During NBC’s Commander-in-Chief forum on Wednesday night, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump faced off for the first time. While they were interviewed separately, that did not stop them from attacking each others proposals during their conversation with moderator Matt Lauer. Clinton was interviewed first by Lauer, and she spoke about her qualifications saying that she believes that a strong commander-in-chief is “an absolute rock steadiness and mixed with strength to be able to make the hard decisions. I’ve had the unique experience of watching and working with several presidents, and these are not easy decisions.”
Clinton was asked about a wide variety of topics including her support of the Iraq war, the decision to intervene in Libya, the Iran nuclear agreement, her proposal to end the Veterans Affairs backlog, and her plan to defeat ISIS. She demonstrated her strength as a policy wonk by being able to clearly outline her policy proposals. However, Clinton was defensive as she fielded questions from the audience about her judgement and faced questions from Lauer about her emails and her handling of classified materials. Audience members asked some tough questions and some of Clinton’s answers were indirect.
Overall, the forum was a preview of what is come later this month and Clinton and Trump face off in their first debate on September 26. While the forum has received mixed reviews, Clinton clearly demonstrated her knowledge of the issues, but she needs to work on convincing the American public that she is trustworthy. During Trump’s portion of the forum, he made a number of claims that prompted several responses from Clinton’s campaign. Each of Hillary for America’s releases can be read HERE, and a replay of the forum is below.
Update (9/9/2016): Hillary for America has released the following video featuring some of Trump’s comments from the forum.
People sing the national anthem during a naturalization ceremony at the World War II Memorial on the National Mall August 25, 2016 in Washington, DC Brendan Smialowski AFP/Getty Images
On Wednesday, Univision published an article written by Senator Tim Kaine about immigration and the importance of immigrants in America. Kaine said that the diversity of America should be celebrated because it is part of what makes the country great. He promised that as Vice President, he will work with Hillary Clinton and Congress to pass comprehensive immigrant reform and ensure that families already living here are not broken up by deportation. Kaine criticized Donald Trump’s approach to immigration and his divisive language when describing immigrants. Kaine says he sees things differently. Immigrants are proud to become citizens. “I see that first-hand whenever I visit a naturalization service. I’ve heard many immigrants share their moving stories about what inspired them to become Americans, and I’ve watched as each one raised their right hand and was sworn in as a naturalized citizen,” he said. Read the full article below or by clicking HERE.
Earlier this summer, I had a chance to meet with the Orellanas, a family from Bolivia who made a home in Virginia. Wilson Orellana works for a company providing transportation for Americans with disabilities, and his wife, Roxana is an active community member who teaches Spanish to children and helps lead the local middle school’s PTA. Their two daughters, Rebeca and Marisol, worked hard in school, and Rebeca is now an engineering honors student in college.
They’re rightly proud of the life they have built for themselves. But as we spoke, they told me how terrified they were that their family would be torn apart because of their mixed status.
The Orellanas are one of so many families in America that were eligible for President Obama’s executive actions on immigration – Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Deferred Action for Parents of Americans (DAPA). Rebeca, who arrived in America as a child, is protected from deportation and able to pursue her dreams thanks to DACA. But for Wilson and Roxana, who wanted to stop living in fear, and more fully participate in our society, the future remains uncertain.
When we met, they were anxiously awaiting the Supreme Court’s decision on DAPA. Hillary and I believe that President Obama was well within his legal authority when he issued these actions. But now, unfortunately, the Supreme Court’s deadlocked ruling has thrown millions of families like the Orellanas back into uncertainty.
We should be doing everything we can to keep families like theirs together – not threatening them with deportation or breaking them apart. After all, they’re our friends, neighbors and classmates. They enrich our communities and contribute to our economy.
Hillary Clinton and I will continue to defend DACA and DAPA, and we’ll do everything possible under the law create a straightforward system for folks with sympathetic cases to make their case and be eligible for deferred action too.
These policies are critical, but we know that to truly fix our broken immigration system we need to pass comprehensive immigration reform. The majority of Americans support comprehensive reform not just because it’s the right thing to do – but because they know it will also strengthen our families, our economy, and our country.
We’ve waited long enough. In our first 100 days in office, Hillary and I will put comprehensive reform legislation before Congress that will include a pathway to citizenship, better border security, and addressing family visa backlog. It will enable our country to be what it’s always been – a place where people from around the world can come to start new businesses, pursue their dreams, apply their talents to American growth and innovation.
This is a very different approach than what Donald Trump has proposed. Not only does he not support comprehensive reform, but he’s threatened to send out a deportation force to round up 16 million people and kick them out of our country. Donald looks at immigrants and calls them “rapists” and “murderers.” And he even supports ending birthright citizenship – one of the basic American principles that if you’re born here, you belong here.
When I was in law school, I took a year off to volunteer in El Progreso, Honduras as a Jesuit missionary. The local community embraced me, and the values I learned from my Honduran community are the same values I see in our Latino community here in America: faith, family and hard work.
These are the very same values that built this nation. In America, we don’t build walls – we build bridges. Our shared values bring us together, and make us stronger. So we must not allow Donald Trump to create a false image of immigrants, and tear down everything this country stands for.
I see that first-hand whenever I visit a naturalization service. I’ve heard many immigrants share their moving stories about what inspired them to become Americans, and I’ve watched as each one raised their right hand and was sworn in as a naturalized citizen. Let me tell you – it’s one of the most powerful things I’ve ever seen. Hearing them always brings a smile to my face and a tear to every eye in the room. Anybody who loves America that much deserves to be here.
There’s a saying I learned in Honduras: Adelante, no atrás.
We need to go forward, not backward.
We have our work cut out for us, but if Hillary and I have the honor of serving as your President and Vice President, we’ll keep pressing forward – not backward – and keep fighting to make the American Dream a reality for everyone.
U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton greets audience members following a veterans roundtable discussion with the Truman National Security Project at the VFW Hall in Derry, New Hampshire November 10, 2015. REUTERS/Brian Snyder
On Tuesday, Hillary Rodham Clinton attended a round table event with the Truman National Security Project in Derry, New Hampshire. During the event, Clinton outlined her plans to overhaul the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), a department that has been heavily scrutinized for its outdated practices and massive backlog. Clinton said, “These problems are serious, systemic and unacceptable. They need to be fixed and they need to be fixed now.” She made it clear that the VA and its processes would not be privatized, but modernized in a way that honors the commitment of the veterans it serves. Clinton then spoke to veterans in attendance and answered to their questions while listening to their concerns. A video from the event will be posted when/if available.
Clinton’s plan is complex and contains multiple facets. The Clinton campaign released a full outline of the plan, and key points are below. CLICK HERE to read the full plan.
Ensure that Veterans have access to timely and quality health care
Create a new framework for heath care delivery by the VHA
Refocus as a veteran-centric provider of service-connected care
Synchronize and coordinate VHA benefits with other programs
Strategically purchase private-sector care
Establish a VHA Strategic Oversight and Governance Board
Ensure better communication between the Department of Defense (DoD) and VA
Streamline the DoD-VA health care footprint
Synchronize procurement to find cost savings
Streamline VA and DoD IT Systems
Improve healthcare for women at the VHA
New funding to ensure women equal and respectful access to health services
Requiring the provision of reproductive services
Broadening initiatives to provide childcare at VA medical facilities
End the veteran suicide epidemic
Increase funding for metal health providers and training
Expand programs targeted at providing effective mental heath treatment
Promoter better prescriber and treatment practices
Ensure that Military Sexual Trauma is acknowledged as a valid form of PTS
Encourage state VA departments to include mental health programs
Provide proper legal assistance to review and upgrade other than honorable discharge categorizations for those separated from service due to service-connected mental health and cognitive issues, such as TBI, PTS, and addiction
Continue to identify and treat invisible, latent, and toxic wounds of war
Maintain presumptions of service for latent and invisible connected wounds from the Vietnam War, Gulf War, Iraq war, and Afghanistan war
Expand the current VA burn pit registry
Dedication research funding and provide mechanisms for collaborative efforts to improve veteran treatments
End disability benefits and appeals backlog
Streamline and simplify the claims process
Improve the VA’s partnership with the DoD
Launch an Innovation Initiative to develop innovative solutions for sustainably managing the claims and appeals process
Bring sustained and focused White House leadership to attention
Create a standing President’s Council on Veterans
Conduct an end-to-end evaluation to optimize the full scope of benefits afforded to our veterans
Convene a White House Summit on Veterans
Continue to engage private and philanthropic sectors
Support and broaden initiatives that provide educational benefits, job training, and support for veteran entrepreneurs.
Make the post-9/11 GI Bill part of the nation’s social contract with those who serve
Expand tax credit for veterans’ employment
Improve concurrent certification and credentialing programs
Strengthen veteran entrepreneurship programs
Create pathways and platforms for service member to enter growing career fields
Protect veterans
Fight back against schools that prey on veterans and the GI Bill
Enforce zero tolerance for firms that overcharge service members and veterans
Strengthen non-discrimination laws
Move decisively to end veteran homelessness
Increase funding for reducing homelessness while expanding public-private partnerships
Expand complementary programs and services
Address the needs of homeless women veterans and homeless veteran families
Support Veterans Treatment Courts nationally
Recognize the honorable service of LGBT veterans
Create a culture of accountability, service, and excellence
Hold every employee accountable for their performance and conduct
Revamp the performance evaluation system
Bolster critical whistleblower protections
Provide budgetary certainty
Ensure our veterans are buried with the honor, distinction, and integrity they deserve
Support smart compensation and benefits reform
Ensure reforms to military compensation and retirement benefits improve readiness for quality of life
Modernize the military health system
Adopting modern and inclusive personnel policies
Attracting millennials to military service
Zero-tolerance for Military Sexual Assault and Harassment
Welcoming women to compete for all military positions
Supporting the DoD policy review on transgender service
Promote family policies
Increase access to child care
Create flexibility around military moves
Expand military spouse employment initiatives
Champion efforts to care for our military members and families
Ensure continued focus on mental health for military members and their families
Yesterday, Hillary Rodham Clinton attended two town hall events in Iowa. The first was held in Coralville, where Clinton hosted an outdoor event on an unseasonably warm day. Clinton opened the event with remarks about several of her policy points including gun control. Clinton then answered a number of questions from those in attendance. She was asked about a variety of topics including the backlog at the Department of Veteran Affairs, tensions with China, and immigration. Clinton then went to Grinnell College in Grinnell. Clinton held a very similar event where, again, she proposed tougher gun regulations and taking the National Rifle Association. She said, “A majority of Americans and a majority of gun owners know we have to make the changes. What stands in the way? One of the most powerful lobbies in our country. The NRA, that intimidates and bullies legislators and governors into doing what they want. That must end.”
Videos from yesterday’s events will be posted when/if available.
On Wednesday, Hillary Rodham Clinton returned to New Hampshire where she began her day by attending a Politics and Eggs breakfast in Manchester. Clinton gave a speech before taking questions from those in attendance. Clinton spoke about a number of topics, but one of her comments has made headlines. She is against completely abolishing the death penalty, something that her Democratic opponents Bernie Sanders and Martin O’Malley support. She said, “We have a lot of evidence now that the death penalty has been too frequently applied, and too often in a discriminatory way. So I think we have to take a hard look at it. I do not favor abolishing it, however, because I do think there are certain egregious cases that still deserve the consideration of the death penalty, but I’d like to see those be very limited and rare, as opposed to what we’ve seen in most states.” A video from the event will be posted when/if available.
After making a stop at Moulton Farm in Meredith, Clinton attended the Grover Cleveland Dinner in Bartlett for an event hosted by the Democratic Committee for Carroll County. During Clinton’s speech, she spoke about her political platform and plans as president. Clinton has been criticized for comments she made about the issues in Department of Veterans Affairs not being as widespread as everyone thinks. Clinton backpedaled saying that there is a problem, she said, “I will not let the Republicans use the problem as an excuse to privatize the VA.” A video of her speech is below.
Hillary Clinton Speeches 