Subject: 07.08.15 Friends & Allies TP's Post Debate
From: Adrienne Elrod <[email-masked]>
To: Adrienne Elrod <[email-masked]>
Date: Sat, 8 Aug 2015 08:42:52 -0400

*​Friends - Below and attached are post-debate talking points. Please let
me know if you need additional information. Thanks!! - AE*

*​*
*Friends and Allies Talking Points*

*Hillary For America*

*GOP Debate- August 7, 2015*

·         *Hillary Clinton was the clear winner of last night’s debate—and
she was not even on stage. *As we expected, last night’s GOP debate only
served to draw an even clearer contrast between Hillary and the Republican
field. The GOP once again reinforced their out-of-touch and out-of-date
positions: whether it was reiterating their return to trickle- down
economics, their opposition to a pathway to citizenship or their outrageous
stance on women’s health, Hillary emerged as the only candidate that can
move this country forward.

·         *The Republican field exposed their lack of solutions to help
everyday Americans. *Instead of taking this debate as an opportunity to lay
out their plans to help everyday Americans, the GOP field coalesced around
a theme of defensiveness and attacks, with uneventful performances that
promise no appeal to swing voters. Quite simply: It was a bad, but
realistic night, for the Republican field—no one stood out; no one beat
expectations.

·         *Although Donald Trump expectedly dominated the night with his
outrageous rhetoric, other Republican candidates managed to break through
by exposing that they have moved even further to the right on women’s
issues. *Just take a look:

o   *Marco Rubio* denied he has ever supported abortion exceptions for
cases of rape and incest, saying “I have never advocated for that.”

o   *Scott Walker* bragged about his strong record of opposing abortions,
even in cases when the mother is at risk of death.

o   *Huckabee* pledged he wants to go “even further” than defunding Planned
Parenthood.

·         *The clear take-away from last night: The Republican field offers
no realistic plans to help incomes grow. *Republicans were given
opportunities to make their case for everyday Americans, yet the word
“middle-class” was only mentioned twice throughout the entire night. While
they touted their own middle-class backgrounds, their vision for America
translates into policies that set the middle-class back. The debate made
clear that we need a candidate like Hillary that actually focuses on rising
incomes to help middle class families get ahead and stay ahead. That’s not
what we saw last night.

Here are some additional resources from HFA:

o   HFA had a live fact-checking blog on The Briefing
<https://www.hillaryclinton.com/p/briefing/factchecks/2015/08/06/gop-debate/>.

o   HFA continued to update background, fact-checks and fact-sheets on The
Briefing:

o   Iran Deal
<https://www.hillaryclinton.com/p/briefing/factsheets/2015/08/06/iran-responsible-course/>
and HRC’s record
<https://www.hillaryclinton.com/p/briefing/factsheets/2015/07/20/secstate-record/>
as Secretary of State

o   LGBT
<https://www.hillaryclinton.com/p/briefing/factsheets/2015/08/06/clinton-gop-lgbt-rights/>

o   Medicare
<https://www.hillaryclinton.com/p/briefing/factsheets/2015/07/23/phase-out-medicare/>

o   Immigration
<https://www.hillaryclinton.com/p/briefing/factsheets/2015/07/12/immigration-gop/>

o   Women’s Health
<https://www.hillaryclinton.com/p/briefing/factsheets/2015/07/21/republicans-on-choice/>

o   Voting Rights
<https://www.hillaryclinton.com/p/briefing/memos/2015/06/07/republicans-voting-rights/>

o   Economy
<https://www.hillaryclinton.com/p/briefing/updates/2015/07/13/contrasting-visions-for-the-economy/>
-- 

Adrienne K. Elrod
Spokesperson
Hillary For America
*www.hillaryclinton.com <http://www.hillaryclinton.com>*
@adrienneelrod