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Bush, Clinton Aides Debate Hillary’s Record on Iran Sanctions

The presidential campaigns of Jeb Bush and Hillary Clinton took it to Twitter on Thursday to debate Hillary’s record on Iran.

Responding to a recent tweet (]in all caps) by Bush’s Communications Director Tim Miller, traveling Press Secretary Nick Merrill pushed back against his suggestion that Clinton opposed Iran sanctions in the Senate. “Your CAPSLOCK seems to be stuck. That notwithstanding, what you said is not true,” Merrill tweeted.

“Take it up with Bob Menendez. I’m EXCITABLE,” Miller replied. He later shared a Daily Beast article from May 2015 that during her tenure as Secretary of State, the State Department repeatedly opposed or tried to water down sanctions that were pushed into law by Democrats and Republicans in Congress.

“This stuff is complicated, hard to understand without experience. But let me give it go,” Merrill immediately responded. “She voted for sanctions in the Senate. As SecState built an [international] coalition, got Iran to the table. #DIPLOMACY #HardChoices.”

To which Miller countered: “She opposed the tough Congressional sanctions she takes credit for. Then supported [this] terrible deal that has emboldened Iran. 140!”

“Sigh. Wrong again. She opposed unilateral action, worked to build a coalition, & succeeded. #HardChoices is in the mail. Pls read,” Hillary’s spox replied. I read it already. Longest day of my life. Never encountered so many words used to describe such little action,” Miller tweeted back.

Merrill summed up the public debate on Hillary’s record by saying, “Good news: probably won’t be the worst day you have with us. Appreciate the civil exchange.”
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The irony is that Bush, who was seen as the Republican presidential frontrunner earlier this year, is polling in single digits. And if polls, so early in the game, indicate anything, Bush probably won’t be on the debate stage to confront Clinton over this issue.

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