Hillary Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta really dislikes Democratic operative and strategist David Brock, according to newly released emails that were illegally obtained by Wikileaks.
Podesta had been sent a link to a Politico article back in Feb. 2015 about Brock resigning from the Priorities USA Action Super PAC. Brock claimed at the time that officials at Priorities were conducting “an orchestrated political hit job” on Brock’s other groups, American Bridge and Media Matters, both pro-Clinton groups.
After being sent the Politico link, Podesta responded: “As Forrest Gump might say crazy is as crazy does.”
In Jan. 2016 — nearly a year after that email — Podesta was still hating on Brock. In one email from that time, Podesta said he was “pissed” that Team Clinton allowed Brock to walk back an attack on his own because he didn’t do it and it made the campaign look bad.
“Yes pissed, “Podesta wrote. “Held by our response team that wanted to let him walk it back on his own So three hours later after he still had not done it, we are characterized as having a belated response.”
He later added that “Trusting David Brock probably doesn’t make a lot of sense.”
The Washington Free Beacon’s Brent Scher has previously documented more of Podesta’s ire toward Brock, including canceling on him several times, including once telling Brock he couldn’t attend an “After After Party” for the White House Correspondents’ Dinner because it was “Way past my bedtime.”
Podesta also once canceled on a book party for Brock being hosted by his brother. When Democratic fundraiser Mary Pat Bonner said she thought Podesta was cooking, he insisted that he “only cook[s] for Hillary.”
Also in Jan. 2016, Podesta emailed Clinton staffers asking if he should tell Brock to “chill out” when he made reference to Clinton’s then-opponent Bernie Sanders’ physical fitness.
“We’re fighting on who would make a better President, not on who has a better Physical Fitness Test,” Podesta wrote.
Later that month, Podesta asked Clinton ally Neera Tanden whether she thought Brock was “an unhinged narcissist.”
Brock rose to fame in the 1990’s attacking the Clintons at the American Spectator, but then switched sides and became one of their staunchest defenders. Podesta, it seems, doesn’t think highly of his help.
Ashe Schow is a commentary writer for the Washington Examiner.
