After looking like a tough guy on the issue of Hillary’s server in televised pre-debate interviews, here’s how Martin O’Malley handled the issue after Bernie Sanders said he was sick and tired of hearing about her e-mails:
ANDERSON COOPER: Governor O’Malley, you expressed concern on the campaign trail that the Democratic Party is, and I quote, “being defined by Hillary Clinton’s email scandal.” You heard her answer, do you still feel that way tonight?
O’MALLEY: I believe that now that we’re finally having debates, Anderson, that we don’t have to be defined by the email scandal, and how long — what the FBI’s asking about. Instead, we can talk about affordable college, making college debt free, and all the issues. Which is why — and I see the chair of the DNC here, look how glad we are actually to be talking about the issues that matter the most to people around the kitchen table. We need to get wages to go up, college more affordable…
COOPER: …Thank you, governor.
O’MALLEY: …we need to make American 100 percent clean electric by 2050.
Remember Tim Pawlenty’s refusal to go after Romney on the health insurance mandate one day after labeling it “Obamneycare”? This is worse.
Memo to O’Malley and Sanders: If you want to beat Hillary Clinton, you have to go after her on the topic of her server, her effort to avoid FOIA and Congressional subpeonas, the national security risk, and her serial dishonesty in discussing the matter. You cannot overtake her if you insist a glaring weakness that has hurt her in the polls over the last few months is a non-issue and unworthy of further discussion. Talking about “clean electric” is not going to do it by itself. You are not charming enough. Your record is not sparking enough.
Think about it, Bernie Sanders argued that he was sick of hearing about the FBI’s investigation of his biggest rival. If your opponent is being investigated by the FBI, that should be your absolute favorite topic to discuss. That’s basic politics. Sanders might as well have screamed, “I don’t really want this nomination!”