Hillary
Clinton in
Official Launch
Speech: I Will
Be a Fighter for
All Americans
Today,
Hillary Clinton
delivered her
Official Launch
Speech to a
capacity crowd
on New York
City’s Roosevelt
Island. In the
speech, she
talked about her
personal story
and how it
guides her fight
for everyday
Americans and
outlined her
guiding
principle that
the true measure
of America’s
success
shouldn’t be how
those at the top
are doing, but
how all American
families are
doing.
A
full transcript
of her remarks
is included
below:
Thank you! Oh,
thank you all!
Thank you so
very, very much.
(Cheers,
applause.)
It is
wonderful to be
here with all of
you.
To
be in New York
(cheers) with my
family, with so
many friends,
including many
New Yorkers who
gave me the
honor of serving
them in the
Senate for eight
years. (Cheers,
applause.)
To be right
across the water
from the
headquarters of
the United
Nations, where I
represented our
country many
times. (Cheers,
applause.)
To be here
in this
beautiful park
dedicated to
Franklin
Roosevelt’s
enduring vision
of America, the
nation we want
to be.
And in a place…
with absolutely
no ceilings.
(Cheers,
applause.)
You know,
President
Roosevelt’s Four
Freedoms are a
testament to our
nation’s
unmatched
aspirations and
a reminder of
our unfinished
work at home and
abroad. His
legacy lifted up
a nation and
inspired
presidents who
followed. One is
the man I served
as Secretary of
State, Barack
Obama, (cheers,
applause) and
another is my
husband, Bill
Clinton.
(Cheers,
applause.)
Two
Democrats guided
by the --
(cheering) Oh,
that will make
him so happy.
They were and
are two
Democrats guided
by the
fundamental
American belief
that real and
lasting
prosperity must
be built by all
and shared by
all. (Cheers,
applause.)
President
Roosevelt called
on every
American to do
his or her part,
and every
American
answered. He
said there’s no
mystery about
what it takes to
build a strong
and prosperous
America:
“Equality of
opportunity…
Jobs for those
who can work…
Security for
those who need
it… The ending
of special
privilege for
the few…(cheers,
applause.) The
preservation of
civil liberties
for all…
(cheers,
applause) a
wider and
constantly
rising standard
of living.”
That still
sounds good to
me. (Cheers,
applause.)
It’s
America’s basic
bargain. If you
do your part you
ought to be able
to get ahead.
And when
everybody does
their part,
America gets
ahead too.
That bargain
inspired
generations of
families,
including my
own.
It’s what kept
my grandfather
going to work in
the same
Scranton lace
mill every day
for 50 years.
It’s
what led my
father to
believe that if
he scrimped and
saved, his small
business
printing drapery
fabric in
Chicago could
provide us with
a middle-class
life. And it
did.
When President
Clinton honored
the bargain, we
had the longest
peacetime
expansion in
history, a
balanced budget,
(cheers,
applause) and
the first time
in decades we
all grew
together, with
the bottom 20
percent of
workers
increasing their
incomes by the
same percentage
as the top 5
percent.
(Cheers,
applause.)
When
President Obama
honored the
bargain, we
pulled back from
the brink of
Depression,
saved the auto
industry,
provided health
care to 16
million working
people, (cheers,
applause) and
replaced the
jobs we lost
faster than
after a
financial crash.
But,
it’s not 1941,
or 1993, or even
2009. We face
new challenges
in our economy
and our
democracy.
We’re still
working our way
back from a
crisis that
happened because
time-tested
values were
replaced by
false promises.
Instead
of an economy
built by every
American, for
every American,
we were told
that if we let
those at the top
pay lower taxes
and bend the
rules, their
success would
trickle down to
everyone else.
(Jeers, booing.)
What
happened?
Well,
instead of a
balanced budget
with surpluses
that could have
eventually paid
off our national
debt, the
Republicans
twice cut taxes
for the
wealthiest,
borrowed money
from other
countries to pay
for two wars,
and family
incomes dropped.
You know where
we ended up.
Except it
wasn’t the end.
As we
have since our
founding,
Americans made a
new beginning.
You
worked extra
shifts, took
second jobs,
postponed home
repairs... you
figured out how
to make it work.
And now people
are beginning to
think about
their future
again – going to
college,
starting a
business, buying
a house, finally
being able to
put away
something for
retirement.
So we’re
standing again.
But, we all know
we’re not yet
running the way
America should.
You see
corporations
making record
profits, with
CEOs making
record pay, but
your paychecks
have barely
budged.
While many of
you are working
multiple jobs to
make ends meet,
you see the top
25 hedge fund
managers making
more than all of
America’s
kindergarten
teachers
combined. And,
often paying a
lower tax rate.
So, you
have to wonder:
“When does my
hard work pay
off? When does
my family get
ahead?”
“When?”
I say now.
(Cheers,
applause.)
Prosperity
can’t be just
for CEOs and
hedge fund
managers.
Democracy
can’t be just
for billionaires
and
corporations.
(Cheers,
applause.)
Prosperity
and democracy
are part of your
basic bargain
too.
You
brought our
country back.
Now it’s
time -- your
time to secure
the gains and
move ahead.
And, you
know what?
America
can’t succeed
unless you
succeed.
(Cheers,
applause.)
That is why
I am running for
President of the
United States.
(Cheers,
applause,
chanting.)
Here, on
Roosevelt
Island, I
believe we have
a continuing
rendezvous with
destiny. Each
American and the
country we
cherish.
I’m running
to make our
economy work for
you and for
every American.
For the
successful and
the struggling.
For the
innovators and
inventors.
For those
breaking
barriers in
technology and
discovering
cures for
diseases.
For the
factory workers
and food servers
who stand on
their feet all
day. (Cheers,
applause.)
For the
nurses who work
the night shift.
(Cheers,
applause.)
For the
truckers who
drive for hours
and the farmers
who feed us.
(Cheers,
applause.)
For the
veterans who
served our
country.
For the
small business
owners who took
a risk.
For everyone
who’s ever been
knocked down,
but refused to
be knocked out.
(Cheers,
applause.)
I’m not
running for some
Americans, but
for all
Americans.
(Cheers,
applause.)
Our
country’s
challenges
didn’t begin
with the Great
Recession and
they won’t end
with the
recovery.
For decades,
Americans have
been buffeted by
powerful
currents.
Advances in
technology and
the rise of
global trade
have created
whole new areas
of economic
activity and
opened new
markets for our
exports, but
they have also
displaced jobs
and undercut
wages for
millions of
Americans.
The
financial
industry and
many
multi-national
corporations
have created
huge wealth for
a few by
focusing too
much on
short-term
profit and too
little on
long-term value…
too much on
complex trading
schemes and
stock buybacks,
too little on
investments in
new businesses,
jobs, and fair
compensation.
(Cheers,
applause.)
Our
political system
is so paralyzed
by gridlock and
dysfunction that
most Americans
have lost
confidence that
anything can
actually get
done. And
they’ve lost
trust in the
ability of both
government and
Big Business to
change course.
Now, we
can blame
historic forces
beyond our
control for some
of this, but the
choices we’ve
made as a
nation, leaders
and citizens
alike, have also
played a big
role.
Our next
President must
work with
Congress and
every other
willing partner
across our
entire country.
And I will do
just that --
(cheers,
applause) to
turn the tide so
these currents
start working
for us more than
against us.
At our best,
that’s what
Americans do.
We’re problem
solvers, not
deniers. We
don’t hide from
change, we
harness it.
(Cheers,
applause.)
But we can’t
do that if we go
back to the
top-down
economic
policies that
failed us
before.
Americans have
come too far to
see our progress
ripped away.
Now, there
may be some new
voices in the
presidential
Republican
choir,
(laughter) but
they’re all
singing the same
old song...
A song
called
“Yesterday.”
(Laughter,
cheers,
applause.)
You know the
one -- all our
troubles look as
though they’re
here to stay
(laughter)… and
we need a place
to hide away…
They believe in
yesterday.
And you’re
lucky I didn’t
try singing
that, too, I'll
tell you!
(Laughter,
cheers,
applause.)
These
Republicans trip
over themselves
promising lower
taxes for the
wealthy and
fewer rules for
the biggest
corporations
without regard
for how that
will make income
inequality even
worse.
We’ve heard this
tune before. And
we know how it
turns out.
Ask many of
these candidates
about climate
change, one of
the defining
threats of our
time, (cheers,
applause) and
they’ll say:
“I’m not a
scientist.”
(Laughter.)
Well, then, why
don’t they start
listening to
those who are?
(Cheers,
applause.)
They pledge
to wipe out
tough rules on
Wall Street,
rather than rein
in the banks
that are still
too risky,
courting future
failures. In a
case that can
only be
considered mass
amnesia.
They want to
take away health
insurance from
more than 16
million
Americans
without offering
any credible
alternative.
(Booing.)
They shame
and blame women,
rather than
respect our
right to make
our own
reproductive
health
decisions.
(Cheers,
applause.)
They want to
put immigrants,
who work hard
and pay taxes,
at risk of
deportation.
(Booing.)
And they
turn their backs
on gay people
who love each
other. (Cheers,
applause.)
Fundamentally,
they reject what
it takes to
build an
inclusive
economy. It
takes an
inclusive
society.
(Cheers,
applause.) What
I once called “a
village”
(cheers) that
has a place for
everyone.
Now, my
values and a
lifetime of
experiences have
given me a
different vision
for America.
I believe that
success isn’t
measured by how
much the
wealthiest
Americans have,
but by how many
children climb
out of
poverty...
(cheers,
applause)
How many
start-ups and
small businesses
open and thrive…
How many
young people go
to college
without drowning
in debt…
(cheers,
applause)
How many
people find a
good job…
How many
families get
ahead and stay
ahead.
I
didn’t learn
this from
politics. I
learned it from
my own family.
My
mother taught me
that everybody
needs a chance
and a champion.
She knew what it
was like not to
have either one.
Her own
parents
abandoned her,
and by 14 she
was out on her
own, working as
a housemaid.
Years later,
when I was old
enough to
understand, I
asked what kept
her going.
You know
what her answer
was? Something
very simple:
Kindness from
someone who
believed she
mattered.
The 1st
grade teacher
who saw she had
nothing to eat
at lunch and,
without
embarrassing
her, brought
extra food to
share.
The woman whose
house she
cleaned letting
her go to high
school so long
as her work got
done. That was a
bargain she
leapt to accept.
And,
because some
people believed
in her, she
believed in me.
(Cheers,
applause.)
That's why I
believe with all
my heart in
America and in
the potential of
every American.
To meet
every challenge.
To be
resilient… no
matter what the
world throws at
you.
To
solve the
toughest
problems.
I believe we
can do all these
things because
I’ve seen it
happen.
As a young girl,
I signed up at
my Methodist
Church to
babysit the
children of
Mexican
farmworkers,
while their
parents worked
in the fields on
the weekends.
And later, as a
law student, I
advocated for
Congress to
require better
working and
living
conditions for
farm workers
whose children
deserved better
opportunities.
(Cheers,
applause.)
My first job
out of law
school was for
the Children’s
Defense Fund.
(Cheers,
applause.) I
walked
door-to-door to
find out how
many children
with
disabilities
couldn’t go to
school, and to
help build the
case for a law
guaranteeing
them access to
education.
(Cheers,
applause.)
As a leader
of the Legal
Services
Corporation, I
defended the
right of poor
people to have a
lawyer. And saw
lives changed
because an
abusive marriage
ended or an
illegal eviction
stopped.
In Arkansas, I
supervised law
students who
represented
clients in
courts and
prisons,
organized
scholarships for
single parents
going to
college, led
efforts for
better schools
and health care,
and personally
knew the people
whose lives were
improved.
As Senator,
I had the honor
of representing
brave
firefighters,
police officers,
EMTs,
construction
workers, and
volunteers
(cheers,
applause) who
ran toward
danger on 9/11
and stayed
there, becoming
sick themselves.
It took
years of effort,
but Congress
finally approved
the health care
they needed.
(Applause.)
There are so
many faces and
stories that I
carry with me of
people who gave
their best and
then needed help
themselves.
Just weeks
ago, I met
another person
like that, a
single mom
juggling a job
and classes at
community
college, while
raising three
kids.
She doesn’t
expect anything
to come easy.
But she did ask
me: What more
can be done so
it isn’t quite
so hard for
families like
hers?
I
want to be her
champion and
your champion.
(Cheers,
applause.)
If you’ll
give me the
chance, I’ll
wage and win
Four Fights for
you.
The
first is to make
the economy work
for everyday
Americans, not
just those at
the top.
(Cheers,
applause.)
To make the
middle class
mean something
again, with
rising incomes
and broader
horizons. And to
give the poor a
chance to work
their way into
it. (Cheers,
applause.)
The middle
class needs more
growth and more
fairness. Growth
and fairness go
together. For
lasting
prosperity, you
can’t have one
without the
other.
Is this possible
in today’s
world? (Crowd
responds.)
I believe it
is or I wouldn’t
be standing
here. (Cheers,
applause.)
Do I think
it will be easy?
Of course not.
But,
here’s the good
news: There are
allies for
change
everywhere who
know we can’t
stand by while
inequality
increases, wages
stagnate, and
the promise of
America dims. We
should welcome
the support of
all Americans
who want to go
forward together
with us.
(Cheers,
applause.)
There are
public officials
who know
Americans need a
better deal.
Business
leaders who want
higher pay for
employees, equal
pay for women
(cheers,
applause) and no
discrimination
against the LGBT
community
either. (Cheers,
applause.)
There are
leaders of
finance who want
less short-term
trading and more
long-term
investing.
There are
union leaders
who are
investing their
own pension
funds in putting
people to work
to build
tomorrow’s
economy.
(Cheers,
applause.) We
need everyone to
come to the
table and work
with us.
In the
coming weeks,
I’ll propose
specific
policies to:
Reward
businesses who
invest in long
term value
rather than the
quick buck –
because that
leads to higher
growth for the
economy, higher
wages for
workers, and
yes, bigger
profits,
everybody will
have a better
time.
I
will rewrite the
tax code so it
rewards hard
work and
investments here
at home, not
quick trades or
stashing profits
overseas.
(Cheers,
applause.)
I will give
new incentives
to companies
that give their
employees a fair
share of the
profits their
hard work earns.
(Cheers,
applause.)
We will
unleash a new
generation of
entrepreneurs
and small
business owners
by providing tax
relief, cutting
red tape, and
making it easier
to get a small
business loan.
We will
restore America
to the cutting
edge of
innovation,
science, and
research by
increasing both
public and
private
investments.
(Cheers,
applause.)
And we will
make America the
clean energy
superpower of
the 21st
century.
(Cheers,
applause.)
Developing
renewable power
– wind, solar,
advanced
biofuels…
Building
cleaner power
plants, smarter
electric grids,
greener
buildings…
Using
additional fees
and royalties
from fossil fuel
extraction to
protect the
environment…
(cheers,
applause)
And ease the
transition for
distressed
communities to a
more diverse and
sustainable
economic future
from coal
country to
Indian country,
from small towns
in the
Mississippi
Delta to the Rio
Grande Valley to
our inner
cities, we have
to help our
fellow
Americans.
(Cheers,
applause.)
Now, this
will create
millions of jobs
and countless
new businesses,
and enable
America to lead
the global fight
against climate
change. (Cheers,
applause.)
We will also
connect workers
to their jobs
and businesses.
Customers will
have a better
chance to
actually get
where they need
and get what
they desire with
roads, railways,
bridges,
airports, ports,
and broadband
brought up to
global standards
for the 21st
century.
(Cheers,
applause.)
We will
establish an
infrastructure
bank and sell
bonds to pay for
some of these
improvements.
Now,
building an
economy for
tomorrow also
requires
investing in our
most important
asset, our
people,
beginning with
our youngest.
(Cheers,
applause.)
That’s why I
will propose
that we make
preschool and
quality
childcare
available to
every child in
America.
(Cheers,
applause.)
And I want
you to remember
this, because to
me, this is
absolutely the
most-compelling
argument why we
should do this.
Research tells
us how much
early learning
in the first
five years of
life can impact
lifelong
success. In
fact, 80 percent
of the brain is
developed by age
three.
One thing I’ve
learned is that
talent is
universal – you
can find it
anywhere – but
opportunity is
not. (Cheers,
applause.) Too
many of our kids
never have the
chance to learn
and thrive as
they should and
as we need them
to.
Our
country won’t be
competitive or
fair if we don’t
help more
families give
their kids the
best possible
start in life.
So let’s
staff our
primary and
secondary
schools with
teachers who are
second to none
in the world,
and receive the
respect they
deserve for
sparking the
love of learning
in every child.
(Cheers,
applause.)
Let’s make
college
affordable and
available to all
…and lift the
crushing burden
of student debt.
(Cheers,
applause.)
Let’s
provide lifelong
learning for
workers to gain
or improve
skills the
economy
requires,
setting up many
more Americans
for success.
Now, the
second fight is
to strengthen
America’s
families,
because when our
families are
strong, America
is strong.
And today’s
families face
new and unique
pressures.
Parents need
more support and
flexibility to
do their job at
work and at
home. (Cheers.)
I
believe you
should have the
right to earn
paid sick days.
(Cheers,
applause.)
I believe
you should
receive your
work schedule
with enough
notice to
arrange
childcare or
take college
courses to get
ahead. (Cheers,
applause.)
I believe
you should look
forward to
retirement with
confidence, not
anxiety.
That you
should have the
peace of mind
that your health
care will be
there when you
need it, without
breaking the
bank. (Cheers,
applause.)
I believe we
should offer
paid family
leave (cheers,
applause) so no
one has to
choose between
keeping a
paycheck and
caring for a new
baby or a sick
relative.
(Cheers,
applause.)
And it is
way past time to
end the outrage
of so many women
still earning
less than men on
the job (cheers,
applause) -- and
women of color
often making
even less.
(Cheers,
applause.)
This isn’t a
women’s issue.
It’s a family
issue. Just like
raising the
minimum wage is
a family issue.
(Cheers,
applause.)
Expanding
childcare is a
family issue.
Declining
marriage rates
is a family
issue. The
unequal rates of
incarceration is
a family issue.
(Cheers,
applause.)
Helping more
people with an
addiction or a
mental health
problem get help
is a family
issue. (Cheers,
applause.)
In America,
every family
should feel like
they belong.
So we should
offer
hard-working,
law-abiding
immigrant
families a path
to citizenship.
(Cheers,
applause.) Not
second-class
status. (Cheers,
applause.)
And, we
should ban
discrimination
against LGBT
Americans and
their families
(cheers,
applause) so
they can live,
learn, marry,
and work just
like everybody
else. (Cheers,
applause.)
You know,
America’s
diversity, our
openness, our
devotion to
human rights and
freedom is
what’s drawn so
many to our
shores. What’s
inspired people
all over the
world. I know.
I’ve seen it
with my own
eyes.
And these are
also qualities
that prepare us
well for the
demands of a
world that is
more
interconnected
than ever
before.
So we have a
third fight: to
harness all of
America’s power,
smarts, and
values to
maintain our
leadership for
peace, security,
and prosperity.
No other
country on Earth
is better
positioned to
thrive in the
21st century. No
other country is
better equipped
to meet
traditional
threats from
countries like
Russia, North
Korea, and Iran
– and to deal
with the rise of
new powers like
China.
No other country
is better
prepared to meet
emerging threats
from cyber
attacks,
transnational
terror networks
like ISIS, and
diseases that
spread across
oceans and
continents.
As your
President, I’ll
do whatever it
takes to keep
Americans safe.
(Cheers,
applause.)
And if you
look over my
left shoulder
you can see the
new World Trade
Center soaring
skyward.
(Cheers,
applause.)
As a Senator
from New York, I
dedicated myself
to getting our
city and state
the help we
needed to
recover. And as
a member of the
Armed Services
Committee, I
worked to
maintain the
best-trained,
best-equipped,
strongest
military, ready
for today’s
threats and
tomorrow’s.
And when our
brave men and
women come home
from war or
finish their
service, I’ll
see to it that
they get not
just the thanks
of a grateful
nation, but the
care and
benefits they’ve
earned. (Cheers,
applause.)
I’ve stood
up to
adversaries like
Putin and
reinforced
allies like
Israel. I was in
the Situation
Room on the day
we got bin
Laden. (Cheers,
applause.)
But, I know
-- I know we
have to be smart
as well as
strong.
Meeting today’s
global
challenges
requires every
element of
America's power,
including
skillful
diplomacy,
economic
influence, and
building
partnerships to
improve lives
around the world
with people, not
just their
governments.
There are a
lot of trouble
spots in the
world, but
there’s a lot of
good news out
there too.
I believe
the future holds
far more
opportunities
than threats if
we exercise
creative and
confident
leadership that
enables us to
shape global
events rather
than be shaped
by them.
(Cheers,
applause.)
And we all
know that in
order to be
strong in the
world, though,
we first have to
be strong at
home. That’s why
we have to win
the fourth fight
– reforming our
government and
revitalizing our
democracy so
that it works
for everyday
Americans.
(Cheers,
applause.)
We have to
stop the endless
flow of secret,
unaccountable
money that is
distorting our
elections,
corrupting our
political
process, and
drowning out the
voices of our
people. (Cheers,
applause.)
We need
Justices on the
Supreme Court
who will protect
every citizen’s
right to vote,
(cheers,
applause) rather
than every
corporation’s
right to buy
elections.
(Cheers,
applause.)
If
necessary, I
will support a
constitutional
amendment to
undo the Supreme
Court’s decision
in Citizens
United. (Cheers,
applause.)
I want to
make it easier
for every
citizen to vote.
That's why I've
proposed
universal,
automatic
registration and
expanded early
voting. (Cheers,
applause.)
I’ll fight
back against
Republican
efforts to
disempower and
disenfranchise
young people,
poor people,
people with
disabilities,
and people of
color. (Cheers,
applause.)
What part of
democracy are
they afraid of?
(Cheers,
applause.)
No matter
how easy we make
it to vote, we
still have to
give Americans
something worth
voting for.
(Cheers,
applause.)
Government
is never going
to have all the
answers – but it
has to be
smarter,
simpler, more
efficient, and a
better partner.
That
means access to
advanced
technology so
government
agencies can
more effectively
serve their
customers, the
American people.
We need
expertise and
innovation from
the private
sector to help
cut waste and
streamline
services.
There’s so
much that works
in America. For
every problem we
face, someone
somewhere in
America is
solving it.
Silicon Valley
cracked the code
on sharing and
scaling a while
ago. Many states
are pioneering
new ways to
deliver
services. I want
to help
Washington catch
up. (Cheers,
applause.)
To do that,
we need a
political system
that produces
results by
solving problems
that hold us
back, not one
overwhelmed by
extreme
partisanship and
inflexibility.
Now,
I’ll always seek
common ground
with friend and
opponent alike.
But I’ll also
stand my ground
when I must.
(Cheers,
applause.)
That’s
something I did
as Senator and
Secretary of
State -- whether
it was working
with Republicans
to expand health
care for
children and for
our National
Guard, or
improve our
foster care and
adoption system,
or pass a treaty
to reduce the
number of
Russian nuclear
warheads that
could threaten
our cities --
and it’s
something I will
always do as
your President.
We
Americans may
differ, bicker,
stumble, and
fall; but we are
at our best when
we pick each
other up, when
we have each
other’s back.
Like any
family, our
American family
is strongest
when we cherish
what we have in
common, and
fight back
against those
who would drive
us apart.
People all
over the world
have asked me:
“How could you
and President
Obama work
together after
you fought so
hard against
each other in
that long
campaign?”
Now, that is
an
understandable
question
considering that
in many places,
if you lose an
election you
could get
imprisoned or
exiled – even
killed – not
hired as
Secretary of
State. (Cheers,
applause.)
But
President Obama
asked me to
serve, and I
accepted because
we both love our
country.
(Cheers,
applause.)
That’s how we do
it in America.
With that
same spirit,
together, we can
win these four
fights.
We can build an
economy where
hard work is
rewarded.
We can
strengthen our
families.
We can
defend our
country and
increase our
opportunities
all over the
world.
And we can renew
the promise of
our democracy.
If we all do
our part. In our
families, in our
businesses,
unions, houses
of worship,
schools, and,
yes, in the
voting booth.
I want
you to join me
in this effort.
Help me build
this campaign
and make it your
own.
Talk to your
friends, your
family, your
neighbors.
Text “JOIN”
J-O-I-N to
4-7-2-4-6.
Go to
hillaryclinton.com
and sign up to
make calls and
knock on doors.
(Cheers,
applause.)
It’s no
secret that
we’re going up
against some
pretty powerful
forces that will
do and spend
whatever it
takes to advance
a very different
vision for
America. But
I’ve spent my
life fighting
for children,
families, and
our country. And
I’m not stopping
now. (Cheers,
applause,
chanting.)
You know, I
know how hard
this job is.
I’ve seen it up
close and
personal.
(Laughter.)
All our
Presidents come
into office
looking so
vigorous.
(Laughter.) And
then we watch
their hair grow
grayer and
grayer.
Well, I may not
be the youngest
candidate in
this race. But I
will be the
youngest woman
President in the
history of the
United States!
(Cheers,
applause.)
And the
first
grandmother as
well. (Cheers,
applause.)
And one
additional
advantage:
You’re won’t see
my hair turn
white in the
White House.
I’ve been
coloring it for
years! (Cheers,
applause.)
So I’m
looking forward
to a great
debate among
Democrats,
Republicans, and
Independents.
I’m not running
to be a
President only
for those
Americans who
already agree
with me. I want
to be a
President for
all Americans.
And along
the way, I'll
just let you in
on this little
secret.
(Laughter.) I
won’t get
everything
right. Lord
knows I’ve made
my share of
mistakes. Well,
there’s no
shortage of
people pointing
them out!
(Laughter.)
And I
certainly
haven’t won
every battle
I’ve fought. But
leadership means
perseverance and
hard choices.
You have to push
through the
setbacks and
disappointments
and keep at it.
(Cheers,
applause.)
I think you
know by now that
I’ve been called
many things by
many people
(laughter) --
“quitter” is not
one of them.
(Cheers,
applause.)
Like so much
else in my life,
I got this from
my mother.
When I was a
girl, she never
let me back down
from any bully
or barrier. In
her later years,
Mom lived with
us, and she was
still teaching
me the same
lessons. I’d
come home from a
hard day at the
Senate or the
State
Department, sit
down with her at
the small table
in our breakfast
nook, and just
let everything
pour out. And
she would remind
me why we keep
fighting, even
when the odds
are long and the
opposition is
fierce.
I can still hear
her saying:
“Life’s not
about what
happens to you,
it’s about what
you do with what
happens to you –
so get back out
there.” (Cheers,
applause.)
She lived to
be 92 years old,
and I often
think about all
the battles she
witnessed over
the course of
the last century
-- all the
progress that
was won because
Americans
refused to give
up or back down.
She was
born on June 4,
1919 -- before
women in America
had the right to
vote. But on
that very day,
after years of
struggle,
Congress passed
the
Constitutional
Amendment that
would change
that forever.
The story of
America is a
story of
hard-fought,
hard-won
progress. And it
continues today.
New chapters are
being written by
men and women
who believe that
all of us – not
just some, but
all – should
have the chance
to live up to
our God-given
potential.
Not only
because we’re a
tolerant
country, or a
generous
country, or a
compassionate
country, but
because we’re a
better,
stronger, more
prosperous
country when we
harness the
talent, hard
work, and
ingenuity of
every single
American.
I wish my
mother could
have been with
us longer. I
wish she could
have seen
Chelsea become a
mother herself.
I wish she could
have met
Charlotte.
I wish she
could have seen
the America
we’re going to
build together.
(Cheers,
applause.)
An America,
where if you do
your part, you
reap the
rewards.
Where we
don’t leave
anyone out, or
anyone behind.
An America
where a father
can tell his
daughter: yes,
you can be
anything you
want to be. Even
President of the
United States.
(Cheers,
applause.)
Thank you
all. God bless
you. And may God
bless America.
(Cheers,
applause.)
###
Hillary
Clinton to Run
For President in
2016 Urges
Americans to
Join the
Campaign: “It’s
Your Time”
Hillary
Clinton pledged
to be a champion
for everyday
Americans and
their families
when she
announced her
plan to run a
grassroots
campaign for
President of the
United States
today. Hillary
believes this
campaign is
about voters,
not her, and
urged people to
get involved in
her campaign
saying, “It’s
your time.”
The
announcement
came first in a
tweet with an
accompanying
video and then
in an email to
her supporters.
The video
features middle
class families
talking about
their lives and
planning for
what’s ahead.
You can watch
the video HERE:
In the
video, Hillary
explained why
she is running,
saying,
“Americans have
fought their way
back from tough
economic times
but the deck is
still stacked in
favor of those
at the top.” She
argued for an
economy where
“you can do more
than just get
by, you can get
ahead and stay
ahead, because
when families
are strong,
America is
strong.”
Hillary is
committed to
earning every
vote and is
starting with a
focus on the
early Democratic
primary states.
She will start
with stops in
Iowa this week
to talk with
Iowa voters,
ramping up to a
campaign kickoff
in mid-May.
Hillary
Clinton has
served as U.S.
Secretary of
State, Senator
from New York,
First Lady of
the United
States and First
Lady of
Arkansas, but
the first thing
her friends and
family will tell
you is that
she’s never
forgotten where
she came from or
who she’s been
fighting for.
From her
mother’s own
childhood – in
which she was
abandoned by her
parents – to her
work going
door-to-door for
the Children’s
Defense Fund to
her battling to
create the
Children’s
Health Insurance
Program, she’s
fought for
children and
families all her
career.
You can read her
full bio online
at
www.hillaryclinton.com/bio.
THE RAMP UP
Just like
the families in
her video who
are getting
ready for fresh
starts, Hillary
is preparing her
campaign
organization.
She’s committed
to spending the
next 6 to 8
weeks in a “ramp
up” period where
her team will
start to build a
nation-wide
grassroots
organization,
and she will
spend her time
engaging
directly with
voters.
In her
announcement
video, Hillary
urged people to
get involved in
the cause
saying, “It’s
your time. I
hope you’ll join
me on this
journey.”
In May, once
her supporters
in all 50 states
are organized
for house
parties or to
watch over
live-streams,
Hillary will
hold her first
rally and
deliver the
speech to kick
off her
campaign.
Source: Hillary for America

