Email: Clinton's 'Forceful' Gun Position Had Some Democrats 'Freaking'

Hillary Clinton’s “forceful” stance in favor of gun control caused some members of the Democratic Caucus to freak out, an email exchange published Wednesday shows.

Campaign staffers and outside strategists discussed the best way to approach issues such as President Obama’s handling of foreign policy, Wall Street, and gun control during a back and forth over an internal strategy memo in December 2015. Much of the conversation focused on how Clinton could differentiate herself from Obama in ways that would be advantageous to the campaign. One consultant pointed out during the exchange that Clinton was already “more forceful on guns/gun lobby than any other person who ever seriously ran for president” and some unnamed Democratic Caucus members were “freaking out about it.”

“I think the one thing missing from this very good strategic memo is positioning vis a vis [sic] Obama,” Clinton campaign chair John Podesta wrote. “We have more or less hugged him on economics, health care, and Wall Street. We have differentiated on Syria, but have not criticized. I think the question going into this debate is as much about his personal style as it is specific plans. I think there is a perception that he’s slouching into the San Bernadino [sic] events that the Republicans are successfully exploiting that. That may be OBE by the debate, but we need to figure out what her posture is on direct questions about the president’s performance.”

Karen Dunn, a D.C. lawyer and Clinton debate preparation strategist, told Podesta that Clinton was worried she was embracing President Obama too strongly on some issues.

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