Hillary Clinton: What I said on Wednesday night

 

Below is the text of Hillary's speech on Wednesday night at the Democratic National Convention. Take a look, or watch the full speech here.

The morning after the last election, I said, “We owe Donald Trump an open mind and the chance to lead.” I meant it. Every president deserves that. And Trump came in with so much set up for him: A strong economy, plans for managing crises, including a pandemic. Yes, we Democrats would have disagreed with him on many things, but if he had put his own interests and ego aside -- seen the humanity in a child ripped from her parents at the border or a protester calling for justice or a family wiped out by a natural disaster -- that would have been a good thing, for America and the world.

 

I wish Donald Trump knew how to be a president, because America needs a president right now. Throughout this time of crisis, Americans keep going: checking on neighbors, showing up to jobs as first responders, hospitals, grocery stores, nursing homes. Yes, it still takes a village.

 

And we need leaders equal to this moment of sacrifice and service. We need Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.

 

Everyone has a story about Joe’s caring and empathy. I remember him calling after my mother, Dorothy, died, and we talked about being raised by strong women. The best testament to Joe is how he’s cared for his family. (And how great is it that Dr. Jill Biden plans to keep teaching as First Lady?) And Joe picked the right partner in Kamala. She’s relentless in the pursuit of justice and equity, and she’s kind. When her press secretary, Tyrone Gayle, was dying of cancer, she dropped everything to be with him in his final moments. I know something about the slings and arrows she’ll face, and believe me, this former District Attorney and Attorney General can handle them all.

 

So this is the team to pull our nation back from the brink. But they can’t do it without us.

 

For four years, people have told me, “I didn’t realize how dangerous he was.” “I wish I could do it all over.” Or worst, “I should have voted.” Look, this can’t be another woulda coulda shoulda election. If you vote by mail, request your ballot now, and send it back right away. If you vote in person, do it early. Become a poll worker. Most of all, no matter what, vote.

 

As Michelle Obama and Bernie Sanders warned us: If Trump is re-elected, things will get even worse. That’s why we need unity now more than ever. Remember back in 2016 when Trump asked: “What do you have to lose?” Well, now we know: our health care, our jobs, our loved ones. Our leadership in the world and even our post office. But let’s set our sights higher than getting one man out of the White House.

 

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are going to give us so much to vote for. Let’s vote for the jobs that Joe’s plan will create, clean energy jobs to fight climate change, caregiving jobs with living wages. Vote for emergency relief that lifts small businesses and saves hardworking people from foreclosures and evictions. It’s wrong that billionaires got $400 billion richer during the pandemic while millions lost their $600 a week in extra unemployment.

 

Vote for parents and teachers struggling to balance children’s education and safety, and for health care workers fighting COVID-19 with little help from the White House.

 

Vote for paid family leave and health care for everyone, for Social Security, Medicare, and Planned Parenthood.

 

Vote for DREAMers and their families. Vote for law enforcement purged of racial bias, that keeps all our streets safe. Vote for justice for George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery, because Black Lives Matter.

 

Vote for honest elections, so we -- not a foreign adversary -- choose our president.

 

Vote for the diverse, hopeful America we saw in last night’s roll call. And don’t forget, Joe and Kamala can win by three million votes, and still lose. Take it from me. We need numbers so overwhelming, so Trump can’t sneak or steal his way to victory.

 

100 years ago yesterday, the 19th Amendment to the Constitution was ratified. It took seven decades of suffragists marching, picketing, and going to jail to push us closer to a more perfect union. 55 years ago, John Lewis marched and bled in Selma because that work was unfinished.

 

Tonight, I’m thinking of the girls and boys who see themselves in America’s future because of Kamala Harris – a Black woman, the daughter of Jamaican and Indian immigrants, and our nominee for Vice President. This is our country’s story: breaking down barriers and expanding the circle of possibility. And to the young people watching: Don’t give up on America. Despite our flaws and problems, we’ve come so far. We can still be a more just, equal country, with opportunities previous generations could never have imagined.

 

There’s a lot of heartbreak in America now, and the truth is, many things were broken before the pandemic. But, as the saying goes, the world breaks everyone, and afterward, many are strong at the broken places. That’s Joe Biden. He knows how to keep going, unify, and lead, because he’s done that for his family and country.

 

So come November, if we’re strong together, we’ll heal together. We’ll redeem the soul and the promise of our country, led by President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.Onward,

Hillary

 
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Hillary Clinton at the DNC 2020

 Hillary Clinton never makes me cry. I love her (obviously). I am 100% with her on the "woulda, shoulda, coulda." She did not evoke tears in me. She never has that I can remember. She always makes me feel like we can do it. Tears this week, for me, have been for the Americans who have testified about the deported at the border and the departed from COVID-19; lost jobs, farms, and small businesses; caged babies at the border; Estella; Kristin; the list goes on. Did I cry when Hillary spoke? Not at all. Her message was strong, galvanizing as it always has been and remains. We can do this, and we must. N.B. It is not about making history or who makes it. It about saving our democracy. #GetOutTheVote

 

 

Hillary Clinton: What I've been thinking about this summer

 

 

This summer hasn’t looked the way any of us expected. This administration’s handling of a global health crisis has been frustrating on their best day and cruel on their worst. I’m thinking of every person who has been affected by this pandemic, and I’m grateful for the continued work of those who have been keeping our hospitals, our businesses, and even our families running without much support from the White House.

I hope that, despite everything, you’ve found time to safely connect with loved ones, do some yoga, or disappear into a good book. I was lucky enough to get an advanced copy of my friend Louise Penny’s latest mystery novel, and while I won’t spoil anything, it was the perfect escape. I’ve also been spending much of my time talking with a number of smart, fascinating people for my new podcast, and I can’t wait to share those conversations with you.

Like many of you, I’m still mourning the death of Congressman John Lewis. John was the truest kind of patriot. He believed America could live up to its highest founding ideals of equality and liberty for all. I was honored to call him a friend, and I’m so proud of the Onward Together team members who have been relentless in making what John called “good trouble”:

• In the midst of a pandemic that is disproportionately affecting people of color, Latino Victory is doubling down on electing candidates who understand the challenges that women of color are facing right now. Last month, they launched the First Latinas program to increase representation in government by electing Latina women who are running for seats that have never had a Latina representative or who will achieve a ‘first’ milestone.
• For organizations that work directly with voters, this election looks different than any others. But our partners have quickly redirected their efforts online to ensure the safety of staff and voters alike; the Alliance for Youth Action put together a list of online steps for becoming an at-home organizer, while Run for Something collected resources for first-time candidates to navigate this new reality. And Arena launched their Academy 201, where political professionals can participate in free, advanced trainings on everything from how to deal with rapidly-changing plans to how to center racial equity in a campaign environment.
• And of course, Color of Change has continued to lead the fight to end practices -- including police brutality, voter suppression, and uneven access to health care -- that hold Black people back.

It’s up to us now to continue John’s work, and I know I can count on this team to do just that. With November drawing closer, the most important thing you can do right now is to vote and ensure others can vote, too. Visit iwillvote.com to confirm your registration or request an absentee ballot, then head to democracydocket.com to get the latest in the fight to give more voters access to mail-in voting.

Onward,

Hillary