Democrats tried to come up with jokes for President Obama to deliver on the topic of Hillary Clinton’s private server shortly after it was revealed, but Clinton campaign officials vetoed most of them, according to new leaked emails published by WikiLeaks.
A March 13, 2015 email exchange began with Jon Lovett, who served as a speechwriter for both Obama and Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe. Lovett emailed McAuliffe communications director Brian Coy to suggest a fake Clinton email joke that Obama or McAuliffe could use at the 130th Gridiron Dinner two days later.
The joke, Lovett said, would involve an email from Clinton (HRod16) to Obama speechwriter Jon Favreau (JonFavreau08), with Clinton saying, “Hey, Favs. Sure looking forward to seeing YOU back out on the road!”
Coy apparently forwarded the idea to Clinton communications director Jennifer Palmieri. She replied that McAuliffe could use the joke, but that the president should not. She also suggested that they include a visual display, and make fun of Republicans instead.
“This would be for a Macker bit, not POTUS,” Palmieri said. “He would have photos of printed out emails from HRC to others. Thinking like … one from HRC to Jason Chafetz [sic] who took over from Issa, wants to subpoena HRC’s server, and literally has his gmail address printed on his official business card.”
“Maybe a chain between HRC and the Republican 2016ers that have personal email addresses like Jeb, Walker, Christie, etc,” Palmieri wrote. “Appreciate any thoughts from you creative genius! And for fans of Favs’ Facebook page – could do [the Favreau joke].”
Lovett said it was too late to accommodate Palmieri’s request for visuals at the dinner. Coy replied, “Thanks, we’re trying to work with them to get something in that indicates that she’s in on the joke here, we’ll see what they come up with.”
Lovett replied with a list of options that made light of public figures including New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former President George W. Bush, and Vice President Joe Biden.
From: [email protected] To: [email protected]
I miss you. I miss talking to you. Forget it, I’m just kidding. I shouldn’t have sent this. Unless you agree. Call me?
From: [email protected] To: [email protected]
Miss u, bro. By the way I asked dad’s lawyer friend (Clarence Thomas) and you’re wrong: nothing in the constitoosh says I can’t be VICE president.
FROM: [email protected] TO: [email protected]
OK, I cann barely type this but my hand i sstuck insdie the vendign machine aand if I let go I lose the snickers, tell me what to do boss.
FROM: [email protected] TO: [email protected]
We still on for yoga? Want to get my shavasana on.
Coy forwarded the suggestions to Hillary for America Director Josh Schwerin. They ultimately ended up in the hands of Clinton campaign officials including deputy spokesman Kristina Schake, press secretary Nick Merrill, campaign manager Robby Mook, vice chair Huma Abedin, and campaign chair John Podesta.
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The team largely vetoed the jokes involving Democrats. “See if HRC one seems okay. For our and [McAuliffe’s] politics I would not do Biden one,” Palmieri said. I like the “we still on for yoga part,” Abedin said. “I’m not sure you need the second line.” Palmieri replied, “Yes, you are right. Will dump that.”
The record reveals Obama ultimately used the issue at the Gridiron to make fun of himself. “Think about how things have changed since 2008. Back then, I was the young, tech-savvy candidate of the future. Now I’m yesterday’s news, and Hillary has got a server in her house. I didn’t even know you could have one of those in your house. I am so far behind,” he said.
The exchange was included in a trove of emails from Podesta’s personal Gmail account. WikiLeaks has published 9,011 messages obtained from Podesta since Friday.
