MEMORANDUM TO: Interested Parties FROM: Isaac Wright, Director, Correct The Record DATE: 5/21/14 SUBJECT: RIGHT WING STEPS UP ATTACKS IN ADVANCE OF CLINTON BOOK As the June 10 release of Hillary Clinton’s book, “Hard Choices,” approaches, Republicans are stepping up the attacks in a broad and coordinated effort to pounce on her record at the State Department and her overall record of accomplishments. Fearful of the energy around Clinton, the right-wing establishment is proving that it will stop at nothing in its efforts to diminish one of Clinton’s greatest assets: her record. The right-wing apparatus is manufacturing false-and-misleading-attack after false-and-misleading-attack to try to discourage Clinton’s decision about 2016. Between May 7 and 19, the right launched at least 24 offensives going after Clinton. These attacks focused almost entirely on Clinton’s record of accomplishments or her record as Secretary of State. So far, eight organizations, Super PACs, and projects have sprouted up with the primary mission of making sure Hillary Clinton isn’t our next President – whatever it takes. These powerful right-wing interests can’t be allowed unfettered access to revise history, distort facts or mislead the American people. See the attacks below, and the correct record.

1. Senator Marco Rubio attacked Clinton’s record at the State Department, saying she would need to answer for “‘massive failures.’” [‘Rubio: Clinton Will Have To Answer For ‘Massive Failures’ At State Dept.,’ The Hill, 5/11/14] Correcting The Record: "'Marco Rubio took a deep dive into right-wing political posturing this morning in an attempt to appeal to the kind of partisan extremism required to be a potential Republican presidential candidate these days,’ said Adrienne Elrod, communications director of American Bridge’s Correct the Record. ‘Americans want leadership like Hillary Clinton's that is built on making the future better, not an agenda dictated by Tea Party fear mongering financed by the Koch brothers,’ she added.” [‘Rubio: Clinton Will Have To Answer For ‘Massive Failures’ At State Dept.,’ The Hill, 5/11/14]

2. The right-leaning Washington Times published an article claiming Hillary Clinton

would be “haunted in 2016” by her decisions at the State Department. [‘No Laughing Matter: Hillary To Be Haunted In 2016 By Benghazi, Failed Russia Reset,’ Washington Times, 5/14/14] Correcting The Record: “‘If she chooses to run for president, she will run a campaign that is about the future and how to continue to make lives better for all Americans,’ said Adrienne Elrod, communications director at Correct the Record, an arm of the liberal super PAC American Bridge 21st Century that responds to

conservative attacks on Democratic candidates.” [‘No Laughing Matter: Hillary To Be Haunted In 2016 By Benghazi, Failed Russia Reset,’ Washington Times, 5/14/14]

3. “The Republican National Committee teased in an email that Hillary was ‘playing

foreign policy catch up.’ Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) said at an RNC event this month that Benghazi ‘precluded’ Hillary from being president.” [‘The #Benghazi Effect: Clinton's State Record Becomes A Top GOP Target,’ TPM, 5/19/14]

Correcting The Record: “Correct The Record, the pro-Hillary rapid response group, released a list of 11 State Department accomplishments, which included the Iran sanctions along with the Osama Bin Laden raid and the end of the war in Afghanistan.” [‘The #Benghazi Effect: Clinton's State Record Becomes A Top GOP Target,’ TPM, 5/19/14]

4. Dick Cheney attacked Hillary Clinton on Fox News Sunday, saying Hillary Clinton

"clearly bears responsibility" for Benghazi attack. [CBSnews.com, 5/18/14]

Correcting The Record: ICYMI: Correcting The Right, Sunday Show Recap

5. RNC Chairman Reince Priebus went on Meet the Press and said Hillary Clinton is trying to “sweep Benghazi under the rug.” [Washington Post, 5/18/14]

Correcting The Record: ICYMI: Correcting The Right, Sunday Show Recap

6. According to CNN, “Republican strategist Karl Rove on [Fox News] Sunday once

again defended his controversial comments about Hillary Clinton’s 2012 concussion.” ['Karl Rove stands by his Hillary Clinton comments, says Bill Clinton backs him up,’ CNN, 5/18/14]

Correcting The Record: "A spokeswoman for Correct the Record, the communications and rapid response arm of a pro-Hillary Clinton super PAC, said Rove's latest comments are a textbook example of his 'sleazy tactics that are offensive and ineffective.' 'Dr. Rove knows if Secretary Clinton chooses to run for President, it’s a done deal,' Adrienne Elrod said. 'He knows he and his fellow extremist conspirators will be finished, and the Party that keeps its deals with the American people, the Democratic Party, will stay in the White House and continue leading and looking to the future.’" ['Karl Rove Stands By His Hillary Clinton Comments, Says Bill Clinton Backs Him Up,’ CNN, 5/18/14]

7. The RNC attacked Hillary Clinton’s successful record at the State Department.

[‘Clinton Playing Foreign Policy Catch Up,’ RNC, 5/16/14]

Correcting The Record: The Daily Beast vs. The Facts

8. America Rising attacked Hillary Clinton’s role in halting Iran’s nuclear weapons program. [‘More Hillary Hypocrisy, This Time It’s Iran,’ America Rising, 5/15/14]

Correcting The Record: The Daily Beast vs. The Facts

9. America Rising swings and misses at trying to drag Hillary Clinton into a campaign finance scandal. [‘America Rising Catches Up With Convicted Clinton Ally Jeffrey Thompson,’ America Rising, 5/15/14]

Correcting The Record: False Attack: Hillary Clinton Was Somehow Involved With Illegal Fundraising

10. Rush Limbaugh argued Hillary Clinton’s “only” achievement is “being female.” [‘Rush

Limbaugh: Hillary’s ‘Only’ Achievement Is ‘Being Female,’’ Business Insider, 5/15/14]

Correcting The Record: #OnlyRush; Eleven Things You Should Know About Hillary

11. America Rising for a second time politicized a tragedy in Nigeria to attack Hillary

Clinton. [‘Hey Hillary – Rubio Gets State Dept. Official To Admit Boko Haram Should’ve Been FTO Earlier,’ America Rising, 5/15/14]

Correcting The Record: Former Bush Appointee Defends Hillary Clinton On Boko Haram

12. The RNC politicized multiple tragedies to throw spaghetti-at-wall attack on Hillary

Clinton. [‘Hillary’s ‘Hard Choices,’ RNC, 5/15/14]

Correcting The Record: RNC Gets It Wrong, Again

13. The RNC swings and misses at trying to drag Hillary Clinton into a campaign finance scandal. [‘Reliving Hillary’s History: DNC Fundraising Scandals During The Clinton Presidency,’ RNC, 5/15/14]

Correcting The Record: Tricks And Lies: RNC Continues Campaign Of Desperation…Sound Familiar?

14. The Daily Beast falsely accused Clinton of opposing the Iran sanctions she led and

implemented as Secretary of State. [‘Hillary Clinton Celebrates The Iran Sanctions That Her State Department Tried To Stop,’ Daily Beast, 5/15/14]

Correcting The Record: The Daily Beast vs. The Facts

15. Republican U.S. Senator Mark Kirk denied Hillary Clinton’s integral role in tough

Iran sanctions. [‘Hillary Exaggerates Her Iran Sanctions Role, Senator Claims,’ ABC, 5/15/14]

Correcting The Record: The Daily Beast vs. The Facts

16. “Republicans are now seeking to use the Boko Haram terror case… to depict Clinton

as complicit in what they argue is weakened foreign policy under President Barack Obama.” [‘U.S. Could Have Acted Sooner On Boko Haram, Official Says,’ CNN, 5/15/14]

Correcting The Record: “Correct The Record, a pro-Clinton rapid-response group, said ‘the facts are clear and hindsight doesn't change’ things. It noted the State Department under Clinton placed three Boko Haram members on a terror blacklist.” [‘U.S. Could Have Acted Sooner On Boko Haram, Official Says,’ CNN, 5/15/14]

17. America Rising accused Hillary Clinton of not supporting Israel. [‘Clinton’s Real

Record On Israel,’ America Rising, 5/14/14]

Correcting The Record: Secretary Clinton Helped Avert All-Out War In Gaza By Negotiating A Cease-Fire Between Israelis And Palestinians.

18. Karl Rove shamelessly and falsely insinuated Hillary Clinton had “traumatic brain

injury.” [‘Karl Rove: Hillary Clinton Might Have Brain Injury,’ Politico, 5/12/14]

Correcting The Record: David Brock Debunked This Line Of Personal Attack On CNN’s Outfront With Erin Burnett, 5/14/14 And 5/13/14, On MSNBC’s Politics Nation, 5/13/14.

19. America Rising politicized a tragedy in Nigeria to attack Hillary Clinton. [‘Hillary

Faces Heavy Criticism Over Lack Of Action On Boko Haram,’ America Rising, 5/13/14]

Correcting The Record: False Attack: Hillary Clinton Should Have Named Boko Haram A Terrorist Organization

20. Rand Paul politicized the deaths of four Americans to attack Hillary Clinton. [‘Rand

Paul: Benghazi Has ‘Precluded’ Hillary From Being President,’ Talking Points Memo, 5/9/14]

Correcting The Record: David Brock Debunked The Benghazi Hoax, Again, On CNN’s Outfront With Erin Burnett, 5/14/14

21. According to the Associated Press, “Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Kelly Ayotte,

R-N.H., renewed a call for a joint select committee, which Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid has rejected. They suggested weakness over Clinton's decision to skip a round of Sunday talk shows five days after the Sept. 11, 2012, attack and allow then-United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice to take her place. ‘What does that say about Benghazi and her leadership ability?’ Graham asked reporters at a news conference.” [Associated Press, 5/15/14] Correcting The Record: VIDEO: Graham: Playing Politics and Getting Burned, 5/16/14

22. Mitt Romney and America Rising teamed up to politicize a tragedy in Nigeria in order to attack Hillary Clinton. [‘Romney Weighs In On Clinton’s Boko Haram Silence,’ America Rising, 5/9/14]

Correcting The Record: False Attack: Hillary Clinton Should Have Named Boko Haram A Terrorist Organization

23. Speaking at an RNC meeting in Memphis, Rand Paul said, "My opinion is that Hillary

Clinton has precluded herself from ever being considered for that position,” referring to Benghazi and the 2016 election. [‘Rand Paul: Benghazi Has 'Precluded' Hillary From Being President,’ Talking Points Memo, 5/9/14]

Correcting The Record: “’Rand Paul should be ashamed of playing partisan politics with this tragedy. Secretary Clinton took immediate action to prevent this from happening again,’ Adrienne Watson, its deputy communications director, said in a statement to TPM. ‘This is no secret; it’s public record. Is Rand Paul so focused on partisan gamesmanship he’s lost sight of the facts, or is he willfully playing politics with a tragedy?’" [‘Rand Paul: Benghazi Has 'Precluded' Hillary From Being President,’ Talking Points Memo, 5/9/14]

24. A Daily Beast story falsely accused Hillary Clinton of ignoring a Nigerian terrorist group. [‘Hillary’s State Department Refused To Brand Boko Haram As Terrorists,’ Daily Beast, 5/7/14]

Correcting The Record: False Attack: Hillary Clinton Should Have Named Boko Haram A Terrorist Organization