I am very disturbed by Arthur Schwartz’s demonization of Hillary Clinton because we “lost” the election for the alleged sin of failing to reach out to the “white working class” of Middle America. Let me remind him that WE WON THE POPULAR VOTE by almost three million votes.
Also, how do we explain the losses of Zephyr Teachout in her House race and Russ Feingold in his Senate race? These Democratic candidates certainly reached out to the white working class.
We did not lose the white working class vote in this election! These individuals walked away from the Democrats in the 1940s, when they then fell for McCarthyism. They continued the march to their own destruction when they supported the Vietnam War, and attacked anti-war protesters. Like lemmings, they supported Ronald Reagan, who promised that he would destroy their unions, which had, ironically, lifted them into the middle class. Not satisfied with voting to lower their own standard of living, they voted for George W. Bush, who ruined the Country economically, sent their young sons and daughters to their deaths in Iraq, and brought the survivors of that war back as ghosts of their past selves. You would think that having been largely destroyed by Republican lies and double dealing they would have learned something, but no: They now chose to vote for a bigot, fraud, liar, KNOW NOTHING huckster who will complete their demise, and probably the demise of this nation—a nation which once stood for liberty, equality, and justice.
Arthur considers Hillary a part of the “elite” of the Democratic Party, which he says must be purged. The use of the very negative label, “elite,” is reprehensible. It’s a right-wing smear tactic.
Is Hillary an “elite” because she helped create the Children’s Health Insurance Program, which brought health care coverage to millions of children? Is she “elite” because she worked to provide full military health benefits to reservists and National Guard members? Maybe Mr. Schwartz considers her an “elite” because she’s an outspoken champion for women in the U.S. and around the world, or because she’s battled for equal pay for women.
Of course, he might consider her extraordinary dedication and service as Secretary of State, including negotiating the pact with Iran, which prevented Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, as an example of “elitism.”
Additionally, there is no evidence that there was anything sinister about her speeches to Goldman Sachs. All accounts negate the theory that she was involved in some nefarious plot with Wall Street bankers.
By the way: The Clintons donate more than 10% of their income to charity. And the much-maligned Clinton Foundation gives millions to aid poverty-stricken people around the world. Just as importantly, it supports the Clinton Climate Initiative, which works to prevent deforestation, develop clean energy, and help island nations meet the climate challenge. Charity Navigator gives the Clinton Foundation four stars, which is its highest rating.
Mr. Schwartz also criticizes the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and states that President Obama, “…built a complex national health insurance plan wholly around private insurance companies and their profit motive…” implying that the President is in cahoots with insurance corporations. The fact is that the ACA, though imperfect, extended health care insurance to millions of previously uninsured citizens. More to the point, he is silent regarding the fact that the President fought vigorously for a single payer healthcare system, but was unable to get it enacted because of Republican opposition.
In that vein, Mr. Schwartz fails to acknowledge Hillary’s courageous attempt, when she was First Lady, to get a single payer healthcare system enacted and how she was pilloried for it. That doesn’t fit into the picture of Hillary as an “elite.”
We all owe Hillary an immense amount of gratitude for her devotion and courage in serving this Country tirelessly for almost her entire lifetime. She has been attacked and crucified by the ignorant and the prejudiced, just as Eleanor Roosevelt was. Their only sin was being enlightened women trying to care for and protect the weakest among us. They worked, without rest, to see that America adhered to its founding ideals of truth, justice, and equality. If (and that’s a big if) we survive the presidency of this imposter, the Country will come to revere Hillary Clinton, just as they now do Eleanor Roosevelt. I personally admire and revere her presently!!!
—Gary Tomei
