Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks at the 2016 National Association of Black Journalists’ and National Association of Hispanic Journalists’ Hall of Fame Luncheon at Marriott Wardman Park in Washington, Friday, Aug. 5, 2016.
Advertisement
“That’s how I think about it and that’s how I’m going to try in this campaign to respond to and rebuke all of the terrible things he (Trump) says on a pretty regular basis, but not about me, I could care less about that”, Clinton said responding to a question about her Republican rival.
A reporter from ESPN asked Clinton to recall the “most meaningful conversation” that she has had “with an African American friend” at a convention jointly hosted by the National Association of Black Journalists and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.
The president of the NABJ described the event as a large press conference, but many reporters who frequently cover the Democratic nominee pointed out that fielding a few pre-selected questions doesn’t really count as a press conference.
One of her biggest applause lines came when she was asked to name a significant conversation with a black friend.
“What happened today is Hillary Clinton took questions from members of the media”, Medina said. It was the first time since accepting the Democratic nomination that Clinton had met with major organizations representing communities of color.
“I hope you will compare what I’m proposing to what my husb-.my opponent is talking about”, Clinton said, urging the reporters to scrutinize Trump more closely.
“I believe that America is better than this”, she said referencing Trump. Moderator duties were split between NBC News’ Kristen Welker and Telemundo’s Lori Montenegro, who both pitched several questions to the former secretary of state before turning to a few pre-selected journalists in the audience.
At the same time Clinton said she will also keep reaching out to Americans of all races and ethnicities and where ever they live, to tell them that she is not going to forget about them after this election.
‘Donna Brazille is here – she’s our acting chair of the DNC!’ Clinton said, to cheers for Brazille.
Last month, FBI Director James Comey told Congress that classified materials were included in some of the emails on Clinton’s server. The former first lady previously had said she never sent or received any classified information at all in her private account, a claim that has been thoroughly debunked.
“We are the voice in newsrooms for those forced to be silent”, he said ahead of Clinton’s press conference.
“The director had said that my answers in my Federal Bureau of Investigation interview were truthful”, Clinton responded. “What I told the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which he said was truthful, is consistently what I’ve said publicly”.
In her remarks Friday, Clinton called out the names of journalists of color that “denounce injustice” and took stands against the powerful.
After being pressed to say if she’ll live up to Democrats’ promises to pass comprehensive immigration reform or take Latino voters for granted as in 2008 and 2012, Clinton said she takes Hispanics “seriously” and will make immigration overhaul a priority.
Advertisement
Clinton acknowledged her campaign challenges, which includes distrust by a majority of voters.
