Subject: Re: HRC @ Christ the King Church
From: Dan Schwerin <[email-masked]>
To: Jennifer Palmieri <[email-masked]>
Cc: Joel Benenson <[email-masked]>, Jim Margolis <[email-masked]>, Mandy Grunwald <[email-masked]>, David Binder <[email-masked]>, John Anzalone <[email-masked]>, Kristina Schake <[email-masked]>, Robby Mook <[email-masked]>, Jake Sullivan <[email-masked]>, John Podesta <[email-masked]>, Huma Abedin <[email-masked]>, Tony Carrk <[email-masked]>, Brian Fallon <[email-masked]>, Maya Harris <[email-masked]>, Marlon Marshall <[email-masked]>, Christina Reynolds <
Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2015 23:16:10 -0400

HRC is making edits and we will tee these options up for her.

On Mon, Jun 22, 2015 at 11:11 PM, Jennifer Palmieri <
[email-masked]> wrote:

> Does the confederate flag actually wave over  any state Capitol other than
> SC?  I don't think it does.  It is on the Mississippi state flag, but that
> is different than what Dan has written here.
>
> At any rate, to Joel's broader point....I haven't spoken with her about
> it, but my understanding is that HRC is not interested in taking up the
> cause of changing state flags like Arkansas and thinks there is a big
> difference between flags like Arkansas and the actual bars and stars.
>
> But Huma and Jake were the ones with her today - so they should say if I
> am off here and HRC would go for taking on the cause of  flags more
> broadly.  Personally, I don't think going down this path ends well,
> certainly doesn't end well if she is not enthusiastic about it.
>
>
>
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Jun 22, 2015, at 10:55 PM, Dan Schwerin <[email-masked]>
> wrote:
>
> This work any better?
>
> "We’re all relieved that the Governor of South Carolina has finally agreed
> that the Confederate flag should be removed from the State House –
> something I and others have been saying for years.  That flag is a symbol
> of our nation’s racist past that has no place in our present or our future. America
> is better than that. And I’ll say this to any state in the union where
> the Confederate flag still waves: It’s time. Do the right thing. Take
> down that flag.
>
>
>
> And this is just the start of what's needed.  Our challenges are systemic
> so our solutions must be as well."
>
>
> On Jun 22, 2015, at 10:47 PM, Joel Benenson <[email-masked]> wrote:
>
> Symbols matter.  In the case of this flag, every time a black person walks
> past this flag it is a symbol of the hatred and oppression their ancestors
> faced and they must still face.
> People are angry and hurt and we can run a whole campaign on these issues.
> We have only one moment -- right now -- to vehemently attack this symbol.
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Jun 22, 2015, at 10:39 PM, Jennifer Palmieri <
> [email-masked]> wrote:
>
>   I think she thinks moral leadership is more than taking on symbols -
> but doing hard work of solving problems and injustices these families face.
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Jun 22, 2015, at 10:37 PM, Joel Benenson <[email-masked]> wrote:
>
>   This sounds like pablum.
> These flags are a disgrace and dishonor all who have fought and died in
> the name of basic civil rights.
> This is a moment for moral leadership in America and if she doesn't
> deliver it, who will?
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Jun 22, 2015, at 10:24 PM, Jennifer Palmieri <
> [email-masked]> wrote:
>
>   Right.
>
>  The goal here was to take the discussion away from flags and to issues.
> She doesn't want to litigate the Arkansas flag. So seemed beat way to
> handle the flag was to say that symbols are important - but we have to also
> wrestle with real issues.
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Jun 22, 2015, at 10:17 PM, Dan Schwerin <[email-masked]>
> wrote:
>
>   Jen and others should jump in here... an alternative like "symbols of
> the Confederacy" is much more sweeping, but we can easily upgrade to that
> if folks want. Argument for making this about the battle flag specifically
> is that it hits Mississippi, where the Speaker of the House just raised
> this issue as well (
> http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2015/06/22/petition-mississippi-confederate-flag/29113157/)
> and a number of other places, but doesn't get us into debating the extra
> star on the Arkansas flag or every single Robert E. Lee statue across the
> south.
>
> On Mon, Jun 22, 2015 at 10:08 PM, Margolis, Jim <[email-masked]>
> wrote:
>
>> Dan
>> Are we intentionally limiting our call to the confederate battle flag
>> itself?
>>
>> Jim Margolis
>> Sent from my iPhone.
>> Please excuse typos.
>>
>> > On Jun 22, 2015, at 8:17 PM, Dan Schwerin <[email-masked]>
>> wrote:
>> >
>> > Team, attached is a draft for tomorrow's community meeting at the
>> church in St. Louis.  Please take a look at how the confederate flag is
>> handled.
>> > HRC's instinct on this was to spend most of her time on actual
>> solutions rather than reprising the high points from Saturday, so this is
>> considerably less sweeping but hopefully still maintains enough of the
>> emotion.
>> > Thanks
>> > Dan
>>  > <2015-06-22 St. Louis Church Service - 8pm.docx>
>>
>>
>>
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>