The Clintons Embody the American Dream
1992 ABC Footage of President Clinton’s Victory Speech:
Commentator #1 @ 1:50 (when they do a close-up on Hillary): “Hillary Clinton. The first First Lady with a post-graduate degree.”
Commentator #2:“She has a law degree.”
President-elect Bill Clinton @ 4:33: “I want to begin this night by thanking my family. My wife, without whom I would not be here tonight. And who I believe will be one of the greatest First Lady’s in the history of this Republic.”
:::Crowd goes wild. Bill smiles and looks at Hillary. Grabs her hand and holds it in the air. Crowd starts going even more wild and starts chanting: “HILLARY!” HILLARY!”“HILLARY!”:::
Bill endearingly says with a smile, “You can cheer for her.”
Commentator towards the end @ 29:31:
“Going to say, that both Governor and Misses Clinton, in this campaign, you know, they were hit with everything short of a tire-iron. They took an awful lot during the campaign. Everybody who ran in this race took a lot. But no more than those two people who are weaving and waving, right now, as the victors.”
Say what you want about the Clintons but they are strong, smart, and resilient.
Here is some of what two pragmatic fighters did in the 1990s by investing in education, healthcare, women, and children:
We had a chance to continue the Clinton progress with Al Gore in 2000. Unfortunately, too many fell for the Nader trap, turning their backs on President Clinton’s Vice President. If only a fraction of Nader voters had been for Gore, Florida wouldn’t have been a toss-up. Don’t think there is a difference between Democrats and Republicans? Just think how far along we would already be on climate change if we had continued the Clintons progress with Gore.
Let’s not make the same mistake again. Let’s build on Obama’s progress with the Clintons. And please don’t turn your backs on the Clintons again by forgetting who the real enemy is.
Let us remember the Clintons had to work within the context and culture of the 1990s. But they still succeeded on many progressive levels despite dealing with a GOP-controlled Congress in the 1990s. They still succeeded despite witch-hunt after witch-hunt, proving no one can fight the GOP better than the Clintons can. We desperately need two fighters back in the White House considering the rise of the radical Tea Party.
Fortunately, the Clintons are now working within the context and culture of the Obama coalition, a progressive coalition they are committed to building on in 21st Century America. Hillary raised 18 million dollars for down-ticket Democrats, something that is critical in a country where 37-state legislatures are currently Republican controlled. This has resulted in the defunding of Planned Parenthood on a local level and gay Americans being stripped of their rights on a state-level. Nationally, we have become more liberal. But on a state-by-state basis we have become more conservative. Never forget the Clintons have deep roots in the South, and a machine to fight back against GOP control. That’s why the Clintons are vilified by Republicans — they fear the Clinton machine. And they should.
Bill Clinton came from a small town in Arkansas called “Hope.” His Father died at an early age, which resulted in Bill having to live with his Grandparents. His Grandfather ran a small country store. Eventually, though, Bill’s Mother was able to take control of her own life as a result of our country investing in her through education and healthcare. Healthcare that saved his Mother’s life from cancer. That isn’t a “hand-out” according to Bill. That was our country empowering its people and giving its people the tools they need to take control of their own lives. Tools that allowed for a man named Bill Clinton, born into a poor, widowed household, to become President of the United States. The embodiment of the American dream. How our country SHOULD be operating.
After graduating Yale Law School, people thought Hillary was crazy to follow Bill Clinton to Arkansas considering a promising legal career was waiting for her in Washington. But after falling in love with this strong, kind-hearted man from “Hope”Arkansas, she insisted she had met the next President of the United States. She knew they could change the world. Together. Side-by-side. Two kids working their way from the bottom to the top through hard work.
Hillary followed Bill to Arkansas, becoming the breadwinner of their family so Bill could run for Governor. Once Bill became Governor, as First Lady of Arkansas, Hillary reformed education, healthcare, the foster care system, worked for the Children’s Defense Fund, provided legal services to poor and underprivileged families, and taught parents how to be their children’s first advocates. The joke in Arkansas was that they “hired the wrong Clinton”:
Hillary knew the importance of investing in women and children due to her Mother being abandoned by her parents at an early age. And Bill’s personal story is proof of Hillary’s larger point, a point she has been making ever since her days as First Lady in Arkansas: children’s issues and women’s issues are critical to the health and success of our nation. And none other than her husband, President Bill Clinton, is the proof.
Reigniting the American Dream for all Americans, something both Bill and Hillary Clinton embody, is something he and Hillary worked every single day to give back to all Americans throughout the 1990s. So when Trump says “Make America Great Again,”think back to what the Clintons did in 1990s. And think how much more they can do now in 21st Century America.
When looking at all of Hillary’s plans and proposals together, they are more progressive and comprehensive than Bernie’s. I’m ready for the Clintons to fight for those plans and proposals and build the machine needed to accomplish and implement them. Again — Hillary raised 18 million for down ticket Democrats.
I want the Clintons back — investing in me. Investing in the American people. Investing in families like the one that allowed Bill Clinton to become President of the United States. Investing in the things Hillary has advocated for throughout her entire career.
