Clinton vs. Sanders, the Longest War

Published in Liberation
(France) on 4 April 2016
by Frédéric Autran (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Sophie Thresher. Edited by Melanie Rehfuss.
Hillary Clinton has had enough, and she is finding it harder and harder to hide. She’s sick of not being able to fully respond to Bernie Sanders’ criticisms, at the risk of alienating her Democratic rival’s supporters, who are indispensable support if she wins the nomination. A cold-blooded political animal, Hillary Clinton has mastered the code of public life to perfection. The former first lady learned how to manage her anxiety a long time ago.

But sometimes, the machine gets jammed, like on Thursday, outside a meeting in Purchase, New York. In this hamlet, the Democratic favorite smilingly lent herself to shaking hands and taking selfies. Suddenly, a young Greenpeace activist called out to her: “Thank you for tackling climate change. Will you act on your words and reject future fossil fuel money in your campaign?” The question pierced Hillary Clinton’s armor. With her index finger pointed at the person who had spoken, she replied, “I am so sick of the Sanders campaign lying about me! I’m sick of it!”

The scene soon ended up on YouTube and American television. The fight was followed by emails, with Sanders’ camp accusing the former secretary of state of being bought off by the petroleum industry, and Clinton’s rejecting the crude, unfounded allegations.

According to The Washington Post and The New York Times, Bernie Sanders’ statements are “exaggerated” and “misleading.” According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Hillary Clinton received more than $330,000 from donors with links to fossil fuels. The sum represents about 0.2 percent of the total contributions. Bernie Sanders (who received more than $53,000 dollars of donations linked to fossil fuels) adds that the oil and gas industries are also funding super PACs that support Clinton.

But above all, this episode illustrates Clinton’s growing frustration. Largely ahead in terms of delegates, she remains stuck in a tiresome internal battle with Bernie Sanders, the tone of which is growing ever harder.

For the time being, nothing indicates that the senator has the intention of pulling out. He won six out of the seven previous state contests, and he is marginally ahead in the polls in Wisconsin, which votes on Tuesday. Strengthened by a $44 million war fund, Brooklyn-born Sanders hopes to deprive the former New York senator of a victory in her adopted state. In the latest polls, Clinton’s lead has been considerably reduced.


Clinton-Sanders, la guerre la plus longue

Hillary Clinton en a marre. Et a de plus en plus de mal à le cacher. Marre de ne pouvoir répliquer pleinement aux attaques de Bernie Sanders, au risque de s’aliéner les partisans de son rival démocrate, soutiens indispensables si elle remporte l’investiture. Animal politique à sang froid, Hillary Clinton maîtrise à la perfection les codes de la vie publique. L’ancienne Première Dame a appris depuis longtemps à dominer ses nerfs.

Mais parfois, la machine s’enraye, comme jeudi, en marge d’une réunion à Purchase (New York). Dans ce hameau, la favorite démocrate se prête, souriante, aux poignées de mains et aux selfies avec ses supporteurs. Soudain, une jeune militante de Greenpeace l’interpelle : «Merci d’avoir parlé du changement climatique. Allez-vous traduire vos paroles en actes et rejeter à l’avenir l’argent des énergies fossiles dans votre campagne ?»La question fendille l’armure de Hillary Clinton. Index pointé vers son interlocutrice, elle réplique : «J’en ai tellement marre que la campagne de Sanders mente à mon sujet. J’en ai marre !»

La scène s’est aussitôt retrouvée sur YouTube et les télévisions américaines. S’en est suivi une bagarre par mails interposés, le camp de Sanders accusant l’ex-secrétaire d’Etat d’être à la solde de l’industrie pétrolière, celui de Clinton rejetant des allégations grossières et infondées.

Pour le Washington Post et le New York Times, les affirmations de Bernie Sanders sont «exagérées» et «trompeuses». D’après le Center for Responsive Politics, Hillary Clinton a reçu plus de 330 000 dollars (290 000 euros) de donateurs liés aux énergies fossiles. La somme ne représente que 0,2 % de l’ensemble des contributions. Bernie Sanders (qui a reçu plus de 53 000 dollars de dons liés aux énergies fossiles) ajoute que l’industrie des hydrocarbures finance également des groupes de soutien (Super PAC) à Clinton.

Mais cet épisode illustre surtout la frustration croissante de Clinton. Largement en avance en termes de délégués, elle reste engluée dans une pénible bataille interne avec Bernie Sanders, dont le ton ne cesse de se durcir.

Pour l’heure, rien n’indique que le sénateur ait l’intention de renoncer. Il a remporté six des sept derniers Etats et il est légèrement en tête dans les sondages dans le Wisconsin, qui vote ce mardi. Fort d’un trésor de guerre de 44 millions de dollars, Sanders (né à Brooklyn) espère priver, le 19 avril, l’ancienne sénatrice de New York d’une victoire annoncée dans son Etat d’adoption. Dans les derniers sondages, l’écart en faveur de Clinton (54 % contre 42 %) s’est nettement réduit.
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