Yes, she can. Can she? (Dr. Josef Mantl)

Leading opponent presidential candidate Bernie Sanders by 700 delegates, only about 650 delegates away from becoming the official Democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton is once again on the rise. Her chances have never been better to reside in the White House once again, this time as the first female President of the United States. It is time to take a closer look at the woman, who is very likely to soon become the most powerful woman of The West.

Dr. Josef Mantl (*1977) is a successful entrepreneur in the communication and social media industry (jmc.cc). He has been a proud supporter of Clinton since his studies at Emerson College and is now helping to empower Democrats in Europe and target groups in New York, New Hampshire and Boston. Dr. Mantl has met the former Secretary several times, which is why The Laurel is grateful for his valuable insight.

The Laurel: Dr. Mantl, you know Hillary Clinton very well. In an article for Der Standard (2008) you said that you admire her progressivity and open-mindedness. What else can you say about her personality?

Dr. Mantl: First of all, she is a fighter. There have been many times when the public had counted her out and still (!) she always managed to get herself back on track. I strongly admire her leadership skills. Being a good leader is only possible when you have great sangfroid. Despite the defeats and criticism she has had to face, she never lost her humor and kindness. Many of her supporters love that she does not take herself too seriously. If you watched her episodes on SNL, you know what I am talking about. Some people call her a snob. That is not true at all. She actually has something truly average American about herself; she loves her family and her country.

The Laurel: Is there a public and a private persona Hillary Clinton?

Dr. Mantl: Of course! I mean she is all over the media, every single day. Without some details of her life kept private, this kind of existence would hardly be bearable. There is a small group of confidants, who know her in a different, much more intimate way than the public, but that is nothing unusual for politicians in general.

The Laurel: Though everybody can look up the current electoral program online (hillaryclinton.com), it would still be interesting to hear your point of view: What is important to her? What makes Clinton stand out from the rest?

Dr. Mantl: It is tremendously important to her to make a clear point about every single one of her goals and people notice that. They appreciate how serious she is about it. Some key points are gun control, equal payment for women, LGBT rights, improving conditions for small and middle-sized businesses and opposing climate change. She has a clear vision for the U.S. under her presidency. However, in contrast to Sanders, this vision is no utopia. She is not a dreamer with seemingly no connection to reality. Hillary is a pragmatic progressive. I think I do not have to mention that her program as well as her whole image is the exact opposite to those on the other side of the aisle.

The Laurel: Gun control, LGBT rights, climate change… That sounds oddly familiar. Some criticize her support for President Obama. They claim she would only do so to hide her enormous disappointment over the 2008 elections. Why does she pick up so many of Obama’s key topics then?

Dr. Mantl: Well, she was disappointed, but as I said, she is a professional. She stepped up when called to serve and did a great job as Secretary of State. The issues that you mentioned are important issues for the Democratic Party in general. Despite pursuing her own agenda she still wants to finish what President Obama has started. She is loyal to him and the party.

The Laurel: Speaking of criticism, many people have the impression that her extended social media campaign is far too excessive to be authentic. Some even call her a cold-hearted power politician trying hard to change that image by smiling at so many smartphone cameras. As a social media expert, what do you think about this?

Dr. Mantl: I think she is doing very well. There is nothing wrong with running a powerful social media campaign. In fact, the campaign is one of the results of her learning process after 2008. 8 years ago, she did not employ a very systematic approach to new forms of communication. Obama did, and he won. Hillary is a perfectionist, she has now advised her team to take Facebook, Twitter and YouTube more seriously and is truly passionate about it herself.

The Laurel: But would you say that there is some truth to the negative image?

Dr. Mantl: No, I would not say so. It is obvious that she has a great interest in leading the United States and yes, she is a power politician. Nevertheless, that does not result in her being calculating or even addicted. She has a healthy and realistic relation to power. I am convinced that, once elected President, she will use her power to change America to the better.

The Laurel: Let us talk about her potential opponent, Donald Trump. The current polls indicate that a direct confrontation is very likely to happen. If so, what weapons will Clinton use to win?

Dr. Mantl: First of all, we have to understand the reasons behind Trump’s popularity. He is relying on the peoples’ frustration and anger only. It is important to acknowledge that he really hit a nerve in that case. Mobilizing so many supporters while constantly disrespecting Muslims, immigrants and women is somewhat of an accomplishment. The U.S. politicians should ask themselves what they have done to let this happen. After all, his rise will not be permanent. You cannot make a country great again with a policy based on hatred, bigotry and frustration.

Hillary will definitely make good use of her positive attitude, her pragmatism and her experience. She will call upon the American Dream. Additionally, she will keep unveiling Trump’s absolute inability to "make America great again".

The Laurel: On the one hand, many people agree that Trump would be a catastrophe for the country if elected to office, but on the other hand many also appreciate how strongly he is fighting for his opinions, no matter how ridiculous they may seem. In contrast to that, Hillary Clinton is being caricatured for changing her opinions all the time.

Dr. Mantl: She has changed her opinions on some issues - especially on the subject of gay marriage. Yes, she made mistakes but she has evolved as a candidate. The American people should forgive her. Peccability is part of human nature. Personally, I would choose a president, who can iron out mistakes over a president who never changes his opinions, no matter how dangerous they are.

-Photos by courtesy of josefmantl.com, politichicks.com and fox13now.com-