Hillary Clinton Calls for Unity in Concession Speech

Hillary Clinton delivered her concession speech this morning in New York City. In the speech, Clinton thanked Tim Kaine and Anne Holton, her family, and the Obamas for all their support on the campaign trail. She also thanked her staff, campaign volunteers, and everyone who has supported the campaign by voting or donating. Clinton asked that everyone not be discouraged by the results saying that she hopes Donald Trump will be “a successful president for all Americans.” She urged everyone to keep fighting for what they believe in saying, “This loss hurts, but please never stop believing that fighting for what’s right is worth it. It is, it is worth it. And so we need — we need you to keep up these fights now and for the rest of your lives. And to all the women, and especially the young women, who put their faith in this campaign and in me: I want you to know that nothing has made me prouder than to be your champion.” A video and transcript of Clinton’s speech is below.

TRANSCRIPT:

Thank you. Thank you all very much. Thank you so much. A very rowdy group. Thank you, my friends. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you so very much for being here. I love you all, too. Last night I congratulated Donald Trump and offered to work with him on behalf of our country.

I hope that he will be a successful president for all Americans. This is not the outcome we wanted or we worked so hard for, and I’m sorry we did not win this election for the values we share and the vision we hold for our country.

But I feel pride and gratitude for this wonderful campaign that we built together. This vast, diverse, creative, unruly, energized campaign. You represent the best of America, and being your candidate has been one of the greatest honors of my life.

I know how disappointed you feel, because I feel it too. And so do tens of millions of Americans who invested their hopes and dreams in this effort. This is painful, and it will be for a long time. But I want you to remember this.

Our campaign was never about one person, or even one election. It was about the country we love and building an America that is hopeful, inclusive, and big-hearted. We have seen that our nation is more deeply divided than we thought. But I still believe in America, and I always will. And if you do, then we must accept this result and then look to the future. Donald Trump is going to be our president. We owe him an open mind and the chance to lead. Our constitutional democracy enshrines the peaceful transfer of power.

We don’t just respect that. We cherish it. It also enshrines the rule of law; the principle we are all equal in rights and dignity; freedom of worship and expression. We respect and cherish these values, too, and we must defend them.

Let me add: Our constitutional democracy demands our participation, not just every four years, but all the time. So let’s do all we can to keep advancing the causes and values we all hold dear. Making our economy work for everyone, not just those at the top, protecting our country and protecting our planet.

And breaking down all the barriers that hold any American back from achieving their dreams. We spent a year and a half bringing together millions of people from every corner of our country to say with one voice that we believe that the American dream is big enough for everyone.

For people of all races, and religions, for men and women, for immigrants, for LGBT people, and people with disabilities. For everyone.

I am so grateful to stand with all of you. I want to thank Tim Kaine and Anne Holton for being our partners on this journey.

It has been a joy get to go know them better and gives me great hope and comfort to know that Tim will remain on the front lines of our democracy representing Virginia in the Senate.

To Barack and Michelle Obama, our country owes you an enormous debt of gratitude.

We thank you for your graceful, determined leadership that has meant so much to so many Americans and people across the world. And to Bill and Chelsea, Mark, Charlotte, Aidan, our brothers and our entire family, my love for you means more than I can ever express.

You crisscrossed this country, even 4-month-old Aidan, who traveled with his mom. I will always be grateful to the talented, dedicated men and women at our headquarters in Brooklyn and across our country.

You poured your hearts into this campaign. To some of you who are veterans, it was a campaign after you had done other campaigns. Some of you, it was your first campaign. I want each of you to know that you were the best campaign anybody could have ever expected or wanted.

And to the millions of volunteers, community leaders, activists and union organizers who knocked on doors, talked to their neighbors, posted on Facebook — even in secret private Facebook sites.

I want everybody coming out from behind that and make sure your voices are heard going forward.

To anyone that sent contributions, even as small as $5, that kept us going, thank you. To all of us, and to the young people in particular, I hope you will hear this — I have, as Tim said, I have spent my entire life fighting for what I believe in.

I’ve had successes and setbacks and sometimes painful ones. Many of you are at the beginning of your professional, public, and political careers — you will have successes and setbacks too.

This loss hurts, but please never stop believing that fighting for what’s right is worth it.

It is, it is worth it.

And so we need — we need you to keep up these fights now and for the rest of your lives. And to all the women, and especially the young women, who put their faith in this campaign and in me: I want you to know that nothing has made me prouder than to be your champion.

Now, I know we have still not shattered that highest and hardest glass ceiling, but someday someone will — and hopefully sooner than we might think right now.

And to all of the little girls who are watching this, never doubt that you are valuable and powerful and deserving of every chance and opportunity in the world to pursue and achieve your own dreams.

Finally, finally, I am so grateful for our country and for all it has given to me.

I count my blessings every single day that I am an American, and I still believe, as deeply as I ever have, that if we stand together and work together with respect for our differences, strengthen our convictions, and love for this nation, our best days are still ahead of us.

Because, you know, I believe we are stronger together and we will go forward together. And you should never, ever regret fighting for that. You know, scripture tells us, let us not grow weary of doing good, for in good season we shall reap. My friends, let us have faith in each other, let us not grow weary and lose heart, for there are more seasons to come and there is more work to do.

I am incredibly honored and grateful to have had this chance to represent all of you in this consequential election. May God bless you and may God bless the United States of America.

President Barack Obama also held a press conference today in which he congratulated Trump on his victory and committed to a smooth transition of power. Obama said that he will meet with Trump at the White House on Thursday. He said that he is dedicated to ensuring a successful transition of power because that is how American democracy works. Obama added, “We are now all rooting for his success in uniting and leading the country.” A video of his speech is below.

News Source: The New York Times, Vox, NPR, The Washington Post, The New York Times, CNN

Hillary Clinton: Why You Should Vote for Me

The following op-ed appears in Monday’s issue of USA Today:

Hillary Clinton: Why you should vote for me
Hillary Clinton
USA Today
November 6, 2016

In January, America is going to have a new president. Things are going to change — that much is certain. The question is, what kind of change are we going to have?

We can build an economy that works for everyone, or stack the deck even more for those at the top.

We can keep America safe through strength and smarts — or turn our backs on our allies, and cozy up to our adversaries.

We can come together to build a stronger, fairer America, or fear the future and fear each other.

Everything I’ve done, as first lady, senator, or secretary of State, I’ve done by listening to people and looking for common ground, even with people who disagree with me. And if you elect me on Tuesday, that’s the kind of president I’ll be.

Here are four priorities for my first 100 days — issues I’ve heard about from Americans all over our country.

First, we will put forward the biggest investment in new jobs since World War II. We’ll invest in infrastructure and manufacturing to grow our economy for years to come. We’ll produce enough renewable energy to power every home in America within a decade. We’ll cut red tape for small businesses and make it easier for entrepreneurs to get the credit they need to grow and hire — because in America, if you can dream it, you should be able to build it. We’ll pay for it all by asking the wealthy, Wall Street and big corporations to finally pay their fair share. And this commitment will go far beyond the first 100 days. Creating more good jobs with rising incomes will be a central mission of my presidency.

Second, we will introduce comprehensive immigration reform legislation. The last president to sign comprehensive immigration reform was Ronald Reagan, and it was a priority for George W. Bush. I’m confident that we can work across the aisle to pass comprehensive reform that keeps families together and creates a path to citizenship, secures our border, and focuses our enforcement resources on violent criminals. This is the right thing to do, and it will also grow our economy.

Third, to break the gridlock in Washington, we need to get secret, unaccountable money out of our politics. It’s drowning out the voices of the American people. So within my first 30 days, I will introduce a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United. We should be protecting citizens’ rights to vote, not corporations’ rights to buy elections.

Fourth, we need to get started on end-to-end criminal justice reform. Too many people have been sent away for far too long for non-violent offenses. I believe our country will be stronger and safer when everyone has respect for the law and everyone is respected by the law.

There’s so much more we need to do together, and we certainly won’t get it all done in the first 100 days. But we’re going to roll up our sleeves and get to work for American families — and I’ll never, ever quit.

I want to be president for all Americans — Democrats, Republicans and independents; Americans of every race, faith and background.

My opponent has run his campaign on divisiveness, fear and insults, and spent months pitting Americans against each other. I’ve said many times that Donald Trump has shown us who he is. Now we have to decide who we are.

Because it’s not just our names on the ballot this year. Every issue we care about is on the ballot, too. This is about who we are as a country — and whether we are going to have change that makes us stronger together, or change that pushes us further apart.

It all comes down to this. I love our country. I believe in our people. And I think there’s nothing we can’t achieve if we work together and invest in each other.

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: USA Today

Hillary Clinton Statement on Las Vegas Trump Hotel Labor Law Violations

After an announcement by the National Labor Relations Board that the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas was violating the National Labor Relations Act by refusing to bargain with the Culinary Workers Union after hotel employees voted to join the union last year, Hillary Clinton issued the following statement:

“Donald Trump likes to brag about his skills as a negotiator—but yesterday, he had to be ordered by the National Labor Relations Board to stop breaking the law, respect his workers’ fundamental rights to organize and bargain collectively, and come to the table. It’s appalling, but it’s not surprising. This is a man who personally signed a contract with a union-busting firm to try to stop UNITE HERE and the Culinary Workers’ Union from organizing in the first place, and engaged in a months-long intimidation campaign to bully his workers against voting to form a union.

I was proud to visit workers on the picket line at the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, and even prouder when they overcame Donald Trump’s intimidation campaign and were officially certified as a union earlier this year. I believe that when unions are strong, families are strong—and when families are strong, America is strong. And I will always stand with workers in protecting their rights to organize, bargain collectively, be safe on the job and retire with dignity, and if I am elected President, workers will always have a seat at the table and a champion in the White House.”

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: Politico

Tim Kaine Rallies Voters in Michigan

Tim Kaine campaigned in Michigan today were he began with a rally at a local fire station in Taylor. During his speech, Kaine spoke about Hillary’s presidential platform and her plans to create jobs by investing in manufacturing and infrastructure, support labor unions and their right to collectively bargain, raise the minimum wage, and make college more affordable. Kaine had a populist tone as he went after Republican Donald Trump for his rhetoric and comments against women and minorities. He said that unlike their opponent, he and Clinton will not focus on themselves, but every American and their families. Kaine wrapped up the event by urging everyone to vote on November 8th or to take advantage of early voting. A video from the event is below.

Kaine then traveled to Warren where he addressed the Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights. During his speech, Kaine focus on the economy and Clinton’s dedication to the middle class. He specifically spoke about jobs and Clinton’s plans to invest in manufacturing and infrastructure. He said, “If we do these basic things that Hillary Clinton planned, independent analysts say that our economy will grow ten and a half million jobs in the first four years.” Kaine also spoke about Clinton’s support for organized labor and guaranteed that a Clinton/Kaine administration would guarantee employee’s right to unionize and collectively bargain. A video from the event will be posted when/if available.

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: CBS Detroit, Detroit News, Michigan Live, Michigan Radio

Tim Kaine, Bill Clinton Campaign for Hillary Following Debate

Just hours after the conclusion of Monday’s night debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, Hillary’s running mate, Time Kaine, spoke at a canvass kickoff event in Orlando, Florida. During the event, he spoke about the importance of voting and ensuring that everyone registered to vote. “I don’t have to tell you how important Florida is. (In) Florida, the election is going to be very, very close,” he said. While in Orlando, Kaine visited the site of the “Pulse” nightclub shooting with former Representative Gabby Giffords and her husband Mark Kelly. A video from Kaine’s event will be added when/if available.

In Ohio, Bill Clinton spoke at National Voter Registration Day events in Toledo and Cleveland. In Toledo, he spoke about last night’s debate saying that it is clear which candidate is working for everyone and which candidate is running for himself. Bill spoke about a number Hillary’s platform points, but he focused on job growth and ensuring that the economy works for everyone and not just those at the top. He went on to say that it is important that everyone register to vote and head to the polls in November to ensure that their voice is heard. “We‘ve got a chance to do something together where nobody is left out and left behind. We need to go seize it and it all starts in Ohio by registering and voting,” he said. A video of Bill’s speech is below.

Bill wrapped up the day speaking at a rally in Cleveland. He spoke about a number of Hillary’s key platform points and attacked Trump for his divisive views. But Clinton’s primary focus was voting and ensuring that everyone is registered. “This election is about you and your future and you need to claim it,” he said. On National Voter Registration, he urged everyone to vote because they have a voice. And he encouraged those in attendance to ensure their friends and family were registered as well saying, “I want you to promise yourselves that you’re going to vote, you’re going to get people registered. You’re going to get them to vote.”  A video of Bill’s speech is below.

Anne Holton, the wife of Kaine, attended three events in Michigan today. The first was a voter protection roundtable event in Detroit where she spoke about the importance of voting and ensuring that the right to vote is protected. Holton then traveled to Livonia where she took part in a phone bank at a local Hillary for America office.

Holton’s final event of the day was in Ann Arbor where she spoke at an organizing event. Speaking to volunteers and supporters at a local campaign office, Holton urged them to ensure that they, their friends, and their family are all registered to vote and exercise their right on November 8. Holton stressed the importance of Michigan saying, “I’m going to talk about you. You are the key to this election. You all know that, right? You all know Michigan is often the key to the national election.” Video’s from Holton’s events will be posted when/if available.

In New York City, a fundraiser was held on behalf of Hillary for America. The event featured a conversation with Laura Benjamin, Anahi DeCanio, Peter Gumpel, Drue Kataoka, Martha McAleer, and Leonore Robins.

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: Cleveland.com, The Michigan Daily, Click Orlando, ABC News, Toledo Blade, Detroit Free Press

Hillary Clinton Statement on Protecting and Restoring the Great Lakes

Before the start of the annual Great Lakes Restoration Conference in Sandusky, Ohio, Hillary Clinton released the following statement supporting the restoration and preservation of the Great Lakes region. A copy of Clinton’s statement is below.

“The Great Lakes are national treasures–powering regional economies, providing drinking water to tens of millions of Americans, and providing unparalleled outdoor recreation. But the Great Lakes are facing serious stresses, from pollution to toxic algal blooms to the spread of invasive species.

Clean water is not a luxury–it’s a basic right of all Americans. As President, I will fight to protect drinking water, including by investing in modernizing our outdated drinking and wastewater infrastructure, and supporting the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.

And I will promote conservation and collaborative stewardship of our natural resources, including the Great Lakes. I will set a goal of doubling the size of the outdoor economy within a decade–which will benefit communities all around the Great Lakes. And I will support collaborative approaches to protect our environment, like the agreement between Ohio, Michigan, and Ontario to reduce nutrient pollution that contributes to harmful algal blooms.

Together, we can protect the Great Lakes and America’s public lands and waters for future generations.”

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.

President Obama Campaigns for Hillary in Philadelphia

On Tuesday, President Barack Obama returned to the campaign trail on behalf of Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine. During his speech in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the president spent as much time criticizing Republican Donald Trump as he did expressing his confidence in Clinton. Obama attacked Trump’s divisive claims and attacked his new-found dedication to working people. “This guy who spent 70 years on this earth showing no concern for working people — this guy’s suddenly going to be your champion?” he asked the crowd. He then spoke about his trust in Clinton’s judgement and confidence that she has a better vision for the future saying, “This is not the usual choice between parties and policies and left and right. This is more fundamental. This is a fundamental choice about who we are as a people. This is a choice about the very meaning of America.” A video of the president’s speech is below.

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: Time, The Los Angeles Times

Clinton Campaigns in Charlotte, Addresses Baptist Convention

On Thursday, Hillary Clinton spoke to a crowd of supporters at Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, North Carolina. Clinton began by addressing the North Carolina voting laws saying that, as a country, we should be working to expand early voting, not limit it. She said, “Now North Carolina has been trying to restrict people’s right to vote. The federal court just struck down this state’s voter ID law.” Clinton then spoke about a number of platform points including lowering the debt burden of college students, creating new jobs, increasing the minimum wage, and ensuring that the economy grows and benefits everyone and not only those at the top. A video of Clinton’s speech is below.

In Kansas City, Missouri, Clinton addressed the annual National Baptist Convention. Speaking with the gathered group of ministers from across the country, Clinton quoted scripture and relayed stories growing up in a religious family. Clinton spoke about humility saying, “Our greatest leaders are often the most humble because they recognize both the awesome responsibilities of power and the frailty of human action.” During her speech, Clinton did not mention Donald Trump by name, however, she did speak about her rival saying that he does not understand religion or the African American community. A video of Clinton’s speech is below.

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: WYFF, WSOCTV, The New York Times

John Podesta Statement on Trump Campaign’s Hiring of Citizens United President

On Friday, Hillary for America chair John Podesta released a statement responding to Donald Trump’s hiring of Citizens United President David Bossie. Bossie recently joined the Trump campaign and will reportedly be working on campaign strategy. Podesta’s response is below.

“David Bossie is so craven and maniacal that in the heyday of the overreaching, Gingrich-era Congress, the top Whitewater conspiracy theorist in the House had to fire him for doctoring evidence. He has devoted his career ever since to trying to tear down Hillary Clinton. For months now, Citizens United has been acting as an arm of the Trump campaign, and this hiring of Bossie now makes it official. This is just the latest sign that Donald Trump has put the most extreme elements of the right-wing fringe in the driver’s seat of his campaign.”

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: The Washington Post

Clinton Criticizes Trump’s Extreme Views in Reno Speech

Hillary Clinton sharply criticized the extreme views of Donald Trump during a speech in Reno, Nevada today. Clinton said that Trump is “taking hate groups mainstream” with his hateful rhetoric. She blamed him for allowing the extreme right take over the Republican Party. “From the start, Donald Trump has built his campaign on prejudice and paranoia. He’s taking hate groups mainstream and helping a radical fringe take over one of America’s two major political parties. His disregard for the values that make our country great is profoundly dangerous,” Clinton said.

Hillary for America also released a report outlining how Trump has given “Alt-Right” groups the control of the Republican Party. The report takes several of Trump’s policy proposals in quotes into consideration. The report concludes, “This kind of hatred is impacting our families, our communities and the public discourse – the so-called “Trump effect” – and we must recognize and stand up against it in order to keep the fringe extremism out of the White House.” A video from Clinton’s speech in Reno is below, and the full report can be read on The Briefing.

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: Reno Gazette-Journal, The Washington Post, Business Insider