The Political Scene | The New Yorker

Episode: "Likable Enough?"

Date: August 4, 2016
Host: Dorothy Wickenden
Guest: Ben Wallace-Wells (Staff Writer, The New Yorker)

Episode Overview

In this episode, Dorothy Wickenden and Ben Wallace-Wells discuss Hillary Clinton’s ongoing struggle with likability in the 2016 presidential race. As Clinton emerges from the Democratic Convention and enters the final 100 days of the campaign, the conversation explores how she is defining herself amid persistent mistrust and unpopularity, the challenges of uniting a broad ideological coalition, and whether Donald Trump’s campaign missteps might allow her to win the presidency without having to address the public’s reservations about her character and record.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Clinton's Messaging Post-Convention

• Clinton's Strategy: Recently, Clinton has focused her message on contrast with Trump, moving away from distinct policy positioning.
  • Quote (Hillary Clinton at the DNC, 01:37):
    “America is great because America is good. Enough with the bigotry and the bombast…What are we offering? A bold agenda to improve the lives of people across our country … The choice is clear, my friends.”
• Discussion: Wickenden notes a lack of memorable Clinton statements since the convention, with media attention dominated by Trump controversies.

Uniting Divergent Factions

• Ideological Breadth at the Convention:
  • Ben Wallace-Wells observes the Democratic Party presented a wide ideological spectrum, from anti-war Sanders supporters to establishment figures like Mike Bloomberg and Republican donor Meg Whitman (03:06).
  • “At a basic ideological level, there is no way that the party can be all things to such a broad swath.” (03:57)
• Public Perception:
  • Clinton’s big-tent appeal can also fuel impressions of cynicism and political calculation (04:00).
  • Wallace-Wells points out that unlike Sanders’ specific vision, Clinton’s campaign remains vague in ideology (04:12).

Polls and the Trump Factor

• 2016 Polling Uncertainties:
  • Wickenden questions the reliability of polls given the year’s unpredictability (05:06).
  • Wallace-Wells: Despite likely tightening, Clinton has the advantage due to Trump’s serial blunders and Republican disarray (05:10–05:38).
  • “I do wonder a little bit whether Clinton may just be able to coast through these last three months a little bit more than we’ve been suspecting she would.” (05:35)

The Email Scandal and WikiLeaks Threats

• Lingering Issues:
  • The specter of Clinton’s private email server and Julian Assange’s threats to release damaging documents are discussed (05:38–06:38).
  • Wallace-Wells: Little new has emerged from Clinton’s released correspondence; her inner circle now skews younger and less connected to ‘90s Clintonism (07:47).
• Cronyism Comparison:
  • Both Clinton and Trump are dogged by associations with cronyism, perhaps dulling the potency of these attacks (06:42).
  • “It’s not clear that a Donald Trump administration would be any purer than a Hillary Clinton one.” (07:29)

Wall Street Ties and Policy Ambiguity

• Democratic Platform Shift:
  • Clinton made only nominal leftward moves during platform negotiations, avoiding substantive takes on economic inequality and Wall Street relationships (09:19).
  • She remains hounded by her lucrative Goldman Sachs speeches and refusal to release transcripts (08:58).
  • “We haven’t heard a great deal more than platitudes from her.” (09:13)
• Structural Problems:
  • Both agree America’s deep, structural inequalities will outlast slogans, presenting a core challenge if Clinton wins (09:38).

Foreign Policy & Electoral Vulnerability

• Attack Lines on Foreign Affairs:
  • Trump’s attacks—citing Clinton’s tenure at State as disastrous—hold some substance, especially regarding interventions in Libya and Syria (10:51–11:23).
  • Wallace-Wells: Clinton’s claim of foreign policy mastery doesn’t match the evidence, and a detail-oriented opponent could press the case more forcefully (11:23).
  • “I don’t think you take a cold-eyed look at her tenure as Secretary of State and say this is a master of foreign policy.” (11:34)

Clinton’s Perennial Unpopularity

• The Roots of ‘Hating Hillary’:
  • Wickenden cites Henry Louis Gates’ essay, “Hating Hillary,” outlining the contradictory narratives driving public distrust (13:47).
  • Wallace-Wells: Clinton is now primarily seen as a cynical, calculating establishment figure—no longer a naïve do-gooder (14:27).
  • “The figure that Bernie Sanders describes when he talks about Hillary Clinton and the figure that Donald Trump describes, they’re not very different. They’re a kind of political calculator...” (14:44)
• Why It Might Not Matter:
  • Hillary Clinton remains deeply unpopular, but Trump is perceived as even less qualified and less likable (14:47–15:46).
  • “It probably won’t matter, the hatred won’t matter, because her opponent is seen as... disliked even more than she is.” (15:16)

GOP Defections & Electoral Math

• High-profile Republicans Crossing Over:
  • Recent endorsements (Richard Hanna, Meg Whitman) show the party’s cracks (15:46).
  • Even small GOP defections can tip the balance in such a polarized environment (15:57).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Ben Wallace-Wells (03:57):
  “At a basic ideological level, there is no way that the party can be all things to such a broad swath.”

• Ben Wallace-Wells (11:34):
  “I don’t think you take a cold-eyed look at her tenure as Secretary of State and say this is a master of foreign policy.”

• Dorothy Wickenden quoting Henry Louis Gates (13:47):
  “What emerges [regarding Hillary Clinton] is a cultural inventory of villainy rather than a plausible depiction of an actual person.”

• Ben Wallace-Wells (14:44):
  “The figure that Bernie Sanders describes when he talks about Hillary Clinton and the figure that Donald Trump describes, they’re not very different. They’re a kind of political calculator who has deep ties to the American establishment.”

• Ben Wallace-Wells (15:16):
  “It probably won’t matter, the hatred won’t matter, because her opponent is seen as... disliked even more than she is.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:37: Hillary Clinton’s convention speech excerpt
• 03:06: Discussion of Democratic party’s ideological stretch at the convention
• 05:06: Concerns about polling accuracy and Trump’s campaign chaos
• 05:38–06:38: Ongoing email and WikiLeaks scandals
• 08:58: Clinton’s Wall Street connections and policy ambiguity
• 10:51: Trump’s attacks on Clinton’s foreign policy record
• 13:47: Reference to “Hating Hillary” and reflection on her public image
• 15:46: Republican defections and their impact

Conclusion

Wickenden and Wallace-Wells conclude that Clinton may have a path to victory not because she has surmounted her deep-seated public image problems, but because the tumult and shortcomings of the Trump campaign have overtaken the political narrative. The conversation leaves open the question of what Clinton’s presidency would mean for the party and the country, but strongly suggests the election may hinge less on likability and more on the relative flaws of each candidate.