Hillary won the night: showed off a rhetorical flourish that was unique and distinct from Sanders

[riversedge]

http://www.bustle.com/articles/136196-hillary-clintons-strongest-debate-moment-was-when-she-unexpectedly-brought-up-this-important-issue



Hillary Clinton's Strongest Debate Moment Was When She Unexpectedly Brought Up This Important Issue

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Andrew Burton/Getty Images News/Getty Images

Chris Tognotti
5 hours ago News

Sunday night's fourth Democratic presidential debate on NBC ended up being, well, pretty much what everyone predicted: a contentious, combative affair between frontrunner Hillary Clinton, contender Bernie Sanders, and forgettable Martin O'Malley. But at the very end of the night, when moderator Lester Holt offered the candidates a chance to address anything they thought had been overlooked, Clinton turned away from attacking her Democratic rivals, and in doing so had perhaps her best debate moment of her 2016 presidential campaign. The unexpected issue Hillary Clinton brought up at the debate? The Flint, Michigan water crisis, which has imperiled the health of thousands of people, drawn a federal emergency declaration from President Obama, and shaken the administration of Gov. Rick Snyder.
.............................


But if you're taking everything into account ― the words, the delivery, the unapologetic moral certitude, and the power to get things done ― this may just have been the strongest moment Clinton's had in any of the debates so far. She was given the choice of what she wanted to say, how she wanted to close, and what she settled on was maybe the most powerful demonstration of her skills as an orator that the race has seen has so far. It's not really enough just to read the words, so go ahead and give the video of her statement a look.

That, right there, is Hillary Clinton at the peak of her political powers and shows just how much she can crush an issue as perfectly positioned as this one. When a governor (from the opposing party, no less) is being roasted on mainstream media and social media alike for failing to protect their state from lead poisoning, suffice to say things are lined up for a forceful, dramatic statement.

But for all the Clinton supporters out there who've been sweating a little in the face of Sanders' impressive ascent in the polls, this moment will probably set them at ease ― it was the embattled frontrunner in her best fighting form, and she showed off a rhetorical flourish that was unique and distinct from Sanders' approach. Obviously, he has his own inimitable style that gets the better of her sometimes, especially on economic justice and foreign policy. But in addition to being a hugely significant public wake-up call to the nation about the situation in Flint, Clinton saved the best for last, in the final Democratic debate before the Iowa caucuses.

[stonecutter357]

1. K&R!

[CorporatistNation]

60. The Audacity Of Clinton Inc. "USING" Those Who Have Been Poisoned To Make Political Points!

Clinton was misrepresenting so often that the conflation of truth vs fact vs that which is not... is almost imperceptible. Brilliant if that is what you want in a President.

For me and increasingly many others... Not so much!

Funny how the "Grand Wizardess" of the podium was speechless when Bernie cited her $600K in compensation for blathering on in speeches for Goldman Sachs... JUST Goldman Sachs... $600,000 Dollars!

Not so much for Bernie Sanders... Looking forward to Iowa...

[PatrynXX]

75. Nevermind Bernie has brought it up earlier in the day that Rick Snyder must resign.

Like hello Bernie brought it up first for the day. He wasn't gonna stoop that low in a debate. As a sitting Congressman he already called out Rick Snyder.

[INdemo]

76. The tweet from Michael Moore not to credible since over the years he has bashed Obama

numerous times for being too far right and then praises Hillary for something that Bernie had already brought up.

[BlueMTexpat]

2. Great article, rivers! eom

[riversedge]

29. Thank you. Hillary did all the work.

[Thinkingabout]

3. Bottom line, Hillary is very strong, she is a good debater,

She is working hard to become president and she will work just this hard as president.

[Vinca]

4. Some call it "rhetorical flourish," others call it something not quite so nice.

[Gman]

5. THIS is a great example of how out of touch with Blacks

Sanders is. For all the bluster from his supporters, he's still a senator from a white state and Black issues fly over Gus head. He lost the Black vote with the BLM debacle.

He's a good man, but Sanders is one deaf in race relations.

[INdemo]

66. And just what creditinials do you have that

enables you to make such a statement?

[JonLeibowitz]

73. You know Clinton was asked the question first and Sanders also spoke about Flint?

[elias49]

6. "Bustle.com"? How long did you search for a favorable piece?

Do you give as much credence to Entertainment Tonight when they opine on national affairs?
You probably shouldn't.

[riversedge]

14. Yoda has a message for you.....

[earthside]

57. And a message for you ...

[ChairmanAgnostic]

71. LOL! That is a great response! Love the image, too.

There was one Chicago commentator who claimed Hillary won, but it turns out the article was written BEFORE the debate. Heh. That tells you something.

[livetohike]

7. She is Presidential. Sanders' "style" turns me off. He always appears

so desperate and in a panic to make his point. What would he do if elected President and there is a crisis? I prefer calm and deliberate responses and I don't think he is capable of that.

[SmittynMo]

39. Desparate to make a point?

Wake up. The oligarchy in this country is a huge issue. Look around you. Do you like what has happened to our society in the past 50 years of corrupt politics? Do you see us moving forward, or backwards? It IS a serious issue. I have no problem at all of being in a panic, when a critical issue is addressed. We SHOULD be in a panic. Wake up and smell the coffee.

[livetohike]

47. Seriously? That is the biggest problem? Sanders thinks he can remedy this in what way?

Dictatorship? The "people"who have given the Senate and House to Reublicans and are suddenly going to give Sanders a "Democratic Socialist" majority so if elected, he can enact his revolution?

I prefer reality over delusion.

[CorporatistNation]

62. Hillary IS The Grand Marshall For Preserving The Status Quo...

So who here thinks that the status quo is good enough?

I'm WITH BERNIE who thankfully has stood up to agree to be disagreeable with The Corrupt Establishment which Clinton Inc. proudly represents... and is paid damn well to do it!

[blondie58]

72. It is true. And a vote for the Multimillionaire Hillary, would be more of the Same. With perhaps a w

Hillary, would be more of the Same. With perhaps a war in Iran Thrown in. How does One Get so Rich in Public Service? I am not Voting for One of the 1%.

[INdemo]

68. So then if Bernie Sanders is the nominee you would trun to

an opposition candidate?

[INdemo]

78. Simple solution, dont vote for him and

vote for the Republican candidate if you feel that way.

[Armstead]

8. She's glib.

She can turn her moral outrage and otehr emotions on and of like a spigot.

Some find that "rhetorical flourish." It strikes me as the sincerity of salesperson.

[Ikonoklast]

17. Hillary is now running for governor in Michigan?

What did Snyder being an absolute fucking disaster for that state have to do with debating Bernie Sanders except to wiggle in "what about the children!" into the debate somehow?

And the cheerleaders getting their emotions played by Hillary yet again don't understand what just happened.

Calculated tactic.

[pangaia]

25. Exactly.

[pocoloco]

37. Did she shed any crocodile tears also??

Impossible to watch her, or listen to her droning voice!

[riversedge]

41. Hillary comes across a smart and to the point. Sanders did a lot of yelling and finger pointing

last night (which is his usual style).

[MoonRiver]

9. I thought she was amazing!

She never missed a beat, succinctly describing her positions and why she supports them. Bernie just got louder, shouting out his usual talking points. GoHill!

[eomer]

10. Wow, that is really weak.

Bernie has been quite strong on the Flint water issue, including publicly calling for the Governor to resign.

But I give you credit for accurately describing Hillary's campaign - an attempt to win through rhetorical flourish since her record on the issues is obviously not going to win it for her.

[pangaia]

26. rhetorical flourish.

That's exactly what it was.

Her rhetoric makes me sick. Bernie talks like a human being.
She is just a calculating plutocrat

[thomservo]

64. YES!

[winter is coming]

11. First time I've ever seen shameless distortion referred to as a "rhetorical flourish". n/t

[Donkees]

12. Caption this photo "whistling dixie"

[Fuddnik]

16. Or whistling past the graveyard.

[EdwardBernays]

13. That's rhetorical flourish

Is probably why she keeps getting hired to speak at Goldman Sachs.

And why investment bankers give her so much money.


Totally get it now.

[Helen Borg]

15. Absolutely, it must be for the rhetorical flourish!

Last edited Mon Jan 18, 2016, 11:19 AM - Edit history (1)

Let's see, 200K for 2 hours, that makes over 1.5K per minute.

[EdwardBernays]

18. That's

A Lotta flourish.

[Geronimoe]

19. Action speaks louder than words

As Sec of State she supported and promoted; fracking, XL Keystone Pipeline, and TPP. Any one of these has the potential for massive damage to ground water.

Bill Clinton did little to nothing to address Climate Change. He approved GMO food, that uses 3 times as much pesticides and herbicides. He refused to pass labeling of GMO food, And he allowed Mountain Top Removal for coal to expand.

[SammyWinstonJack]

22. +1000000.

[coyote]

28. Oh you and your pesky facts.

Hillary looks Presidential, damn it!!! And as an added bonus, she is a woman.

I can't wait to vote for the status quo. Woohoo!!!

[NCjack]

30. With her sweet words and delivery, she packaged her products and

tied them with lovely red bows. If only she could stop the permeation of the odor.

[daybranch]

20. Another over-exaggeration of Hillary's impact.

Bernie was even stronger on the issue, demanding Snyder resign. Hillary tries to take credit for so many things when she does not deserve it.

[Amimnoch]

21. I think Sanders overplayed his hand of Unicorns.

Really, now that he's finally released his Health care plan, I think most votes that are actually up for grabs are realizing just how ridiculous and absolutely fantastical his promises are.

As experienced as he is, I can't imagine that Sanders is really that ignorant of how the political process works, so that only leaves the other possibility: He's runs as a straight talker but really is just another lying politician.

At least he got some good "social media" polls that his followers can grasp onto though!

[Armstead]

48. I'll take a Unicorn over Eyore any day..."Ohhhh, we can;t do that."

Instead of fighting for a clear cut straightforward way of delivering healthcare to everyone (see Medicare, which was another unicorn at one time) we should be "practical" and perpetuate and further embed a bad system based on private for-profit insurance.


Well at least we'll agree with the GOP on that.

[MrMickeysMom]

49. Just how ridiculous is the cost/benefit of the status quo?

People have a tendency to laugh over their own ignorance of the facts. I can't believe how smart that is...

(from the Piper Report on Medicare Premiums co-payments and deductibles, ACA)

The Medicare Part A inpatient hospital deductible is $1,184.00 for CY 2013. In addition, when a beneficiary receives inpatient hospital services for more than 60 days during a spell of illness, he or she is responsible for a coinsurance amount equal to one-fourth of the inpatient hospital deductible per-day for the 61st through 90th day spent in the hospital. In 2013, this is $296.00 a day for the 61st through 90th day. Each beneficiary has 60 lifetime reserve days of coverage, which they may elect to use after the 90th day in a spell of illness. The coinsurance amount for these days is equal to one-half of the inpatient hospital deductible. In 2013, these lifetime reserve days is $592.00 a day for 91st-150th day.

People make choices on medicines after that stay between medicine or food on their table.

Really, you laugh at that?

[uponit7771]

54. +1

[NCTraveler]

23. Great job Clinton.

It's getting harder for some to justify themselves after Sanders vote last week. The rhetoric has been upgraded. Clinton is out there working for us. Listening to us. And putting thoughtful proposals forward. So excited for the voting to start.

[dinkytron]

24. Well of course its true if its printed in the esteemed "Bustle" blog.

[sulphurdunn]

27. Wishful thinking. Nothing more.

[Perogie]

31. Political Opinionist?

http://www.allthepeople.net/chris-tognotti


ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha, Oh wait......

[Warren Stupidity]

32. Lol. Bustle? Series?

The general consensus in the actual media, both new and old, is that Sanders 'won' the debate, whatever that means. This is a sharp contrast to the previous debates, which had the consensus going to Clinton.

Bustle. You crack me up.

[cherokeeprogressive]

33. I've read some of Chris Tognotti's stuff.

Well, I tried to. Vacuous to say the least.

A fashion and entertainment rag? Are you series?

[tom_kelly]

34. Source:

http://www.bustle.com

Unfortunately for Hillary, the top story on this site is "One Thing Lazy Girls Should Know About Lipstick."

[Hell Hath No Fury]

79. My favorite --

"The Best Cocktail for Your Zodiac Sign".

[zazen]

35. this Sanders supporter is really glad she brought the Flint travesty up

I think we need a Cabinet level position on domestic and international women and children's rights and she needs to be its inaugural Secretary, invent the scope of the job, be given a hefty budget, and go to it.

It wouldn't marginalize her. Since she won't let herself be marginalized, it'd make women's rights a more central issue (on par with its actual centrality to human existence). Her gravitas as well as her determination about getting her way would actually help more women across the planet than her being president, a goal that seems to bring out the worst in her.

She's at her most powerful as a human being when she's operating from a genuine moral center, and that's centered on the injustice of women and children's experiences historically and cross-culturally.

The planet has never had someone that formidable focusing just on gender injustice. I'm sorry so many would see that as a loss because I frankly think it'd be better for billions of people today and in the future.

[riversedge]

40. I am glad she brought up Flint: Sanders should be given a new position in

the administration if he wants it on poverty.

[zazen]

44. that'd be awesome if it comes to it!

[hoosierlib]

36. How about fake and desperate...

Hillary is a corporatist Pander Bear...an inauthentic career politician and nothing more

[riversedge]

38. Welcome to DU: But Hillary was passionate, strong and intelligent.

[Ed Suspicious]

52. You are right.

[marmar]

42. "rhetorical flourish"

Akin to that of a used car salesperson.

[RoccoR5955]

43. What I got from the debate was

Clinton was, "Me, me, me, my, my, mine, I, I, I."

Bernie was, "Us, us, we, we, our."

To me that is a big difference.

[Duval]

58. I noticed that and even remarked about it to my husband.

[Starry Messenger]

45. K&R

[left-of-center2012]

46. Let's crown Hillary now !

After all, it's her turn.

[Loudestlib]

50. Last chance

This was her be chance to shut down Bernie's momentum and she failed. It's going to be 2008 all over again.

[Persondem]

51. It was a great comment. She does care about people. K & R nt

[Katashi_itto]

53. The pandering at the end?

[bowens43]

55. Empty suit wit the same old bullshit. No thanks.

[EndElectoral]

56. Bustle.Com? Is this a joke from the Onion?

Seriously, we've all been outraged by Flint as both O'Malley and Sanders stated they were as well. Who isn't?

If this was her "rhetorical flourish" (whatever that is), where was it when the Flint issue first surfaced months ago?

[Avalux]

59. Unapologetic moral certitude? Bwaaahahaaa!

These articles are getting more fantastical as Hillary's lead slips. Gotta love it.

Hillary's desperation came through loud and clear last night; she was angry and defensive, and at times, it appeared she could shoot daggers out of her eyes.

She made me cringe.

[book_worm]

61. It's correct it was the best moment of the debate.

[andrewv1]

63. Republicans or Hillary Supporters?

Granted, there are differences in issues between the two although that seems to be narrowing too....

On style, well that's another matter at least here on DU.

Typically, a lot her folks here are given their daily talking points, then run with them & don't even question what was said.

A good example of this was when Hillary went on her untruth "attack mode" last week. All of sudden guns & health topics were the topics of the day from her messengers.

And now, we have one article from the beltway establishment saying Clinton won this debate even when most of the MSM are giving Sanders the nod

Remind you of another group?

[hueymahl]

65. Thanks for the Laugh!

But if you're taking everything into account ― the words, the delivery, the unapologetic moral certitude, and the power to get things done ― this may just have been the strongest moment Clinton's had in any of the debates so far.

Funny, funny stuff. Again, thanks for the laugh!!

[EndElectoral]

67. She didn't seem worried about the Keystone pipeline or the pipeline explosions in MI before...

But she did have "rhetorical flourish" I guess.

But if she can fool some with her sudden concern for the environment in Michigan, well done.

[ismnotwasm]

69. And her nose was clear

I swear I'm never getting that image out of my brain

Go Hillary!

[MrMickeysMom]

70. Thank you for yet another weasel worded phrase!

From Urban Dictionary-

rhetorical flourish
An oratory elaboration which exceeds the limits of what most people would describe as useful or informative, or which tangentially strays into the realm philosophical musings.
"Yo, your homie said you was in for some shenanigans."

"No man, that was just rhetorical flourish."

[catnhatnh]

74. From your source...

Bernie Sanders, to be clear, has touched on this issue too ― in fact, on Saturday night, he publicly called for Snyder's resignation.

Obviously, he has his own inimitable style that gets the better of her sometimes, especially on economic justice and foreign policy.

[Sancho]

77. One of Hillary's great moments!

I grew up in Charleston, and I immediately thought the Flint issue was a home run yesterday when I heard it. It was a perfect understanding and empathic with AA voters. She gets it.

Hillary believes in social justice.

[riversedge]

80. Yes. she. does. #ImwithHer