Sanders apologizes to Clinton for data breach in US campaign

[rooster59]

Sanders apologizes to Clinton for data breach in US campaign

LISA LERER, Associated Press
JULIE PACE, Associated Press


MANCHESTER, New Hampshire (AP) — U.S. presidential candidate Bernie Sanders apologized to Hillary Clinton and his own supporters Saturday night for a breach of her campaign's valuable voter data, seeking to put the controversy to rest in a debate that quickly moved on to national security concerns and Americans' heightened fear of terrorism.

Clinton, the Democratic front-runner, kept an eye on the general election, sharply criticizing Donald Trump's plan to ban Muslims from entering the United States. She called the leader of the Republican race the Islamic State's "best recruiter."

"Mr. Trump has a great capacity to use bluster and bigotry to inflame people," said Clinton, the former U.S. secretary of state.

Clinton and Sanders, her closest challenger, entered the debate in the midst of one of their fiercest fights — about the campaign itself rather than a national or international issue. Clinton's campaign accused Sanders' team of stealing information used to target voters and anticipate what issues might motivate them. In response to the breach, the Democratic National Committee temporarily cut off Sanders' team's access to its own data, a move the Vermont senator said Saturday was an "egregious act."

Still, Sanders said his staff had acted improperly.

"This is not the type of campaign that we run," he said. Sanders' campaign fired a worker involved in the breach but also used the controversy to raise money, sending an email to supporters that said the national party had placed "its thumb on the scales in support of Hillary Clinton's campaign."

Clinton quickly accepted the apology, saying "We should move on because I don't think the American people are all that interested in this."

The debate, lasting more than two hours, was the third for Democrats and was expected to have low viewership given that it was scheduled on the last weekend before Christmas when many Americans have turned their attention to the holidays. It came as Clinton has solidified her standing atop the field, shaking off a rocky start and the controversy about her use of private email at the State Department.

Clinton and Sanders were joined on stage by former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley, who has struggled to be a factor in the race. O'Malley was aggressive in seeking to play a role in the debate, repeatedly talking over moderators and accusing his rivals of having outdated views on foreign policy.

In a heated exchange on gun control, O'Malley accused both Clinton and Sanders of having a "flip-flopping, political approach" to the contentious issue.

Clinton also defied moderators' efforts to cut her off at times, leading Sanders to call out, "Now this is getting to be fun."

While there was broad agreement among the Democratic contenders that the U.S. should not launch a ground war to defeat the Islamic State, they differed in the tactics they would take and whether the nation should seek regime change in Syria, where IS has a stronghold.

Clinton recommended more direct action than her competitors, calling for a no-fly zone over part of Syria and insisting that the U.S. must seek to remove Syrian President Bashar Assad from power.

"If the United States does not lead, there is not another leader — there is a vacuum," she said.

Sanders disagreed, saying the U.S. should first seek to defeat the Islamic State, calling Assad a "secondary issue" that should be dealt with over the course of years.

"Yeah, regime change is easy, getting rid of dictators is easy," Sanders said. "But before you do that, you've got to think about what happens the day after."

All three candidates stressed working more closely with Muslim-American communities to tackle radicalism at home — a sharp difference from the rhetoric of some Republican candidates. Returning to her focus on Trump, Clinton said, "If you're going to put together a coalition in the region to take on the threat of ISIS, you don't want to alienate the very countries you need to be part of the coalition."

Sanders sought to stand out on foreign policy by noting that he voted against the 2003 invasion of Iraq, an unpopular war Clinton supported. He said he does not support any "unilateral military action" but rather a coalition in which the U.S. works hand in hand with Muslim nations to fight the radical militant group.

Saturday's debate was the first for Democrats since the shooting in San Bernardino, California, where 14 people were killed by a married couple that authorities say had been radicalized. The incident, as well as earlier attacks in Paris, pushed national security to the forefront of the 2016 White House race.

The foreign policy focus has blunted Sanders' momentum in the Democratic race. The senator has deeply loyal supporters who are drawn to his economic- and inequality-focused campaign, but he's less comfortable discussing foreign policy issues.

Sanders sought to refocus on his core message of leveling the economic playing field for middle class Americans, including his call for free college tuition and a single-payer health care system. Clinton challenged Sanders on how he would pay for those proposals, suggesting he'd pass on the costs to states and middle class Americans.

She pledged that as president, she wouldn't raise taxes on families making $250,000 or less per year. "That is a pledge that I'm making," she said.

Sanders has accused Clinton of being too cozy with Wall Street and running a campaign funded by wealthy executives, charges she has rejected. Asked whether corporate America would love a Sanders presidency, he said simply, "No, I think they won't."

When Clinton was asked the same question by moderators, she quipped, "Everybody should."

-- (c) Associated Press 2015-12-20

[chuckd]

Great way to start a debate...getting on your knees to beg forgiveness from your opponent.

[Andaman Al]

Great way to start a debate...getting on your knees to beg forgiveness from your opponent.

Well that's something the Republicans should have been doing to each other several times so far, but I guess Sanders has a couple of qualities the Republicans don't - Integrity and moral courage (thats honesty and backbone for the red necks )

[JakeSully]

Incase people watching missed it.. the major problem of America is that Billionaires and Multi-Millionaires are made from cheap overseas labor leading to the American middle class becoming the working poor.

And the Republicans openly say our wages are too high and don't want a minimum wage increase.

ISIS may affect us 4 times in the next 4 years even with the best screening of individuals and lone wolves. How often does our low wages affect us with our ability to pay rent, heat, electricity and food?

I wish someone running for President/ Congress/ Senate other than Sanders would at least prioritize Americans over the concerns of billionaire donors or Islamic militants.

Edited December 20, 2015 by JakeSully

[chuckd]

Great way to start a debate...getting on your knees to beg forgiveness from your opponent.

Well that's something the Republicans should have been doing to each other several times so far, but I guess Sanders has a couple of qualities the Republicans don't - Integrity and moral courage (thats honesty and backbone for the red necks )

Oh, I think lots of red necks know what integrity and moral courage are. Sadly we haven't witnessed a lot of it in the past seven years from this administration, the Democrats under Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi or the debates last night.

You guys keep trying to pad the books for Bernie. He was toast the day he entered the race. Just another geriatric has-been socialist spending his golden years still on the government dole.

The only way he has a chance is if Hillary finally receives that well earned indictment.

Here's hoping Bernie is the candidate by default.

[Andaman Al]

Great way to start a debate...getting on your knees to beg forgiveness from your opponent.

Well that's something the Republicans should have been doing to each other several times so far, but I guess Sanders has a couple of qualities the Republicans don't - Integrity and moral courage (thats honesty and backbone for the red necks )

Oh, I think lots of red necks know what integrity and moral courage are. Sadly we haven't witnessed a lot of it in the past seven years from this administration, the Democrats under Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi or the debates last night.

You guys keep trying to pad the books for Bernie. He was toast the day he entered the race. Just another geriatric has-been socialist spending his golden years still on the government dole.

The only way he has a chance is if Hillary finally receives that well earned indictment.

Here's hoping Bernie is the candidate by default.

Please don't group me with the 'you guy's', I have no interest in Sanders, Clinton or any of the trash pack that the republicans offer. I am merely commenting on an item of current affairs, as I see it.

[Scott]

An off-topic post has been removed.

[NeverSure]

Incase people watching missed it.. the major problem of America is that Billionaires and Multi-Millionaires are made from cheap overseas labor leading to the American middle class becoming the working poor.

And the Republicans openly say our wages are too high and don't want a minimum wage increase.

ISIS may affect us 4 times in the next 4 years even with the best screening of individuals and lone wolves. How often does our low wages affect us with our ability to pay rent, heat, electricity and food?

I wish someone running for President/ Congress/ Senate other than Sanders would at least prioritize Americans over the concerns of billionaire donors or Islamic militants.

You are aware that Bill and Hillary Clinton, who left the White House "broke" in Hillary's words, are now worth about $200 million dollars, much of it in contributions from foreign countries? This is the real scandal that seems to avoid scrutiny.

[NeverSure]

From the OP:

"The debate... was expected to have low viewership given that it was scheduled on the last weekend before Christmas when many Americans have turned their attention to the holidays."

No, it had low viewership because the candidates are boooooring. And yes, it was the least watched debate this year. LINK

[Andreas2]

From the OP:

"The debate... was expected to have low viewership given that it was scheduled on the last weekend before Christmas when many Americans have turned their attention to the holidays."

No, it had low viewership because the candidates are boooooring. And yes, it was the least watched debate this year. LINK

Sorry to hear that and it really surprises me.

I missed the latest Democratic debate but after having seen the first it is difficult for me to believe you.

It's only a summary of the first debate (and I confess, it's the only video report I have seen about it) but listen again what intelligent, profound conversations the candidates had:

Please, don't hesitate to point out where exactly and why you disagree with them.

[CMBob]

You are aware that Bill and Hillary Clinton, who left the White House "broke" in Hillary's words, are now worth about $200 million dollars, much of it in contributions from foreign countries? This is the real scandal that seems to avoid scrutiny.

No, I wasn't aware of that.....and neither is Forbes magazine which says (as of December of 2015) their combined net worth is 111 million (which, of course, surely isn't chickenfeed). Not that you may be a tad biased but could you explain the results of your obvious personal investigation that any foreign contribution (other than speaking fees) ended up in either of their pockets?

As is often heard, we're all entitled to our own biases but nobody ought to be entitled to their own facts.

[ggt]

...the past several years have left me with a somewhat jaded view of all things political...especially when it comes from the Dems...

I view this as a perfect opportunity to turn the tide of criticism from Hillary's lack of good judgement as Sec. of State...into a love fest for the poor sweet victim Hillary...didn't she so graciously forgive Sanders?

This was a Dem insider...possibly trumped up debacle...of no significance or consequence...just more deflecting the real issues of the day...Hillary's incompetent leadership and bad judgement...