Friday, March 31, 2017

Hillary Rodham Clinton Awards for Advancing Peace and Security

Hillary Clinton is a familiar figure at Georgetown University.  She returned to Gaston Hall once again today to attend the awards ceremony named for her.





Transcript thanks to Fortune:

Good morning! [applause]
Thank you! Thank you so much. [applause]
Thank you. [crowd chanting "Hillary"]
Thank you. Wow, let's do that again. [laughter] [applause]
This warm, warm welcome is one of the many reasons that I always appreciate coming to this campus, to this great university. And I am so pleased to have a chance to talk with you today about an issue that, as President DeGioia said, is one that has really provided the impetus for a lot of the work that is being done here at the university, particularly in the institute that has been the first of its kind anywhere in the world studying women and security and the contributions that can be made.
And I'm grateful to President DeGioia’s visionary leadership and to this university for your commitment to nurturing diplomats, peacemakers and leaders. I am one of those who thinks we need more peacemakers, diplomats and leaders who are devoted to the ongoing and difficult work of bridging divides, of bringing people together, of trying to find common ground.
Now, some of you may have been here back in 2011 when we announced the creation of this institute. It came about for an ultimately profoundly simple reason. About a decade earlier, there had been a landmark resolution passed in the UN Security Council affirming women's crucial roles in peace and security. But the promise of that resolution has, with very few exceptions, remained largely unfulfilled. This is something that I talk often about with my close friend and predecessor, Secretary Madeleine Albright, who bleeds blue and gray. [applause]
Because we thought back in the ‘90s that we needed to do more to elevate the rights and opportunities of women and girls on every level — obviously, education and health and economic opportunity, but also to unleash the potential for involvement in ending conflicts, in creating more secure environments for all people to live in and thrive. So on that day, back in 2011, we came here to Georgetown to declare that the issue of women's full participation in peace and security could no longer be relegated to the margins of international affairs. [applause]
I believed then —and, I have to tell you, I believe even more fiercely today — that advancing the rights and full participation of women and girls is the great, unfinished business of the 21st century. [applause]
It seems self-evident. It’s not only the right and moral goal for us to be pursuing. After all, women represent half of humanity, and we do have a fundamental right to participate in the decisions that shape our lives. But — and this is what I want to really impress upon you — this is strategic and necessary for matters of peace, prosperity and security. It is not a partisan issue. It’s a human issue. A rising tide of women's rights lifts entire nations. So each year, when I’ve had the chance to come back for these awards, I am inspired, although increasingly not surprised to see how far this institute has come. Georgetown is very fortunate, in my highly biased opinion, to have my dear friend, Ambassador Melanne Verveer, at the helm and backed up fully by the leadership of the university because the leaders — as President DeGioia just read out — that you’ve recognized, women and men alike, have come from different backgrounds, certainly different countries, but united in the belief that women are not only victims of war, but must be viewed and helped to become agents of change, makers of peace and drivers of progress.
That was the principle behind our efforts at the State Department in the first term of President Obama. We wanted to set a standard, and I’m proud of it because I do see it as strategic and necessary. Not just a nice thing to do on the margins somewhere deep in the bowels of the State Department, but front and center. Because standing up for the rights and opportunities of women and girls must be a cornerstone of American global leadership. And therefore, it must be woven throughout our foreign policy with the resources, staffing, accountability and attention needed to back up that commitment. [applause]
What I was very pleased by and excited to know is how the U.S. military also recognizes the role of women in peace and security. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside and standing beside some of our military leaders right on this stage. Admiral Sandy Winnefeld, former vice chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Michèle Flournoy, former undersecretary for defense for policy, helped to put new emphasis on stopping rape and gender-based violence in conflict zones and post-conflict areas and empowering women to help make and keep peace.
This is especially important now, when we have, across the globe, more than 60 million refugees fleeing not only conflicts, but famine and drought and disease. And we have to come to terms with that because, again, it's not just somebody else's problem. It will affect the stability of nations and regions, which in turn, could very well bring problems, whether it be conflict and terrorism or disease and criminal activity to our shores. Global progress depends on the progress of women. I know we've seen positive results of that theme being actually implemented ever since the U.N. Women's Conference in Beijing in 1995. But I'm here also to say we are seeing signals of a shift that should alarm us all. This administration's proposed cuts to international health, development and diplomacy would be a blow to women and children and a grave mistake for our country. Some of you may have seen the recent letter from more than 120 retired generals and admirals to Congress and the administration, urging the Congress and the White House not to retreat from these programs, which represent our values. These distinguished men and women who served in uniform recognize that turning our back on diplomacy won't make our country safer. It will undermine our security and our standing in the world.
Defense Secretary Mattis said it well when he said, “If you cut funds to the State Department, that means he has to buy more ammunition.” So the work that is done here at this institute, here at Georgetown, making the evidence-based case for the role of women and peace in security is incredibly important. It's always mattered, but today, it's even more critical. As this institute has grown, so too has the body of evidence showing that when women participate in peacemaking and peacekeeping, we are all safer and more secure. Studies show — here I go again, talking about research, evidence and facts — [laughter] [applause]
But in fact, when women are included in peace negotiations, agreements are less likely to fail and more likely to last. And we know that women's rights and physical safety are often the very first targets of fundamentalists. We also know that women are often the first to spot conflict on the horizon, coming their way. And when their insight and information is ignored, it often leads to consequences that might have been averted. At a time when sexual violence continues to be used as a strategy by terrorist groups, when women are being recruited by ISIS and Boko Haram, evidence suggests leaders who want to do more to guard against terrorism and violence should work even harder to help support and enable the participation of women. Now, before anybody jumps to any conclusions, I will state, clearly, women are not inherently more peaceful than men. That is a stereotype. That belongs in the alternative reality. [laughter] [applause]
But, history does show that when women are at the peace table, they bring together coalitions, and they work really hard to build consensus. And they are the ones most likely to shine a bright light on issues of human rights, transitional justice, national reconciliation and economic renewal. I've seen this. Over the years, I worked with the women of Northern Ireland and watched as they reached across sectarian divides to forge a lasting peace.
And when that process started back in the ‘90s, who would have ever predicted that Martin McGuinness, who just passed away, would ever shake hands with Queen Elizabeth? We've seen the women of Liberia force an end to a bloody civil war. If you've never seen the movie Pray the Devil Back to Hell, I highly recommend it because it shows, in very personal ways, the points that I am making from this podium today. The women of Liberia went to where the men had been talking about ending the conflict for weeks and weeks, a hotel in Ghana. They surrounded it, and they would not leave. They wouldn’t let those who had met to negotiate the peace out of a window or a door until they came to agreement. And then, of course, they ended up electing Ellen Johnson Sirleaf as the first woman president on the continent of Africa. [applause]
I have seen women in the Democratic Republic of Congo survive the most horrific, almost unimaginable abuse and cruelty and then summon the resilience to rebuild and help others go on. In Colombia, which you will hear much more about in a few minutes, a country whose trajectory I have followed intently for years, we've seen women organize, agitate and negotiate to help bring to a close more than 50 years of bloodshed. While conflict raged and efforts to stop the violence failed, women not only took their places at the table, they opened up the peace process to women across Colombia and urged over and over again that all parties not walk away until they reached an agreement.
So if we are to build more just, free and peaceful countries and indeed a world, it's not enough just to pay lip service to empowering women. We have to take seriously their concerns and give them the tools to be equal partners in helping to shape the world they inhabit. The leaders we are honoring here today have seen that firsthand. From Humberto de la Calle, the rock of the peace negotiations in Havana. [applause] Yes, a round of applause for Humberto. [applause]
María Paulina Riveros, one of two women appointed to represent the Colombian government in the talks. [applause]
Elena Ambrosi, who has worked tirelessly behind the scenes, like so many women, to help make peace a reality. [applause]
And Jineth Bedoya Lima, a journalist who continued her pursuit of the truth and her advocacy for victims of sexual violence in the face of her own horrors. [applause]
Now like so many peace agreements, as hard as it was to get to it after 50 years of war, it is just the first step. Implementing peace will be a constant task. As hard as it is to imagine letting go of the peace that is so hard-won, there will be forces at work in the country from all sides to undermine it, to act as if it didn’t apply to them. To do everything possible to prevent it from becoming the reality in the lives of Colombians that it can be. Yes, the work will require difficult decisions, transitional justice and economic viability. But peace is truly within reach.
So, from peace processes, like the one we celebrate today, to important steps that nations and institutions are taking to recognize the role of women in confronting violent extremism and addressing climate change and standing up against terrorism and conflicts of all kinds, we've got to continue this work. And I am pleading that our government will continue its leadership role on behalf of peace in the world because the world must continue this work with or without U.S. involvement. [applause]
And the choice is ours to make. In this complicated, interconnected, interdependent world of ours, it’s not as though you can pick one or two, three things that you say, “Well, that’s all I’m going to work on.” Events move too quickly. Borders dissolve in the face of pressures. The great connectivity of the internet can spawn both opportunity and despair. So we have to ask, will we be left behind or will we continue to lead the way? I hope the answer is that we will do whatever it takes to make our country and the world stronger and more secure. Standing up for our values, for human rights, and opportunities, security for all. And continuing to finish the business of making sure that girls and women have the same rights as men and boys. And by extending and guaranteeing those rights, unleashing human potential, the likes of which the world has never seen. That is what I hope your generation, students of Georgetown, will be committed to actually making a reality.
Thank you all very much. [applause]

Thursday, March 30, 2017

Upcoming: On Hillary Clinton's Agenda

Politics & Government

Hillary Clinton To Headline Lincoln Center 'Women In The World' Summit

Hillary Clinton will be interviewed live by New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof for the annual Women in the World Summit.





Hillary Clinton To Headline Lincoln Center 'Women In The World' Summit
NEW YORK CITY, NY — Hillary Clinton will be in New York City next week, but not to announce her rumored interest in this year's mayoral race. The former New York Senator and Secretary of State will be speaking at Lincoln Center for the eight annual Women in the World Summit.
Clinton will headline the summit's April 6 programming when she is interviewed live by New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof at Lincoln Center's David Koch Theater, according to the summit's website. There's no indication as to which topics the conversation between Clinton and Kristof will cover, but it's safe to say politics and women's issues will likely dominate the discussion.
Since Clinton's shocking loss to Donald Trump in last year's presidential election the former first lady has kept a low profile, but has become more politically active recently. During a speech on St. Patrick's day Clinton said the was “ready to come out of the woods," alluding to a viral photo of Clinton hiking near her Chappaqua home after the election defeat, reported the New York Times.
Read more >>>>
Nicholas Kristof is asking readers to submit questions for him to ask Hillary next week.  Go here to submit your suggestions. >>>>

Thought folks might also like to see this from Katie Holmes, who is playing Jackie again, in a conversation with Jenna Bush Hager.

Katie Holmes Reveals How Suri Cruise Handled Hillary Clinton's Election Loss: 'It Just Hurt So Badly'



Jennifer Drysdale

© Provided by ETOnline Katie Holmes is still recovering from the results of 2016's presidential election.
During a radio interview on the SiriusXM TODAY Show Radio special "The Jenna Bush Hager Show," the 38-year-old actress opened up about Hillary Clinton's loss, and how she feels it has affected her 10-year-old daughter, Suri Cruise.
"I know I thought Hillary was going to win this year, and it was such a... it just hurt so badly when she didn't," Holmes told Bush Hager. "And I know that it hurt my child so much as a 10-year old, and it really made me think, 'Oh we have a lot…a long way to go as women.'"
Read more >>>>

Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Hillary Clinton, Speaking to Business Women, Defends Maxine Waters and April Ryan

Hillary Clinton delivered the closing keynote speech to the Professional Business Women of California yesterday.  In her remarks, she stepped up to defend Congresswoman Maxine Waters, whom Bill O'Reilly had insulted, and journalist April Ryan, whom Sean Spicer insulted in yesterday's press briefing.



Interesting that he said it's a full five-day week of press briefings. This administration is briefing-shy. The State Department is not offering daily briefings, either.



Full remarks and Q & A here:


Transcript from Time.
Hello! Thank you, thank you all so much. It is great to be back in San Francisco, a place that has a big big spot in my heart and to be able to speak with all of you this afternoon.
Please be seated and you can jump up and down its been a wonderful but long day I hear.
I want to thank Anne not just for her kind introduction but for exemplifying the kind of creative entrepreneurial leadership that she has demonstrated and that so many of you are also part of. I want to thank Alexandr Roddy for her leadership and all she's done and to make this event such a success.
I am thrilled to be out of the woods and in the company of so many inspiring women and there is no place I'd rather be than here with you other than the White House. (Cheers)
But lets remember what brought all of us here for the 28th convening of this event. Back in the 1980s my friend Congresswoman Jackie Speier started bringing together groups of women for networking and professional development, for support. Now that might not seem radical at all today but at the time it was pretty revolutionary and Jackie Speier herself exemplifies a life of commitment and service. She has to be in Congress for votes but lets show our appreciation for her visionary leadership with a round of applause she can hear all the way back in D.C.
Because just look at what you represent. The Professional Businesswomen of California is now the largest women's organization in the state which probably means its the biggest in the country — I don't know that but it seems reasonable to assume if you're the biggest in California.
But your members are transforming the way we do things, the way we deliver healthcare. You're running cities and Fortune 500 companies. You're making Oscar-nominated films and leading in every industry from finance to fitness, empowering the next generation of women and girls and taking on some of the toughest problems that we face. That's why I was thrilled that the theme for this year's conference is "inclusion now" because that is spot on.
There's never been a more important woman than the woman who stands up and says not just for herself but for everybody else, "we want diversity and inclusion in everything we do in our country."
And in fact, its not only the right thing to do, its the smart thing. You understand this. These are not just buzzwords to throw around or boxes to check. The best way to solve problems is to bring together a wide range of people to crowdsource solutions. And guess what? Bringing different perspectives and experiences into professional offices brings not only fresh ideas but higher revenues. And I've been saying for a long time, as many of you have, that advancing the rights and opportunities of women and girls is the great unfinished business of the 21st century. (Cheers)
And some days, I admit, it seems like it may be even more unfinished than we hoped. Because while we women have made strides in education and careers, there's still a woeful lack of women in the upper reaches of science and technology, business and education, not to mention politics and government. Women's representation in the current administration in Washington, for example, is the lowest its been in a generation. But even in a state like California, that is ahead of the curve in so many ways, the number of women serving in the state legislature is at a twenty year low. And women in the private sector, particularly women of color, still struggle for representation in the c-suite and boardroom.
But I am here today to urge us not to grow tired, not to be discouraged and disappointed, not to throw up our hands because change isn't happening fast enough. Or to even take a pass because we think we've done our part. We need more women at any table, on any conference call or email chain where decisions are made. And a big part of that is encouraging more women to run for office and pushing the private sector to do a lot better than it currently is.
But even that's not enough. We can't stop there. We need to reset the table so women are no longer required to accept or adapt to discrimination or sexism at work. We need to think beyond corporate boardrooms, beyond corridors of companies or elected bodies, beyond our own lives and experiences to lift up women of all incomes, experiences and backgrounds in every corner of our country. And a crucial part of solving these problems is recognizing that as important as it is, corporate feminism is no substitute for inclusive concrete solutions that improve life for women everywhere. Because as challenging as it is to climb the career ladder, its even harder for women at the margins unable to get on or stay on even the lowest rung. And for too many women, especially low-wage workers, basic things, like a livable wage or a predictable work schedules or affordable childcare are still way out of reach.
We know from decades of data that encouraging women's full participation is both right and smart. This data comes not just from our own country but from across the world. When I was Secretary of State I made it part of my mission to try to educate governments that including women in the economy was not only good for them and their families but poverty went down and gross domestic product of the entire county went up. And companies with more women in upper management do achieve higher profits.
Yet we also know, many of us from our own lives, that women still face barriers that hold us back. I meet talented women everywhere I go who are squeezing every minute out of their 24 hour day. They love their jobs but they can't escape the nagging feeling that its a lot harder than it should be to get ahead. I bet just about everyone in this room has had the experience of saying something in a meeting that gets ignored. Ten, twenty minutes later a man says the same thing and everyone thinks its genius. And I think we should pool our respective reactions so that you have right at your fingertips exactly what to say. Nice thought. Little slow on the uptake but good idea.
And where everyday sexism and structural barriers were once blatant, today they're sometimes harder to spot but make no mistake, they're still with us. Just look at all thats happened in the last few days to women that simply were doing their jobs. April Ryan, a respected journalist with unrivaled integrity, was doing her job just this afternoon in the White House press room when she was patronized and cut off trying to ask a question. One of your own California congresswoman, Maxine Waters, was taunted with a racist joke about her hair. Now too many women, especially women of color, have had a lifetime of practice taking precisely these kinds of indignities in stride. But why should we have to? And any woman who thinks this couldn't be directed at her is living in a dream world. (Applause)
I mean, its not like I didn't know all the nasty things they were saying about me. Some of them were actually quite creative, ones I hadn't heard before. But you just have to keep going. And even when sexism and exclusion are out in the open, its sometimes hard to believe they could possibly be deliberate. Recently, photos have been making the rounds on social media showing groups of men in Washington making decisions about women's health. Decisions to rip away coverage for pregnancy and maternity care, or limit access to reproductive healthcare around the globe. We shake our heads and think, how could they not have invited any women to the table? Well, a provocative opinion piece in the New York Times this week argues that it may not be an oversight at all but an intentional signal: don't worry, the men are in charge of everything.
My favorite sort of take on these pictures, maybe you saw it, was the one of dogs sitting around an oval table and the caption was discussing feline care, I liked that. But it is a cruel irony that stereotypes and bias run rampant even at companies that pride themselves as being forward thinking. More and more women have been sharing stories of their experiences in Silicon Valley. Stories of consistently being asked to take notes in meetings or get the coffee, of being undermined, interrupted and criticized in a way that never seems to happen to their male colleagues. Those may seem like small things, but over time they take a toll, don't they?
And for some women, the hostility is even more direct, like the Uber engineer who spoke out about her experiences with sexual harassment and spurred the company to publicly admit to addressing this problem. It is disheartening to hear women at the highest level of their profession say things are no better for the young women beginning their careers today. Women hold just a quarter of computing jobs in the U.S. and that number has gone down instead of up. Women are hired at lower numbers in the tech industry and leave at more than twice the rate men do. And for women of color, the situation is even worse.
Beyond issues of bias and discrimination, the game is often still rigged against working women in major ways. What kind of message does it send the world that the United States is the advanced economy with no national paid family leave policy? And less than 15% of workers have access to paid family leave, and those benefits are concentrated among the highest-income workers. You know, it was actually a little better before people knew what was going on. I remember I was a young law partner when I was pregnant and that was a long time ago and my partners just didn't want to talk about it. I'd walk down the hall, getting bigger and bigger, they'd turn their heads (laughter), and Chelsea came early.
You know, I kept raising the idea of well what kind of time off do I get? Well it never happened before, so nobody was talking about it. So Chelsea comes early, I have her late one night, next morning, early morning, my phone rings and its our managing partner. He doesn't say congratulations. He doesn't say hope you and the baby are fine, he says when are you coming back to work? I said, well I don't know and just out of the air I said I don't know, maybe four months. Well he had no idea, because he had never talked about it with anybody before. I said, you know, I can probably, you know, pick up some work and do some things in a couple months, but lets say 4 months. That was the beginning of our paid leave policy. (Cheers).
But then I was discouraged to read a recent survey that despite the progress in some industries, companies on the whole are actually offering less paid time off then they were a decade ago. And for too many companies that do offer family leave, it doesn't apply to fathers or LGBT couples or adoptive parents, and thats kind of strange for people in California because you've had more than a decade of evidence that offering paid family leave doesn't hurt business; in fact, it helps companies compete for top talent and to retain employees. The benefits outweigh the costs. So why is it that companies still aren't doing all they can to support working parents? As a candidate for President, I put out a comprehensive plan, I don't expect you to remember that, in fact there was a recent study showing none of my plans were really publicized or talked about, so that gives me something for speeches for at least a decade. (Applause).
Obviously the outcome of the election wasn't the one I hoped for, worked for, but I will never stop speaking out for common sense benefits that allow mom and dads to stay on the job. After all, I think its fair to say no good idea has ever become a reality overnight. As our friends in startups know, it takes time and hard work. And I'm heartened by the fact that even as we struggle at the federal level, cities and states across the country are looking to California and a few other places to pass paid family leave.
There are a growing number of businesses in the country that are leading by examples. Companies from Salesforce to Gap are making real commitments to their employees by guaranteeing equal pay and paid family leave, respectively. And we're seeing exciting initiatives across industries like the EDGE certification program, which was designed to help companies measure and hold themselves accountable for creating a more equal workplace. Google it, EDGE, and see what you can do to advocate for it within your own company.
The private sector can and must be an engine of change on these issues, especially in a place like Silicon Valley. Because when you're on the cutting edge of how people work and learn you have both an opportunity and an obligation to institute workplace policies that help employees meet their responsibilities at home and on the job. And then leaders in other industries will take notice and try to match what you do. After all, you're the people who figured out how to put computers in the palms of our hands and you have the tools and the creativity to take on big problems like implicit bias and make the case for those in elected office to follow suit.
So despite our stumbles and our setbacks, we've never been better positioned to take on this vital work. In fact, I don't think our country has ever been better positioned to take on the challenges of the future. Where some see a dark vision of carnage, I see a light shining on creativity and opportunity. (Cheers)
Now, we saw that in real time the day after the inauguration when millions of women and men from all walks of life marched for women's equality, visibility and inclusion. It was the biggest march in our country's history and I delighted at every sign I saw quoting my 1995 speech that human rights are women's rights and women's rights are human rights once and for all.
Now, afterwards, there were plenty of people as you might expect, who wondeed whether that level of energy and enthusiasm could be sustained and whether it would make any difference. Well I am here to tell you. Last week we saw the first indication that the answer to both of those questions is yes. When Congress and the administration tried to jam through a bill that would have kicked 24 million people off their health insurance, defunded Planned Parenthood, jeopardize access to affordable birth control, deprive people with disabilities and the elderly and nursing homes of essential care, they were met with a wave of resistance. People who had never been active in politics told their stories at town hall meetings, flooded the congressional switchboard with calls speaking out for affordable health care. These were not only activists and advocates, they were people who had something to say and were determined to be heard. Yes, some were new to the fight and others, like Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi have been on the front lines for years. And when this disastrous bill failed it was a victory for all Americans. (Cheers)
But let me let you in on a little secret. The other side never quits. Sooner or later, they'll try again. We will need to fight back twice as hard, not for the sake of politics but because these are bad policies that will hurt people and take our country in the wrong direction. You know, there's a little mantra I've been repeating to myself lately, a little silly, the kind of thing that pops into your heads when you take a lot of long walks in the woods. But as I think about the outpouring of activism we're seeing, despite all the noise and the nonsense, four words keep coming back to me: resist, insist, persist, enlist.
We need to resist actions that go against our values as Americans, whether that's attacking immigrants and refugees, denying climate change or passing bogus laws that make it harder for people to vote in elections. We need to resist bias and bullying, we need to resist hate and fear. And we need to insist on putting people first, including by working together to make healthcare more affordable, to build on what works, to create better and more upwardly mobile education and employment ladders. To insist that we can do better. That's who we are. We're always pushing towards that more perfect union. And then we need to persist, as we saw so dramatically in the Senate when Mitch McConnell went after Senator Elizabeth Warren and said, nevertheless she persisted, in being told she could not read a letter from Coretta Scott King. So we need to persist to approach future challenges with the passion we've seen these last few months and then bring that to the voting booth in 2018. To tell yourself, to tell your friends and your colleagues, no matter how you vote, show up and vote for goodness sake. Be there. Make sure your voice and your vote count.
And we need to enlist, enlist in this effort, get in the arena. Now that can mean many things. Running for office, which I hope some of you will actively consider. Starting and running a business, which many of you have done and are doing. But a business that takes care of its employees. Mentoring and championing other women and girls, giving time to volunteer outside of work. Standing up and speaking out. There's not just one way to do this, there are so many - there's something for everybody here to become involved in. So sure, the last few months haven't been exactly what I envisioned, although I do know what I'm still fighting for. I'm fighting for a fairer, big hearted, inclusive America. The unfinished business of the 21st century can't wait any longer. Now is the time to demand the progress we want to see and to work together to make it real in our own lives, in our businesses, in our government, in our families, our country and the world. And I'll be right there with you every step of the way. Thank you all very much.
xxx

Tuesday, March 28, 2017

Hillary Clinton to Speak to Business Women in San Francisco

Hillary Clinton will be the closing keynote speaker today.
The PBWC Conference on March 28, 2017 at Moscone Center West in San Francisco offers a full day of world-class keynote speakers, cutting-edge seminars by top thought-leaders, panels of industry experts, and networking opportunities with leading business executives. Don’t miss this opportunity to reflect, recharge, refocus and renew your commitment to achieving your ambitions and supporting others to achieve theirs.
 
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Former Secretary of State and Former U.S. Senator from New York
Hillary Rodham Clinton has spent four decades in public service as an advocate, attorney, First Lady, U.S. Senator, U.S. Secretary of State, and presidential candidate.
Clinton was born in Chicago, Illinois on October 26, 1947.  After graduating from Wellesley College and Yale Law School, she began her life-long work on behalf of children and families by joining the Children’s Defense Fund.  In 1974, she moved to Arkansas, where she married Bill Clinton and became a successful attorney while also raising their daughter, Chelsea.  During her 12 years as First Lady of Arkansas, she was Chairwoman of the Arkansas Education Standards Committee, co-founded the Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, and served on the boards of the Arkansas Children’s Hospital, and the Children’s Defense Fund.
Rosario Dawson was also a listed speaker. Awkward.

Hillary Clinton to Talk Peace and Security at Georgetown

The Trump administration is considering extending our current troop deployment into Syria. Hillary Clinton, on the other hand, will be visiting the the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security on Friday to present the the Hillary Rodham Clinton Awards for leadership in creating a more peaceful and secure world.



Hillary Rodham Clinton to Address Women's Role in Global Politics, Peace at Georgetown University




Washington, DC—Secretary Clinton will speak at Georgetown on Friday, March 31 on the important role that women can play in international politics and peace building efforts.
Her remarks are part of an annual Hillary Rodham Clinton awards ceremony hosted by the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security (GIWPS). This year, Secretary Clinton will bestow the awards on four Colombians who helped to ensure the successful outcome of Colombian peace efforts.
The event is open to members of the Georgetown community and the media. It will take place at 10:30 a.m. in Gaston Hall.
Secretary Clinton has been a strong advocate for the role of women in peace processes as an important means to end hostilities and achieve sustainable peace. During her tenure as Secretary of State, Clinton launched the U.S. National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security during a speech at Georgetown University. She is the honorary founding chair of the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security.
The Hillary Rodham Clinton awards are bestowed annually by GIWPS for exceptional leadership in recognizing the important role of women in creating a more peaceful and secure world. The 2017 awards celebrate the historic peace agreement that ended over 50 years of conflict in Colombia. Secretary Clinton will present awards to:
  • Mr. Humberto De la Calle, lead negotiator for the Colombian government and former Vice-President of Colombia;
  • Maria Paulina Riveros, one of highest ranking members of the Colombian negotiating team, co-chair of the Gender Sub-Commission, and deputy attorney general of Colombia;
  • Elena Ambrosi, thematic director of the Office of the High Commissioner for Peace and a key member of the Colombian government’s negotiating team in Havana;
  • Jineth Bedoya, a journalist and advocate for victims of sexual violence.
Read more >>>>
During the 2016 campaign, both Trump trolls and BernieBros circulated the #fakenews allegation that Hillary Clinton is a war hawk and her presidency would lead us into battle. March is the month of St. Patrick's Day, and nothing flies in the face of that charge better than Hillary's long history as a peacemaker in Northern Ireland. As First Lady, as NY Senator, and as Secretary of State, whether dealing with conflicts in Ireland, the Middle East, Eastern Europe. Southeast Asia, or Latin America, Hillary Clinton has always tried to foster peace negotiations, and she has succeeded more often than not.

Russian trolls spread that war hawk malarkey in 2016, and the BernieBros  and Trump voters bought it. If you are watching Homeland on Showtime this season, you see an illustration of how the trolling rooms work. Trolls should not be confused with bots. Bots are automated. Trolls are like the 'sock puppets' on Homeland with identities and bios. Many have multiple identities.

One thing is for certain: If the BernieBros and Trump guys end up deployed to Syria, it will not be Hillary Clinton sending them. That's where gullibility gets you. Taken for a ride.

Saturday, March 25, 2017

Jennifer Palmieri: "We Warned You!"

Hillary for America's Communications Director, Jennifer Palmieri, penned this op-ed for the Washington Post.

Democrats can still fight back now. Here's how.


March 24
Jennifer Palmieri was communications director for Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign.
 
At the Democratic convention in Philadelphia last summer, Jake Sullivan and I took to our golf carts one afternoon to make the rounds of the television networks’ tents in the parking lot of the Wells Fargo Center. It is standard for presidential campaign staffers to brief networks on what to expect during that night’s session. But on this day, we were on a mission to get the press to focus on something even we found difficult to process: the prospect that Russia had not only hacked and stolen emails from the Democratic National Committee, but that it had done so to help Donald Trump and hurt Hillary Clinton.
Sullivan was Clinton’s policy adviser. He had been Vice President Joe Biden’s national security adviser, a deputy to then-Secretary Clinton at the State Department and a lead negotiator of the Obama administration’s nuclear deal with Iran. He is a widely respected national security expert and, as he does every day, he spoke carefully, without hyperbole. All we had to go on then was what had been reported by the press. We weren’t sure if Russia was doing this to undermine Americans’ faith in our political process or if it was trying to make Trump the next president. But we wanted to raise the alarm.
We did not succeed.
Read more >>>>

Friday, March 24, 2017

Hillary Clinton's Statement on the Defeat of AHCA

Hillary Clinton was super active today on the subject of the now withdrawn AHCA, an attempt by Republicans to repeal President Obama's ACA and replace it.









Follow Hillary on Twitter! >>>>




https://twitter.com/HillaryClinton


Bill Clinton Delivers McGuinness Eulogy, Hillary Tears Up

Bill and Hillary Clinton have a special relationship with Ireland and those involved in the peace process. Today, the former president spoke at the funeral of former Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland Martin McGuinness who passed away earlier this week.

'Tears to my eyes'

Hillary Clinton reveals husband Bill’s moving speech at funeral of Martin McGuinness left her in tears

The former First Lady said Clinton's touching tribute at the Derry mass should be watched by those who want to be inspired

Thursday, March 23, 2017

Serendipity

ser·en·dip·i·ty
[ˌserənˈdipədē]
the occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way:
"a fortunate stroke of serendipity" ·
[more]synonyms: (happy) chance · (happy) accident · fluke · luck · good luck · good fortune · fortuity · providence · happy coincidence
- Oxford Dictionaries · © Oxford University Press
The FBI has a way of stumbling upon things. 11 days before Election Day, FBI Director James Comey released a letter to eight Republican committee chairs stating that, while investigating an unrelated case, the FBI had discovered emails that might be connected to the bureau's investigation of Hillary Clinton's State Department emails and that he was extending, therefore, that investigation. Hillary's campaign hit back with a one - two punch.
Fast-forward to this week.

US officials: Info suggests Trump associates may have coordinated with Russians

Comey was clear in stating that this evidence did not surface via the investigation of possible Trump campaign collusion with Russian operatives, but, rather, arose from  a different investigation, apparently involving surveillance of foreign operatives.

In other words,  the FBI came upon this information much the way they discovered emails related to Hillary Clinton on Anthony Weiner's laptop - emails, it turned out, that the bureau had already seen. They were investigating Weiner, and some of Hillary's emails appeared.

For the record, the fact that these "foreign" communications turned up in a bureau investigation and Comey announced it does not absolve Comey of releasing that October 28 letter and probably influencing the vote.

In this case, they were surveilling foreign operatives, and  - whoops! Trump campaign staff were talking to them!

Everything is a big, fat mess. As Leonard Cohen said, "There's a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in."

Comey violated bureau policy when he released that letter 11 days before the election. The emails in question would have been a huge nothing-burger had the letter not been released so close to Election Day. As it turned out, the letter was likely a factor in turning the election against Hillary Clinton and electing the guy whose campaign, transition team, and administration are riddled with Russian ties.

How ironic and how fitting! Karma can really suck when it's bad. Unfortunately, this bad karma for the Trump regime is unlikely to change anything. Confirmation hearings continue for appointees and a SCOTUS justice nominated by what could possibly be proven an illegitimate administration.

This is the kind of malarkey being spouted by a Democrat!
“It’s only natural for us to want to go back and relive the elections,” said Rep. Joe Crowley (D-N.Y.). “But that’s not going to happen. It’s about moving forward in the future. I think my Republican colleagues said it best when they said it happened to Democrats this time, it may very well happen to Republicans in the future, and that’s why it’s important to seek the truth.”
Read more at HuffPo >>>>
What? We should just keep on truckin' like all of this is normal because  ...  what? Because it may happen to Republicans at some unspecified point in the future? Sorry, but that should not be allowed to wash. This should never happen in any U.S. election. Period. That is the whole reason people are upset about it.

If this administration is found to have committed high crimes and misdemeanors and /or treason, the office of POTUS should not simply pass to the Veep of the same administration. I know we have no provision in the Constitution for this possibility, but that does not mean that we should just ignore a festering wound to our democracy. The situation is unprecedented. Whether collusion is eventually proven or not, steps should be taken to ensure the security of future elections.

https://still4hill.com/2016/10/29/laffaire-comey-some-updates-from-hillary-for-america/ 

Retweeted
The intelligence community concluded the Russians will interfere again. This is why full investigation is important to country. Please stop.

Wednesday, March 22, 2017

Here's to you, Hillary!

In these turbulent times, you may occasionally feel the need to knock one back. It's understandable. Some entrepreneurial women have just what you are looking for!  Cheers!

It's called Rodham Rye.
Republic Restoratives will give a portion of proceeds to an organization that helps pro-choice Democratic women running for office.
Leading up to the election, Republic Restoratives owners Pia Carusone and Rachel Gardner wanted to create a product that would celebrate who they thought would be the first female president. Plus, it seemed fitting: Hillary Clinton has been known to throw back the occasional whiskey. So, they came up with the idea for Rodham Rye, which would launch around the inauguration.
No need to tell you what happened next.
Carusone, who previously worked for congresswoman Gabby Giffords, was in Arizona campaigning for Clinton right up to election night. The next day, she and Gardner agreed to put the rye whiskey on hold, not sure exactly what to do with it.
But after a period of self-described mourning, the distillers returned to Rodham Rye and decided to continue with it anyway. Carusone says the spirit isn’t ultimately just about Clinton. “It’s a tribute to women in history, and a tribute to women in our everyday lives,” she says.
Read more >>>>
Drink responsibly. Respect the rye!

Tuesday, March 21, 2017

You, Me, and Hillary

Hillary Cinton did not lose the 2016 election. I refuse to say she did. She did not win the electoral college, but she won the popular vote. The night of November 8, 2016, when the electoral vote went to Donald Trump, cameras focused on scores of Hillary supporters, my colleagues in battle, in tears. I did not cry.
I did not cry that night, nor the next day, nor the many days since. I did grieve, however. It took the form of anger. Here on these pages I ranted, resisted, gathered the troops to help with the recounts, and waged a struggle against the policies coming down the pike from the incoming administration, but I never cried.
A few days ago, Lily Adams, whom I encountered working on the social nets for the campaign, asked me to participate in a book of letters to Hillary. I composed a tribute.
I let the draft sit in a document file for awhile, went back from time to time, tweaked, added, cleaned up, closed, reopened over a period of a day or so. Then, yesterday, I submitted it.
I did not watch James Comey's testimony yesterday nor Neil Gorsuch's confirmation hearings. I did watch “All the President's Men” and “All the Way” about LBJ on cable. Oddly, after submitting that tribute, every little thing set me off big time yesterday. I cried. I cried about what Nixon and his pack of criminals did to us. I cried for LBJ. We gave him a hard time, my generation, and wore him down, but he did so much that now we stand to lose under a ruthless administration. A second Johnson administration would likely have brought about even more social justice laws and certainly would have obviated that first Nixon administration. But we demonized him with a credibility gap, demonstrations, and our resentment that he was not JFK. I felt bad, and I cried.
I even cried over a song during movie credits. I cried my heart out. Every little thing set me off again.
This morning, I awoke to an email from Lily with a link to my entry in the new Hillary book. When I clicked back to the book's main page I saw this message from the editor.
This election has triggered so many heartfelt emotions, both before and after election day. Will you kindly share your own emotional journey and experiences since the election in a letter to Hillary? I humbly believe that it will be personally therapeutic, as well as, an important testament about our American values and our continued support of Hillary.
We will present these letters in a volume to Hillary as a token of our admiration and loyalty. Contributors will have an opportunity to buy a copy, too.
By adding your story, you are agreeing to our terms of use. To be considered for the book, please contribute your story by April 15. We will include as many letters as possible.
- Dr. Lynda Y. de la Viña, Editor
Wow! Did Dr. de la Viña hit the nail on the head! Was it emotional? When I was writing I did not think so. I thought I was being my usual cool-headed, organized self. I thought I was speaking from my head. In fact, I was speaking from my heart. Was it therapeutic? Yes! I did not expect writing a tribute to Hillary to be an exercise in therapy, but it was. I finally cried.
Maybe you, too, have some thoughts to share with our enormous Hillary community about her and about the election we fought through together. If you would like to contribute to this project, go here to the homepage and submit your thoughts and feelings.
http://weeva.com/we/hillary

Statement from President Clinton on the Passing of Martin McGuinness

Tuesday
Mar 21
2017

Statement from President Clinton on the Passing of Martin McGuinness

Statement
Hillary and I were saddened to learn of the death of Martin McGuinness, who devoted his life to his beloved Northern Ireland. When he decided to fight for peace, Martin was calm, courageous, and direct. And when he gave his word, that was as good as gold. As Sinn Fein’s chief negotiator, his integrity and willingness to engage in principled compromise were invaluable in reaching the Good Friday Agreement. In the years that followed, he played an even more important role in ensuring that the peace would last—personally overseeing the arms decommissioning, joining the new government as the first Education Minister, and later serving as Deputy First Minister, and doing it all with a sense of humor and fairness that inspired both his friends and former foes. My lasting memory of him will be the pride he took in his efforts to improve disadvantaged schools in Unionist and Protestant communities. He believed in a shared future, and refused to live in the past, a lesson all of us who remain should learn and live by.  May he rest in peace.
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U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (C), Northern Ireland's First Minister Peter Robinson (L) and Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness smile after speaking briefly to the media before their meeting at the State Department in Washington, March 19, 2012. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst (UNITED STATES - Tags: POLITICS)
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton accompanied by Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson, left, and Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, speaks to reporters at the State Department in Washington, Friday, March 18, 2011. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (C), Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson (L) and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness face reporters before their meeting at the State Department in Washington March 16, 2010. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas (UNITED STATES - Tags: POLITICS)
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is greeted by Martin McGuinness, Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister, at Stormont Castle, Belfast, Northern Ireland, Monday, Oct. 12, 2009. The U.S. Secretary of State met with local political leaders to dicsuss the Irish peace process. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, left, Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson, right, and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, right, speak to the media at Stormont Castle, Belfast, Northern Ireland, Monday, Oct. 12, 2009. The U.S. Secretary of State met with local political leaders to dicsuss the Irish peace process. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, centre, Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson, left, and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness speak to the media at Stormont Castle, Belfast, Northern Ireland, Monday, Oct. 12, 2009. The U.S. Secretary of State met with local political leaders to discuss the Irish peace process. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)

Statement from President Clinton and Secretary Clinton on the Passing of David Rockefeller

Monday
Mar 20
2017

Statement from President Clinton and Secretary Clinton on the Passing of David Rockefeller

Statement
David Rockefeller was a consummate businessman, a great humanitarian, and a serious scholar. He was a kind, good man to all who met him. Hillary and I are grateful for his friendship and his remarkable life.
Throughout his life he used his fame and fortune to do good here and abroad. His many efforts included the establishment of the Council of the Americas five decades ago, which was instrumental in my administration’s efforts to alleviate the financial crisis in Latin America and boost trade in the Americas and the Caribbean. His tremendous support of arts and humanities in America gave millions of people in communities across the country the opportunity to experience our great heritage of painting, dance, music, and so much more. For these efforts and many others, I was proud to present him with our nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
We celebrate a long life well-lived and send our gratitude and prayers to his family and all who supported him on his remarkable journey.
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Sunday, March 19, 2017

Statement from President Clinton and Secretary Clinton on the Passing of Chuck Berry


Statement from President Clinton and Secretary Clinton on the Passing of Chuck Berry
Hillary and I loved Chuck Berry for as long as we can remember. The man was inseparable from his music – both were utterly original and distinctly American. He made our feet move and our hearts more joyful. And along the way he changed our country and the history of popular music. Chuck played at both my inaugurations and at the White House for my 25th Georgetown reunion, and he never slowed down, which is why his legend grew every time he stepped on stage. His life was a treasure and a triumph, and he’ll never be forgotten. Our hearts go out to his family and his countless friends and fans.
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