy of President-elect Donald Trump.

"Understandably, I think she looked and said well, given my opponent and the things he's saying and what he's doing, we should focus on that."

I guess that's the most diplomatic way to say it's the economy, stupid.

[uponit7771]

1. Yep Mika admitted it on Morning Joe Clinton was given a double standard

[lapucelle]

2. Obama allowed himself to be rolled twice by Comey.

He also let the Supreme Court seat remain vacant and ignored advice (including by Clinton loyalists) to replace DWS in the autumn of 2015. He made his share of mistakes this cycle. Alxerod showed kindness in not asking about them.

[EffieBlack]

3. How did he "let" the seat remain empty?

I was kind of hoping that Bernie Sanders would test run his big people's revolution with that one - I mean, if they were going to be able to force a Republican Congress to pass single payer and free college tuition, they surely could force them to hold a hearing and vote for one little ole Supreme Court justice - but ...

And Axelrod can - oh, never mind.

[lapucelle]

6. You're right. "Let" was a poor choice of words because there was nothing

Obama could do constitutionally.

I just wish he had scheduled a prime time address to the American people letting them know exactly what type of game the Republican majority were playing and how antithetical their tactics were to constitutional principals. I wish Obama had pounded a "do nothing Congress" message at every opportunity.

[EffieBlack]

7. Perhaps he could have done more - but the Senate should have had his back

and they were silent and did nothing to push this in their own house. It was on the, not the President, to fight the fight and they showed no willingness to do anything. They left the President and his nominee twisting in the wind.

And I ask again --- where in the hell were Bernie and his "revolution?"

[lapucelle]

8. Sanders is, and always will be, a paper tiger.

Being an "independent" is the ultimate in the politics of self-interest. Independents are able to pick and choose stances based on what benefits them most. They owe no loyalty to others or to a greater good.

[dionysus]

9. What a load of garbage. But if it makes you feel better to blame him for losing, go ahead.

[lapucelle]

10. NRA, Sierra Blanca, Lockheed Martin ...

http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2016/01/bernie-sanders-vote-gun-immunity-black-market

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/4/16/1516075/-Sanders-are-still-profiting-from-Sierra-Blanca-nuclear-waste-dump-per-their-2014-tax-return

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/02/09/bernie-sanders-loves-this-1-trillion-war-machine.html

Since those three stances are antithetical to progressive policy, it sure looks like picking and choosing to me.

[kcr]

11. It's the truth. Sanders is good at calling out others.

And puffing himself up. But when you actually look at him and his record, he's just not that much better than other Dems. It's all smoke and mirrors. He's a politician same as the rest.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

5. "He also let the Supreme Court seat remain vacant"

He had no choice - why blame President Obama for something out of his control?

[Guilded Lilly]

4. Never discount the abject fear or misinterpretation of strong women

by men in any position of power. (Even the "good guys&quot

Never discount the fact that females, from the moment they are born must live defensively in every single day of their existence. They often succumb to their own gender's heinous attacks.

Woman have to fight doubly hard, and be three times as resilient playing with the same game rules as men but are crippled even more by the perpetual double standards.