Let’s Talk Clinton: David Halberstam

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. . . next luminary . . .

Clinton is a terrific candidate, and not in as bad a hole as people claim.

He’s stumbled. But if he shows a clear vision and moves the country ahead on critical issues like NAFTA, health care, and the economy, I think that he’ll hold the center and the American people will accept his bona fides.

All the judging on the week-in-review [programs] and all the report cards aren’t as bad as they seem. The American people are fair-minded and don’t like the hounding and out-of-control harassment on Whitewater and the like.

We long ago lost the leverage of the political party system because of TV. But there was leverage in being a Cold War president. When that card was pulled, you’re talking about a diminished presidency. Clinton’s got fewer aces than candidates in the past. It makes him seem less skillful. But I think he’s a very good politician. It’s foolish to underestimate him.

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PLEASE—BEFORE YOU CLICK AWAY!

“Lying.” “Disgusting.” “Scum.” “Slime.” “Corrupt.” “Enemy of the people.” Donald Trump has always made clear what he thinks of journalists. And it’s plain now that his administration intends to do everything it can to stop journalists from reporting things it doesn’t like—which is most things that are true.

We’ll say it loud and clear: At Mother Jones, no one gets to tell us what to publish or not publish, because no one owns our fiercely independent newsroom. But that also means we need to directly raise the resources it takes to keep our journalism alive. There’s only one way for that to happen, and it’s readers like you stepping up. The deadline’s almost here. Please help us reach our $150k membership goal by May 31.

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