Saturday, February 13, 2016


In trying to counter the claims that Hillary Clinton has never "done" anything, the following list was compiled by one of her supporters.  The comments in italics are mine.

"Gave the first student commencement address at Wellesley College in 1969 after being chosen by her peers and was Senior Class President - interesting and impressive but not a qualification for the presidency.

President of the Wellesley Young Republicans - so she was involved in politics during her undergrad time.  Big deal.

Intern at the House Republican Conference - this is impressive

After listening to Martin Luther King Jr. speak when she was younger and meeting him, she became inspired to live a life of service. She later became a Democrat in 1968 knowing that was her best path forward for a life of serving others. - a life of service she gave up to become a highly paid speaker for the very corporations she claims she will better regulate.

Volunteered for Democrat Eugene McCarthy’s presidential campaign at the age of 21 when the Civil Rights movement as well as anti-war movements were tempestuous - I volunteered for the 1972 McGovern campaign.  Does that qualify me for elective office?

Graduate of Yale Law School with honors - If we can mock Bush Jr. for his graduate degree, what is the big deal about this?
    
Editorial board of the Yale Review of Law and Social Action - Interesting and impressive.

Worked on Senator Walter Mondale’s Subcommittee researching migrant labor - For how many weeks during her tenure at law school?

Helped found Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, a group dedicated to the betterment of children’s lives by advocating for their health, well-being, and education. - Demonstrative of her commitment to children's issues.
   
Attorney at the Children’s Defense Fund leveling the playing field for children - Also demonstrative of her commitment to kids.  She became chair of the organization's board.
    
Professor at the University of Arkansas School of Law- nice

Director of Legal Aid Clinic at the University of Arkansas School of Law - nice
    
First female chair of the Legal Services Corporation which helps ensure everyone has equal access to justice under the law, despite whether you can afford it - yawn
    
First female partner at Rose Law Firm - breaking a glass ceiling is an accomplishment.

Former civil litigation attorney - not a qualification for political office

Listed as one of the hundred most influential lawyers in America by The National Law Journal
    
Former First Lady of Arkansas - not a qualification for political office
    
Arkansas Woman of the Year in 1983 - award given by one local newspaper
    
First Chair of the American Bar Association’s Commission on Women in the Profession
    
Created Arkansas’s Home Instruction Program for Preschool Youth because she saw a need for educating young children. Bringing HIPPY to Arkansas enabled parents to be their child’s first teacher and prepare them for a life of learning.
    
Appointed leader of task force that reformed Arkansas’s education system - appointed by her husband when he was governor and the sources trumpeting this are all her supporters, and her specific accomplishments aren't referenced.
    
As the wife of the Governor of Arkansas, and with her background in law, she sat on the Board of Directors of Wal-Mart for six years as it was one of the largest employers in the state and central to the state’s economy - Member of the Board of Directors of a gigantic employer best known for screwing its employees.

Instrumental in making sure the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP now CHIP) was passed and implemented so that all children have access to healthcare no matter the income level.
    
Promoted nationwide immunization against childhood illnesses
    
Played a leading role in creation of the Adoption and Safe Families Act and the Foster Care Independence Act - depends on who you ask.  This is an excerpt from a NYT article on the 2000 NY Senate campaign:  Neither candidate has taken a visible position on the most pressing antipoverty measures, like the revamping of welfare, said Deepak Bhargava, director of public policy at the Center for Community Change, a nonpartisan, nonprofit group based in Washington. Instead, he said, they have worked on more marginal items.''Neither of them can be called a staunch defender of antipoverty programs,'' he said.

Successfully sought to increase research funding for prostate cancer and childhood asthma at the National Institutes of Health

Helped investigate the affects of Gulf War Syndrome of the Veterans afflicted - one of many "accomplishments referenced in the source of this list that come from a puff-piece op-ed written by a Clinton supporter.
    
Helped initiate the Office on Violence Against Women at the Department of Justice
   
Initiated and helped guide the Adoption and Safe Families Act helping in children in foster care move faster in to permanent homes - since the author listed this twice...depends on who you ask.  This is an excerpt from a NYT article on the 2000 NY Senate campaign:  Neither candidate has taken a visible position on the most pressing antipoverty measures, like the revamping of welfare, said Deepak Bhargava, director of public policy at the Center for Community Change, a nonpartisan, nonprofit group based in Washington. Instead, he said, they have worked on more marginal items.''Neither of them can be called a staunch defender of antipoverty programs,'' he said.
    
First FLOTUS in the United States to hold a postgraduate degree - yawn

Declared to the United Nations that “women’s rights are human rights” which at the time she said it, was a very big deal - actually this was a conference on women held by the UN's Commission on Women, and not to the actual UN General Assembly.

Helped lead the charge in expanding healthcare access for the military, including an expansion to the Family and Medical Leave Act which was necessary for those wounded in service - a link to the final FMLA rules on the DOL site that doesn't mention the candidate's name proves nothing.  I see nothing involving any amendment she introduced to the FY2008 National Defense Authorization Act, which is where the FMLA was updated to include military personnel.  Seems overstated or misleading to me.
    

Traveled to over 70 countries during time as First Lady - couldn't resist the opportunity to include this:  

 

Helped establish, alongside former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, Vital Voices, whose mission is “to identify, invest in and bring visibility to extraordinary women around the world by unleashing their leadership potential to transform lives and accelerate peace and prosperity in their communities”
     
United States Senator from the state of New York for nearly two terms
    
First former FLOTUS to be elected as a United States Senator (twice)  - yawn
    
Served on five Senate committees: - yawn.  lots of Senators serve on four committees and one special committee
    – Committee on Budget (2001–2002)
    – Committee on Armed Services (2003–2009)
    – Committee on Environment and Public Works (2001–2009)
    – Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (2001–2009)
    – Special Committee on Aging

Commissioner on the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe

Instrumental in securing $21 billion in funding for the World Trade Center site’s redevelopment alongside fellow New York Senator Chuck Schumer (D)

Had leading role in investigating the health issues that 9/11 first responders were facing

United States Secretary of State serving under President Obama
    
Brokered a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.
    
Lobbied for the first-ever U.N. Human Rights Council resolution on human rights declaring “gay rights are human rights”
    
Part of the the advisory team that led to President Obama’s decision to kill Osama bin Laden
    
Was a leading voice that helped open the door to the historic Iran Nuclear Deal
    
Most traveled Secretary of State during tenure as top U.S. diplomat - while some of the nations Secretary Clinton visited weren't formed when Madeleine Albright was Secretary of State, it isn't enough to call this claim into question.
 

Senate Stats, Legislation Sponsored or Cosponsored, and Voting Record:

    https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/hillary_clinton/300022
    https://www.congress.gov/member/hillary-clinton/C001041
    http://votesmart.org/candidate/key-votes/55463/hillary-clinton#.Vr6mxfIrLt4

Other notable achievements:

    Author
    GRAMMY Award winner

As you can see the list is long, the list is extensive, and the list is quite impressive, so the next time someone asks you “What has Hillary Clinton done?” now you know, and knowing is half the battle."

I could make an equally long list of the questionable things Secretary Clinton has been involved with, but they'd be dismissed as Republican propaganda.