Clinton: Millennials ‘May Still Have Some Questions About Me–I Get That’

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks at Temple University in Philadelphia, Monday, Sept. 19, 2016. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
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Hillary Clinton took both implicit and explicit swipes at Donald Trump in a Philadelphia speech aimed at young voters Monday, labeling the GOP nominee a “showman” who incites “hatred and violence.”

“We have to stand up to this hate. We cannot let it go on,” Clinton said.

Her remarks, delivered at Temple University, were geared at energizing a demographic that is by no means a fan of Trump, but has been skeptical of Clinton as well.

“Politics can be discouraging. This election in particularly can be downright depressing at times. But it matters, it really does,” Clinton said. “Every election is important — from school board to state senate to President — but this time is different.”

She covered numerous policy proposals related to the issues of interest to young voters, including green energy, college affordability, work-family balance and criminal justice reform.

“Everywhere I go young people also share their concerns about the divisiveness and discrimination we see in America today,” Clinton said, while touching on the Black Lives Matter movement, immigration and the challenges LGBT people face.

“More than previous generations, you understand that all these challenges are intersecting and we must take them on together,” she said.

But she sought to paint her Republican opponent as not just caring about the details of policy, but inciting “hatred and violence like we’ve seen before in any campaign.”

She spoke of “hate speech being normalized, the dog whistles being out in the open.”

“Yet despite this, I remain confidence that America’s best days are ahead of us,” Clinton said, pointing to the “inspiring young people I meet every day.”

Clinton’s speech came as some polling has found that young people opposed to Trump have gravitated towards the two main third party candidates — the Green Party’s Jill Stein and former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson, the Libertarian candidate — rather than to the Democratic nominee. Clinton also lagged with young voters in her primary against Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT). On Monday, Clinton acknowledged the struggles she’s faced with millennials.

“Even if you are totally opposed to Donald Trump, you may still have some questions about me — I get that and I want to do my best to answer those questions,” Clinton said. “I will never be the showman my opponent is, and you know what? That’s okay with me.”

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Notable Replies

  1. Avatar for imkmu3 imkmu3 says:

    So millennials (and others) what does Clinton need to do that she’s not already doing to win your vote?

  2. Avatar for bodie1 bodie1 says:

    Anyone else tired of Millennial whiners and their self absorbed, sanctimonious, entitled, AYSO even losers get trophies attitudes?

  3. Avatar for mymy mymy says:

    That is my question? I am beginning to wonder if her campaign (not her personally; maybe her PACs) need to start spreading rumors about his health, including mental health. The Newsweek guy said that he had evidence that DT was hospitalized with a nervous breakdown in 1991, and is gathering more proof.

  4. Avatar for imkmu3 imkmu3 says:

    I’m tired of people who can’t see that this election is about the country and not them personally. A third party vote = a vote for Trump. It really is that simple. If you want to keep Trump out of the White House, vote for the only candidate that can make that happen.

  5. Too bad the author of the horrible advice and fake speech that “Clinton should give” (which is mighty arrogant of him) on the front page, http://talkingpointsmemo.com/cafe/bernard-avishai-clinton-speech-cafe, didn’t listen to one of her actual speeches like this one. That milquetoast fake speech in the other article is wrong on so many accounts I’m surprised TPM bothered to publish it. Fantasies by someone who isn’t even in the campaign shouldn’t be front-page material, actual speeches and policies by the candidate themselves should. Maybe if more media published that there wouldn’t be as much of a gap between what Clinton is actually saying and what people think she is saying. /rant

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