Hillary Clinton Broke 'No Campaigning' Rule On NYC Subway In Full View Of Police & Media

The Guardian
Apr. 08, 2016

New Yorkers got a chuckle on Thursday morning when Hillary Clinton rode the subway. On her way into the station, Clinton had a little bit of trouble swiping her MetroCard: it took five goes for her to finally get the green light and pass through the turnstile.

This little incident became the cause of much mirth. "Clinton struggles to get through subway entrance," said Politico. "Former New York Senator Hillary Clinton Struggles to Swipe Her Subway MetroCard," reported ABC. "Video Shows Hillary Clinton Struggling With MetroCard At Bronx Subway Station," said the local CBS affiliate's website.

There was another problem with Clinton's ride aboard the 4 Train, one that the media all but ignored: Hillary Clinton broke the subway rules, and did so not only within full sight of New York City officials and law enforcement, who stood around and watched her do it.

According to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's (MTA) Rules of Conduct, the subway system is for transporting riders to their destinations, and nothing else. But the rules list several exceptions, including "campaigning". So far, so good, Hillary Clinton.

However, S ection 1050.6(c)1 of the subway rules states unequivocally that none of these activities may be performed on the actual subway cars.

This is the rule Clinton broke. Clinton's defenders might think the short subway trip wasn't actually campaigning, but I'd urge them to watch a video of her two-stop ride -- from Yankee Stadium to 170th Street -- that clearly shows Clinton glad-handing on the train itself.

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