Clinton Struggles to Answer Why She Is Failing to Connect with Young Women

BRZEZINSKI: “So in the early primary states, younger women supported a 74-year-old socialist man.” (Laughter) [crosstalk]
SCARBOROUGH: “A man, man, as Austin Powers would say, it’s a man, man! I said, yeah, yeah.”
CLINTON: “That’s funny.”
BRZEZINSKI: “What do you make of — I mean, and there were obviously new stories along the way looking at how women connect with you. I think it comes down to trust issues again, possibly not. Maybe you tell me. What’s going on? Especially with younger women.
CLINTON: “Well, yeah. I think with younger women — look, I think they have every reason to feel like things are kind of messed up. A lot of them have gotten a education with a huge price ago attached to it with student debt. They’re not getting the jobs they thought they would get. I think there’s a lot of real frustration. And I’ve talked to many, many young people and even — not just those who support me, those who support my opponent and that’s what comes through. It’s like, hey, the economy has failed us, the government’s failed us and you know we’re excited by somebody who says we’re going to change it all, we’re going to start all over again. I totally get that. I mean, I can vaguely remember being that age and feeling a little bit like that myself. And so, I keep saying I want to meet people where they are and particularly young people. That’s why I put forth all of these ideas about student debt and college affordability and more good jobs, the things they talk to me about. And also tackle a lot of the barriers, you know, whether it’s racism or sexism or anything else that is worrying them.”
BRZEZINSKI: “Equal pay.”
CLINTON: “Equal pay. Huge issue. And young women ask me about it all the time. So I’ve said many times, look, I know there are a lot of them are not for me right now but I’m for them and I feel very optimistic when we get into the general election against whoever the Republicans nominate. You know, there’s going to be a clear distinction that I’ll be able to really build on and I’m going to take people where they are, and a lot of young people are very worried about their futures. At the same time, they’re the among the most generous and tolerant. Well, you have two at home. They’re generous, tolerant, they’re open minded.”
BRZEZINSKI: “They’re willful, they’re materialistic, they can be very selfish, too.” [crosstalk]
SCARBOROUGH: “Stop talking about your daughters.”
CLINTON: “I think what we want to do, though, is love them as they are —“
BRZEZINSKI: “Of course.”
CLINTON: “— and then try to figure out — “
BRZEZINSKI: “Oh, we love them.”
CLINTON: “— how do we create a better path for them? So that — when I say these things like, you know, I want you to have all the opportunities that you deserve in America. It’s not hollow. Because, it’s got — you know, it’s got real meat to it and they can believe it with. And when I draw contrasts with Senators Sanders, it’s not because we disagree on goals — I want to get to universal health coverage, too, I just think I have a better way of getting there. So we begin to have a real dialogue. That’s what I’m looking for.”