Hillary Clinton is running for President of the United States. As such, it makes sense that we should know as much about her as we can. After all, voting is what makes democracy great. And an informed voter makes the right decisions.
Clinton’s first and only political office has been that of the junior senator from New York. She first won it in 2000 by defeating Republican Rick Lazio with 55.3 percent of the vote.
She repeated that feat in 2006, this time beating John Spencer (not the “West Wing” guy) with 67 percent of the vote. She was also the first First Lady to have a literal office in the White House.
She now has her sights set on moving into an oval-shaped office and, as everyone knows, is in a fierce battle with Barack Obama for the Democratic nomination.
But is she the right candidate for Democrats?
Though she refuses to admit it was a mistake, she famously voted for the war in Iraq. However, she has also criticized the Bush administration on the handling of the war.
The National Rifle Association gave her an F, and conversely but just as good, NARAL gave her a 100 percent.
Similarly, the Americans for Democratic Action gave her a 96 percent liberal ratings, while the American Conservative Union gave her a 9 percent rating.
Clinton signed the controversial USA PATRIOT Act, (which few people know stands for Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism), but like with the Iraq war, she seems to have changed her mind on it some.
When it was up for renewal in 2005, she only voted for it when a compromised Act addressed civil liberty concerns.
Sen. Clinton seems to be a bit wishy-washy on flag burning. She supports making flag burning, an act protected by freedom of speech and a Supreme Court decision, illegal, but voted against the most recent flag burning constitutional amendment. The measure lost by one vote.
On gun control, Clinton a supported a ban on semi-automatic weapons. She also believes in a firm stand on “sensible gun control legislation.”
In one issue where Sen. Clintn doesn’t seem to stray, she has voted in favor of keeping a women’s right to choose at every opportunity.
In response to the upholding of the partial birth abortion ban, Clinton said, “the rights and lives of women must be taken into account.”
Contrary to most liberal thought, Mrs. Clinton supports the death penalty, but does think there needs to be DNA testing before an execution.
On gay marriage, she is against the Federal Marriage Amendment, which would define marriage as being between a man and a woman. However, she also doesn’t believe that gay marriage should be legal, preferring civil unions instead. She believes homosexuality is not immoral.
What does a Hillary Clinton presidency hold?
On her website, she outlines several issues, and what she plans to do with them. She plans on “strengthening the middle class” which she feels has been neglected by the current president.
About 15 percent of Americans don’t have health insurance. Is America ready for universal healthcare? Mrs. Clinton claims to have “the vision and the experience” to make it happen.
Hillary Clinton is now clear on the war: “…if the Bush administration won’t end the war, as president and commander in chief, Hillary will.” In fact, Clinton sponsored the Iraq Troop Protection and Reduction Act of 2007 (http://www.govtrack.us/data/us/bills).
Clinton is a firm supporter of the environment and fighting global warming. Of course, everyone says that. What is Hillary going to do? Part of her plan is to have the oil companies partly pay for a $50 billion Strategic Energy Fund. Sounds great, unless the oil companies take that $50 billion out on the consumers.
Sen. Clinton also claims she will strengthen our democracy, champion women’s rights (equal pay, abortion), fund No Child Left Behind, and “[restore] America’s standing in the world.”
Is Hillary Clinton the right President for you? Visit www.hillaryclinton.com/issues and find out.
The California primary may have passed, but the last state primary is the third of June. Pay attention.
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