Both Clintons understand that their audience is the media. Not the political establishment. And not the American people.
Every event, every statement is addressed to the media and solely to the media. They play to the media because they realize that the media determines what the public (and, thus, the political establishment) get to see.
Schmoozing the media for thirty minutes can get you a thirteen second sound bite embedded in the evening news, surrounded by thirty seconds of positive commentary.
Strangely, the media delights in being "used". And the Clintons are among the very best "users" in history...