"Who gets up at 3 o'clock in the morning to engage in a Twitter attack against a former Miss Universe?" Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton joked during a campaign event.
After mocking Donald Trump's tweeting habits, Clinton decided to go on a little 3 a.m. Twitter tirade of her own.
Early Saturday morning, Clinton's Twitter account posted, "It's 3:20 a.m. As good a time as any to tweet about national service." That marked the beginning of a five-tweet monologue about how important and positive public service is.
It's 3:20am. As good a time as any to tweet about national service. https://t.co/6hRCC16UiV
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) October 1, 2016
There are hundreds of thousands more @AmeriCorps applications than spots. Horrible! Let's expand it from 75,000 annual members to 250,000.
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) October 1, 2016
Too many talented young people pass up on programs like @Peacecorps because of student loans. Let's use GOOD JUDGMENT & lighten that burden.
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) October 1, 2016
Remember, don't believe the haters who describe America as hopeless and broken. We should lift each other up, not tear each other down.
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) October 1, 2016
For those few people knocking public service, hope you'll reconsider answering the call to help others. Because we're stronger together.
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) October 1, 2016
Taken at face value, the tweets are just an early bird message about her plans to expand AmeriCorps and introduce a National Service Reserve.
But she is also drawing a contrast with Trump's late-night tweets attacking Alicia Machado, a former Miss Universe winner who has started speaking out against how Trump treated her.
Wow, Crooked Hillary was duped and used by my worst Miss U. Hillary floated her as an "angel" without checking her past, which is terrible!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 30, 2016
Using Alicia M in the debate as a paragon of virtue just shows that Crooked Hillary suffers from BAD JUDGEMENT! Hillary was set up by a con.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 30, 2016
Did Crooked Hillary help disgusting (check out sex tape and past) Alicia M become a U.S. citizen so she could use her in the debate?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 30, 2016
The Clinton camp's message here is that while Trump's personal vendettas are what keep him up late at night, Clinton stays awake to deal with loftier matters, like national service.
The time of 3 a.m. has become significant for both of Clinton's presidential bids. Her 2008 primary campaign against Barack Obama was defined in part by a Clinton ad asking if Obama was prepared to deal with an urgent 3 a.m. phone call.
Trump's counter-argument so far has been that his Twitter activity shows he's prepared to deal with a late-night crisis. He's expressed doubts on the campaign trail that Clinton has the stamina to do the same.
For those few people knocking me for tweeting at three o'clock in the morning, at least you know I will be there, awake, to answer the call!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 30, 2016
Trump told the National Association of Home Builders: "Ten minutes, let's get out of here. Go back home and go to sleep. Three days later, she gets back up, does another one, goes back home and goes to sleep."
Cox Media Group
