NEWS AND OPINION:
There are lots of feel-good promises coming from Hillary Clinton about wages, jobs, opportunity and so forth and so on — skewed to portray the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee as a true woman of the people who understands household financial challenges and kitchen table economics. These claims are accompanied by much vigorous criticism of Republicans, always set to the same melodramatic script.
But wait. The ever-analytical Republican National Committee accuses Mrs. Clinton of having “economic amnesia,” and pointed out that she has perhaps forgotten her party has been in the White House for eight years, fiscal policies and all.
Then there is the reality check to consider — or in this case, just plain checks and lots of them. An upcoming fundraiser in Chicago at week’s end serves as a reminder. On hand for the festivities: former President Bill Clinton. The price per ticket for a “host” is $50,000. A “champion” can get through the front door for $33,400.
In total, Mrs. Clinton has raised $247 million so far for her campaign, and the effort is ramping up, and growing more intense. Former Democratic presidential hopeful Martin O’Malley will spend the next 48 hours campaigning in Iowa for his former competition.
Then there’s Sen. Elizabeth Warren who has also joined the team.
The ladies are set for their official debut in Ohio. Soon. Oh, but it is complicated. Mrs. Clinton herself shows up in Cincinnati for an evening fundraiser on Sunday, to be followed by her first appearance with the outspoken Massachusetts lawmaker the following morning. Then Mrs. Clinton is off to Chicago for a solo speaking engagement at a jumbo luncheon, followed by an afternoon “Hillblazer” fundraiser. And that’s just Monday.
SEE ALSO: DEA new policy for agents: One strike, you’re out if soliciting prostitutes
Ms. Warren, meanwhile, is ready to roar. She too is on the money trail, but never too busy to attack presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump.
“We need a candidate who fights for the right values — and who isn’t afraid to fight back against right-wing lunatics trying to undermine progress in our country. Because let’s be honest, the Republicans have nominated the looniest of the right-wing lunatics to become our country’s next commander in chief,” she declares in an aggressive new fundraising outreach.
THE RUBIO BRAND CONTINUES TO GLEAM
Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida is not destined to be a forgotten presidential also-ran. He has emerged intact from a campaign arena that included 16 other combatants and much saber-rattling.
The tenacious Republican has declared he is running for re-election, and has made a most pleasant discovery. Floridians still like him. Mr. Rubio leads both his Democratic rivals in a significant new Quinnipiac University poll, even as endorsements arrive from distinct sectors.
“Rubio is one of the strongest, most articulate champions in the fight for unborn children and their mothers. Senator Rubio provides us with the strongest chance to win and maintain this consistent pro-life voice in Washington,” says Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony List, a national pro-life group.
SEE ALSO: Donald Trump: Hillary Clinton is ‘a terrible liar, and she’d be a terrible president’
“We hope conservatives in Florida and elsewhere will rally behind Rubio and ensure that the Senate stays out of Democrat hands. He is a young and energetic conservative leader who understands that regulatory reform and spending reform are necessary to help restore prosperity in America,” says FreedomWorks PAC Chairman Adam Brandon.
The powerful Club for Growth PAC also has endorsed Mr. Rubio, along with Florida Rep. Ron DeSantis, who also is seeking re-election.
A RISKY BUSINESS
The nation’s capital is suddenly brimming with interns, all eager to make their mark and bolster their resumes. That’s good. But the influx of the young and the restless also brings a subtle risk to congressional offices, government agencies and law firms.
This summer population may not know the finer points of professional behavior, which is not good. Lest we forget, interns often are placed as the first line of contact for clients, colleagues or constituents.
A corporate “risk guru” now says there is a growing awareness of “conduct risk” or “culture risk” as the Instagram generation arrives. They bring strengths to the workplace, but some serious blind spots too, he says.
“As offices around the Beltway open their doors to new hires and summer staff, the most important culture to teach them about isn’t Hill politicking or K Street maneuvering — it’s the core office culture regarding behavior that is often the first encounter most constituents or visitors have with the office,” says Chuck Saia, chief risk, reputation and regulatory affairs officer at Deloitte, a major consulting firm with global reach.
“This goes way beyond a welcome manual of computer log-ins and business hours; culture risk needs to be a structural priority for any organization, with buy-in and reinforcement at all levels. If a new hire experiences office behavior that is not consistent with an organization’s core values, it could cause lasting harm — harm that is hard to reverse, and could linger for years while deteriorating an organization’s reputation,” Mr. Saia adds.
A MOTLEY CREW
OK, here’s just part of the line-up: Vice President Joseph R. Biden, Secretary of State John F. Kerry, Attorney General Loretta Lynch, Mitt Romney, Laura Bush and Newt Gingrich. They are among the big names assembling Thursday in Colorado for the 2016 Aspen Ideas Festival, which will last nine days, feature 300 speakers and draw a 3,000-member audience. Organizers from the Aspen Institute bill it as a nonpartisan event; see for yourself at AspenIdeas.org.
The “conversations” will cover the 2016 elections, national security, capitalism, crime and punishment, sex in America, the future of food, and the changing landscape of higher education.
POLL DU JOUR
• 57 percent of Republicans say the Democratic Party makes them feel “frustrated”; 68 percent of Democrats say the same of the Republican Party.
• 49 percent of Republicans say Democrats make them feel “afraid”; 58 percent of Democrats say the same of Republicans.
• 46 percent of Republicans say Democrats make them feel “angry”; 47 percent of Democrats say the same of Republicans.
• 45 percent of Republicans say Democrats are “dishonest”; 42 percent say the same of Republicans.
• 32 percent of Republicans say Democrats are “unintelligent”; 33 percent of Democrats say the same about Republicans.
Source: A Pew Research Center poll of 4,385 U.S. adults conducted throughout March and April and released Wednesday.
• Irritations, grudging applause to jharper@washingtontimes.com.
• Jennifer Harper can be reached at jharper@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.