Josh Marshall: Hillary, don't back down!

[kstewart33]

Talking Points Memo:

Let me take a moment to address this "basket of deplorables" comment because I think it's critically important to get this right. Hillary Clinton has simply said what is the premise of most election coverage of the 2016 campaign: a big chunk of Trump supporters are haters. Racists, misogynists, people who are angry at the social and demographic changes in the country that most Americans see as progress. They want to stop it in its tracks and they want payback for what has happened already. To emphasize the point, this is not just what she and likely the great majority of her supporters believe. It has been the premise of most reporting on the campaign and validated by a vast cache of public opinion data confirming these points.


It may have been easier not to say this and left herself vulnerable to a faux-populist counterattack. But she did say it. She cannot unsay it. And since it is not only basically true but in fact a matter of central importance to the entire election, it is truly critical that she not back down.

If there's nothing else we've learned from this cycle we should have learned the centrality of 'dominance' politics. Campaigns are performative displays of strength, resolve. To back down, apologize or cower would not only play into Trump's dominance politics routine, it would make Clinton look weak. It would deepen suspicions that she has no beliefs or will change them out of convenience. Far more importantly though, backing down would demoralize her supporters since it would amount to apologizing for or backing down from and delegitimizing what is in fact a central truth of the election.

More at link: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/this-is-critical-hillary-can-t-back-down

[MyNameGoesHere]

1. Clinton is absolutely correct in saying this.

Now she needs to press and expand upon it. If you choose to act in cahoots with a racist, misogynistic, hateful, despotic, and ignorant fuck you deserve to wear that badge and be identified.

[RandySF]

2. That's assuming the press treat them equally

And we know they don't. They will hound Hillary until they make her back down.

[bluestateguy]

5. If she holds firm they'll give up after a few days

When someone says something offensive the media may press them to apologize. The speaker says no, and the media presses them some more. The speaker says no. And so on. Then then media gets bored with it and moves on to the next shiny object.

[randome]

9. Agreed. The key is not to fight them on their own terms.

She said it. She owns it. It's true. Let the media tilt at windmills for a bit, they'll get tired and move on. Trump's antics will be more than enough entertainment value.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]Everything is a satellite to some other thing.[/center][/font][hr]

[world wide wally]

19. They sure as hell don't press Trump on anything

[0rganism]

27. the press, such as it is, can't make her do anything

she is her own person, one of the most powerful in the world, i think she can make the right call on this without their "assistance"
besides, far better to have the press hound her over this than the stupid emails

[GWC58]

32. Hillary said

what she did for a reason. Pretty sure she knew there'd be a lot of "righteous indignation" thrown her way. tRump surrogates are complaining. What about elected rethugs? Are they saying anything? I haven't heard any

[BootinUp]

3. I'm in!

[randome]

22. Wait. You're in the basket of deplorables. Naw, that can't be what you meant.

[hr][font color="blue"][center]Everything is a satellite to some other thing.[/center][/font][hr]

[BootinUp]

23. Dang man, That was mean I think. lol.

[LAS14]

4. John Marshall and others in the media...

... could keep the reporting clean and report the rest of her point, her description of the other half of Trump supporters.

I encourage all of us to join #BasketOfDeplorables, so the other half will have counter information to see.

[bluestateguy]

6. Is that a pro-Hillary hashtag or not?

??

[LAS14]

10. It's anti. I'm suggesting that it shouldn't be allowed to be pure anti.

It's a good way to talk to the Trump other half, I would think.

[pandr32]

7. Sure as hell beats praising them as "patriots" and "real" Americans

Unfortunately the media has coddled and normalized this group. In fact, some of the media panders specifically to them: their paranoia, sense of entitlement, intolerance, and ignorance.

Let us all call them out instead of enabling these sick people. It is passed time to counter the media narrative that floats these dangerous clowns.

They are not patriots--they are deplorables!

[BootinUp]

8. Someone needs to make the documentary! "Deplorables"

[Cicada]

11. Trump support is mostly racist, not just half

Hillary implied half his support comes from those left behind economically. I doubt that. I bet measures of racial resentment track Trump support strongly but that measures of economic status add almost no additional ability to predict Trump support.

[bmstee01]

12. My mom

I told my mom about this. She is a fan of neither, but really disconnected from politics and just gets sound bites here and there. SOOOO I told her what Hillary said, and she said, "well... it's true" I think Hillary could benefit from a little uncomfortable truth telling. Sometimes the public appreciates someone telling them something that isn't pretty. I am such a huge Hillary fan! I fell in love with her when I was a young boy and she said she could have stayed home and baked cookies and had tea. I was like go get em woman!!! I loved it. I think in an effort to get to this place she has had to be careful, but something has changed in the past few years. People are sick of careful and scripted. They want to know what you think, even if they disagree with you. So Hillary, if you're out there... Tell it like it is and don't back down.

[Hamlette]

25. love your story

it's interesting what gets people's attention. I too loved the "bake cookies" comment but had a different reaction. I was a 40 something woman lawyer when she said it and thought "they will crucify her for that". And they did but she gets trashed for everything she says so maybe its time to just start telling it like it is. I'm so glad it hit a different note with a different generation. In election years like this its easy to think all the struggle was for naught.

I've never hated Americans like I have this election. Trump is so unqualified and unfit to be president but I run into people all the time who think he is great. I suppose they have always been with us, he has just given them voice.

[mcar]

13. K&R

[lillypaddle]

14. K&R

Well said, Josh.

[CanadaexPat]

15. But there's no need to say it.

Attacking someone's supporters is weak.

[DrDan]

20. agree completely - don is running, not his supporters

[LuvLoogie]

26. His supporters are assaulting people.

[CanadaexPat]

28. Well that's different - people should arrested for that

and Trump should be criticized for encouraging it.

[Skidmore]

34. There is nothing weak about

attacking a movement of people to gain power who would just as soon physically harm or otherwise deprive you of any rights you have as a human being in society because of your skin color, who you love, your choice of religion, your ethnicity, or your gender. This is one of those hills you fight on, and you fight hard. There is much to lose for millions. The Republicans dressed up the ugly rot at their core for decades and tried to pretend that it was something other than it was. It's time to fight all of them, from the most powerful all the way down.

[faye]

16. Back down ????

She comes across as tough enough . They have been dragging her through the coals now for months. They made her tough and I think she probably knows that hers supporters have her back on this. I know I do.

[world wide wally]

17. Last time I watched a fight on tv, counter punching was not only legal, but encouraged.

[TeamPooka]

18. K & R Damn the torpedos, full speed ahead!

[benld74]

21. She already 'regrets' her statement

[MyNameIsKhan]

24. She regrets saying half but stood by rest

Now will be easy for her surrogates to take over, this was surely a unscripted comment ...

[nolabear]

29. Yep, say the number might be exaggerated but the fact stands.

And then press home that fact.

[MyNameIsKhan]

30. My theory

This is a carefully scripted event, let's say Hillary would have said some or many trump supports are deplorable, press would not have picked it up, she intentionally made this gaffe to bring back focus on trump campaign and the hate they are spreading. Well done...

[kentuck]

31. Agree.

Maybe add a couple of more to the basket. If they get their butt hurt by the truth, then, too bad.

[raven mad]

33. I think this remark will go down in history as a shining Hillary moment!

Everyone!!! is talking about it, even my recluse neighbors and some avowed RW'ers - they LOVED it.