The Clinton Machine: Hillary's Endorsements are Based on Influence Peddling, Not Her Record

[UglyGreed]

Hillary Clinton became a canonized figure in feminist and American history for redefining the role of the First Lady in American politics. Her women’s rights speech in Beijing in 1995 made her a household name. But today, Hillary’s brand of feminism is limited. It is what some have dubbed “white feminism” because it ignores racial and economic justice. As our society has advanced, so too has our understanding of women’s issues. Feminism now embraces the idea of intersectionality—that women experience layers of oppression based on factors like race, class, sexuality, whether they are cis or trans gender, ethnicity, etc. Nevertheless, she’s won the endorsement of several major women’s groups including Planned Parenthood, EMILY’s List, and NARAL Pro-Choice America over her rival and intersectional feminist, Bernie Sanders (who has a 100% record from NARAL).

Women’s groups endorsing Clinton are at least more understandable than her most recent endorsement from the Congressional Black Caucus’ CBCPAC (without the approval of the CBC membership). New York Representative Hakeem Jeffries even spoke out on her behalf, calling her “a true friend to the African American community for the last 40 years.” There is very little in Hillary Clinton’s past to warrant this praise.

Hillary’s Record on Civil Rights

As a teenager, Hillary Clinton cut her teeth campaigning for Barry Goldwater, one of the originators of the GOP’s infamous Southern Strategy who many believed was a segregationist. Though our teenage convictions aren’t necessarily determinative of who we become, this grounding offers insight into why Hillary Clinton rose to national prominence when she did.

http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2016/02/the-clinton-machine-hillarys-endorsements-are-base.html

[Arazi]

1. Her endorsements are not helping her

in fact, I agree with this article - they may even be hurting her as people smell the stink of influence peddling.

Good article

[6chars]

2. an endorsement is an endorsement.

a superdelegate is a superdelegate.

a victory is a victory

[Jarqui]

3. I've called bias when someone in Clinton's camp writes an article

Walker Bragman likes Bernie and has also written at the Huffington Post so in fairness, I've got to call out a bias warning. Is he on the Sanders campaign payroll? I sincerely doubt it so there is a difference from the Correct the Record pieces.

Between 2016 super pacs and 2015 year's worth of lobbyists (figures from opensecrets), I recently posted that they're spending $5 billion already. That's a lot of money. Rich people usually don't get rich giving away their money for nothing.

Yes, there is philanthropy. A number of times, it's genuine. Sometimes, it's a beneficiary of an estate. But often it results in a wing of a hospital named after them or big write in the paper, etc. And that goes right back into the Annual Report and corporate literature to pump their image - it's good marketing or good for rehabilitating a bad image.

Some of the contributions in that $5 billion are sincere - they just want what they perceive as a good candidate in the government. But $5 billion dollars is a little too much to expect it's all for that and no influence peddling is going on. The lobbyist money certainly isn't for a candidate.

So at least part of his article and part of his history of Hillary is correct.

None of that nonsense is going on with Bernie. He won't let lobbyists in his office.

[UglyGreed]

6. I myself would not compare

Bragman to Correct the Record which has been able to work with the campaign even though it is a superPAC.

[Jarqui]

7. I was stuck. Felt I should say something about bias

but I didn't want it be construed like a Clinton PAC. I said

"so there is a difference from the Correct the Record pieces."

[UglyGreed]

8. Sorry I missed

that

[JRLeft]

4. I've been saying this forever.

[jham123]

5. In a Year of Anit-Establishment

Her lack of awareness is astonishing

Go ahead Hillary, trot out the entire establishment in single file for us all to view