ADVERTISEMENT

'Morning Joe' Pans Clinton Campaign's 'Hamfisted' Treatment of Press

July 6, 2015

When Hillary Clinton announced her presidential candidacy she promised a new relationship with the press, but over Independence Day weekend, she didn't do a lot to further that pledge.

Clinton staffers roped away members of the press from her during a parade in New Hampshire, claiming it was to allow voters easier access to Clinton after protesters and media got in the way.

Morning Joe host Joe Scarborough called the move "hamfisted" Monday. When comparing the way that Jeb Bush campaigns to the way that Clinton campaigns, panelist Nicolle Wallace pointed out that Bush goes into crowds and engages with voters while Clinton literally ropes them away from her.

"It’s a great contrast. I think it matters to the degree that it fuels that narrative that she’s walled off, that the Clintons play by their own rules, that there's no access because they are hiding something, to the degree it’s another proof point, an image to further the narrative about her that's the most potentially damaging," Wallace said.

Wallace also said the incident by itself was not damaging but when one strings all of the incidents along that it is damaging and gives the impression that Clinton is an "elite politician" and out of touch.

Fellow panelist Katty Kay added the campaign would not want images like that out on social media.