Democratic Underground Latest Greatest Lobby Journals Search Options Help Login
Google

OK all you Obama & Hilary supporters. I can't decide on which one.

Printer-friendly format Printer-friendly format
Printer-friendly format Email this thread to a friend
Printer-friendly format Bookmark this thread
This topic is archived.
Home » Discuss » Archives » General Discussion: Presidential (Through Nov 2009) Donate to DU
 
napi21 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jan-25-08 11:56 PM
Original message
OK all you Obama & Hilary supporters. I can't decide on which one.
I really have positives & negatives for both candidates. I hato vote on Feb. 5th. That's only 10 days from now! Make your best case for your candidate. Help me out here.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
joshcryer Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jan-25-08 11:57 PM
Response to Original message
1. Flip a coin.
They're just two sides after all. With a few minor differences at most.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Kucinich4America Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jan-25-08 11:58 PM
Response to Original message
2. Edwards.
At least he talks the talk. We'll see if he walks the walk. Hillary will do neither, and I'm not convinced Obama knows one from the other.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
niceypoo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-26-08 01:50 AM
Response to Reply #2
19. Edwards walks Obamas talk
...and he can take it on the chin, like Hillary. He is a two-fer one.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
cali Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-26-08 06:57 AM
Response to Reply #19
31. Edwards has not walked the walk
Obama has and Hillary has as well. And Obama is taking it on the chin pretty well so far. Here's what I mean by walking the walk: Hillary's work for the CDF and the Watergate commitee and Obama's work as a community activist and civil rights lawyer.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Mythsaje Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jan-25-08 11:58 PM
Response to Original message
3. When in doubt, go with the underdog.
:)
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
CoffeeCat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-26-08 12:00 AM
Response to Original message
4. What issues are most important to you?
Start there...

Let us know what issues are your top concerns.

:)
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
napi21 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-26-08 12:22 AM
Response to Reply #4
11. OK. I'll give that a sho,but the most iportant, both of them suport.
Get out of Iraq
Bring obs back to the US.
Raise the cap on SS to stabiize it.
Restablish themonopoly laws for corporations & the media.
Heath care hat's affordable for all THAT CAN BE PASED INTO LAW!

There are alot f others, but I will tell you, I think both canidates will work to do all of those. The problem I hae with Obama is that he seems to want to work a little TOO MUCH with the Pubs, and I'm still really pissed at them! I don't WANT to work together!

I hate to admit it, but I have a problem with the Bush, Clinton, Bsh, Clinton thing. That's not fair to her! She's a good candidate and I shouldn't penalize her for her name.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
CoffeeCat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-26-08 12:46 AM
Response to Reply #11
17. I understand what you're saying about...
...not wanting to work with the Republicans.

I feel like you do. I don't want to work with those jerks. Since when have they ever worked with us?
How CAN you work with people like that?

What it came down to for me---is that if Obama is President, he's not saying that he will cave in to the
Republicans--he's saying that he will foster a dialog. He won't be President Cowboy like Bush--who can't
work with anyone. Obama will try to end the pettiness and the games, and help people to work together
and come up with real solutions.

Remember, when he's President--he'll be the one with the power. He could act like an arrogant jerk. He's
saying that he won't do that. He will try to bring people together. Again, this doesn't mean that he
compromises his principles. It means that he listens and provides leadership--instead of offending people
and pissing them off. Haven't we had enough of Bush's slash-and-burn tactics?

Unless we have big majorities in the House and Senate--Reps and Dems will have to work together. Obama
will not be a polarizing, "my way or the highway" egomaniac, which will only turn DC into a hornet's nest.

I know how difficult this decision is. I'm sure you'll have the opportunity to see some of the candidates
in person, so that will be cool!

Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
THUNDER HANDS Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-26-08 12:00 AM
Response to Original message
5. close your eyes
and imagine the voices of both of them.

Which one do you want to hear for potentially the next 8 years.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
babylonsister Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-26-08 12:01 AM
Response to Original message
6. Hmm. Check out this thread for the skinny-same question:
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Colobo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-26-08 12:05 AM
Response to Original message
7. Think about this
Do you want someone that can bring this nation together after 8 years of Bushism? Do you want someone that has the necessary pragmatism to move beyond partisan politics and push forward a progressive agenda? Do you want someone who will bring the RIGHT JUDGEMENT to the White House from Day 1, instead of old partisan, hawkish politics that have proven to be detrimental to our nation? Do you want someone who is willing to say what right every single time, regardless of the political consequences?

Do you want a new era in American politics? If you answered yes to most of all of these questions, then you need to vote for Barack Obama.

If you want to turn back the clock, hoping that the vision of the 90s will save us from the present and future challenges the nation is and will be facing... then vote for Hillary.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
napi21 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-26-08 12:29 AM
Response to Reply #7
13. To be honest, I don't think anyone ca bring the nation together.
Too many Pubs are ful of hate and simply won't go for it. I want pay back! I reall don't care if the Pubs like it or not! I didn't like what THEY have done for 10 years!!!!

That's part of my problem. I think Obama is too conciliatory and Hillary if more of a fighter.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Colobo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-26-08 12:38 AM
Response to Reply #13
15. Obama wants to get things done, not to fight people.
Partisan fighting has taken us to the path we are on today.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
niceypoo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-26-08 01:51 AM
Response to Reply #15
20. Obama IS fighting people
He might try and blame the other people, but he is actively engaged in it. All the candidates what to get things done.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
avaistheone1 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-26-08 02:07 AM
Response to Reply #20
24. Obama has shown he is a divider not a uniter in the last week.
Neither Clinton or Obama have conducted themselves publicly very well at all.

The only one behaving like a grownup, acting like a president is John Edwards. Instead of petty bickering Edwards stays focused on this issues that are important to us.

Edwards is getting my vote. I hope you will consider giving him yours.

Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
napi21 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-26-08 06:38 AM
Response to Reply #24
26. I have considered Edwards. I've been leaning toward him since
my favorite Biden dropped out. It bothers me a lot, but all I hear in Ga. is I would never vote for a womn or a black!
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
B Calm Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-26-08 06:51 AM
Response to Reply #26
29. I been hearing the same thing here in the midwest. Some people
will not vote for a black or a woman. It's a nasty fact, but I still think Edwards has the best platform. If you work for a paycheck, how could anyone not be supporting John Edwards?
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
napi21 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-26-08 01:40 AM
Response to Reply #13
18. Here's my problems.
I really think Edwards would be the candidate to make the changes happen that we're all looking for, but for whatever reason, he's notleading. I'm afraid he can't win.

I like Hillary's positions. I think she is the bist capable of fighting the Pubs because she's got a OT of experience doing it. BUT I hate the idea of a Bush/Clinton/Bush/Clinton Presidency.

I like Obama, although I dislike that he want's to make too nice with the Pubs. BUT I'm so very afraid there's still way too much racism in this Country, he could never be elected.

Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
B Calm Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-26-08 06:56 AM
Response to Reply #18
30. It's up to us to put Edwards in the lead. All polls show that John Edwards
has the best chances at winning the general election if he was our nominee. So don't be afraid he can't win, I would be more afraid if we pick Hillary or Obama!
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
FrenchieCat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-26-08 12:09 AM
Response to Original message
8. This thread from ealier today contains a lot of information
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
dkf Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-26-08 12:14 AM
Response to Original message
9. Based on who is President, the tone in Washington will be vastly different
I foresee that Obama will be able to get a lot more passed than Hillary because Republicans find him more amenable than Hillary.

Even if a Republican wanted to work with Hillary, he would get major major flack from all his constituents because lets face it...Republicans HATE Hillary with a white hot passion.

Anything that is seen as a victory for Hillary will be fought so hard, it isn't funny.

Republicans will be much more willing to see Obama succeed, because they don't instinctively dislike him like they do Hillary.

And I know we don't want Republicans to be comfortable with anything because we hate them too. But in the end we need their votes if we want to pass meaningful legislation.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
CoffeeCat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-26-08 12:20 AM
Response to Original message
10. Depending on what you're issues are...
I know that preserving our democracy and our Constitution is very important to me.

Obama taught Constitutional Law at the U of Chicago for a decade. He is a Constitutional
Scholar. In other words, we would actually have a President--in Barack Obama--who respects
the Constitution and would uphold it--not destroy it.

That means issues of privacy (illegal wiretapping) and our fundamental rights (Habeas Corpus)
would be preserved and Obama would roll back the damage that BushCo has done on our civil
rights and Constitutional rights. A part of his platform is restoring Habeas Corpus, which
is a fundamental right as US citizens---to be given a fair trial and to force the government
to bring a case against you if you are charged with a crime. BushCo--led by Gonzales--decided
that we didn't need Habeas. Obama thinks otherwise.

Also, on electability: Independents love Obama and so do many disenfranchised Republicans. Obama
is a candidate that the party can rally around. If you're going up against McCain, you're going to
have to appeal to those Independents--and ideally, some Republicans. Obama could do this.

Hillary, on the other hand---does not have the ability to attract Independents like Obama. Plus,
many Democrats do not like her. Republicans will galvanize and come out in droves to vote for her.
She does not appeal across party lines and that leaves us vulnerable to a loss.

I'd be interested in hearing more about your issues and what is important to you.

:)
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
rwheeler31 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-26-08 12:22 AM
Response to Original message
12. If we do not get Edwards Obama no progress.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
jkurri Donating Member (35 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-26-08 12:36 AM
Response to Original message
14. Edwards....
.... do your own homework and take out emotion, think who has the best chance and understands what needs to be done to actually accomplish what they are claiming they will do. Don't be fooled by making history... all of our futures depend on it. But for goodness sakes don't be lazy and listen to people hear or anywhere.... research all 3 you should be able to know not only who you are voting for but WHY you are voting for them.

But if you listen to me..... EDWARDS!!!!! ;-)
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
lwcon Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-26-08 12:38 AM
Response to Original message
16. Edwards. Because, for example, this...
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
deacon Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-26-08 01:53 AM
Response to Original message
21. Edwards. Hillary is worst on iraq and obama nearly as bad. n/t
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Levgreee Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-26-08 01:56 AM
Response to Original message
22. Here are some things people said in support of him in a different thread
Edited on Sat Jan-26-08 02:03 AM by Levgreee
The thread babylonsister posted

Wesdem

"It is his firm belief, and mine too, that the American people ought to be able to know what the hell is going on in Washington.

Obama plans to air health care negotiations on C-Span, not behind closed doors, right out there where the American public can follow along. He passed legislation with Tom Coburn (R-OK) resulting in a public online federal budget data base of where taxpayers' money is going, showing government contractors, who they are, what they're being paid for what work, and where. It tracks grants and earmarks, too, and will even track subcontractors.

It's right here: http://www.usaspending.gov/fpds/index.php?reptype=a

Another bill he sponsored requires all legislation introduced in the Senate be posted to the Internet four days before a vote including any attached giveaways or earmarks, and allowing no anonymous changes to conference reports. Some of it was worked into the Feingold-Obama ethics bill that passed.

He's also sponsored election protection legislation requiring states to report performance - rate of ballots discarded or uncounted, machine malfunctions, length of time voters wait on line, number of voters redirected to a different polling place, etc. This would be public information.

There is much more in this vein. I show these few as examples of what I see illustrates a commitment by Obama (and this shows through his Illinois years, as well) to a more transparent and efficient democracy.

Maybe this isn't the sexy stuff to most people, but I think it is very, very important.

But my main point, I think, is that the man is a problem-solver. He sees something broken and takes steps to fix it. He does this by persuasion, by interaction, by raising and receiving common sense solutions. And working with the other side: with Lugar on nuclear proliferation and trying to keep nukes from falling into the hands of terrorists; with Coburn after Katrina to improve oversight of federal spending.

He is a practical, common sense liberal. He wants to get things done and he's not a showboat about it, as he is often painted here at DU. He does the work and if somebody else takes the credit, that's okay. He was known for that trait as an organizer, as a lawyer, and as a legislator.

Now can he also inspire masses of people? We know he can. But that's not everything to me. I want a more productive government.

I've tried to be specific in my answer to show a side of Obama beyond the, dare I say it, great communicator. But maybe his most promising attribute would be bringing the Democrats to an effective majority. He's not getting endorsed by red state governors and legislators for nothing and not because he's a conservative, which he is not. It's because he proved himself in 2006 to be the kind of campaigner that candidates are happy as can be to invite into their districts, one who can reach a broad cross section of Americans with his Democratic ideals and ideas, without scaring the horses."





I think Wesdem's opinion is more informed and better than mine...
But here is what I said, about some of his views on how he would make change, his driving point in his campaign. These are some of my reasons I support him, in addition to him having progressive, smart policies, sound and ethical foreign policy, graduating from Harvard law school magna cum laude(with great honors), and having a good, productive public service record.

Now what I said earlier

"Honesty, Transparency, open dialog with the people about the reasons for his decisions(think the opposite of Bush with Iraq). This also involves getting rid of lobbyist influences, of course.
Understanding towards different groups and ideas.
GETTING THE PEOPLE TO MOBILIZE. This is sooo important, but government policy can't make people do it to a large enough level. The only way to do this is to truly care about and push it, to realize that change largely comes from the bottom up, that we must unite(even the 50% of Dems)to improve our country and our world. Government can't fix all our problems. We have to work on them. An example would be, pushing hard for everyone to do their own part to help the environment, by reducing their ecological footprint. But this same independent effort is necessary for so many other things.


Willing to work with the Repubs on SOME issues, and find common ground. Obama has done this in the past.

If you think Hillary is likely to get true complete mandatory universal health care, you are taking a risk. How Obama's plan is different is it mandates health care for those who do not have a choice(children), and other than that it tries to combine market and government solutions to reduce the cost so everyone can afford it.

On gay rights, push for civil unions, but not necessarily marriage.

I'll think of more. He usually mentions his ideas separately. He really should give clear-cut summary of all the things sometimes, but it is hard to do so, since the political environment created by these things(if they were carried out effectively) is so profound and has never been seen before, so it is hard to describe.

You'd have to see it happen, and see how we could drastically change the state of our country and our planet(again, considering if WE could work together and work hard). We could feed every person on the Earth right now, we could bring everyone out of poverty, we could save the environment, we could make politics honest and democratic again... but the PEOPLE need to work for it. We need to do this. It is 1000 times more effective than anything the government can do on its own. Mobilization of the people is key.


I like to compare the state of the world to that of being in a world war. In WWII everyone was willing to fight. There was overt killing and destruction that we could point out and see.

Now, there is just as much devastation, suffering, and misery, as it adds up, going on every day. People need to enlist themselves to fight the cause. The COUNTRY needs to enlist itself to fight the cause. Every moment, every day, we already have this ability to do so, if we worked together. Obama, or any other politician for that matter, doesn't need to pass some draft, some government policy, to make us do this. The leader has to explain what we could accomplish, why we should accomplish it... motivate and mobilize the people.

In one of the debates he straight out said that change mostly comes from the bottom up. this follows in the legacy of MLK, of Ghandi, of so many other powerful figures. What did these people do to make change? Did they pass policies? Did they have powerful positions? No, yet they made some of the most powerful changes in our history.

I don't equate Obama to MLK, not even close. He is a hybrid of a policy-person and agent of change(MLK), and not as profound figure as MLK. I'd consider him a disciple of MLK, though, as anyone could be, if they decided to(I am a disciple of MLK). Obama has the right view in my mind, of what needs to be done.

A new kind of politics, is what is needed.
The president is not a superman/superwoman, but I feel some look to the position as that. Someone so smart, savvy, that they will best fix all our problems. The most genius policy expert in the world probably couldn't do it, as the problem is one of many natures. We don't just need to change our policies, as a country, as a people, we need to change our morality, our level of dedication.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Levgreee Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-26-08 02:02 AM
Response to Reply #22
23. Also, if you are weery of his views on the Iraq war, as he has been said to be inconsistent...
here they are explained.

This is Obama's stance, put very simply.
1.He was ALWAYS against the war, he always thought it was the wrong choice to go in. He thought it was wrong in 2002, in 2004, and in 2007.

2.He was NOT ALWAYS against supporting the war. Once the invasion had occurred and couldn't be undone, he was for funding the troops, and he was for keeping peace and giving time for the Iraqis to sort things out.

2. is not contradictory with 1..

Here is a quote...

"Us rushing headlong into a war unilaterally was a mistake and may still be a mistake...
IF it has happened, then at that point what the debate's really gonna be about is what is our long term commitment is there. How much is is it going to cost, what does it mean for us to rebuild Iraq, how do we stabilize and make sure that this country doesn't splinter into factions between the Shi'as, and the Kurds, and the Sunnis." - Barack Obama

Here is the interview with Charlie Rose, where he gave that quote.
http://www.charlierose.com/shows/2006/10/19/1/an-hour-with-senator-barack-obama


This quote clearly explains his view. Rushing into the war was wrong. HOWEVER, once we were there, we had a responsibility to help rebuild the country, which means funding the war. So Obama was always against the war occurring, but considered it a poor choice to pull funding/pull out, for some time, after we invaded. After we had given the Iraqi's enough time to regain some control and work towards political solutions, Barrack supported a phase withdrawal.

This is a totally reasonable, consistent view, and personally one I agree with completely.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
lumpy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-26-08 02:20 AM
Response to Original message
25. Go for Edwards. He is the only adult running.
Hillary is thoroughly hated by so many and Obama is unproven and apprears to be without substance.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Perry Logan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-26-08 06:40 AM
Response to Original message
27. Here's Hillary's excellent record--nothing like the bullshit her detractors put out.
Senator Clinton supported the interests of the NARAL Pro-Choice America 100 percent in 2005.

Senator Clinton supported the interests of the The Humane Society of the United States 100 percent in 2005.

Senator Clinton supported the interests of the National Trust for Historic Preservation 100 percent in 2005.

Senator Clinton supported the interests of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People 95 percent in 2005.

Senator Clinton supported the interests of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights 100 percent in 2005.

Senator Clinton supported the interests of the National Education Association 100 percent in 2005.

Senator Clinton supported the interests of the American Wilderness Coalition 100 percent in 2005.

Senator Clinton supported the interests of the Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund 100 percent in 2005.

Senator Clinton supported the interests of the League of Conservation Voters 95 percent in 2005.

Senator Clinton supported the interests of the Children's Defense Fund 100 percent in 2005.

Senator Clinton supported the interests of the American Association of University Women 100 percent in 2005.

Senator Clinton supported the interests of the National Organization for Women 100 percent in 2005.

Senator Clinton supported the interests of the U.S. Public Interest Research Group 91 percent in 2006.

Senator Clinton supported the interests of the U.S. Public Interest Research Group 100 percent in 2005

Senator Clinton supported the interests of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence 100 percent from 1988-2003 (Senate) or 1991-2003 (House).

Senator Clinton supported the interests of the American Public Health Association 80 percent in 2005.

Senator Clinton supported the interests of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers 100 percent in 2005.

Senator Clinton supported the interests of the Service Employees International Union 100 percent in 2005.

Senator Clinton supported the interests of the United Auto Workers 93 percent in 2005.

Senator Clinton supported the interests of the AFL-CIO 93 percent in 2005.

Senator Clinton supported the interests of the United Electrical Radio and Machine Workers 84 percent in 2005.

Senator Clinton supported the interests of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Worker 100 percent in 2005.

Senator Clinton supported the interests of the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees 88 percent in 2005.

Senator Clinton supported the interests of the American Federation of Government Employees 83 percent in 2005.

Senator Clinton supported the interests of the National Committee for an Effective Congress 95 percent in 2005.

Senator Clinton supported the interests of the Americans for Democratic Action 100 percent in 2005.

According to the National Journal - Composite Liberal Score's calculations, in 2005, Senator Clinton voted more liberal on economic, defense and foreign policy issues than 80 percent of the Senators.

According to the National Journal - Liberal on Social Policy's calculations, in 2005, Senator Clinton voted more liberal on social policy issues than 83 percent of the Senators.

Senator Clinton supported the interests of the Alliance for Retired Americans 100 percent in 2005.

Senator Clinton supported the interests of the Disabled American Veterans 92 percent in 2005.

Senator Clinton supported the interests of the Bread for the World 100 percent in 2003-2004.

Senator Clinton supported the interests of the The Partnership for the Homeless 100 percent in 2003-2004.
http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=WNY99268

She was promoting universal coverage before it was cool. Furthermore she helped to create the SCHIP program. And most importantly she was dead on in the debate the other week where she said political will was the most important thing needed to push health care reform through and we know without a doubt she has that.

She has fougt unrelentingly for a woman's right to choose as well as women's rights both domestically and abroad

Create a Strategic Energy Fund - Hillary has proposed a Strategic Energy Fund that would inject $50 billion into research, development and deployment of renewable energy, energy efficiency, clean coal technology, ethanol and other homegrown biofuels. Hillary's proposal would give oil companies a choice: invest in renewable energy or pay into the fund. Hillary's proposal would also eliminate oil company tax breaks and make sure that oil companies pay their fair share for drilling on public lands. Instead of sending billions of dollars to the Middle East for their oil, Hillary's proposal will create a new clean energy industry in America and create tens of thousands of jobs here.

Champion a Market-Based "Cap and Trade" Approach - Hillary supports a market-based, cap and trade approach to reducing carbon emissions and fight global warming. This approach was used successfully to limit sulfur dioxide and reduce levels of acid rain in the 1990s. By capping the amount of emissions in the environment and allowing corporations to buy and sell permits, this approach offers corporations a flexible, cost-efficient method to do their share to reduce emissions and combat global warming. The program will reduce emissions, drive the development of clean technologies, and create a market for projects that store carbon dioxide.

20% Renewable Electricity Standard by 2020 - Hillary believes we need to shift our reliance on high carbon electricity sources to low-carbon electricity sources by investing in renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind. As President, she'll work to require power companies to obtain 20 percent of their energy from renewable sources by 2020.

Make Federal Buildings Carbon Neutral - Hillary believes that the federal government should lead the way in reducing carbon emissions from buildings. Buildings account for 40 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, and the federal government owns or leases more than 500,000. Hillary would require all federal buildings to steadily increase the use of green design principles, energy efficient technologies, and to generate energy on-site from solar and other renewable sources. By 2030, all new federal buildings and major renovations would be carbon neutral, helping to fight global warming and cutting the $5.6 billion that the federal government spends each year on heating, cooling and lighting.

Protecting Against Exposure to Toxic Chemicals - Hillary wants to make the products we use safer, especially for children. There are tens of thousands of chemicals used in the U.S. and hundreds of new chemicals introduced each year, but little health testing is conducted for many of them. Hillary would require chemical companies to prove that new chemicals are safe before they are put on the market, and would set more stringent exposure standards for kids. She would also create a "priority list" of existing chemicals and require testing to make sure they are safe. To improve our understanding of the links between chemicals and diseases like cancer, Hillary would create an "environmental health tracking network" that ties together information about pollution and chronic diseases.

Hillary's Record

In the White House, Hillary led efforts to make adoption easier, to expand early learning and child care, to increase funding for breast cancer research, and to help veterans suffering from Gulf War syndrome who had too often been ignored in the past. She helped launch a national campaign to prevent teen pregnancy and helped create the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997, which moved children from foster care to adoption more quickly and the number of children who have moved out of foster care into adoption has increased dramatically.

She was instrumental in designing and championing the State Children's Health Insurance Program, which has provided millions of children with health insurance. She battled the big drug companies to force them to test their drugs for children and to make sure all kids get the immunizations they need through the Vaccines for Children Program. Immunization rates dramatically improved after the program launched.

Hillary has been a leading member of the Environment and Public Works Committee since she was elected to the Senate. Today, she chairs the Superfund and Environmental Health Subcommittee and in that capacity has promoted legislation to evaluate and protect against the impact of environmental pollutants on people's health and clean up toxic waste.

Global warming and Clean Air
Spoken out forcefully about the need to tackle global warming in hearings, speeches, rallies and on the Senate floor and co-sponsored "cap and trade" legislation.
Worked to reduce air pollution that causes asthma and other respiratory diseases by writing and helping to pass new laws to clean up exhaust from school buses, and other diesel-powered equipment.
Supported legislation to reduce pollution from power plants, including harmful emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, mercury, and carbon dioxide - emissions that contribute to poor air quality, smog, acid rain, global warming, and mercury contamination of fish.
Aggressively fought the Bush Administration's ill-advised attempts to weaken clean air laws.

Improving Water Quality and Protecting Drinking Water
Helped to overturn the Bush Administration's attempt to allow more arsenic in drinking water.
Cosponsored legislation to protect lakes, rivers and coastal waters by fighting the spread of destructive invasive species, such as the zebra mussel.
Helped ot pass new clean water laws, including measures to protect New York City's water supplies and clean up Long Island Sound.

Protecting Public Lands
Fought oil company efforts to pen the Artic Wildlife Refuge in Alask and Pacific and Atlantic coastal waters to drilling.
Cosponsored the Roadless Area Conservation Act, which prohibits road construction and logging in unspoiled, roadless areas of the National Forest System, and voted for additional funding and manpower to combat forest fires in the west.

Reducing Dangerous Chemicals and Cleaning Up Hazardous Waste
Supported legislation to restore the "polluter pays" principle by reinstating a chemical company fee to fund cleanups of highly contaminated "Superfund" waste sites.
Cosponsored the "kids-Safe Chemical Act," which requires chemical companies to provide health and safety before putting new chemicals in consumer products.
Proposed legislation to create an environmental health tracking network to enable us to better understand the impact of environmental hazards on human health and well-being.

Tackling the Toxic Legacy of 9/11
Pushed for health care benefits for first responders, residents and others whose health has been impacted from breathing the toxic dust and smoke in New York City after 9/11.
http://www.mydd.com/story/2007/8/20/134810/677

Hillary Clinton co-founded the Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, a state-level alliance with the Children's Defense Fund, in 1977. In late 1977, President Jimmy Carter (for whom she had done 1976 campaign coordination work in Indiana) appointed her to the board of directors of the Legal Services Corporation, and she served in that capacity from 1978 through the end of 1981. For much of that time she served as the chair of that board, the first woman to do so. During her time as chair, funding for the Corporation was expanded from $90 million to $300 million, and she successfully battled against President Ronald Reagan's initial attempts to reduce the funding and change the nature of the organization.

Following the November 1978 election of her husband as Governor of Arkansas, Clinton became First Lady of Arkansas in January 1979, her title for a total of twelve years. Bill appointed her chair of the Rural Health Advisory Committee the same year, where she successfully obtained federal funds to expand medical facilities in Arkansas' poorest areas without affecting doctors' fees.

Hillary Clinton chaired the Arkansas Educational Standards Committee from 1982 to 1992, where she sought to bring about reform in the state's court-sanctioned public education system. One of the most important initiatives of the entire Clinton governorship, she fought a prolonged but ultimately successful battle against the Arkansas Education Association to put mandatory teacher testing as well as state standards for curriculum and classroom size in place. She introduced Arkansas' Home Instruction Program for Preschool Youth in 1985, a program that helps parents work with their children in preschool preparedness and literacy.

And a bit of stuff from the White House :

The First Lady worked to investigate reports of an illness that affected veterans of the Gulf War, which became known as the Gulf War syndrome. Together with Attorney General Janet Reno, Clinton helped create the Office on Violence Against Women at the Department of Justice. In 1997, she initiated and shepherded the Adoption and Safe Families Act, which she regarded as her greatest accomplishment as First Lady.

Along with Senator Ted Kennedy, she was the major force behind the State Children's Health Insurance Program in 1997, a federal effort that provided state support for children whose parents were unable to provide them with health coverage.<124> She promoted nationwide immunization against childhood illnesses and encouraged older women to seek a mammogram to detect breast cancer, with coverage provided by Medicare.<125> She successfully sought to increase research funding for prostate cancer and childhood asthma at the National Institutes of Health.<43> The First Lady worked to investigate reports of an illness that affected veterans of the Gulf War, which became known as the Gulf War syndrome.<43> Together with Attorney General Janet Reno, Clinton helped create the Office on Violence Against Women at the Department of Justice.<43> In 1997, she initiated and shepherded the Adoption and Safe Families Act, which she regarded as her greatest accomplishment as First Lady.<43> As First Lady, Clinton hosted numerous White House Conferences, including ones on Child Care (1997),<126> Early Childhood Development and Learning (1997),<127> and Children and Adolescents (2000),<128> and the first-ever White House Conferences on Teenagers (2000)<129> and Philanthropy (1999).<130>

Hillary Clinton traveled to over eighty countries during this time,<131> breaking the mark for most-travelled First Lady held by Pat Nixon.<132> In a September 1995 speech before the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, Clinton argued very forcefully against practices that abused women around the world and in China itself.<133> She was one of the most prominent international figures at the time to speak out against the treatment of Afghan women by the Islamist fundamentalist Taliban that had seized control of Afghanistan.<134><135> She helped create Vital Voices, an international initiative sponsored by the United States to promote the participation of women in the political processes of their countries.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hillary_Clinton

More:
http://clinton.senate.gov/issues/nationalsecurity/israel/index.cfm
http://clinton.senate.gov/issues/nationalsecurity/darfur

The following are polls from progressive groups, rating Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, on how often they vote for progressive issues. For each group, http://www.theleftcoaster.com/archives/011142.php

Clinton Vs. Barack Obama (progressivepunch)
Overall Progressive Score: 92% 90%
Aid to Less Advantaged People at Home and Abroad: 98% 97%
Corporate Subsidies 100% N/A
Education, Humanities and the Arts 88% 100%
Environment 92% 100%
Fair Taxation 97% 100%
Family Planning 88% 80%
Government Checks on Corporate Power 95% 97%
Healthcare 98% 94%
Housing 100% 100%
Human Rights & Civil Liberties 82% 77%
Justice for All: Civil and Criminal 94% 91%
Labor Rights 91% 91%
Making Government Work for Everyone, Not Just the Rich or Powerful 94% 90%
War and Peace 80% 86%
easures to protect New York City's water supplies and clean up Long Island Sound.

HILLARY'S EXPERIENCE ON THE WORLD STAGE:

Her historic speech at the UN Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995 not only galvanized women around the world, it helped spawn a movement that led to advances politically, legally, economically, and socially for women in many countries over the next decade. Among other initiatives, she spearheaded the Clinton Administration's efforts to combat the global crisis of human trafficking. She persuaded the First Ladies of the Americas to use their collective power to eradicate measles and improve girls' education throughout the western Hemisphere. And she is widely credited with helping women in Kuwait finally win the right to vote.

As First Lady and now as a two-term senator who represents the most ethnically diverse state in the nation and who sits on the Armed Services Committee, Hillary Clinton has become a fixture on international issues over the past 15 years. She has traveled to more than 80 countries, going from barrios to rural villages to meetings with heads of state. She has consulted with dozens of world leaders - Nelson Mandela, King Abdullah, Tony Blair among them -- on matters as diverse as America and NATO's roles in Kosovo, eradicating poverty in the Third World, and the plight of women living under the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Today, she is one of the most influential voices in the world on human rights, democracy, and the promotion of a "new internationalism" in foreign affairs that calls for a balanced use of military force, diplomacy, and social development to strengthen American interests and security globally.

While American First Ladies historically have made great (and often overlooked) contributions to our nation, Hillary Clinton's wide-ranging experience on international issues as First Lady is unprecedented. Indeed, she is the only First Lady to have delivered foreign policy addresses at major gatherings of the United Nations, the World Bank, the Council on Foreign Relations, and the World Economic Forum.

Hillary Clinton has been fighting for the rights of children for special needs for decades. In her first job out of law school working for the Children's Defense Fund, she conducted research that led to Congress passing the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975, the landmark bill mandating that all children with disabilities be educated in the public school system. later, she helped improve the education of children with special needs by working to reauthorize the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act. In 2005, she sponsored an amendment to increase funding for the act by $4 billion dollars. She also cosponsored the Personal Excellence for Children with Disabilities Act, a bill that promised to help schools recruit and retain new special education teachers, and better prepare general education teachers and staff to work with children with special needs.

Most recently, she has called for greatly expanded funding to the National Institute for Health to investigate treatments for children with disabilities. And she has put forth a comprehensive and detailed plan to help children and families affected by autism, with numerous elements that correspond very closely to what families in the autism community have been demanding for years.

some points on her legal career:

1969 Truehaft, Walker and Bernstein in Oakland, one of the most liberal law firms in the country. They defended the Panthers.
1970 Yale University - city legal services, provided free legal advice for the poor.
1971 Staff attorney, Children's Defense Fund in Cambridge, Massachusetts
1971 Carnegie Council on Children, legal consultant.
1974 Impeachment Inquiry staff in Washington, D.C., advising the House Committee on the Judiciary during the Watergate scandal.
1974 University of Arkansas, Fayetteville School of Law - One of only two female faculty members.
1976 Worked pro bono on child advocacy.
1978 Jimmy Carter appoints Clinton to the board of the Legal Services Corporation.


Education

Wellesley College where she majored in political science.
Yale Law School, where she served on the Board of Editors of the Yale Review of Law and Social Action.

Political Activist Experience

Pragmatic Liberal

Always fascinated by radicalism, she wrote her senior thesis on a great radical organizer of poor people, Saul Alinsky of Chicago. Though when she was offered a job by Alinsky, after she wrote about him, and she turned him down--because she didn't think he was effective enough. She said to her boyfriend at that timebe in politics you have to win. And it didn't look to her like Alinsky was winning enough of his battles. She came to question his methodology and concluded in her thesis that larger government programs and funding were needed, not just community action at the grass roots.

She was the commencement speaker at Wellesley in 1969, chosen by her fellow students--there had never been a student commencement speaker there before. The scheduled speaker was Sen. Edward Brooke of Massachusetts, who Hillary had campaigned for, a Republican, the first black to be a member of the U.S. Senate in a hundred years. In his remarks he was patronizing, Hillary thought. He seemed to defend the Nixon administration's conduct of the war, and didn't mention the wrenching events of 68. When he finished, Hillary got up and extemporaneously excoriated him. As a result of that speech, she was featured in Life magazine as exemplary of this new generation of student leaders. They ran a picture of her in pedal pushers and her Coke-bottle glasses. That article made her well known in the student movement in the U.S.

She monitored the Black Panther trial in New Haven. She monitored the trial to see if there were any abuses of the rights of the Panthers on trial, and helped schedule the monitors. Her reports were turned over to the ACLU.

1971 Senator Walter Mondale's subcommittee on migrant workers, researching migrant problems in housing, sanitation, health and education.

Political Campaign Experience

1964 In high school, volunteered for Republican candidate Barry Goldwater.
1968 New Hampshire, Eugene McCarthy primary challenge to LBJ.
1972 Campaigned in the western states for 1972 Democratic presidential candidate George McGovern
1976 Jimmy Carter Presidential race, served as an Indiana campaign coordinator.

The Clinton Campaigns (Bill Clinton has stated Hillary played pivotal roles in his campaigns)

1974 Bill Clinton's Congressional race (L)
1976 Bill Clinton's Attorney General race (W)
1978 Bill Clinton's Governor's Race (W)
1980 Bill Clinton's Governor's Race (L)
1982 Bill Clinton's Governor's Race (W)
1992 Bill Clinton's Presidential Race (W)
1996 Bill Clinton's Presidential Race (W)
2000 Hillary Clinton's Senate Campaign (W)
2006 Hillary Clinton's Senate Campaign (W)

Legal Experience

1969 Truehaft, Walker and Bernstein in Oakland, one of the most liberal law firms in the country. They defended the Panthers.
1970 Yale University - city legal services, provided free legal advice for the poor.
1971 Staff attorney, Children's Defense Fund in Cambridge, Massachusetts
1971 Carnegie Council on Children, legal consultant.
1974 Impeachment Inquiry staff in Washington, D.C., advising the House Committee on the Judiciary during the Watergate scandal.
1974 University of Arkansas, Fayetteville School of Law - One of only two female faculty members.
1976 Rose Law Firm. In 1979, she became the first woman to be made a full partner.
1976 Worked pro bono on child advocacy.
1978 Jimmy Carter appoints Clinton to the board of the Legal Services Corporation.

She was twice named by the National Law Journal as one of the 100 most influential lawyers in America, in 1988 and in 1991.

First Lady of Arkansas

1979 Chaired the Rural Health Advisory Committee
1979 Introduced the Arkansas' Home Instruction Program for Preschool Youth, a program that helps parents work with their children in preschool preparedness and literacy.
1982 - 1992 Chaired the Arkansas Educational Standards Committee

She was named Arkansas Woman of the Year in 1983 and Arkansas Mother of the Year in 1984.

Clinton had co-founded the Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families in 1977.

Served on the boards of the Arkansas Children's Hospital Legal Services (1988-1992)and the Children's Defense Fund (as chair, 1986-1992)

Corporate board of directors of TCBY (1985-1992),Wal-Mart Stores (1986-1992), and Lafarge (1990-1992)

First Lady of the United States of America

"She's very smart ... people rightly give her credit for having been a participant in the Clinton administration and for doing some heavy lifting on issues." Barack Obama, speaking of Hillary Clinton's White House experience and contradicting Obama supporters - The Daily Show with Jon Stewart 8/22/07



When asked about his wife's role in his administration in August of 2000, President Bill Clinton said "She basically had an unprecedented level of activity in her present position over the last eight years.''

1993 First to bring a serious universal healthcare plan to be considered by the US Congress
1997 Helped develop the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997

The First Lady led the effor on the Foster Care Independence bill, to help older, unadopted children transition to adulthood. She also hosted numerous White House conferences that related to children's health, including early childhood development (1997) and school violence (1999). She lent her support to programs ranging from "Prescription for Reading," in which pediatricians provided free books for new mothers to read to their infants as their brains were rapidly developing, to nationwide immunization against childhood illnesses. She also supported an annual drive to encourage older women to seek a mammography to prevent breast cancer, coverage of the cost being provided by Medicare.

Hillary Clinton was the only First Lady to keep an office in the West Wing among those of the president's senior staff. While her familiarity with the intricate political issues and decisions faced by the President, she openly discussed his work with him, yet stated that ultimately she was but one of several individuals he consulted before making a decision. They were known to disagree. Regarding his 1993 passage of welfare reform, the First Lady had reservations about federally supported childcare and Medicaid. When issues that she was working on were under discussion at the morning senior staff meetings, the First Lady often attended. Aides kept her informed of all pending legislation and oftentimes sought her reaction to issues as a way of gauging the President's potential response. Weighing in on his Cabinet appointments and knowing many of the individuals he named, she had working relationships with many of them.

She persuaded Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin to convene a meeting of corporate CEOs for their advice on how companies could be persuaded to adopt better child care measures for working families.

With Attorney General Janet Reno, the First Lady helped to create the Department of Justice's Violence Against Women office. One of her closest Cabinet allies was Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. Following her international trips, Hillary Clinton wrote a report of her observations for Albright. A primary effort they shared was globally advocating gender equity in economics, employment, health care and education.

During her trips to Africa (1997), Asia (1995), South America (1995, 1997) and the Central European former Soviet satellite nations (1997, 1998), Hillary Clinton emphasized "a civil society," of human rights as a road to democracy and capitalism.

The First Lady was also one of the few international figures at the time who spoke out against the treatment of Afghani women by Islamist fundamentalist Taliban that had seized control of Afghanistan.

One of the programs she helped create was Vital Voices, a U.S.-sponsored initiative to promote the participation of international women in their nation's political process. One result of the group's meetings, in Northern Ireland, was drawing together women leaders of various political factions that supported the Good Friday peace agreement that brought peace to that nation long at civil war.

Hillary Clinton was also an active supporter of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), often awarding its micro-loans to small enterprises begun by women in developing nations that aided the economic growth in their impoverished communities. Certainly one of her more important speeches as First Lady addressing the need for equal rights for women was international in scope and created controversy in the nation where it was made: the September 1995 United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China.

Senator From New York

After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Hillary worked with her colleagues to secure the funds New York needed to recover and rebuild. She fought to provide compensation to the families of the victims, grants for hard-hit small businesses, and health care for front line workers at Ground Zero.

She is the first New Yorker ever to serve on the Senate Armed Services Committee.

She has introduced legislation to tie Congressional salary increases to an increase in the minimum wage.

She helped pass legislation that encouraged investment to create jobs in struggling communities through the Renewal Communities program.

She has championed legislation to bring broadband Internet access to rural America.

She worked to strengthen the Children's Health Insurance Program, which increased coverage for children in low income and working families.

She authored legislation that has been enacted to improve quality and lower the cost of prescription drugs and to protect our food supply from bioterrorism.

She sponsored legislation to increase America's commitment to fighting the global HIV/AIDS crisis.

She's working for expanded use of information technology in the health care system to decrease administrative costs, lower premiums, and reduce medical errors.

She's worked to ensure the safety of prescription drugs for children, with legislation now included in the Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act, and her legislation to help schools address environmental hazards. She has also proposed expanding access to child care.

She has passed legislation that will bring more qualified teachers into classrooms and more outstanding principals to lead our schools.

Hillary is one of the original cosponsors of the Prevention First Act to increase access to family planning. Her fight with the Bush Administration ensured that Plan B, an emergency contraceptive, will be available to millions of American women and will reduce the need for abortions.

She introduced the Count Every Vote Act of 2005 to ensure better protection of votes and to ensure that every vote is counted.

Senate Armed Services Committee

Subcommittees:

* Airland
* Emerging Threats and Capabilities
* Readiness and Management Support

Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works

Subcommittees:

* Subcommittee on Superfund and Environmental Health (Chair)
* Subcommittee Clean Air and Nuclear Safety
* Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions

Subcommittees:

* Children and Families
* Employment & Workplace Safety
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
B Calm Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-26-08 06:43 AM
Response to Original message
28. If you work for a paycheck, then there is only one candidate to vote for!
Edited on Sat Jan-26-08 06:46 AM by B Calm
John Edwards.. He's the only candidate that's bringing up the fact that there is TWO America's and the middle class is almost gone! He's not taking money from corporations, so we'll get a government for the people.

With Hillary and Obama we'll get the best government corporation can buy. Think about that!
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
mnhtnbb Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-26-08 07:06 AM
Response to Original message
32. Edwards. He gets it. He's fighting for US. Hillary and Obama
both want the job to satisfy their egos.

See my threads on the personal story of why we need a fighter in the White House.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=4203324&mesg_id=4203324

and the original thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2666995
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
LWolf Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-26-08 09:19 AM
Response to Original message
33. Easy, Neither. Go with Edwards.
Why not help make it possible to send Clinton and Obama back to the senate to back up their rhetoric, and see what happens?
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
DU AdBot (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view 
this author's profile Click to add 
this author to your buddy list Click to add 
this author to your Ignore list Sat May 04th 2024, 01:54 AM
Response to Original message
Advertisements [?]
 Top

Home » Discuss » Archives » General Discussion: Presidential (Through Nov 2009) Donate to DU

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators


Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.

Home  |  Discussion Forums  |  Journals |  Store  |  Donate

About DU  |  Contact Us  |  Privacy Policy

Got a message for Democratic Underground? Click here to send us a message.

© 2001 - 2011 Democratic Underground, LLC