The New York Times argued Tuesday night that for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton to win over “skeptics,” she will need to be more forthcoming about her political history.
In an unsigned editorial, after Clinton had won several more primary states and solidified her path to becoming the Democratic nominee, the Times said that Clinton can begin wooing supporters from her rival Bernie Sanders by not being so evasive on certain issues.
“The surest path to winning over these skeptics is to stop dodging some aspects of her record,” said the Times. “That includes speaking with greater detail and complete candor about her changes on policy positions. Releasing transcripts from those Wall Street speeches would be a great first step toward showing those who want to support her that she is willing to earn their votes through transparency. If she chooses not to do these things, skeptical voters’ doubts are likely to linger, and deepen.”
Clinton, under pressure from Sanders’ populist appeal, has shifted positions on some issues, including taking a more adversarial tone toward big financial institutions, even though she gave speeches to Goldman Sachs for hundreds of thousands of dollars in speaking fees.
Critics, including Democrats, have called on Clinton to release transcripts of those speeches, though she has declined, insisting there is a double standard between her and Republicans who may have given similar speeches.
