Danielle Allen writing at The Washington Post has a few words of advice for Hillary Clinton and her rejection of the establishment label in Thursday’s debate:
Don’t use this line again: “Senator Sanders is the only person who I think would characterize me, a woman running to be the first woman president, as exemplifying the establishment.”
SNIP
That candidate Clinton could deliver her line with a straight face goes to the heart of her trustworthiness problem.
If the Clintons weren’t the power apex of the Democratic establishment, we would have had more candidates on stage at the first Democratic debate.
This was the major lesson I learned when I worked as a regional field organizer for the 2008 Obama campaign in California. The number of elected officials who considered themselves indebted to the Clintons, and therefore not free to endorse Obama, was staggering.
SNIP
Bernie Sanders is right that Clinton’s long list of endorsements represents her muscle within the Democratic Party.
Her advice?
Here are the lines to use: I have been privileged to serve this country in many ways over many years. As I have done so, I’ve made it possible for women to take their place at the table of leadership. I will continue to open up politics to those who haven’t previously had real opportunities to serve. Let’s get all these fired-up young people running for office.