Clinton underestimates the grassroots energy around Keystone XL at her own peril

[Divernan]

Hillary Clinton's answer Tuesday to a question on the Keystone XL pipeline was a refusal to comment because the decision was up to President Obama and she didn't want to "second-guess" him. She said, “If it’s undecided when I become president, I will answer your question.”

For real? I'll tell you after you elect me? This is a completely misguided strategy by the Clinton campaign and it will deeply undermine her credibility with the progressive base even as she rolls out her climate change policies. On its face, it looks like a total equivocation. Worse yet, it follows news last week that the Clinton campaign has now hired Democratic strategist Jeff Berman, who also happens to be a former lobbyist for TransCanada—the company that's pushing Keystone XL.

The newest hire for Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign is a longtime strategist who played a key role in her 2008 primary defeat while working for then-Sen. Barack Obama.
He’s also a Washington lobbyist who lobbied the State Department -- led, at the time, by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton -- on behalf of the company seeking to build the controversial Keystone XL pipeline.

The Clinton campaign is deeply underestimating the grassroots appetite for shutting down the Keystone XL. Her hedge today is punctuated by the presence of Berman in her campaign. If she wants to maintain her integrity on Keystone, she must do one of two things:
1) Dismiss Berman so that her policy approach isn't unduly influenced by his presence;
2) Actually say what she would do as president about Keystone—then voters can judge for themselves.

Hillary Clinton's team may not recall the 2011 Keystone protests that drew thousands to Washington for arrestable actions and thousands more to form a human chain several-people deep around the White House. But if she thinks climate change activists are going to be any easier to dodge than Dreamers or Black Lives Matter activists, she is mistaken.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/07/29/1406641/-Clinton-underestimates-the-grassroots-energy-around-Keystone-XL-at-her-own-peril?detail=facebook#

[JaneyVee]

1. And Bernie underestimates...

Obama's massive coalition at his own peril. Ya know, the guy he suggested a 2012 primary challenge for. Or how about gun control advocates? Bernie seems to underestimate them. Or Bernie's unwavering support for lockheed martin and sandia laboratories, all of whom make weapons of mass destruction. There's plenty of criticism to go around.

[Divernan]

2. You're so very welcome to start your own threads on those different topics.

[arcane1]

5. +1.

"I know you are but what am I?" is getting tiresome.

[YOHABLO]

3. That was a really stupid move on her behalf. She's going to regret that statement.

I think she doesn't want to do anything about Keystone and had to find a way around answering the question. God forbid she disagree with Obama. I'm already sick of her. But more than likely she'll be our next Corporate President of the U.S. Simply because the voting populace of the U.S are so fucking stupid.

[arcane1]

4. It was a lie, plain and simple. The real reason she won't answer the question:

Because she approves of the pipeline and knows it will cost her some votes if she admits it.

[winter is coming]

6. Weaselly answers have their own cost.

All it takes is one straight-talking candidate to make you look like a chickenshit opportunist.

[Maedhros]

7. She doesn't care - she'll rely on spending big money to frighted the electorate

with the spectre of a Republican President, then ram Keystone XL through once she's President (that is, if Obama doesn't beat her to it).