In Our View: Challenge Clinton

The important lesson from the kerfuffle over Hillary Clinton’s emails is this: Democrats must come up with viable candidates to challenge the presumptive nominee in the race toward the 2016 presidential election. With the situation surrounding Clinton’s emails residing somewhere between a controversy and a scandal at the moment, the long-term issue is the need for challengers to step forward.

That hasn’t been the case thus far. Clinton has for so long been regarded as the front-runner for the nomination — although she has yet to declare her candidacy — that possible challengers have demonstrated nothing more than tepid interest in pursuing the presidency. The events of the past week, however, highlight the need for somebody to push the race, to foster debate, and to provide Democratic voters with options when it comes to selecting their candidate.

On Tuesday, Clinton finally addressed revelations that she had used only a private email account — rather than the official government email system — when conducting business during her time as secretary of state. This might or might not have been a violation of laws that govern the preservation of government documents, and it might or might not have presented a risk to national security. But it definitely was hypocritical from somebody who, as a U.S. Senator, had pointed to “secret White House email accounts” as evidence that the Bush administration was acting unconstitutionally. And it definitely was curious considering that a 2011 cable from Clinton’s office advised State Department employees to avoid conducting business on private email accounts because of unspecified “online adversaries.”

Also curious is the fact that Clinton’s press conference did little to stifle the controversy. She insisted that she established her own email server as a matter of convenience, rather than carrying two phones: “I thought it would be easier to carry just one device for my work.” But, according to The Associated Press, last month during a speech she noted that she has an iPad, a mini-iPad, an iPhone and a Blackberry. “I’m like two steps short of a hoarder,” she quipped. Also on Tuesday, Clinton revealed that she deleted about 30,000 emails that were personal in nature, leaving the public little option but to take her at her word and prompting this headline in the New York Post: “Deleter of the Free World.”

Clinton’s use of private email while secretary of state violated what the White House has called “very specific guidance” regarding correspondence, and her defense of that use falls short of established standards for credibility. This does not necessarily mean she is unqualified to be the Democratic nominee, but it does add to lingering questions about her political judgment and her managerial acumen. As Washington Post columnist Eugene Robinson wrote, “The email flap projects the sense that she considers herself both embattled and entitled.” Those symptoms of overinflated self-importance have been in evidence since Clinton arrived on the national stage more than two decades ago as first lady, and this latest manifestation demonstrates the importance of a robust challenge for the Democratic nomination.

Clinton might well prove victorious in a contested race. She has name recognition, experience at the highest levels of government, and an entrenched fundraising machine. But voters deserve to be presented with alternatives. As Bloomberg News wrote editorially: “Primaries offer the best opportunity for parties to conduct a national debate over their goals and ideals.” The need for such debate — and a variety of candidates — has been reinforced this week.