Why play into the worst perceptions about yourself?

[cali]

That's what I don't get about Hillary's recent attacks on Bernie. Oh, I get the attacks on him about gun control. His history left him exposed on the issue, but attacking him on family leave and single payer the way she has, not only makes no sense, it seems counterproductive. She not only looks reactive but dishonest and panicky. How does that help her? And I'm not saying she shouldn't attack him on healthcare, but why not argue that implementing single payer is a steep hill instead of denigrating it?

I also think making a pledge to never raise taxes on the middle class is unfathomable, particularly when you include those in the top 5% in the definition of middle class.

These are unforced errors that are nearly impossible to walk back and reinforce the most negative stereotypes about her.

[Cassiopeia]

1. I think it's a symptom of running a focus group campaign.

Nobody looks at the big picture. They take snapshots of a moment and react to it without any consideration of previous stances or the overall demands of the people.

I welcome the errors. Every single one helps us.

[99th_Monkey]

3. "Every single one helps us." Yeppers

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12511006713

[Armstead]

2. Maybe because you can't escape your character?

I'm kind of a slob. I try to pick up after myself, but somehow, the clutter accumulates quickly. I've had to learn to live with the fact that I'm not inherently neat and organized.

Sometimes you just can't escape your basic character, although one can try to modify it.

Perhaps she simply can't stop herself because it is who she is fundamentally. Ultra ambitious and unaware of the effects of the dark side of her opportunism and resulting behavior. Or unable to stop herself completely.

Just a guess.

[thesquanderer]

10. Yeah, she can't help herself, it's her nature.

The reason those "worst perceptions" exist is because that's who she is.

On one hand, I do think she's smart, and actually would probably be a pretty decent president (albeit one who is too hawkish for my tastes).

OTOH, I think she will say anything and do anything she thinks will help her win, and truth doesn't matter.

[Vincardog]

4. Because her CHARACTER is showning

[floriduck]

5. It is because Hillary feels entitled.

She perceives herself as the savior of the party. And she uses being a female as additional support because women vote in greater numbers than men. When any unforeseen challenge gets in her way, her true personality comes out full force.

Most driven people use common sense to overcome obstacles. Hill attacks because the presidency is hers and no one else can have it.

[jeff47]

6. Even on gun control.

She attacked Obama in 2008 for supporting gun control, and told a lovely story about hunting with her family.

Now she's attacking a guy with a D- from the NRA, claiming he's massively pro-gun.

Clinton's biggest weakness is trust. That she will say anything to win, and her statements have no correlation with how she will govern. Using these recent reversals to attack Sanders puts a giant spotlight on this weakness.

Did some idiot think Rove's "attack your opponent's strength" tactic works in reverse?

[dreamnightwind]

7. She's doing what the people who are giving her $2 Billion want her to do

as is Howard Dean, which is to make sure the public knows how unreasonable and unrealistic it is to ask for a health care system that exists to provide health care rather than to enrich the big pharma and insurance industries. Got to nip that one in the bud.

"every time I plant a seed, he says kill it before it grows" - Bob Marley

She's a progressive who gets things done, but who does she get things done for? For her donors.

[loyalsister]

8. Likewise

How does she expect to change the perception that she is too 1% and too close to Wall street when she skips an opportunity to listen to grassroots activists who organize around racial and economic justice?

[Wellstone ruled]

9. The question to ask is.

Is Al Fromm and Jim Messina the key campaign directors? If so,you are seeing a Mirror of Obama 2012 early campaign until the Adults took over. Third Way Ideals will be Achilles Heel.

[daybranch]

11. I've had to listen to Jim Messina tell us that promoting Obama in 2012 by saying Sherrod Brown

supported Obama was not a good idea because Obama was more popular and that phone canvassing did not work well according to the testing the campaign had done in Ohio. Both ideas were LATER DENIED BY THE CAMPAIGN STAFF IN OHIO LATER IN THE DAY. Messina just engages mouth before alerting his brain and spends his time telling higher ups what they want to hear. Obama just squeaked by here in Ohio propelled by volunteers who succeeded in spite of lies and strategies of paid staffer based on years of real experience,common sense, and individual initiative. But are you sure Messina is not running O Malley's"s campaign, that could explain the low poll numbers and the failure to get on ballot in Ohio- the nail in the coffin.

[Wellstone ruled]

12. One of the reasons I asked if this guy was

doing something for Ms.Clinton. Remember this guy was Max Baucus's Chief of Staff at one time. And we know now why there huge flaws in the ACA. Up and coming Third wayer.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

13. She and her staff are whip-smart. The only conclusion that I can come to...

...is that she and her advisors had absolutely no idea the reaction would be this strong. This "doubling down" from today makes me question my conclusion, but I've got nothing else. I think this translates into a measurable drop in approval ratings.

[John Poet]

14. Why? Because you 'Just Don't Get It'.