I think they are talking about David Brock not Trump. At least that’s how I read it.
No, because they reference Brock as the one floating the theory, and Clinton as the one who would get hurt by saying this in public.
“I truly believe he’s an unhinged soulless narcissist. Because I’m not actually a conspiracy theorist like David Brock.
Though given Hillary’s conspiracy theories - she would probably get some doubts if the Manchurian candidate idea was raised.”
Yeah-probably about Brock.
He wrote anti-Clinton articles for the American Spectator before he joined the Hillary team, and apparently they are suspicious of him.
But—there may have been a Freudian slip in there as well—because the Clinton team does start frothing at the mouth whenever they discuss Trump.
(That has been a weakness of the campaign, btw. They are having trouble staying on message against Trump. In case you are wondering what Hillary’s message is supposed to be—ha!—see, you don’t know!—it is that she is experienced, honest, on the side of the American people, and will fight for women as the first woman President. However, she has ignored her handler’s advice to stay positive and has gone into hysterical attack mode through her mass media lackeys, and that has obscured her message. Think about all the media commentary about the election—ninety five percent of it is either Trump and women, or Hillary crushing Donald in the polls. That is not her message—that is a tactical error.)
I support your interpretation of this email exchange.
Note who Neera’s antecedent for “he” seems to be:
“David Brock is like a menace. I can think of no worse message for Hillary right now than she’s preparing for the general. I continue to believe he’s the manchurian candidate of the GOP - secretly out to tank her.”
Antecedent for “he” is Brock here, (A) grammatically.
And (B) stylistically — the description of Brock as a “menace” is followed by the reference to a “Manchurian Candidate,” an iconic menace.
And (C) logically: why would Trump be out to tank her “secretly”? Wouldn’t he be out to tank her openly? Brock, on the other hand, would be in a position to tank her “secretly.”
And then Neera keeps the conversation on Brock, when questioned. It’s an attempt at humor:
“I truly believe,” she responds, “he’s an unhinged soulless narcissist. Because I’m not actually a conspiracy theorist like David Brock.”
— when asked if which is more likely — (a) he (brock) is a “Manchurian Candidate,” or (b) he’s an unhinged soulless narcissist.
She chooses (b) because she says she’s not as crazy as Brock.