Blog Credo

The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary.

H.L. Mencken

Wednesday, August 24, 2016

Opportunity Knocks

Jon Chait has been engaged in some dubious "both sides" journalism by decrying the appearances - rather than the reality - of corruption surrounding the Clinton Foundation.  While there might have been some access issues, with big donors getting meetings with Secretary Clinton, there hasn't been a whiff of quid pro quo.  In this year of free-floating populist rage at elites, that might be enough, especially since HRC has unbridled disdain for the press.

However, I can certainly see a nice opportunity to flip this Clinton Foundation story on its head.  The issue needs to be reframed around all the good things the Clinton Foundation does.  Here is an opportunity not to hide from the story, but use it to your advantage.

Clinton needs to put together a big old presentation on all the good things the Clinton Foundation has done around the world.  Then give that presentation, and follow it up with a press conference where she can defend herself against this issue and put the "press conference question" to bed, too.

I doubt she will do that, because she's winning, but it might be a good idea to prevent any creeping "both sides" journalism to erode any part of her lead.

She needs to win handily in order to flip the Senate and possibly House.  She will win the presidency, at this point.  What she needs is a wave election.

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