Sanders, Clinton move past rancor over data breach

“I don’t think the American people are all that interested in this”, said Clinton on the data flap, returning a favor to Sanders after he used an earlier debate to grant her cover on the scandal over her use of a private email server while secretary of state then threatening to consume her campaign.

Martin O Malley, another Democratic presidential candidate, alleged that Trump is incompetent.

“The Sanders campaign has now complied with the DNC’s request”, said Democratic chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz in a statement, according to Bloomberg. “They are going to people showing Donald Trump insulting Islam and Muslims in order to recruit more radical jihadists”, Clinton said.

Sanders tried to muddy the waters a bit by implying it was possible Clinton’s campaign could have some of his team’s data.

Sanders sought to stand out on foreign policy by noting that he voted against the 2003 invasion of Iraq, an unpopular war Clinton supported.

Clinton, the democratic front-runner, took multiple jabs at GOP-front-runner Donald Trump.

Clinton also again struggled to explain her role in advocating military action in Libya in 2011 that resulted in the overthrow of longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi but left behind a failed state, parts of which have become a haven for ISIS. And he said Clinton’s criticism of payroll taxes is out of step with Democratic giants such as Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt, who oversaw the creation of Social Security, and Lyndon B. Johnson, who shepherded Medicare into law. Clinton’s campaign referred to it as a theft of critical voter information.

“He is becoming ISIS’s best recruiter”, she said.

O’Malley hit Trump on the same topic, saying that the United States “must never surrender our American values to racists, must never surrender them to the fascist pleas of billionaires with big mouths”. But even if they don’t, she has had the Democratic nomination wrapped up for some time, and nothing changed she did on Saturday night changes that. You know, somebody is loading guns and ammunition into a house, I think it’s a good idea to call 911.

“I worry greatly that the rhetoric coming from the Republicans, particularly Donald Trump, is sending a message to Muslims here in the United States and literally around the world”, she said.

For the Americans not on the road ahead of the holidays or watching NFL football, Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders and Martin O’Malley provided the entertainment, engaging in a substantive if somewhat dry policy forum.

Sanders paraphrased Jordan’s King Abdullah, saying, “Muslims should lead the effort on the ground”.

“This is not the type of campaign that we run, and if I find anybody else involved in this, they will also be fired”, the Vermont senator said in response to Saturday evening’s first question from ABC. She said improving intelligence gathering and sharing with allies, specifically in Muslim countries.

“I apologize”, he said, directly addressing Clinton after he was prompted by a moderator. While advocating for an increased air attack and more special forces, Clinton said ground troops were not necessary, preferring to build up the Iraqi army, work with tribal sheiks, and turn the attention of Turkey toward the Islamic State.

The debate got a little heated when O’Malley claimed that both Clinton and Sanders are not doing enough to curb gun violence. “But there is a broad consensus on gun safety regulation”.

“ISIL videos, ISIL training videos are telling lone wolves the easiest way to buy a combat assault weapon in America is at a gun show”, said O’Malley, who accused his rivals of “flip-flopping” on the issue.

When Clinton was asked the same question by moderators, she quipped, “Everybody should”.

This follows President Barack Obama who wrapped up his end-of-year speech on Friday by saying he was off to see Star Wars: The Force Awakens. She added: “Let’s tell the truth, Martin”.