Democratic Party activists are conflicted over whether Hillary Clinton can take on Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump in the general election, with some fearing she provides too much ammunition for the flamboyant businessman’s style of attack.
While Mr. Trump is leading the national polls and calling the shots in what’s become a circuslike GOP primary season, Mrs. Clinton tops a sedentary Democratic race with two other opponents respectfully nipping at her without doing much damage — and party stalwarts are happy to have it that way.
“I hear a lot of people saying, ‘You know, I’ve watched the Democratic debates and the Republican debates, and they’re so different. I’m sure glad I’m on the Democratic side and they’re talking about the issues. They don’t always agree with one another, but they explain why,’” said David Allen, a Democratic Party leader in Barnstead, New Hampshire. “Democrats have resolved themselves to not go into a circus and tear one another down.”
But Mr. Allen said he does worry about how the eventual Democratic nominee will stand up to the sort of withering barbs Mr. Trump has dished out to his own side.
“We’re going to start to have to look at how the [Democratic] candidates play against Donald Trump, because he’s certainly holding onto his lead in the Republican Party, and he has certainly played the Republican candidates in a way that has hurt some of his opposition, and I think people are going to start asking, ‘All right, who’s going to stand up under his type of campaigning?’” Mr. Allen said. “If Bernie [Sanders] is the candidate, Trump will play up how un-American socialism is, and if Hillarygets it, he will dig up everything in the past 40 years and use it — and won’t mince words in using it.”
Other activists say there’s a sense that, while it’s Mrs. Clinton’s turn to run, there’s no swell of on-the-ground enthusiasm for her to carry theparty’s banner into the general election.
“I don’t think the [Democratic primary] race has generated all that much intensity,” said Ron Romine, chairman of the Spartanburg, South Carolina, Democrats, who is neutral in the race. “I don’t feel like anywhere in the state there’s all that much passion. The usual suspects will go out and vote, but there’s not an intensity that you might think there should be with the first woman.
“Hillary is so familiar, she’s been around forever. She has her supporters, and they’re going to go out and vote for her, so there’s not a whole lot to parse out,” he said. “You either like her or you’re not enthusiastic.”
Mr. Trump already has started taking aim at Mrs. Clinton, just as some activists had feared.
At a rally in South Carolina on Wednesday, the billionaire real estate mogul declared “war” on the Clintons as he explained why he wouldn’t attack Mrs. Clinton as “low-energy” — the term he used to devastate hisGOP rival, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.
“I just don’t like to use the same thing twice on one of my enemies, because I consider them enemies,” Mr. Trump said. “We view this as war. Don’t we view this as war? It’s war, it’s war!”
Bothered by Mrs. Clinton’s accusation that he has a “penchant for sexism,” Mr. Trump continued to attack her husband, former President Bill Clinton, saying he was “one of the great abusers [of women] of the world.”
The Clinton camp this week said they would “stand up” to Mr. Trump. Deputy Communications Director Christina Reynolds said in a statement that “Hillary Clinton will stand up to him, as she has from the beginning,” citing Mr. Trump’s “demeaning” remarks about “women, immigrants, Asian-Americans, Muslims, the disabled or hard-working Americans,” adding that he has “pushed around nearly all of his fellow Republicans.”
“I expected that to come up no matter who the [Republican] candidate was [and] the Bill Clinton past — I’m not the least bit surprised,” said Bonnie Chehames, who is campaigning for Mrs. Clinton in New Hampshire. “I can’t imagine Trump beating Hillary Clinton, and I don’t care what the polls say. The Republican Party will be fractured if Trump’s nominated, and that’s good for the Democrats.”
She also said Mr. Trump’s candidacy has helped Mrs. Clinton by taking press attention away from her during the primary season.
“The media isn’t really poking at her with negative comments. If Donald Trump were not the media superstar darling that he is, I’m sure that wouldn’t be the case,” Mrs. Chehames said.
Still, support for Mrs. Clinton as the Democrats’ champion in the general election remains lukewarm, especially among supporters of Mr. Sanders, her chief rival, who cite many of the same criticisms as Mr. Trump in arguing against her nomination.
“I just don’t trust her,” said Jason Frerichs, the Democratic Party leader in Montgomery County, Iowa. “I’m a progressive; that’s my value, and that’s what I want. I don’t need an ideological purity test, I just don’t trust her. She’s pivoted on too many issues important to me. I’m 38 [and] earn $45,000 a year. How can she understand what my life is like? She’s a millionaire. She’s a career politician. I just don’t see much excitement for her outside the baby boomers, who think it’s her time.”
Mr. Frerichs, who is caucusing for Mr. Sanders, said he understands Mr. Trump’s followers and believes Mrs. Clinton will struggle against him because she can’t match his charisma and doesn’t invoke any emotional connection or ties with her supporters.
“Bernie’s popular for the same reason why Donald Trump is popular: People are sick and tired of the same old politicians,” he said.
He said he would vote for Mrs. Clinton if she wins the Democratic nomination, but he refuses to campaign for her.
“I think we would see a low voter turnout with Democrats [in the general election]. She just doesn’t fire up the base,” Mr. Frerichs said. “Now, I could be wrong, and many women could come out just because she’s a woman, but most of the young women I see are caucusing for Bernie.”
Your best bet is to go to Syria and come into Canada as a refugee. You'll be accepted immediately, become a permanent resident as soon as you step off the plane,
and have the taxpayers fund you for the rest of your days. You'll have healthcare, and never have to work another day in your life.
-- Edited by weltschmerz on Monday 4th of January 2016 04:41:09 PM
Your best bet is to go to Syria and come into Canada as a refugee. You'll be accepted immediately, become a permanent resident as soon as you step off the plane,
and have the taxpayers fund you for the rest of your days. You'll have healthcare, and never have to work another day in your life.
-- Edited by weltschmerz on Monday 4th of January 2016 04:33:15 PM
It's on a points system.
I belong to another board, where a LOT of Americans have tried to move to Canada. They don't qualify.
You best bet is to come in as a refugee.
I simply can't imagine anything worse than that buffoon in office.
flan
We have had 6+ years of that. I thought you would be used to it!
I knew somebody would take the cheap shot.
flan
'Cause calling Trump a buffoon isn't a cheap shot.
Well, no. It's a fact. Anyone who mocks the disabled and veterans who were prisoners of war is a buffoon.
He put McCain in his place. McCain's claim to fame for running for political office in his time as a POW, does make a politician. You are reading articles that cut out the whole story.
__________________
Sometimes you're the windshield, and sometimes you're the bug.
I simply can't imagine anything worse than that buffoon in office.
flan
We have had 6+ years of that. I thought you would be used to it!
I knew somebody would take the cheap shot.
flan
'Cause calling Trump a buffoon isn't a cheap shot.
Well, no. It's a fact. Anyone who mocks the disabled and veterans who were prisoners of war is a buffoon.
He put McCain in his place. McCain's claim to fame for running for political office in his time as a POW, does make a politician. You are reading articles that cut out the whole story.
" I like people who weren't captured."
Those were his exact words. Not to mention his twitching and jerking onstage, mocking a disabled reporter. Despicable.
Did you see the medical report from his "doctor"? Priceless!
-- Edited by weltschmerz on Monday 4th of January 2016 11:23:43 PM
Would you rather step in dog poop barefoot, or have bird poop land on your face?
Would you rather wear wet underwear or wet socks for a day?
Would you rather have Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton for president?
I would rather have Bernie Sanders then Hillary. I may not agree with anything he says but at least he has integrity.
That he does. And he cares about America, and the people that live and work here.
I would agree with that. He does seem like a good man. I don't particulary care for his policies but his heart is in the right place, kind of like Jimmy Carter who was a good man with bad policies.
Would you rather step in dog poop barefoot, or have bird poop land on your face?
Would you rather wear wet underwear or wet socks for a day?
Would you rather have Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton for president?
I would rather have Bernie Sanders then Hillary. I may not agree with anything he says but at least he has integrity.
That he does. And he cares about America, and the people that live and work here.
I would agree with that. He does seem like a good man. I don't particulary care for his policies but his heart is in the right place, kind of like Jimmy Carter who was a good man with bad policies.
Yes. I don't agree with him on almost anything, but I'd rather have him....or anyone really, than Hillary.
__________________
LawyerLady
I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you.
Would you rather step in dog poop barefoot, or have bird poop land on your face?
Would you rather wear wet underwear or wet socks for a day?
Would you rather have Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton for president?
I would rather have Bernie Sanders then Hillary. I may not agree with anything he says but at least he has integrity.
That he does. And he cares about America, and the people that live and work here.
I would agree with that. He does seem like a good man. I don't particulary care for his policies but his heart is in the right place, kind of like Jimmy Carter who was a good man with bad policies.
Yes. I don't agree with him on almost anything, but I'd rather have him....or anyone really, than Hillary.
But thats like the difference between eating a bowl full of thumb tacks or having them shoved up your ass.
__________________
I'm not arguing, I'm just explaining why I'm right.
Well, I could agree with you--but then we'd both be wrong.
Would you rather step in dog poop barefoot, or have bird poop land on your face?
Would you rather wear wet underwear or wet socks for a day?
Would you rather have Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton for president?
I would rather have Bernie Sanders then Hillary. I may not agree with anything he says but at least he has integrity.
That he does. And he cares about America, and the people that live and work here.
I would agree with that. He does seem like a good man. I don't particulary care for his policies but his heart is in the right place, kind of like Jimmy Carter who was a good man with bad policies.
Yes. I don't agree with him on almost anything, but I'd rather have him....or anyone really, than Hillary.
But thats like the difference between eating a bowl full of thumb tacks or having them shoved up your ass.
That's a very apt description!
__________________
LawyerLady
I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you.
A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
“You may shoot me with your words, you may cut me with your eyes, you may kill me with your hatefulness, but still, like air, I'll rise!” ― Maya Angelou
And the fact that anyone would still consider voting for her makes me realize there are stupider people in this country than I ever could have thought.
__________________
LawyerLady
I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you.
And the fact that anyone would still consider voting for her makes me realize there are stupider people in this country than I ever could have thought.
She is NOT going to get indicted. What a laugh. That's not how Washington works. Too much corruption. I'm not defending her and I do think she SHOULD be indicted. But that's just not how they do things on the hill. They do this whole song and dance and put all the media on the latest scandal. When the next scandal breaks she will slide to the background and become old news. Lois Lerner anyone?
__________________
“You may shoot me with your words, you may cut me with your eyes, you may kill me with your hatefulness, but still, like air, I'll rise!” ― Maya Angelou
“You may shoot me with your words, you may cut me with your eyes, you may kill me with your hatefulness, but still, like air, I'll rise!” ― Maya Angelou