Handpicked Reporters Lob Softballs at Hillary

by Stephen Lendman

Hillary hasn't had a press conference in 277 days through September 7, not wanting to risk discussion of her deplorable record, including racketeering related to her foundation, along with perjury in testimony before Congress and to FBI investigators.

She's now letting handpicked supportive reporters travel aboard her campaign plane. Flying from one Labor Day picnic to another, she held an informal Q&A session, a friendly chat, far short of a traditional news conference open to all members of the press wishing to attend.

The Trump campaign responded to her stunt, saying "Hiding Hillary: Day 276…since Clinton has held a press conference."

Her campaign director Jennifer Palmieri cut off a reporter in mid-sentence, trying to ask her about a new CNN poll, showing Trump leading her nationally by a 45 - 43% margin - supportive questions alone permitted, critical ones blocked.

Instead of holding her feet to the fire on issues demanding answers, her views on US imperial wars, TPP, her pay-to-play foundation racket, and much more of major concern weren't discussed.

The session aboard her campaign plane was more friendly tete-a-tete than serious Q&A. "How was your Labor Day weekend," one reporter asked? Others asked if she had a Labor Day message, was she ready for the final weeks of campaigning, and similar questions unrelated to major world and national issues.

Voters can likely expect more of the same throughout the campaign's final weeks.

Separately, 88 retired US generals and admirals endorsed Trump, a supportive letter organized by General Sidney Shachnow and Admiral Charles Williams, saying in part:

"The 2016 election affords the American people an urgently needed opportunity to make a long-overdue course correction in our national security posture and policy." 

"As retired senior leaders of America's military, we believe that such a change can only be made by someone who has not been deeply involved with, and substantially responsible for, the hollowing out of our military and the burgeoning threats facing our country around the world. For this reason, we support Donald Trump's candidacy to be our next Commander-in-Chief."

Trump responded, saying "(i)t is a great honor to have such amazing support from so many distinguished retired military leaders. I thank each of them for their service and their confidence in me to serve as commander-in-chief." 

"Keeping our nation safe and leading our armed forces is the most important responsibility of the presidency. Under my administration, we will end the weak foreign policy of the last eight years, rebuild our military, give our troops clear rules of engagement and take care of our veterans when they come home." 

"We can only Make America Great Again if we ensure our military remains the finest fighting force in the world, and that's exactly what I will do as president."

Trump wants military spending increased at a time America's only enemies are ones it invents. Hillary wants US-dominated NATO used to wage WW III by attacking Russia, China and Iran.

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. 

His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com. 

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