Hillary Clinton tweaks GOP rivals, sends them "Hard Choices"
Hillary Clinton just added a new 596-page item to the reading lists of Republican presidential candidates.
The Democratic hopeful sent a copy of her latest memoir, "Hard Choices," to her GOP rivals, just as she faces mounting criticism from conservatives over her tenure at the State Department.
"If you want to stump a Democrat, ask them to name an accomplishment of Hillary Clinton," former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina said, using a familiar attack line during Republicans' second primary debate last month.
Following the debate, Clinton floated an idea to campaign aides: Let's send Republicans a book that details some of those State Department achievements.
Last week, the campaign put the plan into action, mailing the book to every candidate who attended the September 17 debate. The campaign did not send a copy to Jim Gilmore, who did not qualify for the debate.
"I understand that you and your fellow Republican candidates for president were questioning my record of accomplishments at your last debate, so I thought you might enjoy reading my book, Hard Choices," Clinton said in a letter packaged with the hardcover.
The Democratic contender, tweaking the candidates on their frequent charges of her zero accomplishments, described the book as an account of everything "from working to restore America's standing in the world to bringing crippling sanctions to Iran to negotiating a ceasefire in Gaza."
Clinton boasted of the move at a recent campaign stop in Muscatine, Iowa.
She said she was "trying to be a good fellow candidate and give them some help so they understand what it is to make these hard choices when you're sitting there and you're facing them." And, she added, "there are so many of them, they could have a book club."
As for the Republicans that received the memoir, their campaigns had some equally snarky responses:
Promoting his own book, "A Time for Truth," Texas Sen. Ted Cruz offered a book exchange:
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said that Clinton, who faces a hearing before a House Select Committee investigating Benghazi on October 22, could also learn a lesson or two from his book:
"Governor Bush hopes Secretary Clinton will have an opportunity to read his e-book, Reply All, when it comes out in a few weeks," a Bush campaign spokeswoman said. "The book, based on Governor Bush¹s emails while in office, is a good lesson on the importance of transparency in government."
And the campaign of retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson responded: "Yes we received a copy. We were wondering where all of those unsold books were. But after skimming the book we now understand why it didn't sell. Should have been in the Fiction Section. "
Carson didn't say whether he'd send Clinton a copy of his newly published book, "A More Perfect Union," which is about the Constitution and its relationship to everyday life in the U.S.
But Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul may win for the best response yet to Clinton's book: He's auctioning off his signed copy of "Hard Choices" on eBay.
The hardcover comes with a personal note from Paul that reads: "Hillary, your refusal to provide security for our mission in Benghazi should forever preclude you from higher office! Rand Paul"
The auction item also includes a copy of Paul's own book, titled "Taking a Stand: Moving Beyond Partisan Politics to Unite America."
CBS News' Hannah Fraser-Chanpong, Erica Brown, and Donald Judd contributed to this report.