Steve Hildebrand provided advice to Hillary Clinton to help shut out Bernie Sanders

Wikileaks released a number of e-mails from the Hillary Clinton Campaign recently, including several communications between the Clinton campaign and former Obama campaign advisor Steve Hildebrand:

Re: FW: Some unsolicited advice

From:[email protected]

To: [email protected]

Date: 2016-01-20 00:49

Subject: Re: FW: Some unsolicited advice

Thanks Steve. I am generally trying to get us aiming in the same direction. Bernie has gone decidedly negative and personal and like most things maybe he can get away with it. But we live with a double standard, so I think it’s a mistake to follow him down that path.

On Tuesday, January 19, 2016, Steve Hildebrand <[email protected]> wrote:

> John,

>

> I sent this to Joel Benenson a few days ago. Thought I would send to you

> as well. Hillary has got to get away from Washington speak and begin

> immediately to find an emotional connection to regular Americans. She needs

> to have a greater understanding of what people and families are going

> through every day. And, then she needs to find an emotional connection.

> This has to turn around now. Her speechwriters, ad writers, communication

> staff – she and President Clinton – all need to cut Washington rhetoric

> from their vocabularies and all scripts. She also needs to be bold and not

> be politically calculating. Americans and certainly primary voting

> Democrats are sick of the Clintons being cautious and calculating.

>

> She can win this, but she’s got to find a way to connect with voters and > stop worrying about Washington pols and press. The American people want to

> know if she gets them.

> > > —— Forwarded Message

> *From: *Steve Hildebrand <[email protected]>

> *Date: *Sat, 16 Jan 2016 20:10:07 -0600

> *To: *Joel Benenson <[email protected]

>

> *Conversation: *Some unsolicited advice

> *Subject: *Some unsolicited advice

>

> Joel,

>

> I hope you are doing well and hanging in there. I’ve have kept my thoughts

> about the presidential race largely to myself, but I’m very nervous that

> she is losing ground (I don’t know that since I’m not involved – just a

> hunch).

>

> That being said, she should be connecting with voters in a better way. I > just don’t think she’s using the right words.

>

> The Clintons too often use language that is for Washington insiders and

> not for the rest of us out here in America. With Trump attacking Pres.

> Clinton for allegations of infidelity, she should not respond with “he can

> make personal attacks” or suggest that this is what Republicans have always

> done. Instead, she should make this a VERY PERSONAL MOMENT. She is failing

> to connect with voters – in large part, I believe, because she uses

> Washington speak. She should not just be connecting with women voters in a

> better way, they should be energized in a big way. She’s failing in this

> regard. Dump the Washington political speak immediately – including

> partisan language. Replace it with words that average voters understand.

> When she talks about Trump or Cruz or other Republicans, she should attack

> them for their policies – not even mention that they are Republicans. I

> also believe she’s making a mistake by attacking Sanders in a personal way.

> People grew tired of this from the Clintons. It’s not what they want to

> see. GET A PERSONAL CONNECTION.

>

> I don’t know what the words are exactly, but she should say something like:

>

> “While Mr. Trump makes these deeply personal attacks, he’s far from

> perfect himself. I’ve been married to Bill Clinton for more than 40 years.

> He is and always has been the love of my life. We’ve raised an amazing

> daughter and I love being a grandmother. Our marriage hasn’t been perfect –

> the vast majority of marriages aren’t. While being in public life the

> majority of our 40 years together, the American people have heard more than

> their share. I’ve chosen my path – to make my marriage work. I don’t walk

> away from a commitment. There are millions of women across America just

> like me and there are millions of loving couples who chose their path. As

> President, I will fight hard for American families – creating jobs,

> fighting to raise wages, continuing to ensure millions more have the

> protections of health insurance. I will do everything I can to help

> families get ahead and be more financially secure.”

>

> “The last thing Washington needs, the last thing America needs is a

> politician like Donald Trump to divide us, to create fear, to incite racism

> and constantly run people down. His mouth spews hatred. And while he might

> be speaking a good game for 30% of the Republican base, his shallow

> policies would hurt, not help the majority of the people who are in his

> camp.”

>

> “America is strongest when we are united. A true American patriot will

> vigorously defend our country from it’s enemies. Donald Trump has a lot to

> prove to the American people that his words, actions and policies are best

> for America. I served as Secretary of State. I know what it means to stand

> strong against enemies abroad. While he throws political grenades in an

> attempt to win the votes of the extreme side of the Republican base, he

> has no clue how destructive his rhetoric is – how much it’s dividing our

> country which makes us weaker. Politicians in Washington have done enough

> damage when they divide us – when they themselves refuse to work together

> for the best of our nation.”

>

> “As President, I will work my tail off to unite our nation to make us

> stronger. And, I will challenge any politician – Democrat or Republican –

> to get off the politics of destruction and join together to make America

> even stronger.”

>

> “Mr. Trump should also understand that American families need a champion

> who is f for their future. Donald Trump is so far removed from the daily

> lives of American families that he doesn’t understand that his policies

> will kill jobs, will take health insurance away from millions of families,

> and put more guns in the hands of dangerous people.”

>

>

> For what it’s worth – keep her grounded and always thinking about what

> American families are going through – not what is happening with

> politicians in Washington. Maybe none of this is helpful – but I hope it

> is. If there is anything I can do, please ask.

> > Best of luck to you and the entire campaign.

>

> Steve H.

> 605-261-8988

> —— End of Forwarded Message >

Read this and other Hildebrand related messages to the Clinton Campaign here.