Subject: Re: Revised gun riff
From: Dan Schwerin <[email-masked]>
To: Christina Reynolds <[email-masked]>, [email-masked]
Cc: Jennifer Palmieri <[email-masked]>, Jake Sullivan <[email-masked]>, Betsaida Alcantara <[email-masked]>, Ronald Klain <[email-masked]>, Brian Fallon <[email-masked]>, John Podesta <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 8 Jan 2016 15:47:05 -0500

Adding Maya again

On Jan 8, 2016, at 3:43 PM, Christina Reynolds <[email-masked]>
wrote:

Tightened up a bit below, just because it felt long for TV

   - I was very proud of the President this week making a powerful
   statement about the urgent need to end the epidemic of gun violence in
   America.  His new executive actions include steps that I’ve advocated for
   throughout this campaign.  We are losing 90 people a day to gun violence,
   so the President is right: this is a national crisis.  And, as he said,
   voters should not support any candidate who does not support common-sense
   gun reform.
   - Democrats have a real choice here, because standing up to the gun
   lobby is a big difference between Senator Sanders and myself.
   - Ten years ago, gun safety advocates wanted to take gun makers and
   sellers to court for their reckless disregard for human life.  If an auto
   company sells an unsafe car, you can sue them.  Unsafe food, unsafe tools,
   unsafe toys – the makers can all be sued.  So the NRA wrote a bill that
   said, “No one can sue a gun maker or a gun seller,” calling it* “the
   most significant piece of pro-gun legislation in twenty years.”  And when
   it really mattered, Senator Sanders voted with the gun lobby and I voted
   against the gun lobby.   *
   - I would certainly understand if Senator Sanders would just stand up
   and say, “I got this one wrong. I’m sorry.”  But he hasn’t.  He’s defended
   his vote time and again.  He’s said he would “consider” some changes to the
   law – but that was almost 90 days ago – and where are the changes?
   - And so, *go back to what President Obama said – guns should be a
   voting issue.  And Senator Sanders has been wrong on gun safety and wrong
   on the leading cause of death for young people in our country.  So that’s a
   clear choice for Democrats in this primary.*

As for Q&A:

Why make this attack now?

As the President noted, and as I’ve said often on the trial, this is a
critical issue for our country and the safety of our families. We see too
many gun deaths in this country—we cannot afford to wait another day before
acting.  I have raised this issue before and Senator Sanders has refused to
give a straight answer. It’s time to hold gun manufacturers accountable, so
I hope he’ll join me in supporting this effort.

Senator Sanders and in fact, President Obama, have criticized your record
on guns. What’s your response?

My record on gun violence prevention is clear, and my conviction to this
issue is strong. I have been calling for strong efforts to fight gun
violence throughout this campaign, and I will not stop fighting on this
issue until we have done everything we can to keep our families safe.

*From:* Jennifer Palmieri [mailto:[email-masked]]
*Sent:* Friday, January 8, 2016 3:13 PM
*To:* Dan Schwerin <[email-masked]>; Jake Sullivan <
[email-masked]>; Christina Reynolds <
[email-masked]>; Betsaida Alcantara <
[email-masked]>
*Cc:* Ronald Klain <[email-masked]>; Brian Fallon <
[email-masked]>; John Podesta <[email-masked]>
*Subject:* RE: Revised gun riff

Plus Christina and Betsaida.

This is for CNN interview.  But CR should edit.

*From:* Dan Schwerin [mailto:[email-masked]]
*Sent:* Friday, January 8, 2016 2:27 PM
*To:* Jake Sullivan <[email-masked]>
*Cc:* Ronald Klain <[email-masked]>; Jennifer Palmieri <
[email-masked]>; Brian Fallon <[email-masked]>;
John Podesta <[email-masked]>
*Subject:* Re: Revised gun riff

John & Jen?

On Fri, Jan 8, 2016 at 1:55 PM, Dan Schwerin <[email-masked]>
wrote:

Clean:

   - I was very proud of the President this week making a powerful
   statement about the urgent need to end the epidemic of gun violence in
   America.  His new executive actions include steps that I’ve advocated for
   throughout this campaign.  We are losing 90 people a day to gun violence,
   so the President is right: this is a national crisis.  And, as he said,
   voters should not support any candidate who does not support common-sense
   gun reform.
   - Democrats have a real choice here, because standing up to the gun
   lobby is a big difference between Senator Sanders and myself.  The Brady
   Bill has kept 2 million guns out of the hands of people who shouldn’t have
   them -- Senator Sanders voted against it five times.  But that may not be
   his worst vote on gun safety.
   - Ten years ago, gun safety advocates wanted to take gun makers and
   sellers to court for their reckless disregard for human life.  If an auto
   company sells an unsafe car, you can sue them.  Unsafe food, unsafe tools,
   unsafe toys – the makers can all be sued.  So the NRA wrote a bill that
   said, “No one can sue a gun maker or a gun seller.”
   - The bill came before Congress.  The pressure was intense.  *The head
   of the NRA called the vote “the most significant piece of pro-gun
   legislation in twenty years.”  And when it really mattered, Senator Sanders
   voted with the gun lobby and I voted against the gun lobby.   *
   - I would certainly understand if Senator Sanders would just stand up
   and say, “I got this one wrong.  I made a mistake.  I’m sorry.”  But he
   hasn’t.  He’s defended his vote time and again.  He’s said he would
   “consider” some changes to the law – but that was almost 90 days ago – and
   where are the changes?
   - And so, *go back to what President Obama said – guns should be a
   voting issue.  And Senator Sanders has been wrong on gun safety and wrong
   on the leading cause of death for young people in our country.  So that’s a
   clear choice for Democrats in this primary.*

On Fri, Jan 8, 2016 at 1:52 PM, Jake Sullivan <[email-masked]>
wrote:

And if he is teeing this up to get right on immunity, I might change the
last bullet.

   - And so, go back to what President Obama said – GUNS SHOULD BE A VOTING
   ISSUE.  AND Senator Sanders HAS BEEN wrong on gun safety AND wrong on the
   leading cause of death for young people in our country.  AND VOTERS NEED TO
   WEIGH THAT.

*From:* Dan Schwerin [mailto:[email-masked]]
*Sent:* Friday, January 8, 2016 1:47 PM
*To:* Ronald Klain <[email-masked]>; Jennifer Palmieri <
[email-masked]>; Jake Sullivan <[email-masked]>;
Brian Fallon <[email-masked]>; John Podesta <
[email-masked]>
*Subject:* Revised gun riff

I took Ron's riff and condensed to 375 words. What do you think?

   - I was very proud of the President this week making a powerful
   statement about the urgent need to end the epidemic of gun violence in
   America.  His new executive actions include steps that I’ve advocated for
   throughout this campaign.  We are losing 90 people a day to gun violence,
   so the President is right: this is a national crisis.  And, as he said,
   voters should not support any candidate who does not support common-sense
   gun reform.
   - Democrats have a real choice here, because standing up to the gun
   lobby is a big difference between Senator Sanders and myself.  The Brady
   Bill has kept 2 million guns out of the hands of people who shouldn’t have
   them -- Senator Sanders voted against it five times.  But that may not be
   his worst vote on gun safety.
   - Ten years ago, gun safety advocates wanted to take gun makers and
   sellers to court for their reckless disregard for human life.  If an auto
   company sells an unsafe car, you can sue them.  Unsafe food, unsafe tools,
   unsafe toys – the makers can all be sued.  So the NRA wrote a bill that
   said, “No one can sue a gun maker or a gun seller.”
   - The bill came before Congress.  The pressure was intense.  *The head
   of the NRA called the vote “the most significant piece of pro-gun
   legislation in twenty years.”  And when it really mattered, Senator Sanders
   voted with the NRA and I voted against the NRA.   *
   - I would certainly understand if Senator Sanders would just stand up
   and say, “I got this one wrong.  I made a mistake.  I’m sorry.”  But he
   hasn’t.  He’s defended his vote time and again.  He’s said he would
   “consider” some changes to the law – but that was almost 90 days ago – and
   where are the changes?
   - And so, go back to what President Obama said -- this immunity issue is
   one of his most important concerns.  The President of the United States
   will not support any candidate who is wrong on gun safety.  Unless Senator
   Sanders changes his position on immunity for gun sellers and gun makers,
   he’s wrong on gun safety, wrong on the leading cause of death for young
   people in our country, and the wrong candidate for President.