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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Hillary Clinton's Facebook Q&A: time for US to confront 'hard truths' on race | Hillary Clinton's Facebook Q&A: time for US to confront 'hard truths' on race |
| (about 14 hours later) | |
| Hillary Clinton has again called for the US to confront the “hard truths” about racial inequality during an online question-and-answer session on Facebook that included remarks on a range of topics from criminal justice reform to her pantsuit preference. | |
| In the Facebook chat, Clinton was asked what she would do to “dismantle structural racism” in the US, just days after two Democratic challengers were heckled by Black Lives Matter protesters at a progressive conference in Phoenix. Her response echoed earlier comments she has made about race and racial inequality in the country. | |
| “Black lives matter,” Clinton wrote in response to a question by Washington Post journalist Wesley Lowery that referenced the conference. “Everyone in this country should stand firmly behind that.” | “Black lives matter,” Clinton wrote in response to a question by Washington Post journalist Wesley Lowery that referenced the conference. “Everyone in this country should stand firmly behind that.” |
| Clinton proposed body cameras for all police departments, alternatives to incarceration for low-level offenders, and greater investment in early childhood education. She also called for the expansion of voting rights and universal, automatic voter registration. | Clinton proposed body cameras for all police departments, alternatives to incarceration for low-level offenders, and greater investment in early childhood education. She also called for the expansion of voting rights and universal, automatic voter registration. |
| “Black people across America still experience racism every day,” she said. “Since this campaign started, I’ve been talking about the work we must do to address the systemic inequities that persist in education, in economic opportunity, in our justice system. But we have to do more than talk – we have to take action.” She pledged to continue talking about these issues during the campaign. | “Black people across America still experience racism every day,” she said. “Since this campaign started, I’ve been talking about the work we must do to address the systemic inequities that persist in education, in economic opportunity, in our justice system. But we have to do more than talk – we have to take action.” She pledged to continue talking about these issues during the campaign. |
| On Saturday, Democratic challengers Bernie Sanders and Martin O’Malley were heckled and repeatedly interrupted during an appearance at the progressive Netroots Nation conference, as protesters demanded that candidates respond to the issue of police brutality, especially in minority communities. Clinton did not attend the conference. | On Saturday, Democratic challengers Bernie Sanders and Martin O’Malley were heckled and repeatedly interrupted during an appearance at the progressive Netroots Nation conference, as protesters demanded that candidates respond to the issue of police brutality, especially in minority communities. Clinton did not attend the conference. |
| Now, @HillaryClinton FB post is solid. She also had time to craft it. She should've been at Netroots. | Now, @HillaryClinton FB post is solid. She also had time to craft it. She should've been at Netroots. |
| Though the Facebook chat was aimed at engaging ordinary voters, reporters took the opportunity to press the former US secretary of state on various policy points. Among the thousands of questions Clinton received, she responded to just 12 questions - four of which were posed by reporters. | Though the Facebook chat was aimed at engaging ordinary voters, reporters took the opportunity to press the former US secretary of state on various policy points. Among the thousands of questions Clinton received, she responded to just 12 questions - four of which were posed by reporters. |
| The Huffington Post’s Laura Bassett asked her to respond to Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell’s latest jab, in which he said: “The gender card alone isn’t enough.” | |
| Clinton responded: “Wow. If that’s what he said, Mitch McConnell really doesn’t get it. There is a gender card being played in this campaign. It’s played every time Republicans vote against giving women equal pay, deny families access to affordable child care or family leave, refuse to let women make decisions about their health or have access to free contraception. These aren’t just women’s issues, they are economic issues that drive growth and affect all Americans. Anyone who doesn’t get that doesn’t understand what our lives are like.” | Clinton responded: “Wow. If that’s what he said, Mitch McConnell really doesn’t get it. There is a gender card being played in this campaign. It’s played every time Republicans vote against giving women equal pay, deny families access to affordable child care or family leave, refuse to let women make decisions about their health or have access to free contraception. These aren’t just women’s issues, they are economic issues that drive growth and affect all Americans. Anyone who doesn’t get that doesn’t understand what our lives are like.” |
| Clinton also confirmed, in response to a question by CNN’s Dan Merica, that she will announce a proposal later this week to increase the capital gains tax “to promote long term investment that will strengthen companies, workers, and communities”. | Clinton also confirmed, in response to a question by CNN’s Dan Merica, that she will announce a proposal later this week to increase the capital gains tax “to promote long term investment that will strengthen companies, workers, and communities”. |
| Clinton also took the opportunity to tackle less pressing questions. | |
| Favorite pantsuit? Like ice cream flavors, Clinton said she likes them all. | Favorite pantsuit? Like ice cream flavors, Clinton said she likes them all. |
| “I never met a pantsuit I didn’t love,” she wrote to Brittany Jones, who described herself as an “avid follower”. “Go to our website and you can get one of your own,” Clinton said, sharing the link for an “everyday pantsuit tee”. | “I never met a pantsuit I didn’t love,” she wrote to Brittany Jones, who described herself as an “avid follower”. “Go to our website and you can get one of your own,” Clinton said, sharing the link for an “everyday pantsuit tee”. |
| Do you like karaoke? a user who went by Doug River Man Allen wanted to know. He extended Clinton an invite to karaoke night on Dickson Street in Fayetteville, Arkansas, where she and former president Bill Clinton had their first home. | |
| “I love Dickson Street!” Clinton responded, sidestepping the invite. | “I love Dickson Street!” Clinton responded, sidestepping the invite. |
| But it was Facebook user Becky Robles who earned the most enthusiastic response. | |
| “Political things aside,” Robles asked the Democratic hopeful. “Grandma feelings ... How does it feel to be a Gma?” | |
| “IT’S THE BEST THING EVER!” Clinton replied (capitals hers). | “IT’S THE BEST THING EVER!” Clinton replied (capitals hers). |
| After taking questions, Clinton signed off with a GIF of her SNL impersonator, Kate McKinnon, asking her assistant to “meet my hand in the air”, as the gag goes. | After taking questions, Clinton signed off with a GIF of her SNL impersonator, Kate McKinnon, asking her assistant to “meet my hand in the air”, as the gag goes. |