Pro-Clinton #HillarySoQualified hashtag backfires
A hashtag meant to talk up Hillary Clinton's qualifications for the U.S. presidency quickly went sideways, resulting in a late-night Twitter fight between her supporters and those of Bernie Sanders.
#HillarySoQualified was created by backers of Clinton after Sanders responded to a new round of attacks from Clinton at a rally in Philadelphia.
"She has been saying lately that she thinks I am quote-unquote not qualified to be president," Sanders said.
Clinton had questioned Sanders' qualifications as a bone fide Democrat and for the presidency earlier in the day, but stopped short of saying he was not qualified.
"Let me just say in response to Secretary Clinton, I don't believe that she is qualified if she is through her super PAC taking tens of millions of dollars in special-interest money," Sanders said.
"I don't think you are qualified if you have voted for the disastrous war in Iraq," he continued, referring to Clinton's 2002 vote as a U.S. senator.
Kim Frederick, a Clinton supporter in Houston, said she was "livid" at the remarks of the Vermont senator.
"Just beyond fiercely angry about this, and I could barely control myself," she said in an interview with the Washington Post.
So, started a hashtag and posted some well-worn memes about Sanders' accomplishments.
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HillarySoQualified?src=hash">#HillarySoQualified</a> she got 8M children insured while you renamed two post office boxes. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ImWithHer?src=hash">#ImWithHer</a>
—@kimfrederi<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HillarySoQualified?src=hash">#HillarySoQualified</a> she could send him cliff notes for his interviews so he doesn't look so unprepared and utterly out of his league
—@kimfrederiOther Clinton backers picked up on the hashtag, which eventually became the top worldwide hashtag Wednesday evening.
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HillarySoQualified?src=hash">#HillarySoQualified</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/BarackObama">@BarackObama</a> Chose her to lead America's foreign policy and diplomatic agenda as U.S. SecState! <a href="https://t.co/9q8fncwTLz">pic.twitter.com/9q8fncwTLz</a>
—@eaedmonfFirst Lady. Senator. Secretary of State. She WILL be the 45th president and the FIRST woman president! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HillarySoQualified?src=hash">#HillarySoQualified</a>
—@ScottPoi<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HillarySoQualified?src=hash">#HillarySoQualified</a> the American people seem to think she should be president. <a href="https://t.co/e9OcfTiA24">pic.twitter.com/e9OcfTiA24</a>
—@EmmyA2REMINDER: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HillarySoQualified?src=hash">#HillarySoQualified</a> that Bernie voted to confirm her as Secretary of State. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ImWithHer?src=hash">#ImWithHer</a> <a href="https://t.co/ixA0K0WgWI">pic.twitter.com/ixA0K0WgWI</a>
—@TheBaxterBeanWhat able and professional woman hasn't had a mediocre old white dude with fewer credentials question her abilities? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HillarySoQualified?src=hash">#HillarySoQualified</a>
—@scott_brawleyHowever, Bernie boosters, noted for their social media acumen, then picked up on #HillarySoQualified, using it ironically and posting well into the wee hours.
By the morning, more than 170,000 tweets had been posted using the hashtag.
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HillarySoQualified?src=hash">#HillarySoQualified</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/greenpeaceusa">@greenpeaceusa</a> put her name on a blimp. Pretty, pretty, good. <a href="https://t.co/KeBvKRX8cL">pic.twitter.com/KeBvKRX8cL</a>
—@People4Bernie<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HillarySoQualified?src=hash">#HillarySoQualified</a> she's a better Republican than a lot of them <a href="https://t.co/j050qAWxwl">pic.twitter.com/j050qAWxwl</a>
—@JenD1974<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HillarySoQualified?src=hash">#HillarySoQualified</a> to give lip service to Democratic values, while working to protect the interests of her donors. <a href="https://t.co/TOvx4gXa0v">pic.twitter.com/TOvx4gXa0v</a>
—@funkinatrix<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HillarySoQualified?src=hash">#HillarySoQualified</a> she gets to call others unqualified but is outraged when others do the same to her. <a href="https://t.co/BQC26ZnY2x">pic.twitter.com/BQC26ZnY2x</a>
—@samhwils<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HillarySoQualified?src=hash">#HillarySoQualified</a> that it takes her just a little longer than others to "make the right choice." <a href="https://t.co/FxxOyMR1N1">pic.twitter.com/FxxOyMR1N1</a>
—@Latinos4Bernie<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HillarySoQualified?src=hash">#HillarySoQualified</a> That Colleges Can't Afford to Pay Her to Speak, Only Wall Street Can <a href="https://t.co/Wt7QP8qiFO">https://t.co/Wt7QP8qiFO</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/p2?src=hash">#p2</a> <a href="https://t.co/DKVXdNfSsQ">pic.twitter.com/DKVXdNfSsQ</a>
—@Socialist_TimesIt makes you wonder if coming up with hashtags really helps your candidate
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HillarySoQualified?src=hash">#HillarySoQualified</a> that her supporters make hashtags that end up not really helping her.
—@sluggahjells