Hillary Clinton's former press secretary: "Trump can win the general election pretty damn easily"

[imagine2015]

Former Hillary Clinton press secretary: 'Peril' to underestimate Donald Trump
By Jake Tapper and Tal Kopan, CNN
May 13, 2016



Washington (CNN) — A former spokesman for Hillary Clinton is sounding off on Donald Trump -- and warning Democrats not to underestimate him.

Jay Carson was Clinton's 2008 press secretary and worked for her family's foundation, and he recently took to Instagram to sound the alarm on the GOP presumptive nominee.

"Here's the bad news -- this guy can win the general election pretty damn easily," Carson, who is now a producer on the Netflix series "House of Cards" and a Principal at Bloomberg Associates, wrote on his private account. "I hear far too many of my liberal friends calling him a 'joke' and acting like the general (election) is in the bag which is nuts because he's dangerous and he has a path to victory."

Carson told Democrats that underestimating Trump would be perilous.

http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/13/politics/hillary-clinton-donald-trump-peril/index.html

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. Was Hitler also dismissed in his rise to power? (Not that Trump is half as clever, but he seeks to

harness the same hate to get into office.)

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. Different dynamics

But the business people behind that were positive tjey could control Adolph.

[GreenPartyVoter]

10. That is what I thought. There are other similarities. While we don't have the hyperinflation and

same level of desperation, I do think people are anxious enough about being able to get by that it has given a toehold to the same kind of blame the "otherness" hate speech we have heard.

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. There are more similarities, just as scary though,

To George Wallace than Adolph.

[GreenPartyVoter]

15. True. Had old Adolph on the brain from reading a novel set in Germany, tho.

[nadinbrzezinski]

16. Sadly I expect many here to not know

Who Wallace was

[GreenPartyVoter]

17. I am sure there will be some who don't.

[roguevalley]

36. shhhh. don't tell the Hillarians. They believe she is going to cake walk in even though

ge polls have her at 41/40 with Trump. Given she has never gone up in polls, I don't feel she can beat him because her trajectory in campaigns is to start at whatever level and never go up.

[villager]

78. Like the great line in "Cabaret:" "You still think you can control them now?"

Visconti's The Damned also looked at this -- the corporadoes thinking they could control the "fascist rabble," and plunder what they wanted from society...

[lastone]

2. And we are about to nominate the weakest candidate against him.

brilliant!

[pdsimdars]

49. ^^^^^^^^^^^ Amen! ^^^^^^^^^^^

Why can't they think? They don't even understand their own talking points. . . They just parrot them.

[Jitter65]

3. This is more like the case for Bernie to drop out now. nt

[Progressive dog]

5. Bernie and his fans need to tone it down

or Bernie needs to drop out.

[Vincardog]

9. How would that help your weak candidate? If she can't handel some dirty hippies what will tRump do?

[Progressive dog]

20. That weak canduidate is beating the

pants off Bernie without half trying.

[nadinbrzezinski]

25. That is why she is expected to sscrure all pledged delegates

[Progressive dog]

28. Sarcasm? You are the only one who claims

that you don't win unless you get all the votes.

[nadinbrzezinski]

29. She is not expected to get all pledged delegeates

here, let me help you, this thing called the Internet, you might want to use the GOOGLE and find the rules on that.

[Progressive dog]

33. No one is expected to get all the pledged delegates,

but Hillary will have a majority and Bernie won't.

[nadinbrzezinski]

35. And what happens if that is not the case

Regardless, she will NOT SECURE THEM.. and that was my fucking point, Ergo, she cannot close the deal. And there is more and more noise about that in US press. Ok that noise about her weakness as a candidate started months ago in very much elite media in the States, no, not CNN, though they did go there the day before yesterday... as well as foreign media.

It will be a nightmare, but hey, it's your party... we all get to live with the consequences.

[BuelahWitch]

50. Um, she gets by with a lot of help from her friends

DWS, State Party chairs, etc. They are working to make sure she gets enough votes in time for the Coronation.

[Progressive dog]

53. Oh sure, conspiracy of the Democrats against

Bernie.

[libdem4life]

54. No, they were pushing him out there for a fair and balanced primary season.

And the Tooth Fairy will be here shortly to consort with the Unicorns and Other Fairies.

Actually, have to add in the MSM media...they don't like him because he threatens their cushy, corporate jobs. But their Bernie cheerleading stole the show.

In a parallel Universe.

[Progressive dog]

64. Fox news slogan, tooth fairy, MSM media

In a parallel universe.
and Bernie cheer leading stealing the show.
Just repeating what you wrote.

[nadinbrzezinski]

12. If you think Bernie is evil, just wait

[Progressive dog]

21. Bernie should act like a Democrat or

stop pretending to be one.

[nadinbrzezinski]

23. You mean like a candidate running for office

The fact that this has to be explained is what is sad.

Oh and by the way, you should stop acting like a partisan and open your eyes. This is exactly what HRC did in 2008, She kept going until the last fucking primary was over.

[Progressive dog]

38. HRC was behind in 2008 and she

was running against a life long Democrat, now she's far ahead in delegates and running against a newly declared Democrat.
Hillary toned down her attacks on Obama, then nominated him at the convention.

[nadinbrzezinski]

39. And she ran until two days after the last

Fucking primary. She invoked the death of RFK to keep going. So just stop it. This is sad. We would like to vote. Thank you so much

[Progressive dog]

41. It is sad, that's why Bernie should tone

it down and get his supporters to follow.

[nadinbrzezinski]

45. Call me back when Bernie invokes the death of RFK

[Progressive dog]

47. So this is about getting even with Hillary nt

I was always taught that two wrongs don't make a right, but I guess to some of Bernie's fans they do.

[nadinbrzezinski]

48. Nope, but you are making arguments that make no sense at all

we have a primary Unless of course you hate elections. In which case I get it. This anti democratic bent YOUR PARTY has revealed this year is troublesome at best.

[Progressive dog]

65. We do not have a primary, political parties have primaries

If we are a member of that party, we get to vote in it. We choose to be associated with that party because we generally agree with what it stands for.

[nadinbrzezinski]

67. I agree with you

Close them and pay for the whole thing. It is a private thing, I don't have to pay for it. Stop taking from public resources. I guarantee open primaries after you figure out the cost of them.

[Progressive dog]

68. Then elect people who agree with you

in each state. Then you can stop it. I'm thinking independents are outnumbered by party members in enough states that you'll have a hard time accomplishing it. They're really outnumbered among the people that get to decide.

[nadinbrzezinski]

69. I already talked to my legislature about this

And explained why this should be done. So there is that. I have access to those folks due to being media. So that might happen. The Rs and the Greens might have to pay for their primary and decouple from the June election.

Of course not this year and there is a movement afoot already.

[Progressive dog]

71. The parties won't let that go too far

You'd better try for a Constitutional amendment revoking that pesky right of assembly.

[nadinbrzezinski]

73. Actually the state constitution forbids giving state money's to private parties

And since we both agree they are private due to that right, they can pay for it themselves. As I said, we had a long conversation. There is a public benefit, you can argue, if this is open. Closed, it is a private affair, why are the tax payers gifting public funds? And there is a movement afoot, because people are tired.

Hey if you want to hold a closed primary, and you pay for it, like Hawaii incidentally...I don't care if you select your candidate by reading of entrails ok. For all I care, you could designate the chosen one by acclamation. It is your business, you pay for it.

[Progressive dog]

75. So they should obey the Constitution in that state.

Take them to court. In my state, we have a closed primary, legally.

[nadinbrzezinski]

76. It will be a state by state thing

But the movement to make you pay for it has indeed started. And if it drives state parties down due to incurred debt, I really don't care. And by parties, I mean everyone. We have had this discussion before. The 1970s was the last time.

And I am looking forwards to it.

[libdem4life]

55. Excuse me? It's called looking at her record, listening to her speak

videos, real live things in the adult world. Facts. History. Silly things, I guess.

Getting even? Two wrongs don't make a right?" Good lord, the level of discourse plummets on a daily basis.

[Progressive dog]

63. No it isn't, it's about insinuation and innuendo,

and attacks on character. It's about going after the banks, and not being able to explain how or even why.

[nadinbrzezinski]

66. Except that he did in an extremely technical manner

The reporters are children who need things explained to in second grade level. And I wish I were kidding anymore. The state of the media is that bad

[Warren DeMontague]

24. Sorry, people are still voting for him.

What needs to be done is, Hillary needs to start leading and figuring out how to motivate Millennials, etc.

Courting "megachurch moms" is a fucking fools errand.

[Progressive dog]

32. Bernie has to figure out how to

withdraw gracefully and support Hillary. He can choose Hillary or the Republicans, but he has no realistic path to victory.

[Warren DeMontague]

37. Every day he is in there, he broadens the conversation and forces her to be a better candidate

Sanders doesnt "have to" do anything, but i believe when the convention comes he will endorse Hillary.

In the meantime, we have exciting primary results to watch. Fun! ...and far more interesting than that boring old bloviation fest on the GOP side.

I also believe she will tell her beltway waterhead advisors, like brock, to screw off-- and will become a much more vigorously progressive candidate, realizing that this is not 1996 and the way to win the general is to display real leadership on everything from marijuana legalization to the minimum wage to a robust public option.

But, then, I occassionally succumb to Pollyannaishness.

[Progressive dog]

40. No he doesn't, he repeats his

angry stump speech over and over. That can't make anyone a better candidate.

[Warren DeMontague]

43. Yes, it does. Unless people really agree with Brock and DiFi that Hillary needs to pivot to win

"megachurch moms", which is a waste of time.

Brock's - you know who he is, right?- conventional wisdom about the electorate is 20 years out of date, or worse.

And even if that crowd is correct about how shamelessly "moderate" the voting public is, then he's still doing her a favor, because she can define herself in opposition to crazy loony lefty uncle bernie, amirite?

Minute Sanders gets out, Trump will be calling HER the "socialist".

[nadinbrzezinski]

46. It will be fun to watch the gnashing of teeth

When trump starts to really ramp it up. They are already starting and he has not even warmed up

[Progressive dog]

62. Bernie and his supporters have a choice

whether to support the future nominee of the Democratic party or continue to attack her.
Attacking the candidate from the left does not strengthen her against what the loosing side believes will be the attacks from the right.

[Warren DeMontague]

70. Arbitrarily defined dichotomy is arbitrary.

I'll support her when she's the nominee, in the meantime I will continue to do what is right and what I believe will strengthen her as a candidate.

Also, it's "losing", not "loosing". You lose the race or your keys, you loose the hounds.

[Progressive dog]

72. You can spell losing.

And you know that arbitrary means arbitrary. That's impressive.
Now you just have to figure out how Bernie could win. Less than a month left and every state he doesn't win overwhelmingly puts him further behind.

[Warren DeMontague]

74. I live to impress.

[libdem4life]

56. It's called a consistent message. Well-honed for decades.

Progressive and Liberal.

I can see how it is tiresome for the HRC folks who get adrenaline rushes every time she comes up with a new angle, or position, or convenient factoid.

She doesn't have a stump speech...just a garble of fluff words because she can't remember what she said last time.

I'm sure much time goes into the closed door speeches. The Goldman Sachs speech was written up very carefully...as all the other closed door speeches.

[Progressive dog]

61. "Well honed for decades"

I agree, but books are even more consistent and limited in scope.

[bvf]

34. Yep.

"Hillary needs to start leading and figuring out how to motivate Millennials, etc."

Too late to start now.

[MFM008]

30. exactly

[imagine2015]

13. You think the stronger candidate should drop out. Of course. Why didn't I think of that!

That view makes you a potential leader of the Democratic National Committee. You can assist DWS.

[bvar22]

14. All the polls show Bernie beating Trump by much higher numbers than Hillary,

and YOU think Bernie should drop out and let the weaker candidate run?
Personally, I believe it is stupid to support the weaker candidate for the nomination.
If ANYONE should drop out NOW...it is Hillary, the weaker candidate.

[Warren DeMontague]

22. Yes, VITAL PIVOTING MUST BE DONE!

Derp

[Timmy5835]

4. Can someone explain to me.....

How Trump gets 46% of the Latino vote??? Because without that he can't win.

[MisterP]

8. maybe Clinton topples a few more of their home countries like with Zelaya?

[pdsimdars]

51. Maybe you should ask the polling companies to add that as a question, but the FACT is

she is WEAK against him. Ask the voters who are in those polls.
You are putting up some hypothetical and asking people to project thoughts based on that. Why not just look at what people are ACTUALLY telling the pollsters and base your planning on that reality instead of your imagination.

[Jim Lane]

60. I see no reason to believe Trump needs 46% of the Latino vote.

There are many paths to a popular-vote plurality, and also -- what actually matters -- many paths to 270 electoral votes.

Trump is not Romney II. If he does even worse than Romney did among Latinos, but way better among working-class whites, then he could win.

And that's even if we assume that the election will be completely fair, which I for one do not assume.

[procon]

6. Everyone enabled Trump.

The media never confronted him over his outrageous statements, his fans didn't care as long as he fed their fer, hat and bigotry. So we're left with this Trumpenstein monster who can get away with doing and saying anything without consequences.

Compare his kid glove treatment in the press with how they killed Howard Dean's political creer over something as inconsequential as a campaign cheer, or their ongoing war against the Clintons.

[onenote]

18. Nothing in the story suggests one Democratic nominee is stronger than the other

It's hard to argue that underestimating Trump would be a mistake -- no matter who the Democratic nominee is.

[imagine2015]

19. What's your point? Everyone who has read the article understands that.

I hope you're not trying to explain to us what the article means.

I think we can figure that out.

Or are you trying to make some other point?

[Gomez163]

26. ZOMG!!!!!!!!!!! THIS IS HUGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!111111111111111111

[coffeeAM]

27. If you want Trump in the whitehouse, vote Clinton, You want a dem

Then vote Bernie or go down with the Clinton ship.

[pdsimdars]

59. That's how the rational people see it.

[MFM008]

31. Sanders ship sank

off the coast of New York.

[JoePhilly]

42. + 1

[beaglelover]

44. Oh, but if we only run Bernie, we can win every single electoral vote and then we can all have

unicorns and rainbows every day!!! LOL!!!!

[Yavin4]

52. Esp. with Bernie Sanders helping Trump

Trump's path to victory is getting easier.

[libdem4life]

58. Could you please explain? Or is this just more of the

yada yada group. If I'm not mistaken, it was our Other Candidate who went hat in hand to the Republican Donor Waiting Room, hand in hand with the Bushes, genuflecting for funds.

Hogwash.

[Bleacher Creature]

57. He's trying to mobilize Clinton supporters. Why is this a story?

Last edited Fri May 13, 2016, 08:06 PM - Edit history (1)

You'll be hearing this from now until Bovember. Complacency - on the assumption that Trump isn't a serious threat - is going to be an issue.

[merrily]

77. It's not so much about underestimating Trump as underestimating Hillary's ability

to shoot herself in the foot.

[B Calm]

79. If Hillary was a real democrat she would think of the party and drop out now!

[doc03]

80. I hope people take his advise n/t