Skip to main content

The context you need, when you need it

When news breaks, you need to understand what actually matters — and what to do about it. At Vox, our mission to help you make sense of the world has never been more vital. But we can’t do it on our own.

We rely on readers like you to fund our journalism. Will you support our work and become a Vox Member today?

Join now

Bernie Sanders: Americans “are sick and tired of hearing about [Clinton’s] damn emails”

Sen. Bernie Sanders is fed up with all the talk about Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server during her time as secretary of state — and wants the country to focus on the issues.

During Tuesday’s Democratic debate, Sanders said:

I think the secretary is right. And that is that the American people are sick and tired of hearing about your damn emails. … The middle class, Anderson [Cooper], let me say something about the media as well. I go around the country, talk to a whole lot of people. Middle class in this country is collapsing. We have 27 million people living in poverty. We have massive wealth and inequality. It’s cost us millions of decent jobs. The American people want to know whether we’re going to have a democracy as a as a result. Enough of the emails. Let’s talk about the real issues facing America.

This answer obviously plays well with Democrats, who by and large feel that the email issue has taken up far too much attention compared with issues like the economy and income inequality.

Obviously, this answer wouldn’t work as well for a Republican audience. They genuinely believe Clinton can’t be trusted. So to them, Clinton’s use of a private email server as secretary of state seems like yet another attempt to avoid public accountability while she was in office.

To that end, the email issue very likely won’t change anyone’s mind about Clinton. If you already don’t like her, it’ll probably confirm all the bad things you think about her. But if you’re open to voting for Clinton, the email discussion looks more like desperate political posturing that distracts from the real issues.


More in Politics

Podcasts
The Supreme Court abortion pills case, explainedThe Supreme Court abortion pills case, explained
Podcast
Podcasts

How Louisiana brought mifepristone back to SCOTUS.

By Peter Balonon-Rosen and Sean Rameswaram
Politics
Trump’s China policy is nearly the exact opposite of what everyone expectedTrump’s China policy is nearly the exact opposite of what everyone expected
Politics

As Trump heads to China, attention and resources are being shifted from Asia to yet another war in the Middle East.

By Joshua Keating
Politics
Are far-right politics just the new normal?Are far-right politics just the new normal?
Politics

Liberals are preparing for a longer war with right-wing populists than they once expected.

By Zack Beauchamp
The Logoff
Flavored vapes doomed Trump’s FDA headFlavored vapes doomed Trump’s FDA head
The Logoff

Why Marty Makary is out at the FDA, briefly explained.

By Cameron Peters
Politics
Virginia Democrats’ irresponsible new plan to save their gerrymanderVirginia Democrats’ irresponsible new plan to save their gerrymander
Politics

Democrats just handed the Supreme Court’s Republicans a loaded weapon.

By Ian Millhiser
The Logoff
Can Trump lower gas prices?Can Trump lower gas prices?
The Logoff

What suspending the gas tax would mean for you, briefly explained.

By Cameron Peters