Clinton Publishes Op-Ed About What She’s Learned from Millennials

On Monday, Mic published an op-ed by Hillary Clinton titled “Here’s What Millennials Have Taught Me.” In the article, Clinton explains that the millennial generation is the most open and diverse generation of Americans, and she has learned a great deal by talking with millennial voters over the past year and a half. She then outlines three things she plans to do to help millennials: reduce college debt, create jobs, and cap the maximum out of pocket cost for childcare. Clinton asks for voters support at the conclusion of the op-ed saying, “So let’s stand together to show the world what our country, and your generation, really stands for. Let’s overwhelm division and intolerance with compassion, understanding and unity. Let’s make clear that Love Trumps Hate — not just this November, but always.” A copy of the op-ed is below and can be read HERE.

We hear a lot of things about the millennial generation. But too often, the people who are busy trying to define you are the ones who have spent the least time listening to you.

Here’s what I have learned: Your generation is the most open, diverse and entrepreneurial generation in our country’s history. And if we work together to take on the barriers that are holding you back and unleash your full potential, that won’t just improve your lives — it’ll make our entire country stronger.

From the first days of this campaign, you have shared the problems that keep you up at night and the hopes that get you up in the morning. You’ve reached for the opportunities that come with a college education at the highest rates of any generation in history — but faced ballooning tuition costs and crushing student debt like never before. Many of you entered the workforce during the worst recession since the Great Depression. And you’ve come of age during two deadly, costly wars in the Middle East.

And yet, despite all these challenges, you’ve never given up. Not even close.

Instead, you’re leading the way to a brighter future for all of us. You’ve fought for some of the most important accomplishments in our nation’s history, like the Affordable Care Act and marriage equality. You’ve come together to challenge our country to protect human rights and strengthen families by fixing a broken immigration system, reforming our criminal justice system and ending the era of mass incarceration. And you’ve demanded that people of color be able to live their lives without fear of being killed at a routine traffic stop.

And it’s nothing short of inspiring.

Around the time I graduated from college, our country was in its own moment of soul-searching. We were mired in a war in Vietnam, and reeling from the shooting of peaceful protesters at Kent State and the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Bobby Kennedy. At the same time, we were making progress on important fronts. The Civil Rights Act outlawed discrimination on the basis of race, and the Voting Rights Act broke down barriers that prevented too many people of color from casting their ballot. Women were entering the workforce like never before, challenging attitudes and expectations. It felt like all of America was struggling to decide who we were going to be.

Today, many of you have told me you feel the same way. We’ve seen the rise of a presidential candidate who pits Americans against each other and traffics in prejudice and paranoia. I’ve heard how uneasy this race has made many of you feel — how chilling it is to see protesters beaten at political rallies while the candidate eggs them on. When he talks about making America great again, it’s code for taking America back to a time when many of us — women, people of color, immigrants, LGBT Americans, people with disabilities — were marginalized, ostracized and treated as less-than.

But that’s not what our country is made of. And it’s not what I see when I look to your generation. In large part because of all of you, I am convinced that America’s best days are ahead of us.

There’s a lot that needs fixing — and we’re going to fix it together.

To make it happen, we need to change both hearts and laws. Starting with my first job at the Children’s Defense Fund, I’ve learned that if you want to help the greatest number of people in our democracy, you have to push for reform from both the outside in and the inside out. So we need activists and advocates, entrepreneurs and innovators, teachers and mentors, and everyone who changes lives every day in a million quiet ways. But we also need to do the slow, hard business of governing. We need to win elections, write laws, allocate resources and find common ground. Doing both is the secret to making change.

Let me tell you about a few things I want to work with you to change as your president.

First, everyone who wants to go to college should be able to without drowning in debt. That’s why I worked with Sen. Bernie Sanders to design a plan that will let everyone attend college debt-free. If you already have loans, we’ll let you refinance them, defer them to start a business or forgive them if you spend 10 years in public service. You can even see how much you and your family could save under our plan by looking at the “college calculator” on our website. And we’ll make sure a four-year degree isn’t the only path to a good-paying job by supporting apprenticeships and other high-quality training programs.

Second, everyone should be able to get a job that pays the bills and can support a family. And not only that, you should be able to do work you love and find meaningful. So we’ll create more good-paying jobs, raise the minimum wage and guarantee equal pay. This will help a lot of Americans, especially young people struggling to find footing in a difficult economy.

Third, no new parent should have to face the impossible choice between caring for a child or family member and losing a paycheck or even a job. It’s outrageous that in 2016, the United States is the only developed country in the world without paid family leave of any kind. So we’ll make high-quality child care and preschool available to every family in every community.  I’ve spent my career fighting to make a difference for children and families, and I can’t wait to do even more as president.

Of course, to do any of these things, we can’t have secret unaccountable money poisoning our politics. So I’ll appoint Supreme Court justices who will overturn Citizens United and even propose a constitutional amendment to do the same. And by doing that, we’ll make sure that no special interests can get in the way of protecting and expanding civil rights, LGBT rights and all human rights.

Many of you have shared with me that it feels like you’re out there on your own — like no one has your back. It shouldn’t be that way. If I’m fortunate enough to be elected, you will always have a champion in the White House. But I can’t do it on my own. I need you to work with me, keep fighting for what you believe, hold me accountable. I can’t promise we’ll win every fight on our first try. But I can promise you this: I’ll never stop fighting for you.

So let’s stand together to show the world what our country, and your generation, really stands for. Let’s overwhelm division and intolerance with compassion, understanding and unity. Let’s make clear that Love Trumps Hate — not just this November, but always.

For all the latest, follow our Scheduled Events page and follow Clinton on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. Also, be sure to subscribe to the campaign’s official Podcast, With Her.

News Source: Mic

Hillary Clinton Statement on Actors’ Equity Association Endorsement

Hillary Clinton received the endorsement of the Actors’ Equity Association. In a statement, the group said this is the first time they have endorsed a presidential candidate, but they felt the need to speak out. Executive Director Mary McColl expressed the importance of unions and the reason for their endorsement of Clinton. “Our union has historically chosen to remain nonpartisan and above the fray. But at such a critical time in our country’s history, this union does not have that luxury if we hope to protect our members. We have to fight with everything we have for our survival.” Clinton responded to the endorsement with the following statement.

“I am honored to have earned the first-ever endorsement of the Actors’ Equity Association.

I have spent my life fighting to even the odds for those who have had the odds stacked against them. That means making it possible for every child to live up to his or her God-given potential, no matter where they come from, what they look like, or who they love. And, although this is an unusual thing for a candidate for President to say, it means working to create more love and kindness in our country. 

The Actors’ Equity Association shares these core values. And I couldn’t be prouder to have them standing with me in this election. The stakes could not be higher.

From the beginning, Donald Trump has based his campaign on prejudice and paranoia. He has insulted immigrants and demeaned women. He has called for banning 1.5 million people from so much as entering this country because of their religion. He mocked and mimicked a reporter with a disability. He would appoint Supreme Court justices who would overturn marriage equality, and when the time came to choose a running-mate, he selected a man who signed a law that would have allowed Indiana businesses to discriminate against LGBT people.

Donald Trump does not understand a basic truth about America: we are stronger together.

Americans don’t tear each other down—we lift each other up. We don’t build walls—we break down barriers. Together, we’ll fight to finally guarantee equal pay for women, protect workers’ rights to organize and bargain collectively, and build an economy that works for everyone, not just those at the top. We’ll pass the Equality Act and make it illegal to discriminate against LGBT people in employment and housing—and we won’t let up in the fight against HIV and AIDS until we reach the goal of an AIDS-free generation, which is finally in sight. We will face up to the reality of systemic racism and fix it—and we’ll fight back against those who are trying to deny Americans their fundamental right to vote. And above all, we will never forget that we are in this together, one nation, indivisible.

The future we want is within our reach—let’s build it together.”

For all the latest, follow our Scheduled Events page and follow Clinton on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. Also, be sure to subscribe to the campaign’s official Podcast, With Her.

News Source: Actors’ Equity Association

 

Hillary Clinton Statement on The March on Washington Anniversary

Hillary Clinton released the following statement in honor of the 53rd anniversary of the March on Washington. The march was held August 28, 1963.

“Tomorrow, we mark the date on which hundreds of thousands of Americans marched on Washington on behalf of human rights.  Standing in front of the Lincoln Memorial, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. uttered words now etched forever in our nation’s history:

‘I have a dream, that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.’

His call to action sparked the momentum needed to pass the Voting Rights Act –  knocking down legal barriers that had stood for generations, and ensuring every American could exercise their constitutional right to vote.

In 2016, we’ve come a long way since the days of Jim Crow.  Yet too many Americans still face systemic racism and constant assaults on their franchise.  Something is profoundly wrong when decades after Dr. King addressed the nation, so many Americans still feel that their country values them less, simply because of the color of their skin.

That’s just one reason why the stakes in this election are unlike any we have faced before.  Those brave men and women who marched, and sat, and bled for civil rights in America must not have done so in vain.

As President, I’ll stand up to bluster and bigotry, and fight back against efforts to restrict access to the ballot.  Let’s make it easier for people to vote, not harder.  Let’s make sure every state has at least 20 days of in-person voting, and no one ever has to wait more than 30 minutes to cast their ballot.  And let’s automatically register every American to vote on their 18th birthday.

The power of American democracy comes from the fact that no one is left behind – no matter where they come from, what they look like, or who they love.  That’s what I mean when I say that we’re stronger together.

So today, let’s continue to be inspired by the self-evident truths that first united our nation, and live up to what a young minister dreamed and declared fifty-three years ago.”

For all the latest, follow our Scheduled Events page and follow Clinton on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. Also, be sure to subscribe to the campaign’s official Podcast, With Her.

Hillary Clinton Pens Op-Ed on Immigration Reform

On Friday, an op-ed written by Hillary Clinton appeared in The Arizona Republic. In the piece, Clinton discusses yesterday’s disappointing Supreme Court decision, and she criticizes Republican Donald Trump’s views on immigration. Clinton argues that comprehensive immigration reform is the best way to ensure that everyone has the best opportunity to live up their potential. Her op-ed is full of stories of people that she has met on the campaign trail and illustrate why immigration reform is such an important goal. A copy of the op-ed is below:

When Josie Mata was 7 years old, she learned that her mother was undocumented.

From that moment on, Josie went to school every day afraid that she might return home to find her mom gone forever.

The Matas live, work and pay taxes in Tucson. Josie now attends the University of Arizona. Yet like so many other mixed-status families, the threat that their lives could be torn apart is never far from mind.

I’ve met many children and families who share this fear. In Las Vegas, a 10-year-old girl named Karla started to cry when she told me her parents had received a letter of deportation. She should have the chance to be the bright and happy little girl she is. Instead, she’s constantly afraid.

It’s become all too easy to see why.

Just this week, the Supreme Court deadlocked in a critical case, putting on hold executive actions taken by President Obama to provide immigrant families relief from deportation. It was heartbreaking and unacceptable.

And while our system fails to provide certainty to immigrant families, political figures like Donald Trump turn them into scapegoats for many of the challenges facing American families today.  His bigotry and fear-mongering may be an attempt to divide our country and distract from his lack of real solutions to raise incomes and create good paying jobs – but it’s not going to work.

Let’s be clear: When Trump talks about forming a “deportation force” to round up and expel 11 million immigrants – he’s talking about ripping apart families like Karla’s and Josie’s.

When he repeatedly suggests that a distinguished American judge’s “Mexican heritage” means that he cannot do his job, it’s the “textbook definition of a racist comment,” to quote the Republican Speaker of the House Paul Ryan.

When he praises local figures like Gov. Jan Brewer and Sheriff Joe Arpaio, he’s endorsing their heartless and divisive policies. And when he speculates about ending birthright citizenship, he’s suggesting undermining the Constitution and tearing American children away from the country they know and love.

Instead of building walls, we ought to be breaking down barriers. Our country has always been stronger when we lift each other up, not tear each other down. We’re stronger together.

That’s why, as president, I’ll fight for comprehensive immigration reform that includes a path to full and equal citizenship, starting in my first 100 days in office.  We should do everything we can to keep families together, better integrate immigrants into their communities, and help those eligible for naturalization take the last step to citizenship.

First, let’s focus on families. Today in Arizona, over 200,000 U.S. citizens – the vast majority of whom are children – live in the same household as an undocumented immigrant who qualifies for relief from deportation under the Deferred Action for Parental Accountability (DAPA) program — the program put on hold by the Supreme Court this week.

As a result of the court’s decision, these families, and millions more like them across our country, have been thrown into a state of uncertainty. As president, I’ll continue to defend DAPA and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) against partisan attacks.

And I’ll do everything possible under the law to go further to protect families. That means ending large-scale raids, ending the practice of family detention and shutting down private detention facilities.

Second, we need to increase our focus on integration and make sure that immigrants are able to thrive in American society. Let’s provide more federal resources to help immigrants learn the English language skills they need to be successful. And because this issue cuts across all levels of government – local, state and federal – I’ll create the first-ever Office of Immigrant Affairs at the White House to help coordinate these policies across the nation.

Third, let’s help the 9 million people in our country who are currently eligible for naturalization become full citizens. They work and pay taxes – yet they cannot vote or serve on juries. Let’s expand fee waivers so that those seeking naturalization can get a break on the costs. And let’s step up our outreach and education, because no one should miss out on the chance to be a citizen.

These steps aren’t just the right thing to do; they’ll also strengthen our entire country.

Bringing more workers into the formal economy boosts everyone’s wages. Recent economic research suggests that comprehensive immigration reform could add more than 8,000 jobs and nearly $700 million to Arizona’s economy – so it would actually benefit every family in the state, no matter how long they’ve lived here.

This is not a new fight for me.

As a young woman, I investigated appalling conditions for migrant workers for a U.S. Senate committee, and I traveled across south Texas registering Latino voters. As First Lady, I convened the inaugural conference on Latino Children and Youth, to make sure that Latino boys and girls were getting the same opportunities as any other child. As a senator, I co-sponsored the Dream Act three times and stood with Ted Kennedy in our fight to pass comprehensive immigration reform. As president, I’m committed to seeing this fight through to the finish line.

No matter what Donald Trump says, we have always been a nation of immigrants. Families like Josie’s and Karla’s are every bit as American as his or mine. And it is long past time we helped millions of hard-working people step out of the shadows and onto a path to a brighter future.

For all the latest, follow our Scheduled Events page and follow Clinton on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

News Source: The Arizona Republic

Hillary Clinton Statement on Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin

On Thursday, the United States Supreme Court ruled on a case that challenged the use of affirmative action in the college admission process (Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin). The 4-3 decision upheld the school’s right to use rules to racially diversify it’s campus. Hillary Clinton released a statement of support for the decision saying that it “means that universities can continue to make diversity and inclusion central goals of their admissions processes.” A full copy of Clinton’s statement is below:

“The Supreme Court’s decision today in Fisher v. University of Texas is a win for all Americans. It means that universities can continue to make diversity and inclusion central goals of their admissions processes, and means our college campuses will continue to be places where young adults of all backgrounds can learn from each other.

Having a student body with diverse experiences and perspectives breaks down barriers, enriches academia, and prepares our young people to be leaders and citizens in our increasingly diverse country. We need to guarantee that the doors to higher education are open not just to some, but to all—and that we are giving students equal opportunities to succeed and thrive. Today’s Supreme Court decision affirms a basic truth about our country: we are stronger together.”

For all the latest, follow our Scheduled Events page and follow Clinton on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

News Source: The New York Times

Bill Clinton Campaigns for Hillary in Connecticut

On the eve of Tuesday’s primaries, Bill Clinton spoke at Get Out the Vote events in Connecticut. The first event was in Hartford where he was joined by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and her husband, Mark Kelly. During his speech, Bill spoke about Hillary’s plans to continue improving health care, reducing the cost of education, and continue to grow the economy. Bill talked about the importance of all Americans rising together saying, “She understands that if we don’t tear down the barriers that are keeping some people from participating, including the educational barriers, we can’t all rise together.”

Bill and Giffords held a second Get Out the Vote event in New Haven. During his speech, Bill focused on the prevention of gun violence by introducing background checks. He also advocated for holding gun manufacturers responsible for acts carried out by their weapons. He said, “The organized groups on the other side recognize that representing the manufacturers try to terrify every legal gun owner to think they’re coming to get your guns, which of course constitutionally you can’t do.” He explained that the vast majority of gun owners support background checks, but the gun lobby constantly blocks it. Videos from today’s events will be posted when/if available.

Chelsea Clinton was also on the campaign trail where she attended two fundraisers in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The events were hosted by Christina Weiss Lurie, Priscilla Sims Brown, Lisa Buckingham, and Lynn Shecter.

For all the latest, follow our Scheduled Events page and follow Clinton on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

News Source: KITV, MassLive.com

Hillary Clinton Campaigns in Pennsylvania

On Friday, Hillary Clinton spent the day in Pennsylvania leading up to next week’s primary. She attended events and visited with voters across the state. She began in Philadelphia where she spoke with Lilly Ledbetter, then in Jenkinstown, she spoke with a number of voters at a local cafe. During the conversation, she presented a number of her plans to continue economic growth, introduce new jobs, improve health care, and lower the cost of higher education. She then went to the Pittsburgh area where she had dinner at Primanti Brothers restaurant in Market Square where she spoke with supporters about labor unions, the minimum wage, and the struggles of the middle class.

In the evening, Clinton held an organizing event at Dunmore High School in Scranton. She had a populist tone as she referenced a number of local examples and bringing additional jobs to the area. She spoke about a number of her platform points and was largely positive in her outlook, “I believe we can still make it in America. We will knock down the barriers, and we will raise the minimum wage.” Clinton also spoke about her plans to expand mental health care and combat the heroin epidemic in the Northeast. She said, “Two things I hear most about are mental health and addiction. When I shake the hand of a mother, father, brother or sister of a mental health patient, they look at me and tell me they need help.” A video from the event will be posted when/if available.

Clinton was not alone on the campaign trail Friday. Secretary of Labor Tom Perez was in Reading, Pennsylvania where he spoke with a group of Hillary supporters. In Providence, Rhode Island, Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards spoke with a group of supporters.

For all the latest, follow our revamped Scheduled Events page and follow Clinton on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

News Source: WPXI, Times Leader, CBS Pittsburgh, CBS Philly, Montgomery Media,

Bill Clinton Campaigns for Hillary in Upstate New York

On Saturday, Bill Clinton campaigned on behalf of Hillary Clinton in upstate New York. He began by attending a Get Out the Vote event in Albany, New York’s capital. During the event, he called Hillary “the best change-maker I’ve ever known” adding that she knows what works and will bring her decades of experience to the White House. Governor Andrew Cuomo and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand also appeared at the event and campaigned for Hillary across the state today. Clinton spoke about a number of his wife’s campaign points before asking for voter support in Tuesday’s primary.

His next campaign event was in Watertown where he spoke about the importance of the 2016 race and the future implications of the November election. He went to speak about a number of Hillary’s platform points including economic growth, something he admitted isn’t happening as quickly for everyone as he would like. The next president will have the power to keep the economy growing, and he said, “I think we are very close to being able to all rise together again if we make the right decision in this campaign.”

In Syracuse, Clinton spoke to a crowd of supporters and stressed Hillary’s record as a New York Senator and how she can take that experience and apply it to the entire country. Clinton said that Hillary visited Syracuse 47 times as Senator and worked with local officials to help the area grow. The economy was the primary focus of his speech and he explained that Hillary will fight for equal pay and higher wages for everyone. He said, “When I was president, we were always in the top 10 percentage of women in the workforce. But it gets harder and harder and harder, when the wages are flat and we’re one of seven countries that doesn’t offer paid leave. When we don’t have an equal pay law and we don’t have affordable child care. Do those three things and we’ll have women flooding back into the workforce in a way that will raise wages for everybody. Raise the minimum wage do those things and we’ll all start growing together again.”

Clinton’s final Get Out the Vote event of the day was in Binghamton where he addressed a crowd of 2,000 supporters. During the event at Binghamton University, he spoke about Hillary’s previous efforts to secure funding for the university and clean energy in the Southern Tier. He also spoke about the rising costs of higher education saying that “every student should be able to graduate from college debt free” and that those paying back student loans should be able to refinance at a lower interest rate. The central argument of his speech was that things in America are still unequal for too many groups. The middle class is not growing, women are not paid equally, and there is still systemic discrimination in many states. Clinton said that Hillary has a plan to break down barriers and ensure that every American can live up to their full potential. Videos from today’s events will be posted when/if available.

For all the latest, follow our revamped Scheduled Events page and follow Clinton on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

News Source: The Daily Gazette, TWC News Capital Region, WNYF, TWC News Central NY, Press & Sun-Bulletin

Hillary Clinton Campaigns in Pennsylvania

On Wednesday, Hillary Clinton attended two organizing events in Pennsylvania ahead of their primary on April 26. Her first stop was in Philadelphia where she spoke at the AFL-CIO Convention. During her speech, she expressed her confidence that she would be the Democratic nominee for president and vowed to make labor and the economy a priority as president. She also criticized comments made by Republican front runner Donald Trump saying, “You’ve got other candidates talking about building walls and putting up barriers against each other, right? My campaign is about breaking down all the barriers holding working families back. My campaign is about building again those ladders of opportunity and empowerment so people can claim their own piece of the American dream.” A full video of her speech is below.

Clinton then spoke at an organizing event on the campus of Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. Clinton spoke to a crowd of about 2,000 people who crowded in the gymnasium and on the lawn outside to hear her speak, and she apologized for not speaking at a larger venue. During her speech, Clinton spoke about her plans to continue the progress of President Barack Obama’s administration by improving heath care, making higher education more affordable for those in school and those paying off school debt, and expanding clean energy. She criticized Republican policies and said that a real Democrat needed to continue the progressive movement. A full video of her speech is below.

For all the latest, follow our revamped Scheduled Events page and follow Clinton on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

News Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Penn Live, The Morning Call, CBS Pittsburgh

Hillary Clinton Speaks at the Ohio Democratic Party Legacy Dinner

Democratic presidential candidates Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton each spoke with Ohio Democrats at the Ohio Democratic Party Legacy Dinner. While Sanders gave a brief speech, Clinton took advantage of the opportunity to tell Ohio voters what a Clinton presidency would mean to them. She focused her speech on a number of Ohio events including the auto industry and Senate Bill 5, a law from 2011 would would have limited collective bargaining rights for unions. Clinton said, “When the chips were down, you did not let Gov. John Kasich drown out the voices of Ohio’s public servants. Now let’s stand up for all unions nationwide because when unions are strong, families are strong, the middle class is strong, and America is strong.”

Clinton also went after Republican front Donald Trump saying that he is not “who we are.” She went on saying, “Americans have rejected demagogues and fearmongers. You don’t make America great again by getting rid of everything that made America great in the first place.” Clinton also took a swipe at Sanders as well saying, “America is a big, complicated country facing big, complicated challenges. We can’t afford a single issue strategy or a single-issue president. Knocking down barriers means we can’t just talk about economic inequality, we also have to take on racial inequality.” A video of Clinton’s speech is below.

This morning, Clinton spoke to the congregation of Mount Zion Fellowship church in Highland Hills, Ohio. During her speech, she spoke about the importance of equality in the country and vowed to fight to break down barriers so everyone can take advantage of everything America has to offer. Clinton shared her favorite quote from former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt: “A woman is like a tea bag. You don’t know how strong she is until she gets into hot water.”

For all the latest, follow our revamped Scheduled Events page and follow Clinton on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

News Source: The New York Times, Ohio Democrats