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 Clintons 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 Clintons greatest assets: her record. The
right-wing apparatus is manufacturing false-and-misleading-attack after false-and-
misleading-attack to try to discourage Clintons decision about 2016.

Between May 7 and 19, the right launched at least 24 offensives going after Clinton. These
attacks focused almost entirely on Clintons 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 isnt our next President whatever it takes. These
powerful right-wing interests cant 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 Clintons 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 Bridges 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 Clintons 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, its 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 Clintons 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 Clintons role in halting Irans nuclear weapons
program. [More Hillary Hypocrisy, This Time Its 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 Clintons only achievement is being female. [Rush
Limbaugh: Hillarys 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
Shouldve 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. [Hillarys 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 Hillarys History: DNC Fundraising Scandals During The Clinton
Presidency, RNC, 5/15/14]

Correcting The Record: Tricks And Lies: RNC Continues Campaign Of
DesperationSound 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 Clintons 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. [Clintons 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
CNNs Outfront With Erin Burnett, 5/14/14 And 5/13/14, On MSNBCs 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
CNNs 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 Clintons 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; its public record. Is Rand Paul so focused
on partisan gamesmanship hes 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. [Hillarys 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