Hillary Clinton at Vital Voices

Remarks at Vital Voices

April 2, 2013

MRS. CLINTON: Good evening, everyone. (Applause.) This is such a wonderful occasion that we’re here. It’s the 12^th such gala event for Vital Voices, and the most successful financially thanks to all of you. And it’s wonderful for me to be here because all those years, I’ve only missed one time – last year – and to be back again is such a great privilege and honor.
I want to thank Jean (ph) for her introduction, but much more than that – for the wonderful work that she is doing on behalf of women and girls. And I want to thank Vital Voices for honoring one of my dear friends and a personal heroine. We saw the short film about Inez McCormack. She never stopped working for peace, and her legacy now stretches far beyond Northern Ireland, inspiring people across the globe. And I’m so pleased that her beloved husband, Vinny, and her right-hand woman, Claire, could be with us tonight as we celebrate her life and legacy.
Well, that’s also true for the honorees. We’ve already met some of them, and more are still to come. Starting with that brave, young woman who stood up to the Taliban and insisted that girls have a right to attend school; a doctor in Somalia who saved the lives of countless refugees and stood up against al-Shabaab when they attempted to stop her and her doctors from doing their lifesaving work; an entrepreneur from Palestine who is helping women start and grow businesses; a crusader for land rights in Cambodia, a young woman we just met who I had to call several times as Secretary of State to get out of prison because she stood up for a fundamental right that people everywhere should have: a title to their homes, property rights that give them the same stake in the future which everyone deserves to have; and the police chief from Brazil who is developing new ways to stop violence against women, and you could tell from listening to her is determined that she will continue to make progress. And you will meet three brothers fighting human trafficking in India.
Now, each of them is a remarkable example of how much can be achieved when courage and compassion meet. So I am particularly pleased that we are here at Vital Voices to recognize their efforts. And I am delighted that Vice President Biden will be able to join us tonight. Vice President Biden and I have worked together on so many important issues, and one that is particularly close to his heart is the fight against (inaudible) and violence. And I know what a personal victory it was for him to see the Violence Against Women Act reauthorized last month. (Applause.)
Now, let me also remind (inaudible) the friends and colleagues and advocates and extraordinary women and men who understand the importance of this work. Many of us have worked and traveled together for decades; we’ve shared struggles and successes and even some foxholes over the years. It’s a little bit like a family reunion, which is why it feels absolutely right for us to be honoring a woman who is like a sister to us all: Melanne Verveer. (Applause.)
For more years than either of us cares to admit, Melanne and I have had both a mutual admiration society and a mutual inspiration society. (Laughter.) She has devoted her entire career to helping others live up to their own God-given potential, especially women and girls, starting as a student at Georgetown – (applause) – as a staffer on (inaudible), at People for the American Way. Her energy and intellect has been simply unstoppable.
And Melanne has been a part of Vital Voices since the very beginning. She was there with me and thousands of the (inaudible) activists in Beijing in 1995. The Chinese authorities didn’t want to hear what we had to say, but the voices of all those amazing women could not be denied: Human rights are women’s rights, and women’s rights are human rights. (Applause.)
Melanne worked for this organization every step of the way – never tiring, always ready to board another plane, visit another country, meet another aspiring and inspiring leader, forge a new partnership, break another barrier. And more than one person – probably many of you in this auditorium have wondered, why does she do it? Why does she give so much of herself for all of us? In other words, what makes Melanne, Melanne?
Well, I have (inaudible) up close for years now. And I don’t have the answer. (Laughter.) I’m constantly amazed. I’ll say to her, “Melanne, we’re having a meeting on Monday about X, Y and Z; can you be there?” And she’ll pause and she’ll say, “Well, I’m going from Bangladesh to Sweden, and then probably to Colombia, but yes, I’ll be there.” (Laughter.)
I remember when Melanne was my chief of staff in the White House, and we often had meetings in a place called the Map Room, where FDR used to track the progress of our armies in World War II. We thought it was an appropriate place for the women of the White House to meet. (Laughter and applause.) It occurred to me that maps can tell us as much about ourselves as about the world around us. Now, you can look at a map of the world and see nothing but problems as far as the eye can perceive. And that is especially true for those of us committed to the struggle for women and girls. We see too many countries where women still face violence and abuse; too many political systems that treat women like second-class or even worse; too many economies that deny women the chance to participate and prosper.
But that’s not all the map shows. It’s not what Melanne and I see. When we look at the map, we do see progress because we know people are making that progress against the most extraordinary odds, every day, everywhere. We see the opportunities that are there to be seized. We see and hear those vital voices. Melanne and I have always believed that women who lack opportunity – whether it is the opportunity to go to school, own land, start a business, run for office – should not be viewed as society’s problems but rather as solutions, agents of change, drivers of progress, makers of peace. All it takes for them to have a fighting chance. Our unwavering faith in the potential, the untapped potential of women and girls is at the heart of the work we’ve done together over these many years.
So when I became Secretary of State, I was determined to weave this perspective into the fabric of American foreign policy so that our diplomats and policymakers would see a map of opportunities as well as challenges. And I asked Melanne to serve as the first-ever Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues, and I’m delighted that President Obama has officially made that high-level position permanent, and that (inaudible). (Applause.)
We were adamant from the start that it would not be enough to preach to the choir; you had to reach out to men, to leaders who on the face of it might not have seen our perspective, and I’m pleased that Vital Voices has done the same. Because we knew how to make the case to the whole world that creating opportunities for women and girls directly supports everyone’s prosperity and security. That was a case that could be made based on hard data and clear-eyed analysis. So that’s exactly what we did. We relied on the economic research that shows that when women participate in the economy, everyone benefits, and when women participate in peacekeeping and peacemaking, we are all safer and more secure.
So we did put women on the agenda and made it a centerpiece of all that we did. We launched global and regional initiatives to translate our arguments into results. And Melanne tirelessly traveled, making the case.
People have always said that Melanne is indefatigable. Well, her work and her travel have produced results. We promoted initiatives like the African Women’s Entrepreneurship Program to provide access to training, markets, finance and credit. We started something called Young Women, which is working to shrink the global gender gap in global phone access by 50 percent in just three years. And in the spirit of Vital Voices, Melanne spearheaded the launch of a new project to support women in public service. To focus our entire government on the contributions women can make, we created a National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security. And I’m thrilled that Melanne will be continuing this work in her new role at Georgetown’s Institute for Women, Peace and Security.
Now, because secretaries and ambassadors come and go, we had to make sure that the importance of this issue did not leave with us. And that’s why Melanne and I worked with colleagues at every level of the State Department and across our government, and with President Obama and his team in the White House, to ensure that it does remain a priority for the future. And we both remain committed to doing all we can outside of government to continue making this case.
So the next time you see a map of the world, ask yourself: How did Melanne see it? Not as a set of intractable problems, but as a roadmap of opportunities to serve, to solve, to empower.
So, Melanne, thank you. Thank you for everything you’ve done for Vital Voices and for the women in the world. Thank you for showing us what leadership looks like and helping so many to find it in themselves.
Please join me in saluting a courageous woman, a fearless champion, and a great friend – Melanne Verveer. (Applause.)
MRS. VERVERR: (Inaudible) every single aspect of this evening, and tonight (inaudible). (Laughter.) And this is the major co-conspirator. (Laughter.) So I want to thank Hillary from the bottom of my heart, and to Vital Voices.
It’s wonderful for me to be back with the Vital Voices family. I have been privileged to travel around the world and I have seen firsthand the respect that this organization enjoys and the good that it does. But it really is I who owe a deep debt of gratitude to Secretary Clinton and to President Obama for giving me the extraordinary honor to represent our country in this new position.
It was almost 20 years ago – hard to believe – that Hillary made that historic speech in Beijing, at the women’s conference, for all the world to hear when she said that women’s rights were human rights. And she sparked a movement for women’s progress everywhere: from her years in the White House as First Lady, giving voice to those who were on the front lines of change around the globe, to building and growing Vital Voices to what it is today, and most recently, to making women and girls the cornerstone of the United States’ foreign policy. And I have been privileged to be part of this extraordinary commitment of hers, and for that I am extraordinarily grateful.
One day, in Kabul, after a meeting with a group of Afghan women leaders, they gave me a bouquet of plastic flowers which I still have, and they told me it was to remind me of them, and that there was an Afghan saying that said that one flower does not make a spring, but many flowers blossoming together do. And they, in one of the most challenging, harshest environments, like so many other women around the globe and those we honor here tonight, are ushering in a new spring – one of possibility and opportunity, one of peace and progress. And each and every one of you, and I include my two young granddaughters who are here tonight, each of you is helping to make that spring possible by supporting Vital Voices around the globe.
After all, as Hillary often says, this is not just the right thing to do; it is also the smart and effective thing to do. And that’s why our journey must continue.
Thank you all so very much. (Applause.)

Ready for Hillary SuperPAC Goes Live

Ready For Hillary, the largest and best known of the Hillary Clinton SuperPACs dedicated to a 2016 presidential run, sent this email out a few hours ago.  Since this is copied from the email, I do not know if the link works.  If you want to take the pledge,  click here.

Dear Friend, The team at Ready for Hillary promised that you would be the first to know when ReadyForHillary.com was live. Well, today is the day! I've known Hillary for over 20 years and I've always been proud to call her my friend. In fact, I traveled to over 14 states to campaign for her in 2008. It was an amazing experience. And this time I expect you to come with me. Declare that you are ready for Hillary here. Be one of the first supporters to take the I'm Ready for Hillary pledge. Together, let's send a resounding message that America is ready for Hillary. Stand with us today! Did you know that while serving as our country's Secretary of State, Hillary had to shut down her political operation? She was unable to attend any political events or support other democratic candidates. That's why we need to get ready for her candidacy immediately. We can't let another day go by without building an infrastructure or organizing! Ready for Hillary is the only organization dedicated to building a national network of supporters that will be in place and ready to jump into action the moment Hillary decides to seek our party's nomination. We are going to keep up the energy and excitement surrounding her potential candidacy. To succeed, we need to start building an extensive field program -- getting neighbors talking to neighbors, organizing on college campuses, and putting together the winning team of supporters that will help Hillary win in 2016. Tell Hillary that you are ready today! Take the I'm Ready for Hillary pledge now. To make our efforts successful we are going to need to reach as many people as possible. Make sure you forward this email to your friends, family and neighbors. We need to grow our effort and recruit new supporters every day. I'm looking forward to an amazing journey and I hope that you are ready to come along!

Allida Black Chair, Ready for Hillay

Paid for by Ready for Hillary PAC | www.readyforhillary.com
Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee
PO Box 7705
McLean, VA 22106

New Poll: Who is your favorite Secretary of State ... ever?

If you voted in this poll last week, you might be interested to know that Hillary won impressively and now is being pitted against Thomas Jefferson. Scroll down to see the latest poll.

Presidential Madness (Round 2): Favorite modern secretary of state

By NCC Staff | National Constitution Center

Here are the six nominees for best modern secretary of state, along with a quick bio of their time in office:

1. George C. Marshall. Served 1947 – 1949. As Harry Truman’s secretary of state, Marshall’s Plan rebuilt Europe after World War II, and he was later awarded a Nobel Prize for his efforts.

2. Henry Kissinger. Served 1973 – 1977. The high-profile secretary for Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford, Kissinger was a career diplomat who pioneered the policy of detente with the Soviet Union.

3. George P. Shultz. Served 1982 – 1989. Only one of two people to serve in four different cabinet positions, Shultz led the State Department for most of the Reagan era.

4. Madeleine Albright. Served 1997 – 2001. The first woman to serve as secretary, Albright played an important role in the Clinton administration.
5. Condoleezza Rice. Served 2005 – 2009. A Shultz protégé, Rice first served as President George W. Bush’s national security adviser before becoming secretary of state.
6. Hillary Clinton. Served 2009 – 2013. The former first lady served in the Senate and then became the most-traveled secretary ever as part of the Obama administration.
Read more >>>>

Here is the less than fair and balanced poll pitting Hillary (the "modern" winner) against Thomas Jefferson (the "historical winner). It is never fair to pit an historical figure against one whose history is not complete. For what it is worth, here is that poll.

Presidential Madness (Round 9): Pick the best secretary of state ever!

At Constitution Daily, madness doesn’t just apply to the NCAA—it’s also an awesome excuse to give the bracket treatment to the executive branch of government. This year, it’s all about the presidential Cabinet.

Round 9: Best secretary of state ever!

In earlier voting, our readers chose the best historical and modern secretaries of state from a star-studded field of diplomats.

In the historical division, Thomas Jefferson edged out James Madison in the fight between the Founding Fathers. William Seward and John Quincy Adams were also contenders in a four-way battle of big historical names.

In the modern division, Hillary Clinton had an easier time, taking an impressive 46 percent of the vote in defeating Henry Kissinger, George Marshall and Condoleeza Rice.

Click here to read more and vote >>>>

Hillary Clinton - Flippin' Oblivious to the Eye of the Storm She Occupies

This HuffPo article and slide show inspired me to share this hair-flipping gallery which I had been collecting but never had reason to post.  She so flippin' rocks!

Hillary Clinton Doesn't Care About 2016 Speculation -- She Just Whips Her Hair Back And Forth

The Huffington Post  |  Posted: 04/01/2013 1:13 pm EDT  |  Updated: 04/01/2013 1:13 pm EDT

Hillary Clinton generally remains cool, calm and collected. Rumor has it that she never even sweats. Even as will-she-or-won't-she speculation over her potential 2016 presidential run rages, we think that Hillz is probably taking it all in stride.

Read more >>>>

Hillary Clinton To Speak! (No, probably not about that.)

The metaphor of Hillary Clinton waiting in the wings has run through these pages before in both words and images.  Hillary Clinton can look tantalizingly attractive as she waits to take the podium, and,  for her supporters, the natural thought progression migrates to the steps of the Capitol on a January morning in 2016 in the rough-and-tumble, lickety-split manner of The Pokey Little Puppy's litter mates.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton waits to walk onto stage to speak at the third annual U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED) at the Department of the Interior in Washington May 9, 2011.
REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

How fitting that the week and month that begin with April Fool's Day should herald Mme. Secretary's first three public speaking engagements as she emerges from her cocoon as a full-blown private citizen for the first time in decades while, in the outside world, Hillary-Fever hits epidemic proportions making fools of some. In cable media, every self-respecting host devotes at least one segment to the Hillary Effect while the print media, bloggers, and Facebook groups offer, according to their place on the political spectrum, varied speculation on what Hillary Clinton could possibly be up to as she so coquettishly keeps us waiting for her answer to the Big Question.

 Memory can be short.  Those who stood shoulder to shoulder with Hillary through the brutal 2008 primary campaign tend to be more circumspect about what a campaign would entail, how it might roll out, and the degree to which Hillary's current sky high poll numbers might hold in a campaign setting.  Ironically, among some of the louder and more self-assured voices are those who assaulted her most viciously in 2008.  On his Sunday show yesterday, Chris Matthews stated with all the certainty in the world that "Hillary Clinton has given every indication that she is running..." which, of course she has not and has taken pains to avoid.  At counterpoint to this is Jim Rutenberg in yesterday's New York Times who actually took the trouble to speak with Hillary's spokesman Philippe Reines and exuded no such certainty.  It is not a stretch to imagine Matthews and his ilk to be dangling her out there as a pretty, candy-filled piñata waiting to be bashed once again when the new flavor of the month arises.  Who that might be I leave to speculation, but judging from responses to my tweets and Facebook posts a particular name proliferates.   True Hillary loyalists must regard current endorsements and their sources with a glance in the rear view mirror and a healthy dose of skepticism.

The only credible news is that Hillary Clinton will speak twice this week.  Tomorrow in Washington D.C. at Kennedy Center for the annual Vital Voices Global Leadership Awards and again on Friday at Lincoln Center in New York at the annual Women in the World Summit.   Her first official paid speaking event is scheduled for April 24 in Dallas.  Despite a rally scheduled for tomorrow evening outside Kennedy Center and promoted by the Ready for Hillary SuperPAC,  it is most unlikely that what we will hear her say will have anything to do with running for president.  It is far more likely, as reflected in Kathleen Parker's excellent piece in Newsweek for Women in the World, that we shall hear her directly address the question of how her initiatives for women, established under the the auspices of the State Department, will continue  now that she no longer occupies her State Department post.

Can the Hillary Effect sustain itself without the Hillary? ( Thomas Whiteside/Jed Root )

The Hillary Effect

Will Clinton’s Agenda Survive?

by Kathleen Parker

The Hillary Effect has spread across the globe. But how well will it last without Hillary at the helm?

Read the article >>>>

Aside from a summary of how her agenda remains underpinned at the State Department, it seems realistic to expect an announcement of some private initiative on her part to continue addressing women's issues on a global basis.  At both of these events she will have no dearth of strong women leaders from all over the world surrounding her who surely would join any campaign she embarks upon to advance the causes - the many causes of women - from education, to security in sending one's children to school, to human trafficking, to marrying whom one chooses, to running businesses and running for political office. 

While the next presidential election remains years away, daily, in many cultures, child brides are promised like chattel.  Assuredly, Mme. Secretary timed her marriage equality video for release prior to last week's SCOTUS arguments, but the message resounds more broadly than the LGBT community, and women, who drive economies, who are the growers, makers, students, educators, and shoppers have their greatest impact when they are free rather than subjugated by fathers and by husbands they have not chosen.  That aspect of marriage equality, the full equality of citizens,  and its implications for women and girls is likely to arise among the many issues confronting women in the world today.

No, it is not likely that Hillary Clinton will have an announcement about a presidential campaign when she emerges from behind her curtain this week, but there is certain to be a campaign nonetheless.  There will be a platform, and as is always the case with Hillary Clinton, there will also be a blueprint for building the social structure she conceives.

Hillary Clinton's Transition Office: No Decision Yet (So Cool Your Heels, Y'All!)

According to a New York Times article today,  Hillary Clinton has not only an office but also an initial paid speaking engagement lined up.  Jim Rutenberg reports that the recently retired Secretary of State will make her paid speaking debut on April 24 in Dallas. Her office, located on Connecticut Avenue in DC,  is dealing with,  as Rutenberg puts it "the considerable business of being Hillary Clinton."

Operating with a small staff, the clear voice of the "transition office," as it is being called, remains her longtime spokesman Philippe Reines.   Responding to rumors that insiders have leaked that she is running again in 2016,  Reines  stated,  “Everyone’s gotten way ahead of themselves, and most importantly, they have gotten way ahead of her.”

Rutenberg goes on to offer this.

Those who are most connected to her exhaustive network of political financiers — some of whom remained in her orbit with plum invitations to official diplomatic soirees — say its most important members will make no move until she gives the signal.

Yes, there are those insisting that they know she is running. Clearly, according to the above, these folks would not be among the "most important members" and "have gotten way ahead of her," as Reines put it.
So what is Hillary Clinton doing now with this mysterious little office?

These days, Mrs. Clinton is devoting much of her time to her next book, about her years in the State Department. She is also debating how best to continue her work on women’s issues, which she could do either through her husband’s foundation or one she may start on her own.

It is no secret that many would love to see her make the run, but that is her decision to make, and she has not made it.  If anyone assures you that he or she knows for certain that her hat is in the ring, that person is talking through his or her hat!

Read the article here and Happy Easter, all!

Happy Easter Mme. Secretary and Mr. President

We wish you a happy and blessed Easter.

Happy Easter to everyone here!

Hillary Clinton to be Honored by Grand Rapids Economic Club in June

Adding her name to a long list of notables, Hillary Clinton has accepted the invitation of the prestigious Grand Rapids Economic Club where she will be the guest of honor at their 26th Annual Dinner this June.

Hillary Clinton coming to Grand Rapids this summer for Economic Club event

By Zane McMillin | zmcmilli@mlive.com
on March 27, 2013 at 3:01 PM, updated March 27, 2013 at 5:12 PM

Hillary Clinton will be guest of honor at the Economic Club of Grand Rapids' Annual Dinner in June. AP File Photo

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Hillary Clinton, former secretary of state to President Barack Obama, will attend the Economic Club of Grand Rapids' 26th Annual Dinner this summer.
The Club announced Wednesday that Clinton, a former U.S. senator for New York, will be guest of honor at the Monday, June 17, event in the Steelcase Ballroom of DeVos Place.
Only Economic Club members are able to attend.
Read more >>>>

If Bill Cinton sneezes, does it mean Hillary is running? Welcome to allergy season 2013!

What the connection could possibly be between Bill Clinton delivering a commencement address and our esteemed Hillary making a run for the White House in 2016 is no clearer in this article than it is in the header.  It seems that anything Bill Clinton does lately is caught on the Hillary 2016 watch seismograph and must mean something!  But what?   Seismologists at the Columbia University Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory  in Palisades NY may not be paying attention,  but clearly the Clinton-watchers are. 

News

10:19pm March 26, 2013

Hillary Running? Bill Clinton to Deliver Howard Commencement on May 11

Former President Bill Clinton will deliver the commencement address at Howard University on Saturday, May 11.

SNIP

Does the former President’s speech indicate the slow but steady ramp up to a 2016 presidential run for his wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton? last week, Hillary Clinton announced her support of gay marriage in a video announcement.

Read more >>>>

It makes you wonder whether logic is still part of the curriculum at any level  anywhere.  The connection between the commencement address and any clue of Hillary making a run in 2016 is comedic enough to generate some humorous fake-headers from our Jen the Michigander.

Future headlines:

"Bill Clinton buys blue tie with white stripes. Hillary 2016 announcement expected soon."

"Bill Clinton sends birthday card to Bruce Springsteen. Could this mean the E Street Band will play at Hillary inauguration?"

"Bill Clinton courting Hispanic vote for Hillary 2016 by eating burrito."

Poll: Who Is Your Favorite Modern Secretary Of State?

Presidential Madness (Round 2): Favorite modern secretary of state

By NCC Staff | National Constitution Center

Here are the six nominees for best modern secretary of state, along with a quick bio of their time in office:

1. George C. Marshall. Served 1947 – 1949. As Harry Truman’s secretary of state, Marshall’s Plan rebuilt Europe after World War II, and he was later awarded a Nobel Prize for his efforts.

2. Henry Kissinger. Served 1973 – 1977. The high-profile secretary for Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford, Kissinger was a career diplomat who pioneered the policy of detente with the Soviet Union.

3. George P. Shultz. Served 1982 – 1989. Only one of two people to serve in four different cabinet positions, Shultz led the State Department for most of the Reagan era.

4. Madeleine Albright. Served 1997 – 2001. The first woman to serve as secretary, Albright played an important role in the Clinton administration.
5. Condoleezza Rice. Served 2005 – 2009. A Shultz protégé, Rice first served as President George W. Bush’s national security adviser before becoming secretary of state.
6. Hillary Clinton. Served 2009 – 2013. The former first lady served in the Senate and then became the most-traveled secretary ever as part of the Obama administration.
Pick your favorite in our poll below, and check back each day to see a new March Cabinet Madness vote!

Note: If you can’t see the poll below, use this link: http://poll.fm/45otg

Read more >>>>

Jennifer Rubin on Hillary Clinton's Legacy Again ... (yawn)

Since Jennifer Rubin has elaborated her attack on Hillary Clinton's legacy at the State Department, I am compelled to take on her latest barrage, but the truth is that she is becoming repetitive and tiresome with her empty bloviating.  It is astounding that she gets paid to write this tripe.

Here are her top 10 disasters:
1. She insisted we side with Hugo Chavez’s stooge in Honduras....

Hillary Clinton: Remarks at the Top of the Daily Press Briefing

July 7, 2009

I just finished a productive meeting with President Zelaya. We discussed the events of the past nine days and the road ahead. I reiterated to him that the United States supports the restoration of the democratic constitutional order in Honduras.

2. She touted a Russian “reset.”

Video: Secretary Clinton’s Remarks After Exchange of Instruments of Ratification for the New START Treaty

February 5, 2011

3.  She couldn’t manage to figure a way to reach agreement with Iraq on a status-of-forces deal.

She was Secretary of State not Secretary of Defense, but for some reason there was a great deal of pressure on her to take up defense issues.  Iraq did not become her operation until August 2010 when the last troops pulled out.

Quiet Handover: From Defense to State

August 18, 2010

4. Speaking of which, Clinton assured us for months that Assad was a “reformer.” She dragged her feet and then was rebuffed three times by the un-reset Russians at the United Nations. She delayed in reaching out to the Syrian rebels and in providing aid. She left a human catastrophe of 70,000 dead Syrians and millions of refugees streaming into Syria’s neighbors.

A. She did not call him a reformer. She was quoting others who had visited Syria.

(CNSNews.com) – Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Sunday drew a contrast between Syrian President Bashir Assad and his late father and predecessor, and said U.S. lawmakers who recently have visited Damascus regarded him as a “reformer.”

B. Oh, it is simply too much. Here is the entire archive here on Syria - everything she said, did , and every trip to meetings of Friends of the Syrian People.

Search Results for 'Syria'

C. Hillary Clinton did not kill 70,000 Syrians or displace anyone.  Assad's regime did that.

5.  Also among the dead in the Middle East, of course, was Ambassador Chris Stevens ....

Once again, she did not kill her friend Chris Stevens.  Her requests for diplomatic security funding were twice cut by the very Tea Party Republicans who attacked her on Benghazi.

House Tea Party Members In Pursuit Of Hillary Clinton: Examine Your Own Role In Cutting Diplo Post Security

October 7, 2012

6.  She dispatched George Mitchell as her special envoy for the Middle East, who promptly became persona non grata with both Israelis and Palestinians. Her shrieking about settlements only alientated the administration from both sides. (This approach was renounced by the president in his recent Mideast trip.) She ambushed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the eve of his trip to the White House to tell him, that oh yes, the president would be publicly announcing that U.S. policy was to begin negotiations at “1967 borders” with land swaps.

One of the problems with what Rubin states is the overwhelming absence of any evidence whatsoever.  George Mitchell promptly became persona non grata?   That would have barred him from entry to the region.  So how is it that he visited on a frequent basis with and without Mme. Secretary?  These entries refute that claim.

Search Results for 'George Mitchell'

"Shrieking" about settlements?  And where is the chapter and verse of Obama's renunciation? Here is what he said.

Israelis must recognize that continued settlement activity is counterproductive to the cause of peace, and that an independent Palestine must be viable– that real borders will have to be drawn.

As for those 1967 borders with land swaps that has been U.S. policy through several administrations, there is this.

Obama's vision for Mideast peace: Israel, Palestine based on 1967 borders with land swaps

7. The administration was largely moot during Iran’s Green Revolution in June 2009....

Oh, smh, I did addressed this in the last post.

... the State Department did what it could in the face of a silent, hesitant President during the Green Revolution.  Aware that people in the streets of Tehran and other cities were depending on Twitter to communicate life-and-death information and learning that Twitter intended to close down for maintenance, Hillary Clinton prevailed upon Twitter to leave the lines of communication open.  They did, as those of us who spent those weekends retweeting important tweets from Iran can attest.

8. Her reaction to the Egyptian revolution, and indeed to the entire Arab Spring, was incoherent and meek.

Hillary Clinton spoke out to Arab leaders and elders long before these revolutions broke out and to some criticism. No two revolutions were alike. To suggest that there could have been a template that would have addressed them all is naive. The Arab world is no more homogeneous than Latin America is, and no cut-and-paste solutions would have been effective, as P..J. Crowley noted today on Bashir Live with Karen Finney.

Secretary Clinton at Forum for the Future

Nov. 2009

Video: Secretary Clinton’s Remarks at Forum for the Future

Jan. 2011
Two years ago this week,  Hillary engaged in an exhausting week of shuttle diplomacy an finally accomplished an agreement to a no fly zone over Libya.

Hillary Clinton: Remarks at the International Conference on Libya

March 29, 2011

9. She did not restore our “standing in the world,” as she vowed to do.

Once again, no evidence is offered for this sweeping assertion. It would take a boatload of links to counter it, but if you search this blog at your leisure you will find four years' worth of strategic dialogues, memoranda of understanding, and bilateral and trilateral agreements that attest that she reached out to countries previously neglected.

10. Early in her term she sent a terrible message by informing the Chinese that human rights shouldn’t be allowed to get in the way of relations between the countries.

Right. That is how this happened.

Hillary Clinton’s Statement on Chen Guangcheng

May 2, 2012
She never ceased talking human rights with Chinese officials behind closed doors and stated that numerous times. 
Rubin's war on Hillary Clinton's State Department legacy is feeble, boring, and redundant.  She needs to turn her sights elsewhere.  Her attacks are lame with lack of substantiation and a surplus of broad implication that goes unattributed. 

Hillary Clinton did better than this and deserves better.  Great job, Mme. Secretary!  Thank you!

On a related and very heartening note, there was this affirmation of Hillary's legacy today by Grace Meng (D -NY).

Grace Meng introduces the Benghazi bill Hillary Clinton asked for

Meng and Clinton during a House hearing. C-SPAN

By Reid Pillifant
4:23 pm Mar. 26, 2013

Rep. Grace Meng announced in a press release this morning that she's co-sponsoring a bipartisan bill "to prevent another Benghazi," referring to the attack in Libya that killed four American diplomatic personnel last September.
Read more >>>>

About Hillary Clinton's "Puny" Legacy, Jennifer Rubin ...

In her signature style of random, shallow cuts inaccurately delivered, Jennifer Rubin makes a pathetic attempt, in today's Washington Post, to slash and burn Hillary Clinton's legacy at the State Department.  The problem with her attack is that Hillary Clinton was not at the helm driving the policies that Rubin targets in this order.

1. In the case of Benghazi, she didn’t quite make it out the door unscathed.
2. Confidence in Obama in Muslim countries dropped from 33% to 24% in his first term.
3. ... fecklessness with regard to Iran.
4. ... doing nothing to end the suffering in Syria.
5. ... embracing Muslim Brotherhood chief Mohamed Morsi.
6. On Clinton’s watch, a U.S. ambassador was killed ... (Yes, Benghazi again).
7. The administration was largely mute at a critical time in the Green Revolution.
8. The Palestinian Authority, against our express wishes, went to the United Nations for a declaration of statehood, while we were able to round up fewer than 10 “no” votes.
9. Syria’s chemical weapons were not secured....
10. Russian reset was such a bust that Clinton’s successor, John Kerry, was compelled to dump it as he was taking office.

Rubin's major obstacle in lodging these complaints is the job description of the Secretary of State as presented at the State Department website.

The Secretary of State, appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, is the President's chief foreign affairs adviser. The Secretary carries out the President's foreign policies through the State Department, which includes the Foreign Service, Civil Service, and U.S. Agency for International Development

The policies were not Hillary's.  Nevertheless, let's take a look at what she did manage to accomplish.

1.  The Benghazi "scathing" -  her soaring poll numbers fly in the face of that one.

2. Aside from a much-trumpeted speech in Cairo in 2009, the Obama administration early on focused attention on East Asia providing no follow-up to Cairo.  This was not Hillary's decision.  Hillary stood firm in Spring of 2009 against continued construction in East Jerusalem.  No support was forthcoming from the White House.  By Fall of 2009 the White House had pulled her back from this issue.  When Netanyahu issued a 10 month freeze on construction she had to welcome it with open arms ... not a popular endorsement in the Arab world, and not her policy.

I want to take 3 and 7 together.  Rubin is also ill-organized.  Aside from Iran policy being in the hands of the White House,  the State Department did what it could in the face of a silent, hesitant President during the Green Revolution.  Aware that people in the streets of Tehran and other cities were depending on Twitter to communicate life-and-death information and learning that Twitter intended to close down for maintenance, Hillary Clinton prevailed upon Twitter to leave the lines of communication open.  They did, as those of us who spent those weekends retweeting important tweets from Iran can attest. 

4. Since the 2012 Republican Vice Presidential candidate did not know that aside from negotiating at the U.N. on Syria, we were energetically participating in a group called Friends of the Syrian People, I suppose I cannot expect Rubin to be aware of this either.  From April until she fell ill in December of 2012 Hillary Clinton attended at least five meetings and was scheduled for another which she could not attend due to her illness. 

5. She did not embrace the Muslim Brotherhood's chief.  He is the democratically-elected President of Egypt and stepped down from the leadership of the Brotherhood when elected.  She visited a president, as she had many, in this case to ensure that Egypt would continue to respect agreements with Israel.

6. Yes, we lost an Ambassador, one who was a friend of hers, and that was tragic.  To blame Hillary for this when Congress twice chopped her Diplomatic Security budget and given the conventions under which mission security operates is patently political gamesmanship.

8. With regard to the Palestinian resolution at the U.N.  it is not the job of the Secretary of State to "round up votes" at the U.N.  That is why we have an ambassador to the U.N.

9.  Syria's chemical weapons - why it is perceived to be the job of one sole person, the Secretary of State,  to achieve this escapes me.  The Friends of the Syrian People have been working together on international sanctions.  It is not in the hands of an individual person.

10.  Russia.  Hillary Clinton and Sergei Lavrov worked exceedingly well together and achieved the very crucial New START treaty.  This was immense, a great victory for both diplomats and both countries.  Their relationship remained solid throughout her tenure.

Here are a few other things she did. 

>For the first time in its history she completely overhauled the State Department , USAID, and interagency cooperation with her Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review (QDDR).

>For the first time in history she called all of the chiefs of mission together at the State Department for annual conferences.

>She instituted an Office of Global Women's Issues.

>In June 2009 she provided benefits to domestic partners of foreign service diplomats for the first time.

>She brought previously neglected countries to the table with numerous memoranda of understanding and countless business initiatives.

>She kept the alliance between Afghanistan and Pakistan stable despite enormous challenges.

>She reopened the vital supply route from Pakistan into Afghanistan.

>She ensured U.S. access to the vital Manas airstip in Kyrgystan.

>She Salvaged the Turkey-Armenia accords which  she was supposed to simply witness when they suddenly nearly fell apart.

>She brought issues like human trafficking as well as violence against women and LGBT communities to the international table.

These are simply a few things that come to mind at the moment, and I probably have left out some important events.  Nonetheless, I believe these accomplishments stand well in the face of nouns like "fecklessness."  Clearly Rubin is wrong and way off-base.  Hillary Clinton has left an indelible mark on the State Department and has brought its operations into the 21st century with her integration of social networking into our outreach to the world.  She has been a tremendously effective Secretary of State and a hero to many, our own troops at war among them.  We can be appreciative of her selfless service and proud of the job she has done.

Hillary Clinton to Participate in 2013 Vital Voices Global Leadership Awards

Folks in the D.C. area will also have a chance to see Hillary Clinton early next month.

2013 Global Leadership Awards

2013 Vital Voices Global Leadership Awards
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Opera House
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
7:30 PM Awards Presentation
 
FEATURING
 Tina Brown
Nicholas Kristof
Diane von Furstenberg  

HONORED GUESTS
Vice President Joe Biden
The Honorable Hillary Rodham Clinton

Global Trailblazer:  Malala Yousafzai | PAKISTAN
Solidarity Award:   The Kant Brothers | INDIA
Fern Holland Award:  Dr. Hawa Abdi | SOMALIA
Human Rights Award:  Sandra Gomes Melo | BRAZIL
Economic Empowerment Award:  Manal Yaish Zraiq | PALESTINE
Leadership in Public Life Award:  Tep Vanny| CAMBODIA 
Special Tribute:  The Honorable Melanne Verveer
Vital Voices Co-Founder and Chair Emeritus
This evening is dedicated to the memory of Inez McCormack.
For more information, CLICK HERE.

Hillary Clinton to Appear at 4th Annual Women In The World Event

We wondered why her name was not on the original list of speakers, but now it is official.  Hillary Clinton will once again grace this event.

Hillary Clinton Joins Women in the World Summit

Mar 21, 2013 3:39 PM EDT

In one of her first appearances since leaving the State Dept., Clinton will join some of the world's most inspirational women at our fourth Women in the World Summit.

In one of her first appearances since leaving the State Department, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will be joining the Women in the World Summit to be held April 4 and 5 at New York’s Lincoln Center.  The annual summit, now in its fourth year, illuminates global issues through the voices of leaders, activists, artists, and pioneers who are confronting the most urgent challenges faced by women and girls around the world.
Read more >>>>

2010


2011


2012

New Quinnipiac Poll Shows Hillary Clinton in Double-Digit Lead Over Bush and Rubio in Florida

The new Qunnipiac poll shows Hillary beating out two Florida favorites, and you know what they say  - Florida, Florida, Florida. 

March 21, 2013 - Clinton Tops Florida Favorite Sons In 2016 Race, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has double-digit leads over either of Florida's favorite sons, former Gov. Jeb Bush or U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, in an early look at the 2016 presidential election, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.
SNIP
Mrs. Clinton, who shows the most strength of any potential 2016 aspirant in Quinnipiac University’s national polls, leads Jeb Bush 51 – 40 percent and bests Sen. Rubio 52 – 41 percent in a poll of Sunshine State registered voters.
Clinton is viewed much more favorably than either man, 62 – 33 percent favorable for Clinton, compared to 50 – 35 percent favorable for Bush and 41 – 34 percent for Rubio.
“We probably won’t know for some time whether former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton runs for president in 2016, but if she decides to make the race, she begins with a sizable lead in a state that Republicans cannot win the White House without,” said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac  University Polling Institute. “Florida voters have a very positive view of Mrs. Clinton and it’s not just Democrats who feel that way.”
Mrs. Clinton is viewed favorably by 26 percent of Republicans, not bad for a Democrat who’s had her share of battles with the GOP, and gets a 57 – 35 percent favorability among the key voting group, independents. Not surprisingly, she gets 93 – 5 percent favorability among Democrats. She has a 10-point gender gap: 66 percent of women and 56 percent of men view her favorably.
In a head-to-head with Jeb Bush, Mrs. Clinton would get 10 percent of Republicans while he would only get 4 percent of Democrats. Independent voters are divided 42 percent for Clinton and 41 percent for Bush.

10. If the election for President were being held today, and the candidates were Hillary Clinton the Democrat and Jeb Bush the Republican, for whom would you vote?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Clinton 51% 10% 92% 42% 45% 56% 44% 86% 62% Bush 40 88 4 41 45 36 48 9 30 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 - - 2 1 1 1 - - WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 2 1 1 4 4 1 2 3 - DK/NA 5 1 2 11 5 6 5 1 8 WHITE.............................................. COLLEGE DEG BornAgnEv Yes No Prot Cath Men Wom Yes No Clinton 47% 42% 32% 42% 38% 49% 25% 44% Bush 45 50 60 51 53 44 66 48 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 2 1 2 - 1 1 2 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 2 1 - 3 1 3 2 DK/NA 5 5 4 7 5 6 5 5 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HSHOLD INC AGE IN YRS....... Yes No <50K 50-100 >100K 18-34 35-54 55+ Clinton 52% 51% 53% 54% 51% 55% 51% 50% Bush 39 41 39 43 39 31 45 42 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 1 1 - 3 1 1 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 3 2 1 2 6 1 1 DK/NA 6 5 5 2 5 8 2 5

11. If the election for President were being held today, and the candidates were Hillary Clinton the Democrat and Marco Rubio the Republican, for whom would you vote?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Clinton 52% 8% 90% 47% 48% 55% 45% 88% 57% Rubio 41 90 6 38 44 37 48 6 35 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 - 1 2 1 1 1 1 - WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 - - 2 1 - 1 3 - DK/NA 6 1 3 11 5 6 5 2 8 WHITE.............................................. COLLEGE DEG BornAgnEv Yes No Prot Cath Men Wom Yes No Clinton 50% 42% 32% 47% 41% 49% 27% 45% Rubio 46 49 62 47 53 44 67 48 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 1 1 - 1 1 1 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) - 1 1 - 1 - 2 1 DK/NA 3 6 4 6 4 6 3 5 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HSHOLD INC AGE IN YRS....... Yes No <50K 50-100 >100K 18-34 35-54 55+ Clinton 55% 51% 52% 56% 55% 54% 53% 51% Rubio 39 41 38 41 41 33 43 42 SMONE ELSE(VOL) - 1 2 - 1 2 - 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) - 1 1 - - 3 - - DK/NA 5 6 6 3 4 8 4 5

12. Is your opinion of Jeb Bush favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Favorable 50% 87% 27% 48% 50% 50% 58% 20% 41% Unfavorable 35 5 61 32 36 35 31 62 32 Hvn't hrd enough 13 7 11 17 13 12 9 17 25 REFUSED 2 1 1 3 1 3 2 1 1

13. Is your opinion of Marco Rubio favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Favorable 41% 81% 12% 41% 45% 38% 48% 10% 39% Unfavorable 34 3 60 30 34 33 31 51 34 Hvn't hrd enough 24 15 26 26 20 27 20 39 25 REFUSED 1 - 2 2 1 2 1 - 2

TREND: Is your opinion of Marco Rubio favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him?

FAVORABLE...... High Low Mar 21 May 23 Feb 03 Aug 19 Jul 30 May 23 Apr 16 2013 2012 2011 2010 2010 2012 2009 Favorable 41 44 41 35 35 44 10 Unfavorable 34 24 17 28 24 24 11 Hvn't hrd enough 24 31 41 34 38 31 78 REFUSED 1 1 2 2 3 1 2

14. Is your opinion of Hillary Clinton favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about her?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Favorable 62% 26% 93% 57% 56% 66% 57% 88% 68% Unfavorable 33 68 5 35 37 29 39 7 25 Hvn't hrd enough 4 3 2 4 5 2 3 5 6 REFUSED 2 2 - 3 1 2 2 - 1

TREND: Is your opinion of Hillary Clinton favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about her? (*Low also 44% Jun 2007)

FAVORABLE...... High Low Mar 21 May 22 May 1 Apr 2 Dec 5 Mar 21 Apr 2 2013 2008 2008 2008 2007 2013 2008* Favorable 62 48 49 44 52 62 44 Unfavorable 33 43 40 45 41 33 45 Hvn't hrd enough 4 5 7 8 5 4 8 REFUSED 2 4 4 4 3 2 4

Seriously? There are people who haven't heard enough about her?

Bill and Hillary Clinton and the Battle in the Kentucky Hills

Headlines this past week have included the CPAC clown car and the RNC election post-mortem on the Republican side, neither of which MSNBC appears able to stop trumpeting.  On the Democratic side,  Hillary Clinton's endorsement of marriage equality,  which ruffled some Fox News feathers, and Barack Obama's trip to Israel soaked up most of the airtime.

While MSNBC gleefully pursues the rifts that have continued to rock the Republican Party, a brief report, overshadowed by Obama's day in Jerusalem, shined some light, however briefly today,  on a battle in the Democratic Party that is being fought in the hills of Kentucky.

If you had the impression that 2008 was a mere memory, that Hillary Clinton's four years of service in the Obama administration and Bill Clinton's work for the Obama campaign indicated that all wounds were healed and that the Obamas and Clintons ended their only private meal together singing Kumbaya,  think again.  There is a power struggle going in behind the scenes.  Politico broke this little gem today to almost no fanfare.

In Kentucky, prominent Democrats wooing Alison Lundergan Grimes, not Ashley Judd

By MANU RAJU | 3/19/13 5:14 PM EDT

Democratic heavy hitters — including Bill Clinton — are quietly trying to woo a new candidate to jump into the race to unseat Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, even as actress Ashley Judd is taking steps toward launching a star-studded campaign of her own.

With fears growing in some Democratic quarters over Judd’s potential candidacy, some prominent Democrats in the Bluegrass State are beginning to set their sights on 34-year-old Alison Lundergan Grimes, the Kentucky secretary of state. Among Grimes’s attributes: She lacks political baggage since she’s served barely a year in office, and she hails from a well-connected family influential in Kentucky Democratic politics. But it’s not at all certain if she’ll jump into the race.

Grimes does have the Clintons in her corner. Earlier this month, the former president — a longtime friend of Grimes’s father — privately urged the young secretary of state to mount a Senate bid while assuring Grimes that both he and his wife, Hillary, would get behind her should she decide to take on the powerful Senate GOP leader, according to several sources familiar with the matter.

Read more >>>>

According to this article,  the biggest Kentucky-based cheerleader behind a Judd run is John Yarmuth.   Whom did Judd support back in 2008 and where did Yarmuth stand?  You have to wonder.  According to Wikipedia, Judd supported Obama.   What of Yarmuth?

Yarmuth Announces Obama Kentucky Leadership

May 7th, 2008

... Yarmuth said he doesn’t think Obama should concede Kentucky (even though he’ll likely lose the state) to Clinton but he thinks Clinton should drop out of the race on May 21.

Yep! He was one of those.  He was calling for her to withdraw in the face of a likely win.  Here is how much Obama cared about the Kentucky race.  From the same article.

Oh, and Obama’s camp says he won’t be in Kentucky this Friday due to scheduling conflicts.

So, as I said a few weeks ago, Democrats, Let Hillary Clinton Nap And Get Focused On 2014 (She Will Be When She Gets Some Sleep).   I took some flak for that one.  but there had already been indications that aside from the book she is writing she had plans to campaign in 2014.   Now we are beginning to get an idea of where and for whom.   We know a Clinton-backed candidate can knock it out of the park and unseat McConnell in Kentucky.

You can make this about 2016 if you want to, certainly there are cases to be made.  But if you look at the facts, just the facts, it is about getting a major obstructionist out of the Senate.  As to who might next be in front of the Clinton bats,  I suggest Ted Cruz and  Harry Reid. 

Clinton, Feinstein and standing up to bullies

Posted by Mary C. Curtis on March 20, 2013 at 8:35 am

If you said Hillary Rodham Clinton owes the start of her independent political career to Rick Lazio, even Lazio might agree. The tipping point for the 2000 race for the U.S. Senate from New York between a former first lady and a U.S. Congressman? When Lazio, the Republican nominee, crossed over to Clinton’s side of the stage in a pre-election debate and demanded she sign a piece of paper. Few remember what was on that page, a pledge against using soft money in the campaign. They do remember the moment. Women – and to be fair, a lot of men – cringed, recalling similar encounters they might have had with a guy who stepped over the line. The rest is history, and it belongs to Clinton.

I thought of that image watching the back-and-forth between Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) in the gun legislation debate last week. Cruz’s question on the constitutionality of a ban on assault weapons, using the example of limits on the First Amendment, had merit. But it was the tone of condescension in Cruz’s voice and the smirk on his face that stuck.

“I’m not a sixth grader, Senator. I’ve been on this committee for 20 years,” Feinstein said. She has history, not only in the Senate but on the front lines of gun violence. Though her presence on the scene when San Francisco Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk were murdered in 1978 doesn’t automatically give her the upper hand in a disagreement on gun rights, it does earn her some respect. Cruz missed that. And while his Senate seat looks to be safe in Texas, his national ambitions definitely took a hit. Who wants a president who reminds them of that dude who treated you like an idiot?

Read more >>>>

Dianne intends to fight on for an assault weapons ban.  Harry Reid may collapse rather than do battle, but not Dianne.  He should be replaced.  She should be majority leader.  Fight on, Dianne.  Let's see if the Clintons know a good primary opponent for Reid in Nevada as well as a replacement for Cruz.  

Emily's List's Thank You Note to Hillary

Emily's List has initiated a campaign to thank our Hillary for her Human Rights Campaign video endorsing marriage equality.  Perhaps you would like to sign.  See below.



You can sign Emily's List's thank you note to Hillary here.

On Monday, Hillary Clinton announced her support for marriage equality for lesbian and gay couples everywhere. As a former first lady, Senator, and Secretary of State, Hillary’s voice is a powerful one, and we thank her for her courage and leadership in standing behind same sex couples and their families.
Join us in saying “thank you” to Hillary Clinton for making her voice heard: Sign our letter today!