About that 'request' for 'medical records'

[dsc]

http://crooksandliars.com/2016/01/david-brock-call-bernie-sanders-medical

The above is the only link I wouldn't consider right wing that is covering this.

A top surrogate for Hillary Clinton is prepping a new attack in an intensifying and increasingly personal war against rival Bernie Sanders -- calling on the 74-year-old to release his medical records before the Iowa caucuses on Feb. 1.

Clinton defender David Brock -- founder of the Correct the Record PAC, which coordinates directly with Clinton’s campaign -- is expected to hit the airwaves this weekend from Charleston, the scene of the third Democratic debate on Sunday night, and challenge Sanders to cough up a clean bill of health and doctor’s note in the next 16 days, according to a Democrat familiar with his thinking who was not authorized to preview any strategy.

Now let's notice a couple of things about this article.

One, the first two paragraphs are contradictory. One states that Brock would ask for medical records (which Hillary nor anyone else released) and the second says he would ask for a letter from a doctor and a clean bill of health (which she has a quick google search didn't show anyone else having done so).

Two, no name is given for the source and the campaign quickly disavowed this idea.

Now, first, it was strategically stupid for anyone associated with the campaign to suggest this, if in fact anyone did. Second, the press should be suggesting this of all candidates. On our side Sanders would be 75, Clinton 69, and O'Malley 54. On theirs Trump 70, Carson 65, Bush 63, and Cruz 46. Only two people on that list would still be under retirement age upon ending a first term. Three would be over retirement age while beginning it. It is reasonable to be thinking about the health of these people. My dad died at 78, my mom at 63 but conversely my grandmother lived to 97. All of the candidates appear to be physically healthy and all but Carson appear to be mentally acute but appearances can be deceiving. The day before my dad's first heart attack, at age 46, he appeared healthy. He nearly died of that heart attack.

Hillary's campaign shouldn't be asking for medical notes, but the press should, and not just from Sanders.

[last1standing]

1. LOL! That didn't last long.

There are still a few hours before midnight on the East Coast. Think she can fail one more time before the week is over?

[draa]

3. Ha, she's still got Sunday so give her time.

[HereSince1628]

21. An aside...beginning and ending of weeks varies between US and European calendars

I'm not quite sure why those differences exist but they do.

As it is, start end of week isn't too important.

The basic rule of thumb in this is campaign surrogates can do (and regularly do) dumb things at any time, and the formal campaign can deny them as necessary at any time, even retrospectively.

Surrogates are simply the best partners for running up trial balloons while the campaign keeps plausible deniability.

Remember coordination between campaigns and PACs is illegal!

[DJ13]

2. the Correct the Record PAC, which coordinates directly with Clinton’s campaign

How is that legal?

I thought coordinating between PACs and the candidate's campaign was one of the few restrictions left in place after Citizens United.

[dsc]

4. It is legal because apparently doing stuff on social media

is considered akin to writing letters and stuff. No, I don't think it should be legal either, but to outlaw it they would likely have to draw an overly broad regulation that couldn't stand up to court scrutiny.

[last1standing]

5. They used a questionable loophole in the rules and dared the FEC to challenge them.

Clintons are good at exploiting the rules for their own advancement. It's in their blood.

[Duckhunter935]

6. and using surrogates

So Hillary can deny involvement. This seems to be just another normal attack she can keep at arms length.

[last1standing]

7. That hasn't worked out so well, has it? Cough*Chelsea*cough!

:rolf:

[Duckhunter935]

8. lol

[PoliticAverse]

9. The following Washington Post article explains the issue...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2015/05/12/how-a-super-pac-plans-to-coordinate-directly-with-hillary-clintons-campaign/

[DJ13]

14. Leave it to conservatives (in either party) to find a means of cheating

Thanks for the link.

[joshcryer]

10. I think it's a trial balloon.

It's so stupid.

[joeybee12]

11. pathetic. ..making shot up about Hilary

Most of the supporters of the joke sanders appears to be auditioning for fox noise

[leftofcool]

13. Well, the do link to the Daily Caller so it is expected.

And you are right, sanders is a joke and a laughingstock.

[HereSince1628]

12. I don't expect medical records will be very revealling

I don't think they can be trusted any more than the political class, especially when they are serving the political class.

Health is also a moving target. Bill Clinton was cruising toward by-pass surgery under the watchful eyes of great medical staff who never knew or didn't let on about developing heart disease that would require pretty extensive by-pass surgery not long after he left office.

[dsc]

15. His surgery was in 2004

that isn't all that soon after leaving office. We did hear about elevated cholesterol while he was in office so the bypass didn't come as a huge shock to be honest.

[left-of-center2012]

16. Didn't Clinton have a concussion?

Wouldn't her medical records prove she is healthy enough to be President,
or not?

[dsc]

17. she has and has released a doctor's letter on that

and might well do medical records later. I have no problems with her being asked to do that.

[left-of-center2012]

18. (Clinton) might well do medical records later

After the caucuses and primaries?

[DURHAM D]

19. Looks like this was a story planted by the BS campaign

and then used for fund raising.

[Voice for Peace]

20. Gosh -- THAT sounds like a story planted by DWS & friends.

[Green Forest]

22. CNN confirmed this original Politico story with a source

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1251&pid=1018199

[dsc]

23. gee another anonymous source

or in fact it could be the same anonymous source, we have no earthly idea.

[Green Forest]

24. CNN kept the name anonymous to protect them but they confirmed who they are privately.

John Podesta sure as hell believed it. All the back peddling won't save the Clintons from this association.

[MoonRiver]

25. Voters absolutely are entitled to know how healthy

the candidates are. This is especially true for elderly candidates, who statistically are more prone to health problems. We have several elderly candidates but Bernie is the most senior. I remember this being a big issue with McCain.