Which Hillary? Why Clinton Needs To Answer The Question
Today, the question on everyone’s mind is “Which Hillary?” The question refers to Hillary Clinton’s wavering stance on a number of current issues, varying statements about historical events, and conflicts between her positions on important matters and her campaign’s financial reality. Conflicting statements made by Clinton over the past few months have left many American voters viewing Hillary’s platform as anything but solid. As a result, many are quickly losing faith in Clinton’s ability to stand firm on important issues.
The most recent incident to raise the “Which Hillary?” question took place on Wednesday during a Clinton campaign rally in South Carolina. According to Huffington Post, the event’s interruption was caused by two activists representing the Black Lives Matter campaign. They asked Clinton to apologize for a statement she made in 1996 and for policies enacted during Bill Clinton’s presidency that led to increased mass incarceration of blacks. Their view of the candidate contradicts the image Hillary Clinton has tried to promote during her campaign through words of support for black justice. The activists apparently view Clinton’s words as nothing more than a ploy to win the African-American vote.
#BLM has pay 2 get into high dollar fundraiser to get HRC’s attn. But she throws em out anyway. #WhichHillary? pic.twitter.com/z3FHGFwDFh
— Julia Gumm (@jujubee_84) February 25, 2016
Another topic garnering attention is the Trans-Pacific Partnership. For those unfamiliar with the TPP, the government’s website explains it as a deal designed to facilitate trade between U.S. businesses and 11 countries with borders on the Pacific Ocean. Unsurprisingly, the government presents the TPP as an agreement with no downside.
In October 2015, CNN published a report on the TPP and Hillary Clinton, revealing how her stance has changed between her time as a member of the Obama administration and her presidential candidacy. During her term as Secretary of State, Clinton was an advocate for the trade deal, even though it was not an agreement originating in the State Department. Since beginning her White House bid in earnest, Clinton’s stance has changed dramatically, and she has now issued statements opposing the agreement.
#WhichHillary the one that signs #tpp ending net neutrality. food safety, affordable drugs and JOBS #NoTPP pic.twitter.com/DvUGIx3Edo
— CDHill (@CDHill9) February 25, 2016
Those asking “Which Hillary?” are not only questioning the differences between Clinton’s historical stances and current claims, but also the differences between what she says in public and her private reality. At a campaign event in Nevada in mid-February, Clinton gave a firm response to a question concerning her stance on Wall Street.
“I take a backseat to nobody in being very clear about what I will do to make sure Wall Street never crashes Main Street again, and that you can count on.”
Hillary Clinton’s response seems to indicate her willingness to take a stand against those on Wall Street whose actions led to the recession that began in 2008 and caused millions of Americans to lose homes and jobs. However, a report in Vanity Fair questioned the truth in Clinton’s statement because of the huge amount of financial support her campaign has received from Wall Street. The report specifically cited a payment of more than $600,000 she received from Goldman Sachs for a series of speeches.
If Hillary Clinton wants to stop “Which Hillary” from damaging her campaign and her chances of beating Bernie Sanders for the Democratic nomination, it is time for her to be completely honest with the American public. As voters appreciate truthfulness more and more, she might just find they accept answers like “I supported the TPP because the president told me to, and he was my boss” or “I supported my husband’s policies, because he was my husband.” Both of these answers are statements average Americans can believe, simply because they are answers many Americans have given themselves.
Finding answers Americans will accept concerning Clinton’s ties to Wall Street may be much harder. Most Americans will refuse to believe that a candidate who accepts millions from corporations will not put their interests first. Hillary Clinton has to assure the American public that she cannot be bought. Offering to release the transcripts of her Goldman Sachs-funded speeches might go a long way toward proving “Which Hillary” she really is.
[Photo by Gerald Herbert/AP Images]
