The initial remarks were made during a star-studded fundraiser in downtown NY, which Barbra Streisand headlined.
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Although she cautioned her comments were “grossly generalistic”, the blunt commentary at a New York City fund-raiser specifically targeted the nebulous alt-right movement that Mr. Trump has courted, whose philosophical leaders in a press conference this week outlined their plans for an ethno-state where Jews might or might not be welcome.
But she went on to bash Trump, listing a number of “deplorable” things about her opponent.
He has given voice to their websites that used to only have 11,000 people, now have 11 million.
Not surprisingly, Clinton’s “deplorables” comment didn’t sit well with the Trump campaign.
A group of people backing the Republican nominee is “racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, Islamophobic – you name it”, Mrs Clinton, the Democratic presidential nominee, said at a campaign fund-raiser on Friday at Cipriani Wall Street, an upscale Italian restaurant in NY.
“What’s truly deplorable isn’t just that Hillary Clinton made an inexcusable mistake in front of wealthy donors and reporters happened to be around to catch it, it’s that Clinton revealed just how little she thinks of the hard-working men and women of America”, Trump senior communications adviser Jason Miller said in a statement. “I regret saying ‘half” – that was wrong”, Clinton said in a statement, only partially walking back her argument that the Republican nominee has many followers who are “racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, Islamaphobic”.
“Wow, Hillary Clinton was SO INSULTING to my supporters, millions of wonderful, hard-working people. I think it will cost her at the Polls!”
Others said the statement was mild compared to those made by Trump.
On Thursday, Clinton slammed Trump for kicking off his political career by questioning whether President Barack Obama was actually born in the United States.
Clinton also echoed her campaign on Friday when she urged her supporters – some of whom paid $50,000 to attend the fundraiser with Streisand – to not get complacent.
‘Hillary Clinton’s low opinion of the people that support this campaign should be denounced in the strongest possible terms, ‘ Mike Pence, the governor of in and Trump’s running mate, said at the Values Voter Summit in Washington.
Clinton then pivoted and tried to characterize the other half of Trump’s supporters, putting them in “that other basket” and saying they need empathy.
Clinton’s comments were followed by a concert by Streisand, who performed a version of the Stephen Sondheim song “Send in the Clowns” that parodied the NY businessman.
“Look at the #BasketOfDeplorables in Pensacola Florida last night! And she wouldn’t be prosecuted”.
The comment was reminiscent of Trump’s January description of the loyalty of his supporters.
Her comments led to a firestorm of critcism, even from some Democrat commentators and on Saturday she backtracked, saying that she regretted saying “half”. “It’s like incredible”, he said.
“She referred to those people as irredeemable”, he said, before launching into a defense of Trump voters. “And he has lifted them up”.
As I said, many of Trump’s supporters are hard-working Americans who just don’t feel like the economy or our political system are working for them.
It could prove a stumble for a seasoned – and polarizing – politician who wants to lead a country that includes many who have embraced Trump’s exhortations to “lock her up”.
Clinton has made similar comments in the past.
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“I don’t know what the exact percentage is, but there’s no doubt Donald Trump is drawing out the worst impulses of his supporters ranging from racism to the outrageous chants of ‘lock her up, ‘” said Jim Manley, a Democratic strategist.
