Hillary Supporters: What would you tell a middle class American, why you should vote for Hillary?

[coyote]

What would we should bring to the table to make life better for all Americans? How is she going to help me?

On what issues do you support Hillary on?

Why are you voting for her?

[upaloopa]

1. She is the most qualified person running for President

HILLARY CLINTON ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM

BACKGROUND: Hillary Clinton spoke boldly April 29 on race and the criminal justice system in America, addressing Baltimore and the deep unrest that has recurred over the past year across our country, including in Ferguson, Missouri, and Staten Island, New York.

http://correctrecord.org/the-points/hillary-clinton-on-criminal-justice-reform/

Hillary Clinton: A Lifetime Champion of Income Opportunity

“With all due respect, it is not rich people who made America great. It is the vast American middle class. It is the upward mobility of people who thought they could do better than their parents.” –Hillary Clinton

BACKGROUND: Hillary Clinton has dedicated her life to ensuring that all hardworking Americans have the chance to succeed, no matter their circumstances. Leading the charge for equal pay for equal work, expanding access to early childhood education and healthcare, working to raise the minimum wage, and advocating for out-of-work Americans, Hillary’s record reflects the belief that every American should have the right to achieve economic security and income opportunity.

http://correctrecord.org/the-points/hillary-clinton-a-lifetime-champion-of-income-opportunity/

Hillary Clinton: Strong on LGBT Rights and Opposed to Indiana and Arkansas Legislation


Hillary Clinton spoke out against the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, recently signed into law by Indiana Governor Mike Pence, and a similar bill passed by the Arkansas state legislature, writing that we shouldn’t discriminate against people because of who they love.
Hillary Clinton has a long record of standing up in the U.S. Senate and on the global stage for LGBT rights.



As Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton included LGBT rights in a comprehensive human rights agenda and promoted equality as a core value of U.S. foreign policy.
Hillary Clinton championed LGBT rights internationally and declared to the world that gay rights are human rights and human rights are gay rights.
Clinton partnered with other countries to pass the first United Nations resolution highlighting LGBT rights as human rights.
Clinton directed the State Department to offer equal benefits and protections to same-sex partners of American diplomat and to “explicitly protect against discriminatory treatment of employees and job applicants based on gender identity.”



As a Senator, Hillary Clinton advocated for LGBT rights and fought against the discrimination of LGBT persons.
Hillary Clinton advocated for lifting the restrictions that block gay and lesbian couples from adopting kids.
Clinton spoke out against the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.
Clinton repeatedly cosponsored ENDA, to prevent employee discrimination based on sexual orientation, and cosponsored the Matthew Shepard Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act.

http://correctrecord.org/the-points/hillary-clinton-strong-on-lgbt-rights-and-opposed-to-indiana-and-arkansas-legislation/


Hillary Clinton worked in the Senate to strengthen the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, introducing multiple bills allowing states to expand the program that she helped create as First Lady. The program, created in 1997, increased health coverage for children in low income and working families.



Hillary Clinton was a powerful advocate for women in the Senate and was one of the original cosponsors of the Prevention First Act to increase access to family planning. As Senator she was an outspoken defender of a woman’s right to choose and worked to reduce the number of abortions by reducing the number of unwanted pregnancies.

http://correctrecord.org/the-points/attack-right-wing-engages-hillary-in-war-on-women/


Hillary Clinton donates her university speaking fees to the Clinton Foundation, a philanthropic organization that funds programs to help people throughout this great nation and all over the world. Here are just a few examples of the life-changing programs funded by the Clinton Foundation:

Job One: helps young people find jobs.
Too Small To Fail: helps improve the health and well-being of children ages zero to five.
No Ceilings: helps encourage the full participation for women and girls in the 21st century.
Clinton Health Access Initiative: works to expand access to HIV/AIDS medications throughout the world.

The world is a better place because of philanthropic programs like these. Instead of criticizing philanthropy, the right wing should be encouraging it.

http://correctrecord.org/the-points/attack-the-right-wing-shamefully-attacks-clintons-charitable-work/

HILLARY CLINTON REMARKS ON INCOME INEQUALITY:

On Monday, June 30th, Hillary Clinton discussed the issue of income inequality at the Aspen Ideas Festival. Here is some of what she had to say:

o “This is not an issue that’s going to go away. In fact, it will only get worse unless we address it now.”
o “As I’ve traveled and talked and obviously reacquainted myself with a lot of people…so many Americans are really really nervous. They feel like they’re falling behind, that at best maybe they’re running in place.”
o “We’ve had this American Dream embedded in our DNA. … I’m a product of it. … We don’t want to see that lost.”
o “At the end of the day, we’re all on the same team. We’re on the American team. And we’ve got to do a better job of getting our economy growing again and producing results and renewing the American Dream so that Americans feel that they have a stake in the future and that the economy and the political system is not stacked against them, because that will erode the trust that is at the basis of our democracy.”

http://correctrecord.org/the-points/attack-hillary-clinton-is-out-of-touch/

HILLARY CLINTON’S ACHIEVEMENTS AS SENATOR

MILITARY / VETERANS / FIRST RESPONDERS

• As a U.S. Senator, Clinton was a champion for our service members and veterans. Hillary Clinton was the first New Yorker to serve on the Senate Armed Services Committee and made veterans a main focus. She introduced the Heroes at Home Act in 2006 and 2007 to help family members care for those with Traumatic Brain Injury. She also worked to increase the military survivor benefit from $12,000 to $100,000, and cosponsored the Support for Injured Servicemembers Act to extend benefits provided under the Family and Medical Leave Act. Hillary also worked across the aisle to keep the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station open during a time when the Pentagon was shuttering bases, which saved 800 jobs in upstate New York.

• Hillary Clinton, as a U.S. Senator, worked with Republicans to expand health care for National Guard members and reservists. According to McClatchy, then-Senator Clinton worked with Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) to “provide full military health benefits to reservists and National Guard members.” A statement from Graham’s senate office said, “Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) today announced that the Department of Defense Authorization bill conference report finalized today includes an amendment that will improve TRICARE benefits for National Guard members and Reservists, allowing all members of the Selected Reserve and their families to enroll in TRICARE with an across the board cost-sharing of 28 percent. Today’s victory builds on the Senators’ longstanding commitment to ensuring that members of our National Guard and Reserve and their families have access to the health care benefits they need and deserve.”

• Hillary stepped up for New York in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, fighting hard to secure funds for medical assessment, referrals and outreach for 9/11 rescue and recovery workers, and volunteers.

IMMIGRATION

• As Senator, Hillary Clinton fought to pass the DREAM Act and comprehensive immigration reform, helping to cultivate awareness of the issues in Congress. She introduced the Legal Immigrant Children’s Health Improvement Act, which would give states the option to provide federally funded Medicaid and SCHIP benefits to low-income legal immigrant children and pregnant women. She also wrote the Access to Employment and English Acquisition Act to meet the growing demand for English language courses and other job skills.

HEALTH CARE

• Hillary wrote a law as Senator providing grants to state and local governments to pay for respite care services for family caregivers, which allows expanded funding for temporary breaks for caregivers of sick or disabled people.

• One of Hillary’s Senate bills to distribute flu vaccines more efficiently inspired provisions of a law promoting the production and stockpiling of vaccines to improve our response to public health emergencies.

WOMEN & CHILDREN

• Hillary Clinton worked in the Senate to strengthen the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, introducing multiple bills allowing states to expand the program that she helped create as First Lady. The program, created in 1997, increased health coverage for children in low income and working families. Hillary also co-wrote a law compelling drug companies to conduct safety tests for products prescribed for children, and wrote a component of the No Child Left Behind Act authorizing funding for recruiting and retaining better teachers.

• Hillary Clinton was a powerful advocate for women in the Senate and was one of the original cosponsors of the Prevention First Act to increase access to family planning. As Senator she was a strong defender of a woman’s right to choose.

http://correctrecord.org/the-points/attack-right-wing-ignores-hillary-clintons-achievements-as-senator/

ACHIEVEMENTS AS SECRETARY OF STATE

Secretary Clinton helped restore America’s leadership and standing in the world during a time of global challenges and changes. Secretary Clinton worked tirelessly to revitalize American diplomacy and strengthen alliances by traveling nearly a million miles for hundreds of meetings with foreign leaders in 112 countries. As America’s lead diplomat, Secretary Clinton understood the importance of engaging the public and took diplomacy directly to people around the world. Just as she was as a senator, Secretary Clinton was a workhorse, often taking on difficult challenges and addressing them directly around the world.

Secretary Clinton built and maintained a coalition to enact the toughest sanctions in Iran’s history. Secretary Clinton helped impose the toughest sanctions in Iran’s history by getting Russia and China on board. Even the Wall Street Journal editorial board noted that, “Clinton surely pulled out every stop to get Russia and particularly China…on board.” And as Howard Dean recently told CNN, “Hillary Clinton cranked up the sanctions for the first time under President Obama that actually made the Iranians come to the table.”

Secretary Clinton played an integral role in the New START Treaty with Russia. Secretary Clinton played an active role in reaching a missile reduction agreement with Russia, working to push it through the Senate and securing more than the necessary two-thirds majority. She entered the treaty into force in Munich with her Russian counterpart. As a result of the treaty’s passage, there will be fewer nuclear missile launchers. Simply put, the world is safer.

Secretary Clinton supported the raid that brought Osama bin Laden to justice. As NBC News reported, “Secretary of Defense Robert Gates recommended an air strike with no forces on the ground. CIA Director Panetta supported a raid by Special Forces and so did Secretary of State Clinton.”
Secretary Clinton helped avert war in Gaza by negotiating a ceasefire between Israelis and Palestinians. As Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton met with the regional leaders of Israel, Palestine, and Egypt to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. In a critical moment, Politico noted “Hillary Clinton Scores Gaza Cease Fire Success,” when hope for an end to the violence in Gaza seemed dead, she made the case for returning calm to the region and ending the rocket attacks.

Secretary Clinton played a role in bringing one war to an end and planning for the end of another. Working closely with Department of Defense colleagues and as part of the President’s national security team, Secretary Clinton played a role in the end of war in Iraq and in beginning a transition in Afghanistan, with all NATO allies having agreed to stand-up a post withdrawal support plan. As President Obama told 60 Minutes, it was “all a consequence of the great work that Hillary did and her team did and the State Department did in conjunction with our national security team.”

Secretary Clinton was critical in America’s “pivot to Asia” strategy. As Martin Indyk of the Brookings Institute wrote in Foreign Policy, “The ‘pivot’ to East Asia will probably be Obama’s most lasting strategic achievement… [but] it is Clinton’s too. She laid the groundwork, built the relationships, and developed the complex architecture of the new strategy — and she turned up at that pivotal moment in Vietnam in July 2010 to declare the U.S. commitment to the region.” Secretary Clinton earned praise for her work in opening up Burma, a place that had not been visited by a Secretary of State in 50 years.

Secretary Clinton worked to build the coalition to oust Qadhafi and stop massacres in Libya. As the Washington Post reported upon the end of NATO operations in Libya, “U.S. officials and key allies are offering a detailed new defense of the approach and Clinton’s pivotal role – both within a divided Cabinet and a fragile, assembled-on-the-fly international alliance. What emerges from these accounts is a picture of Clinton using her mixture of political pragmatism and tenacity to referee spats among NATO partners, secure crucial backing from Arab countries and tutor rebels on the fine points of message management.”

Secretary Clinton engaged in economic statecraft. Secretary Clinton’s focus on economic engagement resulted in increased investment through three new free trade agreements (Colombia, Panama and South Korea) and 15 Open Skies agreements including with Japan, Brazil, Saudi Arabia and Israel.

Secretary Clinton brought the State Department into the 21st Century. Secretary Clinton helped the State Department adapt to emerging issues such as cyber security by creating the Center for Strategic Counterterrorism Communications to combat Al-Qaeda’s growing influence online. She recognized the important role of energy in U.S. foreign policy and helped create the Bureau of Energy Resources to protect our energy infrastructure and influence how nations move to cleaner fuel.

Secretary Clinton elevated the cause of women’s rights to new heights. Secretary Clinton recognized women’s rights as a major foreign policy issue. It is, according to Newsweek, the area of “hardships faced by women and girls across the world–that her impact has been most profound.” Hillary appointed the first-ever Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues at the State Department to work on the human rights of women worldwide.

http://correctrecord.org/the-points/attack-hillary-clinton-had-few-achievements-as-secretary-of-state/

[Skidmore]

2. I will vote for her because

I see a person with broad experience and a thorough understanding of how to get things done. Her participation on the world stage as Secretary of State demonstrates her ability to negotiate internationally. She has a spine of steel to have survived professionally in spite of the active and vicious machinations of the right wing machine to destroy her. Hillary also has been a tireless champion for issues that affect women and children, and she worked to move to national healthcare at the national level long before it actually happened. She will continue to work to further those issues. She also knows how to play a long game and does not view issues at hand through the limited perspective of one lens. She takes the time to listen and her choices are informed by incorporating new ideas and information into her worldview, which, by the way, is something we all do. I am not interested in someone who is not able to adjust with the times or situational factors.