Hillary Clinton had a turning point moment in her presidential candidacy yesterday in San Diego. Abandoning the carefully controlled and reactive approach that's characterized her public persona too often up to now, she eviscerated presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump in a blistering tour-de-force of an address highlighting foreign policy. See the speech here. This is the Hillary Clinton--confident, competent, laser-focused and passionate--who can and will be elected America's forty-fifth president this November. She seemed to relish the chance to throw off the reins and go on the all-out offensive. She seemed to be having fun. It was the best speech of her campaign up to now by far. You really ought to go to the link and take a look at it.
Readers of this column have seen me say before that the way to destroy the Trump candidacy is to relentlessly repeat his own words. He must be made to own his remarks about such things as admiration for dictators, American wages being too high, intentionally proliferating nuclear weapons, leaving NATO and opening a global trade war. Mexicans, women, Muslims, the disabled, African-Americans and the others he has gratuitously insulted must be reminded over and over again of Trump's misogyny, xenophobia, racism and ignorance. At the very time Clinton was making her effectively scathing remarks, for instance, Trump was complaining to CNN's Jake Tapper in a live interview that the federal judge presiding over the case against defunct real estate school Trump University, Gonzalo Curiel, could not be trusted to handle the case impartially "because he is Mexican." See interview here. (Curiel is an American citizen born in Indiana of Mexican ancestry.)
Polls in the next few days will likely begin to show a widening of the margin between Clinton and Trump. The mogul is wily and resourceful, but this will be the beginning of his ultimate defeat. Racism and attitude can evidently take you all the way in a Republican primary contest, but will be unable to carry the day in this diverse nation as a whole, so long as his opponent doesn't give him a free pass, effectively takes him on, and presents a positive alternative. Clinton showed yesterday that she gets that.
I went to the Bernie Sanders rally in Visalia on Sunday, May 29. I'm also planning to attend the Clinton rally tomorrow in Fresno, and am really looking forward to it. I'll give you a synopsis and comparison afterward.
2 comments:
So many Dems have bought the lies about Hillary and criticize her every move. I think she is the best qualified candidate in history based on her experience alone. Who has ever come close? Eight years as First Lady actively involved, not window dressing, Senator and Secretary of State. You're the historian, tell me. Sure she has made mistakes, sure I wish she were less buddy, buddy with Wall Street, but I think she can get some things done. My far Left friends don't believe in incremental progress, but I doubt a Democracy can progress any other way. Obama might have had a chance in 2008 to make fundamental changes, but that crisis has past (leaving disastrous results) and with a Gerrymandered Congress getting anything done is a miracle. Bernie? You have to love him, but I still question his electability in spite of the polls. I love you Blog.
I agree you are probably right. Mrs. Clinton is almost certainly the best prepared candidate ever to run for president, with the possible exception that some could argue in favor of John Quincy Adams, who was elected in 1824. I am planning to write extensively on the rest of the issues you raise here about Secretary Clinton after the primaries next Tuesday have made it more definitive who the Democratic nominee is going to be.
Thank you for your kind words about my blog, Earl. I am very glad you find it an interesting read!
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