A bipartisan group of electors from the Electoral College have asked for an intelligence briefing following revelations from the CIA that Russia may have influenced the election. In a letter to James Clapper, the Director of National Intelligence, the electors expressed their concern and asked that all of the electors be briefed by the intelligence community before they cast their ballots later this month. The chairman of Hillary Clinton’s campaign, John Podesta, said that he and the campaign supports the electors being briefed. In a statement, he said, “The bipartisan electors’ letter raises very grave issues involving our national security. Electors have a solemn responsibility under the Constitution and we support their efforts to have their questions addressed. Each day that month, our campaign decried the interference of Russia in our campaign and its evident goal of hurting our campaign to aid Donald Trump. Despite our protestations, this matter did not receive the attention it deserved by the media in the campaign. We now know that the CIA has determined Russia’s interference in our elections was for the purpose of electing Donald Trump. This should distress every American.”
On Thursday, Tim Kaine continued his campaign tour of North Carolina with events in Charlotte and Durham. During the event in Charlotte, Kaine spoke about Hillary Clinton’s platform and plans to ensure that the economy works for everyone and not just those at the top. He also referred to last night’s presidential debate praising Clinton for her performance. Kaine criticized Donald Trump for refusing to accept the outcome of the election saying, “has a profound misunderstanding for the institutions of government. … He is trying to upset a tradition that’s been one of the notable features of American life.” Kaine added, “This is not a television show, this is not a reality show. This is about running a country. You gotta do better than that.” Following the event, he spoke with members of the press. A video of Kaine’s speech is Charlotte, as well as his press briefing, is below.
In Durham, Kaine spoke with supporters on the campus of North Carolina Central University. At the event, Kaine urged everyone to get out and vote on November 8th, and he spoke about the importance of the election. He said that he and Clinton are dedicated to to North Carolina, and they want to win the state. Kaine said, “If we can win North Carolina for Hillary Clinton we’re gonna win the whole thing. We’re gonna win the whole thing. I’m very good at elections. I’m 8-0. You can beat me in Scrabble, but not in elections. I’ll be 9-0 on Nov. 8.” A video from the event will be added when/if available.
Hillary Clinton campaigned in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania today speaking at Temple University. Clinton focused her speech on reaching out to younger voters, particularly those of the millennial generation. She spoke about a number of her platform points that will help millennials including her plan to make a college education from a public school tuition free, her proposal to reduce the debt burden felt by former students with student loans by allowing them to refinance, and ensuring that companies provide paid time off and paid family leave. Clinton said that she is not a “showman” like Donald Trump, but “I do spend a lot of time on the details of policy, like the precise interest rate on your student loans—right down to the decimal. But that’s because it’s not a detail for you. It’s a big deal.” A video of Clinton’s speech is below.
Before the event, Clinton addressed the press regarding the recent attacks in New York, New Jersey, and Minnesota. During her remarks, Clinton spoke about the importance of fighting terrorism, but not demonizing Islam. A video of her remarks is below.
On Friday, Hillary Clinton convened a group of bipartisan National Security experts to discuss a number of global issues. The key focus of the group’s discussion was defeating ISIS and combating terrorism. Following the meeting, Clinton held a press briefing during which she spoke about the importance of Republicans and Democrats working together on issues of national security. She also criticized Donald Trump saying that the experts she has spoken with are “chilled” by what Trump has said and proposed. A video of Clinton’s remarks is below as is a release from Hillary for America about the meeting, including list of those who attended.
Hillary Clinton today brought together a bipartisan group of distinguished national security officials to discuss the challenges our next commander-in-chief will face. Today’s conversation, which focused largely on defeating ISIS and the global network of terrorism, gave Clinton the opportunity to discuss these crucial issues with a wide range of experts with different background and diverse perspectives – something she has always been deeply committed to and will continue to seek as president.
Clinton said, “We won’t always see eye to eye, but when it comes to questions of war, peace and the safety of our country, we can’t let party affiliations stand between us. We need to put partisanship aside and work together for the good of all of us. I know we can do it. I have seen it happen under both Republican and Democratic presidents. That will be my goal if I am elected this fall.”
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Clinton added, “National security experts on both sides of the aisle are chilled by what they’re hearing from the Republican nominee. That may be the number one reason why this election is the most important in our lifetime. So I’m not waiting until November, I’m bringing Democrats and Republicans together now because I plan to get right down to work on Day One. The stakes are too high, and the issues too serious for anything less than that level of preparedness. Americans should be able to count on their president and Commander-in-Chief to provide rational, confident and even keeled leadership, especially in tumultuous times like these so I’m very grateful to the men and women that I met with today — experts with a broad range of understanding and willingness to share their insights– and I look forward to receiving their advice in the days and weeks ahead.”
Today’s conversation included a wide range of experts, including nonpartisan military leaders as well as top national security officials who served under both Democratic and Republican administrations.
Working Session Participants:
General John Allen, USMC (ret.), former Special Envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter ISIS, former Commander of the International Security Assistance Force and U.S. Forces Afghanistan (via videoconference)
Rand Beers, former Deputy Homeland Security Advisor and former Acting Secretary of Homeland Security
Daniel Benjamin, Former Ambassador-at-large and Coordinator for Counterterrorism at the U.S. Department of State
Ambassador Reuben Brigety, Former U.S. Ambassador to the AU, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs
Secretary Michael Chertoff, former Secretary of Homeland Security
Richard Fontaine, former foreign policy advisor to Senator John McCain
Chris Fussell, former Aide-de-Camp to then-Lieutenant General Stanley McChrystal at the Joint Special Operations Command, former Navy Seal
Kathleen Hicks, former Principal Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Policy, former Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Strategy, Plans, and Forces
Juliette Kayyem, former Assistant Secretary for Intergovernmental Affairs at the Department of Homeland Security
Michael Morell, former Acting Director and Deputy Director of the CIA
Secretary Janet Napolitano, former Secretary of Homeland Security (via videoconference)
Matt Olsen, former Director of the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC)
General David Petraeus, USA (ret.), former Director of the CIA, former Commander of the International Security Assistance Force and U.S. Forces Afghanistan (via videoconference)
Admiral James Stavridis, USN (ret.), former Supreme Allied Commander of NATO (via videoconference)
Vikram Singh, Former Deputy Assistant secretary of Defense for South and Southeast Asia
Michael Vickers, former Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence
This morning, the campaign also rolled out an updated list of 110 retired generals and admirals who have endorsed Hillary Clinton as the only candidate in this race prepared to be commander-in-chief, 15 of whom came out in the 48 hours after the Commander-In-Chief Forum.
Clinton is honored by the overwhelming support of those who have served our country and looks forward to continuing these important national security discussions with bipartisan leaders in the coming months. In a new Hillary for America television ad released today, Hillary Clinton makes the case that the “Only Way” we solve problems is bringing people together like she did today.
On Friday, campaign events were held across on the country on behalf of Hillary Clinton and featured speeches from Tim Kaine, Bill Clinton, and Senator Elizabeth Warren. Kaine began in Birmingham, Alabama where he attended a fundraiser, toured the 16th Street Baptist Church, and spoke to the press about Donald Trump’s divisive rhetoric and the allegations that the Trump Foundation illegally gave campaign donations to the Florida state Attorney General. A video of Kaine’s press briefing is below.
Kaine then returned to his home state of Virginia where he and his wife, Anne Holton, attended a rally in Norfolk. During his speech, Kaine spoke about his time in Virginia where he has served a Governor and is currently one of the state’s Senators. Kaine spoke about a number of Clinton’s platform points and went after Donald Trump for his praise of dictators saying, “If you can’t tell the difference between leadership and dictatorship, you wouldn’t have passed a fifth-grade civics exam. You shouldn’t be a president of the United States. … Tyranny is not leadership. Persecution is not leadership.” A video from the event is below.
In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Bill campaigned on behalf of his wife and spoke about a number of Hillary’s platform points and criticized a number of proposals made by Trump. Bill spoke about the importance of this election, but said that can sympathize with the anger that many voters and Trump supporters are feeling. He warned, “Don’t substitute anger for answers. Don’t substitute resentment for responsibility. Remember empowerment comes from being stronger together. We can do it. You can do it. But Hillary, to do it, has to win Pennsylvania and that’s you.” Bill continued, “We need answers, not anger. And she [Hillary] is the only candidate offering any.” A video of Bill’s speech is below.
The final event of the day was a speech by Senator Warren who campaigned on behalf of Hillary in Philadelphia. Warren spoke to a crowd of supporters about the importance of defeating Trump and electing Hillary in November. She covered a number of Hillary’s proposals before delivering a series of one-liners attacking Trump. In her speech, Warren referred to Trump as “the large orange elephant in the room,” called the controversial Trump University “Scam University,” and went after his praise of Russian president Vladimir Putin. Warren’s speech offers a mix of clever criticism of Trump and important policy proposals. A video from the event is below.
Meanwhile, in Hong Kong, a Hillary for America fundraiser was held for American citizens living abroad. The event featured a conversation with Melanne Verveer, Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues for the State Department.
Before leaving for North Carolina today, Hillary Clinton held a press conference with members of her press pool. In an opening statement, Clinton criticized Donald Trump for, again, praising Russian President Vladimir Putin during last night’s Commander-in-Chief Forum. She also questioned his judgement after he hinted at some thing he learned during his first classified briefing saying, “I think what he said was totally inappropriate and undisciplined.” Clinton then answered questions on a number of topics including recent poll numbers, Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson not knowing that Aleppo is a city in Syria, and a question about criticisms that she needs to smile more. A video of the press conference is below.
On Tuesday, Hillary Clinton spoke at a Denver, Colorado tech company where she unveiled plans to assist future entrepreneurs and encourage start-ups. Speaking at Galvanize, Clinton told the crowd, “Starting out can be daunting. There’s a lot, a lot of risk, even if you have a good idea. … It can be a lot harder if you are juggling student loan payments. And that can cut into what you are able to do.” Clinton spoke about her plan to help those out of college start businesses and begin working on their ideas and innovations. Details of her plan can be read on The Briefing, but an outline of the plan is below:
Defer federal student loans for up to three years with no interest
Offer an option to apply to have up to $17,500 of their student loans forgiven
Offer similar incentives to early joiners of a new enterprise
Provide access to specialized training and access to credit to grow their business
Invest in incubators and accelerators to help young people get their ventures off the ground
A video from Clinton’s speech is below.
While in Denver, Clinton also attended a fundraiser at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. The event included an appearance by Connie Britton. Meanwhile, two additional fundraisers were held on behalf of Hillary for America. The first was in London and hosted by Ebs Burnough, Effie Datson, Britt Lintner, Virginia Rustique, Jennifer Sponer, and Eileen Taylor. The event included a conversation with tennis champion Billie Jean King and actor Dustin Lance Black. The second event was held in Boston, Massachusetts and included a conversation with former Congressman Barney Frank.
On Tuesday, Hillary Clinton held three events in Kentucky while citizens of neighboring West Virginia voted in their Democratic primary. Clinton’s first event was in Lexington where she laid out a new plan to help parents with the rising costs of child care. Speaking at a roundtable event, Clinton outlined the plan and spoke with care providers and parents about the importance of child care and the struggle for many families to find and afford adequate care. The bullet points of the plan includes:
Improve the quality of care by giving a RAISE (Respect And Increased Salaries for Early Childhood Educators) to America’s child care workforce
Provide home visiting services for more than 2 million parents and children in the next 10 years
Support young parents as the balance family responsibilities and their careers
Award scholarships of up to $1,500 per year to as many as one million student parents
Increase access to child care on college campuses by serving an additional 250,000 children
Doubling federal investment in high quality early learning programs
Making preschool universal for every 4-year old in America
Proving working parents paid time off to care for a new baby
The full plan can be read on The Briefing and a video from the event is available below.
Clinton then traveled to Louisville where she spoke at a rally. During her speech, Clinton focused on the economy and her plans to raise incomes and create new jobs. She also spoke about a number of other platform points before turning her attention to local politics and her Republican opposition. She criticized Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin for his plans to scrap the state’s health insurance exchanges and the state’s expansion of medicaid, both of which were provided as a result of the Affordable Care Act. Clinton then turned her attention to Republicans and their endless attacks on her career saying, “The right wing never gives up attacking me. I think they are going to throw everything but the kitchen sink at me…I’ve got a message for them. They’ve done it for 25 years and I’m still standing.” A video from the event will be posted when/if available.
In the evening, Clinton spoke at a second organizing event in Louisville. During her speech at Louisville Slugger Field, Clinton took a number of shots at presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump and his disparaging comments about women and minorities. She said, “You could not imagine a more different vision for our country than the one between our side, of Democrats for progress, for prosperity, for fairness and opportunity than the presumptive nominee on the Republican side.” Clinton focused on her plans to continue the progress of President Barack Obama’s administration and ensure that people have access to health care and affordable higher education. A full video from the event is below.
Today, Hillary Rodham Clinton released her plan for campaign finance reform. In a release on her website, Clinton outlined points to her plan to cut untraceable money and the influence of wealthy individuals and corporations from politics. The proposal has three main points. First, overturn the Citizens United ruling by appointing Supreme Court Justices dedicated to overturning it and passing a Constitutional amendment. Next, end the flow of unaccountable money that requires public disclosure of donations and spending by outside organizations, requiring publicly traded companies to disclose contributions, and require all federal government contractors to report all political spending. Finally, she hopes to make the voices of everyday Americans heard over those who contribute large amounts by enacting a donor matching program, lower contribution limits, and enforce all campaign finance laws.
The goal of the plan is to ensure that average Americans have a voice in choosing their elected leaders and not allowing those with the deepest pockets to call the shots. Clinton has been a critic of the Citizens United ruling. Clinton’s campaign released a video (above), and you can read the full details of Clinton’s plan by clicking HERE.
Tonight, ABC will air an interview by David Muir with Clinton that will cover a number of topics including the agreement with Iran, her use of a private email server as Secretary of State, and her campaign. Details from the interview will be posted later this evening.
Hillary for America has updated its website with two new pages. The first is the addition of an Events page where you can search for Hillary for America organization events in your area. You can search by state, city, or zip code to locate events near you. The Events page is a great way to keep in touch with local Clinton supporters and track events in your hometown.
The second addition to the site is a page called The Briefing. As John Podesta wrote in a memo, The Briefing was created to debunk information presented by Republicans and others opposing Clinton. First up is Peter Schweizer’s book, Clinton Cash. The book is advertised as the inside story of foreign donations made to the Clinton Foundation during Clinton’s time as Secretary of State. Many of the allegations have been disproven, but the campaign has vowed to take the claims head-on. You can sign up to receive email updates from The Briefing and can follow its Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube pages for all the latest. The first on the site was from Clinton’s press secretary, Brian Fallon. The video is also available below.
Today, Clinton was in Las Vegas and spoke on a variety of topics including immigration. When today’s appearances are complete, a wrap-up will be posted. In the meantime, you can follow Clinton’s campaign stop in Nevada on Twitter and Facebook.
Hillary Clinton Speeches 