June 9, 2015

Hillary Offers a Path Forward Beyond the Gridlock

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At her Silicon Valley speech last week, Hillary spoke about the importance of bipartisanship, saying that we can’t make progress on the biggest issues facing our country if we don’t work across the aisle and listen to each other. Hillary said, “I’d like to bring people from the right, left, red, blue, get them into a nice, warm purple space where everybody is talking and where we’re actually trying to solve problems.”

In the meantime, a slew of potential Republican presidential contenders spent the week at the Conservative Political Action Committee conference in Washington, where they engaged in hyper-partisan rhetoric and distracted from the real issues at hand.

Hillary’s message was a positive one aimed at bringing both sides together. She said, “I don’t think I have all the right ideas. I don’t think my party has all the right ideas.” And she even praised Republican Congressman Paul Ryan for working with Democrat Senator Patty Murray on a budget deal in 2013 to avoid a government shutdown.

Ted Cruz’s message at the conference was fiercely combative, telling the audience they should “stand up against” President Obama and those Republicans who disagree with him ideologically. Carly Fiorina’s speech was even worse — full of one attack after another against President Obama, Secretary Clinton, and Senator Warren.

Instead of using this opportunity on the national stage to talk about real issues and deliver a positive message for the American people, these politicians decided to stick with negativity.

No wonder Americans are so fed up with Washington. This kind of hyper-partisanship embodies everything that is wrong with our political system. Americans want Washington and Congress to work again, for all of us, which is exactly what Hillary Clinton wants, and what she did in the Senate. Notable Republicans from Lindsey Graham to John McCain have praised Hillary Clinton’s ability to put politics aside for the sake of progress while she was in the Senate.

When asked if she could wave a magic wand and have her wish granted, Clinton said, “that we could get back to working together cooperatively again, that we could get out of our mindsets, our partisan bunkers. You can’t run a great country like that, and this is the greatest country, and we need to start acting like it and working like it again.”

June 9, 2015

HIGHLIGHTS FROM HILLARY CLINTON’S SPEECH IN SILICON VALLEY

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BACKGROUND: Hillary Clinton gave a speech on Tuesday, February 24th to the tech community in Silicon Valley where she laid out her vision for the future and discussed some of the most pressing issues facing America and the world today. Here are some highlights from the speech, in Hillary’s own words:

The Economy:

“We have to restore economic growth with rising wages for the vast majority of Americans, and we have to restore trust and cooperation within our political system so that we can act like the great country we are.”

“If we want to find our balance again, we have to figure out how to make this new economy work for everyone… We can’t do it without really empathizing and understanding what our neighbors are going through. But I think we can help more families find a way forward, find their footing in the middle class, find a way to see rising wages and rising hopes. I think it’s within our grasp, but I know it’s not inevitable. Our economic success is not a birthright, it can’t be inherited, it has to be earned by each generation, just like it was earned by those who came before us.”

“Now, it can be easy to get discouraged sometimes if you look only at the headlines, but if you look at the trend lines you can see there is a movement stirring across our nation. It is about putting families first. It is about creating a 21stcentury economy for 21st century families.”

Women’s Equality:

“Inclusivity is more than a buzzword or a box to check. It is a recipe for success in the 21st century.”

“In so many ways our economy seems to be operating like it’s still 1955. And that’s not just a problem for working women. It’s a problem for everyone. Just think about all he hard-working families that depend on two incomes to make ends meet. When one is short-changed, the entire family suffers.”

“We all cheered at Patricia Arquette’s speech at the Oscars. Because she’s right: it’s time to have wage equality once and for all.”

“This great unfinished business of the 21st Century really is moving toward the full participation of girls in every aspect of society all over the world. That is a goal that has inspired me from the time I was an advocate for children and families through today and which I took with me into the State Department.”

“Now the bottom line from all the data and all the stories is this, we still have a long way to go but progress is possible, especially when we make a commitment of resources and political will. In fact I think we are at a pivotal point that requires all of us to work together, roll up our sleeves, figure out what we’re going to do, whether it’s here in Silicon Valley or [halfway around the world, to help shape the future we want, to close the digital divide, to unlock our full potential, crack every last glass ceiling.”

Bipartisanship:

“I’d like to bring people from right, left, red, blue, get them into a nice, warm purple space where everybody’s talking and where we’re actually trying to solve problems…That would be my objective if I decide to do this.”

ISIS:

“It’s a very hard challenge, because you can’t very well put American or Western troops into fight this organism, you have to use, not only air force, but also army soldiers from the region, and particularly from Iraq … A lot of the right moves are being made, but this is a really complicated and long-term problem.”

June 9, 2015

Hillary Clinton: Making Human Rights a Reality

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“The potential within every person to learn, discover and embrace the world around them, the potential to join freely with others to shape their communities and their societies so that every person can find fulfillment and self-sufficiency, the potential to share life’s beauties and tragedies, laughter and tears with the people we love – that potential is sacred.” – Secretary Hillary Clinton, 12/14/09

Making human rights a foreign policy priority. Building on a lifetime of advocacy for human rights, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton affirmed that American foreign policy would “reflect our deep commitment to the cause of making human rights a reality for millions of oppressed people around the world.” One of Secretary Clinton’s first steps to secure human rights as a pillar of foreign policy was joining the United Nations Human Rights Council, reversing the Bush administration’s policy of shunning the organization. She pledged to focus her energy as Secretary of State on human rights and, through the Human Rights Council, the U.S. deepened international engagement on efforts to fight human rights violations.

Defending free expression and speech. Hillary Clinton upheld that universal rights “include freedom of expression and freedom of belief, even if our words or beliefs denigrate the humanity of others. Yet, while we are each free to believe whatever we choose, we cannot do whatever we choose, not in a world where we protect the human rights of all.” She stood by those “who exercise their fundamental freedoms of expression and assembly in a peaceful way, whether in person, in print, or in pixels,” and fought powerfully for those who support expanding human rights and individuals working to advance democracy.

Upholding the fundamental freedom of the press. Hillary Clinton hosted the first World Press Freedom Day by the U.S. to “champion those who stand for media freedom – and let us continue to expose those who deny it.” As Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton went on Russian radio to express “support for independent media…at a time when free expression is under threat” and denounced the murders of journalists in Russia. She praised the “brave men and women” of independent media “who risk their lives every day to keep the rest of us informed, to keep governments accountable and societies more democratic, prosperous and successful.”

Promoting religious protection and tolerance. Hillary Clinton underscored the responsibility governments have in standing up for the rights of all people as religious freedom is threatened. She challenged other countries, such as China, by calling for “protection of rights of minorities in Tibet and Xinxiang; for the rights to express oneself and worship freely.” In 2011, Hillary worked with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and other nations to secure adoption of the U.N. Human Rights Council resolution “[c]ombating intolerance, negative stereotyping and stigmatization of, and discrimination, incitement to violence and violence against, persons based on religion or belief.”

Giving a voice to the vulnerable and marginalized. Hillary Clinton launched an assistance fund for embattled nongovernmental organizations that supported much needed “legal representation, communication technologies like cell phones and internet access, and other forms of quick support.” She appointed the first Special Advisor for International Disability Rights to increase protection for “one group of people whose human rights are still denied in too many parts of the world today. In many ways, they are an invisible minority.” As Secretary of State, she spoke out against regimes who arbitrarily detain and arrest artists, activists, lawyers, and intellectuals in their countries.

Advocating globally for LGBT rights. Hillary Clinton championed LGBT rights internationally and declared to the world that gay rights are human rights and human rights are gay rights. In partnership with other countries, she worked to support LGBT advocacy and pass the first United Nations resolution highlighting “the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons.” As Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton forcefully spoke out against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and denounced countries who criminalize homosexuality.

Setting an example internationally. Hillary Clinton helped set an international example by participating in the U.N. Universal Periodic Review of America’s human rights record, stating, “By holding ourselves accountable, we reinforce our moral authority to demand that all governments adhere to obligations under international law.” Hillary also included the U.S. for the first time in a country report on human trafficking and helped launch a website to provide NGOs, scholars, and citizens with “information they need to hold governments accountable.”

Continuing work to make human rights a human reality. When Hillary Clinton was asked what was next for her, she said, “I would go back to being a voice for the voiceless, standing up against conditions that just leech the life out of children and oppress women and prevent people from fulfilling their God-given potential.” In 2013, Hillary was honored by Jeb Bush for her public service and dedication “to serving and engaging people across the world in democracy.” She outlined a vision for the future where the U.S. can “show the world that free people and free markets, human rights and human dignity, respect for our fellow men and women, is our core strength.” Hillary launched efforts to address the “unfinished business of the 21st century” – seeking women’s full participation in society – and give future generations of Americans a chance at success.

June 9, 2015

Hillary Clinton: Fighting for America’s Workers

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“This is the country where if you work hard, you can make it. And each generation is supposed to have it a little better than the one before.” – Hillary Clinton, 10/23/14

Opposing outsourcing. Hillary Clinton called for eliminating “any tax break that promotes or rewards outsourcing,” and she suggested a plan to close those loopholes in the U.S. tax code. She also proposed a new tax credit called the Insourcing Markets Tax Credit to boost investment in communities across America hurt by international trade and technology. Hillary voted in support of legislation that discouraged outsourcing in the private sector, and she also voted to restrict federal agencies from outsourcing work.

Giving workers family and sick leave. Hillary Clinton proposed a $1 billion per year innovation fund to encourage states to develop family leave and paid leave policies and repeatedly cosponsored legislation to provide seven paid sick days a year to American workers. President Obama called for similar actions in his 2015 State of the Union Address, noting that he would be “taking new action to help states adopt paid leave laws of their own” and calling on Congress to “Send me a bill that gives every worker in America the opportunity to earn seven days of paid sick leave.” Hillary also called for providing paid parental leave to all federal employees, an action President Obama has taken steps on with a recent Presidential Memorandum.

Spurring advanced manufacturing jobs. Hillary Clinton introduced bills to bring new manufacturing technology to small and medium-sized businesses. She called for doubling the funding for Manufacturing Extension Partnerships, public-private partnerships that help manufacturers, and proposed expanding them to focus on renewable energy. Hillary worked across the aisle to challenge the Bush Administration’s cuts to these partnerships and she also cofounded the bipartisan Senate Manufacturing Caucus.

Standing against unfair Chinese trade practices. Hillary Clinton voted in support of authorizing action on Chinese imports if the Chinese government did not reform its currency practices. She also urged the U.S. International Trade Commission to crack down on Chinese metals sold in the U.S. at unfairly low prices, noting that if industrial companies “do not receive appropriate relief from the impact of unfair foreign trade practices, the situations for these companies, and for working men and women, will only grow worse.”

Expanding job training opportunities for workers. Hillary Clinton has praised the idea of a “national skills corporation” to focus American efforts on job training, and in 2007 she called for doubling the funding for job training programs for workers displaced by international competition. Hillary also introduced bills to create “Regional Skills Alliances” to bring together local businesses, governments educational institutions and labor organizations to collaborate on new programs to train workers for modern technology jobs.

Protecting worker compensation. Hillary Clinton cosponsored legislation to expand protections for worker’s pensions and cosponsored bills to protect overtime pay for working Americans. Fighting alongside her Senate colleagues against the Bush Administration’s efforts to cut overtime pay for millions of workers, she said on the Senate floor, “I have yet to hear a compelling reason that some workers currently eligible for overtime should lose that eligibility.” Hillary also cosponsored legislation to strengthen the law requiring employers to give workers advance notice before mass layoffs are announced.

Fighting for steel and mine workers. Hillary Clinton cosponsored legislation to strengthen safety protections for coal miners and she proposed expanding the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA)’s power to penalize companies that violate mine safety laws. Hillary also cosponsored bills to secure health care coverage for laid off and retired steelworkers. Describing the 2002 legislation, Senator Rockefeller (D-W.V.) said it would provide “desperately needed medical care to retirees whose companies have been forced out of business by imports.”

Helping Americans save for the future. In 2007 Hillary Clinton proposed giving all workers the opportunity to easily save for the future in portable “American Retirement Accounts.” Workers would be able to keep this retirement account with them if they changed jobs and the plan would allow workers to save up to $5,000 a year on a tax-deferred basis. Workers could choose how they want to invest the savings and they would be able to tap into the savings penalty-free for major life investments like college, buying a home, and retirement. The Washington Post editorial board noted that Hillary’s plan was “the boldest of the campaign to address this troubling situation.”

June 9, 2015

Hillary Clinton: Smart Energy Innovation

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“So to those who doubt the science of climate change and who lack faith in American innovation, just tell them, look at the record and look at what’s already happening across the United States. Thanks to smart federal and state policies, academic research, private sector innovation, and the crucial work of groups like LCV, we are already advancing clean energy solutions that can begin turning this tide and can make America the clean energy superpower for the 21st century. We have the opportunity to invest in the infrastructure of the future resilient enough to withstand the effects of climate change we won’t be able to avoid, including next-generation power plants to produce electricity more cleanly, smarter grids to deliver it more effectively, and greener buildings to use it more efficiently.” -Hillary Clinton remarks to the League of Conservation Voters, New York, 12/1/14

Boosting alternative energy power. Hillary Clinton repeatedly voted for legislation that extended the production tax credit for electricity produced from renewable energy sources and she proposed making tax credits for wind and solar production permanent. Hillary also teamed up with Bernie Sanders (I-VT) to create new job-training programs for renewable energy workers.

Fighting for cleaner energy. Hillary Clinton repeatedly cosponsored the Clean Power Act to get power plants to cut back on air pollution that contributes to both global warming and health problems. The 2007 legislation would have increased renewable energy use by launching the goal of generating 20% of our electricity from renewables by the year 2020 – the so-called Renewable Portfolio Standard. Hillary also pledged to support a goal of generating 25% of our electric power from renewable energy sources by 2025.

Using excess oil profits to develop new energy technologies. Hillary Clinton proposed getting big oil companies to reinvest some of their excess profits to help reduce American dependence on oil. These investments – combined with the savings gained by repealing tax breaks for oil companies – could have directed $50 billion into a new Strategic Energy Fund geared towards researching and developing smarter energy technologies like more fuel-efficient cars and trucks, and wind and solar power.

Modernizing buildings to save energy and money. Hillary Clinton worked across the aisle to get the federal government to expand the use of geothermal energy in powering its buildings. She introduced legislation to make federal buildings more energy efficient and she proposed making energy efficiency “a core mission” of the General Services Administration. Hillary also introduced legislation to help states upgrade school buildings to make them more energy efficient.

Getting cleaner vehicles on the road. Hillary Clinton cosponsored the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act to allow more investment in technologies to reduce pollution from diesel-powered trucks and other modes of transportation. She procured funding for the creation of hydrogen-powered vehicles. Hillary also passed legislation to reduce air pollution from construction equipment used on highway projects, and she even teamed up with one of the Senate’s climate change deniers to fund cleaner school bus emissions across the nation.

Bringing America’s power grid into the 21st century. Hillary Clinton cosponsored the Electric Reliability Act to give the federal government more authority to make America’s power grid more reliable and efficient. She advocated moving more aggressively towards smart grid technology and called for a nationwide net metering standard so that “families and companies that install these new technologies can sell power back to the grid for a fair price all over the country.”

Prioritizing cleaner energy worldwide. Under Hillary Clinton, the State Department joined the Department of Energy and other U.S. government agencies in a regional partnership with countries in North, Central, and South America and the Caribbean to promote clean energy development and smarter growth policies. Through this program, the U.S. has collaborated with other countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promoted cleaner energy through the Peace Corps, and connected public and private-sector officials across the hemisphere with renewable energy companies in America.

Getting smarter energy projects off the ground in Africa. Hillary Clinton helped launch a new partnership – the U.S.-Africa Clean Energy Finance Initiative – to jump-start private sector investment in cleaner energy projects and sustainable development across Africa. Funding provided through the initiative sparked wind, solar and hydro-powered projects in several African nations bringing electricity to thousands of homes.

Finding common goals with China to address access to reliable, sustainable, and affordable energy. Hillary Clinton spearheaded U.S. relations with China to enhance cooperation on climate change, energy and the environment. Under bilateral agreements, the U.S. and China established frameworks for increasing access to reliable, sustainable, and affordable energy as well as connecting businesses and government to support energy and environmental goals.

June 9, 2015

HILLARY CLINTON: LESS MINIMUM, MORE WAGE

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“Do the math about what a minimum wage brings in, in income. If we don’t send a very clear signal that we’re all in this together, the character of America will change.”

–Hillary Clinton, 4/11/06

In the U.S. Senate

Hillary Clinton fought to tie the minimum wage to future increases in congressional salaries. Hillary Clinton repeatedly introduced the Standing with Minimum Wage Earners Act to bind future salary increases for Congress to mandatory increases in the federal minimum wage. Under the provisions of the legislation, the federal minimum wage would be “automatically increased” by “a percentage equal to the percentage by which the annual rate of pay for Members of Congress increased for such year…” Speaking to the importance of her bill, Senator Clinton said, “We can no longer stand by and regularly give ourselves a pay increase while denying a minimum wage increase to help the more than 7 million men and women working hard across this nation. At a time when working families are struggling to put food on the table, it’s critically important that we here in Washington do something. If Members of Congress need an annual cost of living adjustment, then certainly the lowest-paid members of our society do too.”

Hillary Clinton repeatedly introduced legislation to increase the federal minimum wage. Hillary Clinton’s Standing with Minimum Wage Earners Act of 2006 would have increased the federal minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25 an hour over two years. Introducing her 2006 bill, Senator Clinton stated: “I ask my colleagues to recognize the moral aspect of this issue. It is simply wrong to pay people a wage that they can barely live on… We should raise the federal minimum wage so that working parents can lift their children out of poverty. It is past time to make this investment in our children and families.” Senator Clinton’s Standing with Minimum Wage Earners Act of 2007 would have increased the federal minimum wage from $5.85 to $9.50 an hour.

Hillary Clinton cosponsored bills to increase the minimum wage five times and consistently voted to support it. Over the course of her time in the U.S. Senate, Hillary Clinton cosponsored bills to raise the federal minimum wage in 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2007. Senator Clinton opposed Republican efforts to weaken the minimum wage, and she repeatedlybacked Democratic efforts to raise it. Although she opposed the Iraq funding bill it was folded into, Clinton cosponsored the original version of the Fair Minimum Wage Act that increased the minimum wage for the first time in ten years, from $5.85 to $7.25 an hour. It was one of the five bills Senator Clinton cosponsored to raise the minimum wage.
As First Lady

In 1996, Hillary Clinton was a vocal supporter of successful efforts to raise the minimum wage. The San Jose Mercury News reported in 1996, “The argument for increasing the minimum wage – which first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton endorsed Saturday – is simple and direct: The wage has not been increased since 1987 and those earning minimum wage receive no benefits or vacation.” And as she wrote in “It Takes a Village,” released earlier that year, “There are additional actions we can take, through our government, to preserve our country’s promise of opportunity for all. We can raise the minimum wage, which is nearing a forty-year low; two out of five minimum-wage earners are the sole breadwinners in their households, and many recent studies show that a modest increase does not cost jobs.” In his 2007 Hillary Clinton biography “A Woman in Charge,” Carl Bernstein wrote that, “In the ten weeks since the [1996] election, she had been working with administration officials to find ways of saving vital government services and programs that Gingrich and the Republican majority were determined to eliminate in the new session of Congress. They included legal aid for the poor, educational assistance incentives, important Medicare and Medicaid benefits, pension protection, and the minimum wage.” The minimum wage was successfully increased in August of 1996.

In 1999, Hillary and Ted Kennedy worked together to push for a minimum wage increase. As she said at a White House event with Ted Kennedy in September 1999,“America can afford to raise the minimum wage. The last time it was raised in 1996, 10 million Americans got a raise and the economy continued to create jobs at an unprecedented pace. Now raising the minimum wage is certainly an American issue and a human issue, but it is particularly a woman’s issue. It is also a children’s issue and a family issue. So I would hope that every member of Congress—the next time they visit a parent in a nursing home, sit down in a restaurant for a meal, see someone cleaning their office, or know what goes on in so many other settings where people work hard every day—would want every American to share in this kind of prosperity, and would want to raise the minimum wage.” Unfortunately, their push was unsuccessful.
Today

Hillary argues that a minimum wage increase will drive our economy by closing the wage gap between men and women. At a recent speech before the United Methodist Women Assembly, Hillary Clinton made the case for an increase in the minimum wage saying, “Twenty years ago, American women made 72 cents on the dollar; today, it’s still not equal. Women hold a majority of lower-wage jobs in our country, and nearly three-quarters of all jobs that rely on tips, like waiters, and bartenders, and hair stylists, which pay even less than the average hourly work wage. Now, holding back women is not right, but it’s also not smart. No country can truly thrive by denying the contributions of any of its people, let alone, half of its people… But if we took a different approach, women can drive economic recovery and growth, they can lift up themselves, their families, and countries, if we ensure equal pay for equal work, if we raise the minimum wage…”

June 9, 2015

Eleven Things You Should Know About Hillary

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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 all-out war in Gaza by negotiating a cease-fire between Israelis and Palestinians. In November 2012, after eight days of violence, Secretary Clinton negotiated a Gaza cease-fire with Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi. In an article titled “Hillary Clinton scores Gaza cease fire success,” Politico noted that, “Secretary of State Hillary Clinton got a Gaza cease-fire right at the moment hope seemed dead for a rapid end to the violence…”

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 convinced the White House to allow her to create a new position at the State Department: Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues. Newsweek continued, “Across the world, in diverse and deeply reactionary cultures, Clinton and [Ambassador-at-Large] Verveer have spoken and fought to liberalize attitudes on women’s role in the economy, girls’ schooling, women’s health, domestic violence, issues arising from war and conflict, and myriad other concerns.”

June 8, 2015

Hillary beats out Bernie in Wisconsin and Bernie people are jumping for joy!

Bernie "pulls" within 8 of Hillary? More like Hillary beats Bernie by eight.

I have never seen a more delusional group of people in my entire life. And mean too! The innuendo and swift boating of Hillary is disgusting. They deal in such denial and dishonesty it makes my head spin.

I think even Bernie would disown them if he were reading this board.

June 4, 2015

Even my wife is aware of the political season.

I had to laugh. She was in a doctor's waiting room and sent me a text

"stupid CNN on and some stupid GOP candidate on spouting off
I was getting ready to go outside and wait when they called me"

In 32 years I have never heard her use the term GOP. She never pays any attention to cable political talk no matter what party is talking or who it is.
She is a reality show watcher.
For her to get that worked up over a political show this far away from an election is earth shattering to me.
Soon we will be discussing Bernie vs Hillary