Hillary Clinton’s top campaign officials “hated” one of her opponents in the Democratic primary and wanted to express their feelings on social media, according to illegally obtained emails published by WikiLeaks Tuesday.
The exchange began with an Aug. 11, 2015, email from Neera Tanden, a longtime Clinton confidante and co-chairwoman of her presidential transition team, to campaign chairman John Podesta. “You know what average Americans need?” Tanden wrote in the subject line.
“The smugness of Larry Lessig,” Tanden said in the email, referring to a little-known Harvard Law School professor running for the party’s presidential nomination. Podesta provided Tanden with his affirmation: “An everyday American pompous law professor,” he replied.
Tanden, who is the president of the liberal Center for American Progress, which was founded by Podesta, replied with even harsher words. “I [expletive] hate that guy,” Tanden said. “Like I’d like to kick the [expletive] out of him on Twitter … but I know that is dumb.”
Lawrence Lessig raised more than $1 million in contributions for his candidacy, but dropped out of the race Nov. 2 after failing to garner 1 percent support from Democrats surveyed.
The exchange was included in messages obtained from Podesta and released by WikiLeaks. The organization has published more than 17,000 messages taken from the Clinton chief this month and has said it could release around 30,000 more before the November election.
