In her ear the whole time, spurring her on to cast blame on others and never admit to anything, was her husband. Neither Clinton could accept the simple fact that Hillary had hamstrung her own campaign and dealt the most serious blow to her own presidential aspirations.
That state of denial would become more obvious than ever to her top aides and consultants during one conference call in the thick of the public discussion of her server. Joel Benenson, Mandy Grunwald, Jim Margolis, John Anzalone, John Podesta, Mook, Huma Abedin and Dan Schwerin were among the small coterie who huddled in Abedins mostly bare corner office overlooking the East River at the campaigns Brooklyn headquarters. Hillary and Bill, who rarely visited, joined them by phone.
Hillarys severe, controlled voice crackled through the line first. It carried the sound of a disappointed teacher or mother delivering a lecture before a whipping. That back end was left to Bill, who lashed out with abandon. Eyes cast downward, stomachs turning both from the scare tactics and from their own revulsion at being chastised for Hillarys failures Hillarys talented and accomplished team of professionals and loyalists simply took it. There was no arguing with Bill Clinton.
You havent buried this thing, the ruddy-cheeked former president rasped. You havent figured out how to get Hillarys core message to the voters. This has been dragging on for months, he thundered, and nothing youve done has made a damn bit of difference. Voters want to hear about Hillarys plans for the economy, and youre not making that happen. Now, do your damn jobs.
We got an ass-chewing, one of the participants recalled months later.
