The Clinton campaign took a shot at a nurses union, which threw its support behind Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders during the Democratic presidential primary an e-mail chain shows.
According to the online communications of campaign chairman John Podesta that were reportedly hacked and later appeared on WikiLeaks, an Aug 9, 2015 email from campaign manager Robby Mook requested that staff explain to the press that National Nurses United is a “fringe” organization.
“On the nurses–can we be ready w background for the press team on how fringe they are? Also have they praised HRC before?” Mook said.
Campaign labor outreach director Nikki Budzinski replied, “I’m going to circle back with Tony tonight to find that out (about HRC praise). I would be wary of trying to attack them as fringe but I think pointing out the nurse support we do have (I’ll have that ready with AFT) and HRC’s record should help. But you know the press will love this story. Finding a creative way to shake it I think is worth the effort.”
Mook responded, “Totally agree. I’m just worried less experienced reporters won’t understand that they’re not a ‘real’ union.”
Budzinski said, “Got it. I’ll work on that and maybe research can also find some examples of this too. I’ll keep digging.”
According to the Huffington Post, NNU was the most vocal of Sanders supporters, especially at his rallies and while Sanders endorsed Clinton for the presidency his strongest supporters at NNU refuse to do so and the union still refuses to endorse the former Secretary of State.
“Bernie and Bernie’s base may be in … different places about this,” RoseAnn DeMoro, the executive director of NNU, told The Washington Post. “What the Clinton people called sanctimonious was our effort to act on progressive policies. What they should do is act like adults, and say yes, we sent these emails. Instead they’re trying to start a new Cold War. She’s going to win this election overwhelmingly. Why don’t they just accept responsibility? It’s the same paradigm as Trump.”