Clinton steps up Sanders critique as caucuses approach
AMES, Ia. — Hillary Clinton has started sharpening her criticism of rival Democrat Bernie Sanders as the Iowa caucus campaign enters what she calls the “let’s get real period.”
Clinton has consistently led polls of likely Democratic Iowa caucus participants, but Sanders has been closing the gap as the Feb. 1 caucuses approach. In a Tuesday speech at Iowa State University, Clinton criticized the Vermont senator repeatedly, especially on the issue of gun control.
“Whenever I say, ‘You know, you voted against the Brady Bill five times, and you voted for what the NRA said was the biggest NRA priority, giving them immunity,’ he says, ‘Well, I’m from Vermont.’” Clinton said, referring to Sanders’ contention that some of his votes on gun control were due to his representation of a rural state full of hunters. Clinton disputed that contention. “Pat Leahy, the other senator from Vermont, voted against immunity for the gun lobby. So, no, that is not an explanation,” she declared to strong applause from about 450 people filling the auditorium.
Clinton was introduced at the event by Dan Gross, president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. Gross, whose brother was severely injured in a 1997 shooting at the Empire State Building, said his national group was endorsing the former secretary of state and New York senator.
“She has made our safety the centerpiece of her campaign, because like the rest of us, Hillary Clinton has had enough,” Gross said. “She’s had enough of the constant mass shootings in schools and churches and malls and movie theaters. Enough of the daily terror in our country, in homes, in streets, that continues to claim the lives of 90 Americans every single day. And enough of a small group of craven politicians, including most of the other presidential candidates, putting the interests of the corporate gun lobby ahead of the safety of the American people. Enough!”
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Besides the gun issue, Clinton also rebutted Sanders’ implications that she is soft on Wall Street and other powerful special interests. She recounted fighting such powers on numerous issues, including banking regulations and proposals to privatize Social Security. “I was one of the leaders of the effort to prevent that from happening. So don’t talk to me about standing up to corporate interests and big powers,” she said to cheers. “I’ve got the scars to show for it — and I am proud.”
Sanders' national campaign manager, Jeff Weaver, responded to Clinton in an email to the Register. "Sen. Sanders strongly supports President Obama’s executive actions on gun safety. Throughout his career in Congress, Sanders has voted for strong gun safety measures, including a ban on assault weapons, improved background checks and eliminating the gun-show loophole. As the senator has said before, he thinks Congress should re-examine a law on manufacturers’ liability," Weaver wrote.
He added that the National Rifle Association gave Sanders grades of a D-minus and an F. "Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, on the other hand, has a record of flip-flops on — among other issues — gun safety, Weaver wrote. She even accused Obama of being too tough on gun control when she ran against him for president in 2008, he wrote.
Clinton's criticism of Sanders marks a shift in her tactics. Before about a week ago, she reserved almost all her criticism for Republican candidates.
Frankee Oleson of Ames said afterward that she understands why Clinton is assertively pointing out differences with Sanders. “I think she knows it’s really important for us to see what choices we have, so we can make a decision,” said the 67-year-old retiree, who plans to caucus for Clinton.
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In her speech, Clinton emphasized that Democrats should pick the person who is most likely to beat the Republicans’ candidate next November. Oleson said the electability concern is important, but not as important as the candidates’ values and stances on issues.
For example, she agreed with Clinton’s defense of the Affordable Care Act as a good start toward reforming the country’s health care system. Clinton contends that Sanders would scrap the law and set up a single-payer health care system administrated by the states. Oleson said Clinton did a good job of explaining why that’s not a good idea. “I believe we have a good basis with Obamacare, and we should build on that,” she said. “I don’t think we should start over.”
AT THE EVENT
SETTING: Auditorium of Iowa State University's Scheman Building.
CROWD: Estimated by campaign at 450.
REACTION: The audience, which was a mix of college-age and older adults, applauded several times, including when Clinton spoke about defending abortion and women's rights and when she declared that American leaders should be uniting people instead of dividing them over race and religion.
OTHER STOPS: Clinton was to speak in Dubuque later Tuesday.
WHAT'S NEXT: Hillary Clinton's husband, former President Bill Clinton, and their daughter, Chelsea, are to stump in Iowa later this week.