Subject: 8.1.14 Weekend TPs Package
From: Burns Strider <[email-masked]>
To: CTRFriendsFamily <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 1 Aug 2014 14:42:34 -0400
List-Id: <CTRFriendsFamily.americanbridge.org>

Hi all,

Please find Correct The Record's weekend talking points package below and
attached. Happy August.

*8.1.14 Weekend Package*

1.       Memo: August Reading - Themes of 2016 Emerging
<https://mail.google.com/mail/u/1/?ui=2&ik=a0da1073e7&view=lg&msg=14792da10e4b6586#14792da10e4b6586_14792c7102d1ce5f_August>

2.       Tough on Terrorism TPs
<https://mail.google.com/mail/u/1/?ui=2&ik=a0da1073e7&view=lg&msg=14792da10e4b6586#14792da10e4b6586_14792c7102d1ce5f_tough>

3.       Hillary Connects with Independents, Democrats, Swing-State Voters,
Women, Young Voters TPs
<https://mail.google.com/mail/u/1/?ui=2&ik=a0da1073e7&view=lg&msg=14792da10e4b6586#14792da10e4b6586_14792c7102d1ce5f_poll>

4.       Hillary Clinton on Undocumented Immigrant Children and the Crisis
at the Border TPs
<https://mail.google.com/mail/u/1/?ui=2&ik=a0da1073e7&view=lg&msg=14792da10e4b6586#14792da10e4b6586_14792c7102d1ce5f_immigrant>

5.       Shame On America Rising, Judicial Watch: Right-Wing Groups Cry
Foul When Attacks Proven Empty TPs
<https://mail.google.com/mail/u/1/?ui=2&ik=a0da1073e7&view=lg&msg=14792da10e4b6586#14792da10e4b6586_14792c7102d1ce5f_watch>

*TO:                        UndisclosedFROM:                 Isaac Wright,
Director, Correct The Record*

*DATE:                 July 31, 2014*

*SUBJECT:          August Reading - Themes of 2016 Emerging*

Seven central themes are emerging leading up to the 2016 presidential
contest and a potential Hillary Clinton candidacy.

Republican leaders and operatives don't want to run against Hillary Clinton
and have applied a full-court press in an attempt to stop her from entering
the race or, at least, diminish her as a candidate. Right-wing strategists
realize Hillary Clinton is well suited for a 2016 general election and are
spending significant quantities of money, political capital, and time
hoping to undercut Clinton’s momentum, forward-thinking vision and record
of accomplishment.

It hasn’t worked.  Public opinion *has* leveled out from record-high
approval ratings in her tenure as the country’s top diplomat, and key
indicators suggest the right-wing attack machine is not substantially
changing the dynamic. The American people haven't allowed it. They know
better. They know who is focused on the future. Americans want Hillary to
lead.

Seven key themes integral to a 2016 Clinton candidacy have emerged,
speaking to the substantive strength of a potential Clinton candidacy that
begins in the Democratic primary and ends in the White House.  Clinton’s
perception among the Democratic base has evolved into a unique party unity
never before seen by either party.

1.)                Public opinion is much better for Clinton now than it
was in 2008.

2.)                Americans across the ideological spectrum, liberals and
moderates in particular, are looking positively to a Hillary Clinton run
for President.

3.)                Voters, specifically Democrats, are eager for her
experience.

4.)                Clinton is in step with her party on core issues,
particularly income inequality.

5.)                No credible challenger can amass the kind of broad party
support Clinton has.

6.)                Voters are behind her, not just politicos.

7.)                Hillary Clinton's work ethic has been on display for
months. Clinton and her supporters, if she chooses to run, do not want a
coronation but rather will work hard, seek voters’ support and build a
winning coalition.

Considering these seven themes, one can understand why Republicans are so
nervous about a potential Clinton candidacy, and why the right wing feels
the need to double-down on their failed attacks even now.

1.              Public opinion is much better for Clinton now than in 2008.

·         *According to a recent polling analysis by Vox, Hillary Clinton’s
poll numbers are much better than at this point in the 2008 cycle.* “But
back in early 2007, she reached only 30 to 40 percent in polls of
Democratic voters — indicating that a majority of Democrats weren't yet on
board with a Clinton candidacy. Now, she regularly tops 60 percent in
polls, and sometimes even breaks 70 percent
<http://www.mysterypollster.com/main/2006/06/the_first_iowa_.html>, as you
can see on RealClearPolitics.”

·         *Clinton’s strength among Democrats extends to *Iowa
<http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/first-read/what-we-learned-about-christie-clinton-rand-paul-week-n158281>
*,* the first in the nation primary contest in which she came in third in
2008. “Iowa Democrats view Clinton positively by a whopping 89%-6% score.”

·         *A majority of Democrats – *63%
<http://www.vox.com/2014/6/17/5816676/hillary-clinton-primary-challenge-poll>*
–
want Hillary Clinton to be the 2016 Democratic presidential nominee*,
according to a June CNN/ORC International poll.

·         *An extraordinary *72%
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2014/06/16/hillary-clinton-doesnt-have-a-problem-with-liberals-not-hardly/>*
of
liberal Democrats said they would vote for Hillary Clinton* in the 2016
presidential primary.

2.              Americans across the ideological spectrum, liberals and
moderates in particular, are looking positively to a Hillary Clinton run
for president.

·         *Fifty-five percent of Americans say that Hillary Clinton can
relate* to and understand the problems of average citizens, according to a
NBC News/Wall Street Journal/Annenberg poll from June 26-28.

·         *Only *6%
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2014/06/16/hillary-clinton-doesnt-have-a-problem-with-liberals-not-hardly/>*
of
liberal Democrats don’t think Hillary Clinton should run* for president in
2016, according to a Washington Post/ABC News poll released in June.

·         *Only *11%
<http://www.vox.com/2014/6/17/5816676/hillary-clinton-primary-challenge-poll>*
of
Democrats would prefer a candidate more liberal* than Hillary Clinton,
according to a June CNN/ORC International poll.

·         *Liberal Democrats approve of Hillary Clinton’s tenure as
Secretary of State* by a margin of 96-1
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2014/06/16/hillary-clinton-doesnt-have-a-problem-with-liberals-not-hardly/>
.

·         *Nearly *9 in 10
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2014/06/16/hillary-clinton-doesnt-have-a-problem-with-liberals-not-hardly/>*
of
liberal Democrats think Hillary Clinton is a strong leader*.

·         *Nearly *9 in 10
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/page/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2014/06/08/National-Politics/Polling/question_14323.xml?uuid=ASbgKu7CEeOKiuF8CPgIcQ>*
of
liberal Democrats believe she is honest and trustworthy*.

·         *Americans of all backgrounds and all walks of life are hungry to
hear from Hillary.*

o   *Sec. Clinton greeted nearly 1,000 people at her “Hard Choices” book
tour stop at a Sam’s Club in Seekonk, Massachusetts. * According to the
Boston Globe’s coverage of Sec. Clinton’s “Hard Choices” book tour stop at
a Sam’s Club in Seekonk, Massachusetts, “Against a backdrop of stacked
paper towels and water bottle packs in an aisle at a Sam’s Club, former US
secretary of state Hillary Clinton greeted nearly 1,000 people Saturday
during a book signing at the retail warehouse for her memoir, ‘Hard
Choices.’ Some even spent the night in the parking lot so they could be
first to enter the store when it opened at 7 a.m. and line up for a signed
copy and a few seconds with Clinton, widely discussed as a front-runner for
the next presidential election.” [Boston Globe, 7/27/14
<http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2014/07/26/hillary-clinton-meets-fans-sam-club-seekonk/EE7FAf7HyPHS22McZ5DVEN/story.html>
]

o   *More than 1,100 people lined up in St. Paul to meet Sec. Clinton on
her “Hard Choices” book tour. *According to the Associated Press, “More
than 1,000 people have lined up in St. Paul to meet former Secretary of
State Hillary Clinton and buy a copy of her book. 1,100 people bought
advanced copies of Clinton’s latest book, ‘Hard Choices.’ They waited in a
line Sunday that stretched out the door of Common Good Books and down the
block, in temperatures that reached 85 degrees.” [Associated Press, 7/21/14
<http://wjon.com/1100-people-brave-heat-to-buy-hillary-clintons-new-book/>]

o   *Schenectady Daily Gazette: “Within the first hour of business,
Northshire had already sold 200 copies of [‘Hard Choices’].” *According to
Schenectady Daily Gazette’s coverage of Sec. Clinton’s Saratoga Springs,
N.Y., “Hard Choices” book stop, “Only 1,000 tickets were available for the
signing and they were going fast Monday morning. A crowd of roughly three
dozen people was waiting outside the Broadway entrance to purchase the book
to receive the complimentary ticket. Within the first hour of business,
Northshire had already sold 200 copies of the political memoir, which has
been at the top of the New York Times best-seller list. By later afternoon,
500 more copies had been sold.” [Schenectady Daily Gazette (N.Y.), 7/15/14
<http://www.dailygazette.com/news/2014/jul/15/0715_clinton/>]

o   *Chappaqua Daily Voice (N.Y.): Sec. Clinton “repeatedly shook hands
with the long line of attendees” at the Chappaqua Library “Hard Choices”
book signing on June 29, 2014. *According to the Chappaqua Daily Voice
(N.Y.), “Hundreds flocked to the Chappaqua Library on Sunday afternoon for
the chance to meet potential 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton at
her book signing event. The former First Lady, secretary of state and U.S.
Senator, herself a Chappaqua resident, signed copies of her new memoir,
‘Hard Choices,’ and repeatedly shook hands with the long line of attendees.
The event was co-sponsored by The Village Bookstore, a shop in
Pleasantville, and Simon & Schuster, which is the publisher of Clinton's
book.” [Chappaqua Daily Voice (N.Y.), 6/29/14
<http://chappaqua.dailyvoice.com/events/hillary-clinton-visits-chappaqua-library-book-signing>
]

o   *Sec. Clinton addressed a sold-out crowd of 2,200 people who came to
her “Hard Choices” book tour stop at the Orpheum Theatre in San
Francisco.* According
to SFGate’s coverage of Sec. Clinton’s “Hard Choices” book tour stop at the
Orpheum Theatre, “‘If I decide to do it, I will talk about it every day,’
she told a sold-out crowd of 2,200 at the Orpheum Theatre in San Francisco,
during a tour promoting her new book, ‘Hard Choices,’ a memoir of her years
as secretary of state in the Obama administration. ‘I have a set of
experience … and for my entire life, I’ve been an advocate for people who
need a voice, need someone in their corner,’ she told KQED host Scott
Shafer.” [SFGate, 6/26/14
<http://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/In-S-F-Clinton-expands-on-possible-2016-5580339.php>
]

o   *Sec. Clinton appeared at a sold-out author’s event for “Hard Choices”
at Warwick’s Books in La Jolla on June 25, 2014.* According to CBS 8,
“Former Secretary of State and first lady Hillary Clinton is scheduled to
promote her new book in La Jolla Wednesday morning and later present a
keynote address at a major biotech convention in San Diego. She’ll appear
at a sold-out author’s event at 8:30 a.m. at Warwick’s Books in La Jolla,
where she will sign copies of ‘Hard Choices.’” [CBS 8, 6/25/14
<http://www.cbs8.com/story/25866178/hillary-clinton-at-warwicks-books-in-la-jolla-for-book-signing?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter>
]

o   *50 people lined up to get tickets ahead of Sec. Clinton’s Dayton, Ohio
“Hard Choices” book tour stop. *According to Dayton Daily News (O.H.),
“About 50 people were in line this morning to get tickets to meet Hillary
Rodham Clinton when she visits the Books & Company at The Greene. The line
formed about two hours before the store opened today at 9 a.m. Clinton will
sign copies of her book ‘Hard Choices’ on Friday starting at 7 p.m. A
limited number of tickets are available by pre-purchasing a book, according
to the store.” [Dayton Daily News (O.H.), 6/23/14
<http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/news/local/line-forms-early-clinton-book-signing/ngQrb/>
]

o   *More than 2,000 tickets were sold for Sec. Clinton’s Austin “Hard
Choices” book tour stop. *According to KTBC Fox 7 Austin’s coverage of Sec.
Clinton’s “Hard Choices” book tour stop at the Long Center in Austin,
Texas, “More than 2,000 tickets were sold to fill the hall at the Long
Center. The night is being described as a conversation with Hillary Rodham
Clinton. ‘I learned two things. I learned a lot about losing,’ she told the
crowd.” [KTBC Fox 7 Austin, 6/20/14
<http://www.myfoxaustin.com/story/25834316/hillary-clinton-speaks-at-long-center>
]

o   *Dozens of people lined up overnight for Sec. Clinton’s “Hard Choices”
book tour stop in Los Angeles.* According to CBS Los Angeles, “Dozens of
people lined up overnight for a scheduled Hillary Clinton book signing at
The Grove. Clinton will sign copies of her new book, ‘Hard Choices’, at
Barnes & Nobles at 11:30 a.m.” [CBS Los Angeles, 6/19/14
<http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2014/06/19/hillary-clinton-to-sign-copies-of-hard-choices-at-the-grove/#.U6Lz3ZKWRPo.twitter>
]

o   *1,400 people attended Sec. Clinton’s sold-out “Hard Choices” book tour
stop in Edmonton at the Shaw Conference Centre.* According to CBC News’
coverage of Sec. Clinton’s speech at the Shaw Conference Centre, “While
Hillary Clinton did not say if she would run for president in 2016, she did
manage to inspire many of the 1,400 people in the sold-out crowd at the
Shaw Conference Centre Tuesday. Clinton was in Edmonton for the first time
promoting her recently released memoir ‘Hard Choices.’” [CBC News, 6/18/14
<http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/hillary-clinton-inspires-at-the-shaw-conference-centre-1.2679375>
]

o   *Approximately 1,200 people came to Sec. Clinton’s “Hard Choices” book
tour stop at the University Book Store in Seattle on June 18, 2014. *According
to the Puget Sound Business Journal, “Hillary Rodham Clinton was in Seattle
Wednesday to sign copies of her new book, ‘Hard Choices’ at the University
Book Store. Approximately 1,200 people came out to meet the former First
Lady, who many believe will be running for President in 2016. She arrived
around 5 p.m. Wednesday and left at about 7:15 p.m. Lines snaked through
the entire store as people waited to have their books signed.” [Puget Sound
Business Journal, 6/18/14
<http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_TV_NBC_CHELSEA_CLINTON?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT>
]

o   *Hundreds of people gathered to meet Sec. Clinton at the Harvard Book
Store on June 16, 2014. *According to Boston.com <http://boston.com/>,
“Hillary Clinton was perched on a chair Monday evening at the Harvard Book
Store where hundreds of people had gathered to meet her. Others lined the
streets hoping to catch a glimpse of the woman many hope will become the
next president. Clad in a bright turquoise suit, she showed no sign that
she has spent the last week on the first leg of a grueling cross-country
tour to publicize her recent book, ‘Hard Choices,’ which chronicles her
years as secretary of state.” [Boston.com <http://boston.com/>, 6/17/14
<http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2014/06/17/hundreds-line-cambridge-street-for-hillary-clinton-book-signing/a6hyNgKfe0ZtJbQ1PV3OAI/story.html>
]

o   *Politico, on Sec. Clinton’s “Hard Choices” book tour stop in
Arlington, Virginia: “Store employees are preparing for her arrival
Saturday to sign 1,000 books in two hours.” *According to Politico, “It
could easily be mistaken for preparations for a presidential campaign
event. The signs were hung just so. An advance team has scouted out the
location. Local police officers have been requested. Officials were
weighing the all-important decisions about where to put the TV cameras and
how to manage the lines of eager well-wishers. All the presidential-style
activity is for the next stop on the Hillary Clinton book tour for ‘Hard
Choices.’ At the sprawling Costco in Arlington, Va., store employees are
preparing for her arrival Saturday to sign 1,000 books in two hours.”
[Politico, 6/13/14
<http://www.politico.com/story/2014/06/hillary-clinton-book-tour-arlington-107817.html>
]

o   *BuzzFeed: “One thousand fans waited in line for hours on Tuesday
morning — some since Monday night — to get a brief moment with Clinton and
an autographed copy of her memoir, titled ‘Hard Choices.’”* According to
BuzzFeed’s coverage of Sec. Clinton’s “Hard Choices” book tour stop at
Union Square in New York City, “One thousand fans waited in line for hours
on Tuesday morning — some since Monday night — to get a brief moment with
Clinton and an autographed copy of her memoir, titled ‘Hard Choices.’ But
the carefully managed event, the first stop on a national publicity tour to
promote the new book, allowed little interaction between Clinton and her
readers, or reporters there to cover the signing. As attendees waited in a
line that stretched around the block, staffers handed out a list of
guidelines for the event. A piece of paper with eight bullet points warned
fans that Clinton would not be ‘personalizing the book or signing
memorabilia.’ ‘NO posed photography with the author,’ the rule sheet
advised.” [BuzzFeed, 6/10/14
<http://www.buzzfeed.com/rubycramer/hillary-clintons-book-signing-stagecraft>
]

o   *People lined up more than 17 hours before Sec. Clinton’s “Hard
Choices” book signing in Manhattan.* According to Business Insider,
“Hillary Clinton might keep Sean Brennan up all night Monday evening.
Brennan told Business Insider he arrived at the Barnes & Noble in
Manhattan’s Union Square shortly after 2 p.m. Monday to line up for the
first signing of Clinton’s book tour, which begins Tuesday. A little before
9 p.m., Brennan was the first of four people queued up for the event.”
[Business Insider, 6/9/14
<http://www.businessinsider.com/first-man-in-line-for-hillary-clinton-book-tour-2014-6>
]

3.              Voters, specifically Democrats, are eager for her
experience.

·         *If Sec. Clinton ran for president, “she would probably be the
best-prepared candidate in American history.” *According to a Gail Collins
column in The New York Times
<http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/11/opinion/sunday/collins-hillarys-next-move.html?pagewanted=all>,
“If Hillary Clinton ran for president again, she would probably be the
best-prepared candidate in American history: one who’s lived in the White
House, served in the United States Senate, a woman who knows virtually
every head of state in the world and also has a strong opinion about the
merits of the Peruvian minister of development and social inclusion.”

·         *Clinton’s experience at the State Department is mentioned most
frequently as her biggest positive. *A recent Pew poll
<http://www.people-press.org/2014/03/04/hillary-clintons-strengths-record-at-state-toughness-honesty/>
 found that “Clinton’s tenure at the State Department is mentioned most
frequently as her biggest positive (by 12%)” and that “if she runs for
president in 2016, Hillary Clinton would bring a number of potential
strengths to the race, from her tenure as secretary of state to her
perceived toughness and honesty.” In fact, says Pew, “Overall, 67% approve
of Hillary Clinton’s job performance as secretary of state, while just 25%
disapprove. Fully 91% of Democrats approve of the way she handled her job
as secretary, as do a majority (64%) of independents. “

·         *“Her leadership skills as an executive are hardly in dispute
now.”* A former Obama 2008 campaign aide told The Hill
<http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/213062-clinton-message-is-taking-shape>,
“Hillary has more than redeemed herself with many through her services as
secretary of State … Her leadership skills as an executive are hardly in
dispute now.”

·         *“**People are looking for someone whose central skill is how to
work the power structure” to move the agenda.* In The New Republic
<http://www.newrepublic.com/article/118432/hillary-clinton-2016-how-she-won-over-left-become-invincible>,
“[Larry] Grisolano, Obama’s polling honcho from 2008, concedes, ‘It may be
that coming out of this period, where Congress has been so obstinate, so
difficult to move ... that people are looking for someone whose central
skill is how to work the power structure.’”

4.              Clinton is in step with her party on core issues,
particularly income inequality.

·         *It’s about income inequality, not Iraq.*  As Bloomberg Business
Week noted
<http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-07-18/why-hillary-clinton-is-inevitable-for-democrats-in-2016>,
“Clinton doesn’t have the kind of glaring vulnerability with Democrats she
did last time around because of her vote in favor of the Iraq War. There’s
just no equivalent.”

·         *“90% of liberal and centrist Democrats say the government
should” address income inequality,* an issue on which Clinton has a long
and substantive record*.* According to Pew Research, “To be sure,
majorities of 60% or more among Republicans and Democrats across the
ideological spectrum agree that inequality is on the rise, and about 90% of
liberal and centrist Democrats say the government should do something about
it.” [Pew Research, 1/29/14
<http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/01/29/inequality-poverty-divide-republicans-more-than-democrats/>
]

·         *HILLARY CLINTON: Working to raise the minimum wage. *Throughout
her Senate career, Hillary Clinton was a staunch supporter of increasing
the minimum wage and voted repeatedly to protect and increase it. She was
an original cosponsor of the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007
<http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:S.2:@@@P>, and authored the
2006 <http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.uscongress/legislation.109s2725> and 2007
<http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.uscongress/legislation.110s2514> Standing with
Minimum Wage Earners Act to tie Congressional salary increases to an
increase in the minimum wage. As she said
<http://beta.congress.gov/congressional-record/2006/05/04/senate-section/article/S4053-1>
at
the time, her bill would have ensured “that every time Congress gives
itself a raise in the future that Americans get a raise too. This is the
right and fair thing to do for hardworking Americans.”

·         *HILLARY CLINTON: Advocating for out-of-work Americans. *Hillary
Clinton has a record of working across the aisle to help
<http://www.cantwell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=b11a8c2f-2a55-439e-b4ec-7aae575e573b>
out-of-work
Americans. In what the New York Times called
<http://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/13/us/mrs-clinton-put-past-behind-in-trip-across-aisle.html>
“a
case study of how legislative objectives can trump ideology,” Clinton
teamed up with Republican Senator Don Nickles of Oklahoma at the beginning
of 2003 “to help deliver added unemployment benefits to millions of
Americans.” Senator Clinton continued fighting to extend unemployment
benefits for Americans who were out of work, cosponsoring amendments and
bills to extend
<http://beta.congress.gov/bill/108th-congress/senate-bill/923/cosponsors?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22Clinton%22%5D%7D>
benefits
through the end of 2003
<http://beta.congress.gov/bill/108th-congress/senate-bill/1708/cosponsors?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22The+Emergency+Unemployment+Compensation+Act%22%5D%7D>
and
into 2004
<http://beta.congress.gov/amendment/108th-congress/senate-amendment/3114/cosponsors?q=%7b>,
and voting
<http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=2&vote=00214>
to
provide emergency unemployment benefits during the 2008 financial crisis.

·         *HILLARY CLINTON: **Getting equal pay for equal work. *The
Paycheck Fairness Act, which Hillary Clinton introduced in 2005
<http://beta.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/senate-bill/841?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22Paycheck+Fairness+Act%22%5D%7D>
 and 2007
<http://beta.congress.gov/bill/110th-congress/senate-bill/766?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22Paycheck+Fairness+Act%22%5D%7D>,
would have amended the Fair Labor Standards Act to prevent employer
retaliation against workers who claim wage discrimination, or workers who
inquire about or discuss their wages. This concept was adopted, in part, by
President Obama’s April 2014 Executive Order
<http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/04/08/executive-order-non-retaliation-disclosure-compensation-information>
 prohibiting federal contractors
<http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/04/08/fact-sheet-expanding-opportunity-all-ensuring-equal-pay-women-and-promot>
from
retaliating against employees who discuss their wages. Clinton also
cosponsored the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009
<http://beta.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/senate-bill/181/cosponsors?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22Lilly+Ledbetter+Fair+Pay+Act%22%5D%7D>,
which became the first law signed by President Obama. The Act, which
expanded workers’ rights to take pay discrimination issues to court, was
also introduced in 2007
<http://beta.congress.gov/bill/110th-congress/senate-bill/1843> and was
cosponsored by Clinton.

·         *HILLARY CLINTON: Fighting for middle-class tax cuts. *As a
Senator, Hillary Clinton supported progressive tax policies that required
millionaires to pay their fair share. She opposed the Bush tax cuts in 2001
<http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=107&session=1&vote=00170>
 and2003
<http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=108&session=1&vote=00196>,
and she supported a variety of middle-class tax cuts, including tax credits
for student loan recipients
<http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=107&session=1&vote=00114>
and
keeping in place the tax cuts for those who make under $250,000 a year.
Clinton has said <http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=77063> “that
inherited wealth and concentrated wealth is not good for America,” and she
has consistently voted against repealing the estate tax on millionaires,
doing so in 2001
<http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=107&session=1&vote=00158>
, 2002
<http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=107&session=2&vote=00151>,
and 2006
<http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=2&vote=00164>
.

·         *HILLARY CLINTON: Strengthening health care for millions of
children. *In the Senate, Hillary Clinton looked for ways to strengthen the
State Children’s Health Insurance Program, introducing
<http://beta.congress.gov/bill/107th-congress/senate-bill/1266?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22SCHIP%22%5D%7D>
 bills
<http://beta.congress.gov/bill/110th-congress/senate-bill/895?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22SCHIP%22%5D%7D>
to
allow states to expand the program that she helped create
<http://www.factcheck.org/2008/03/giving-hillary-credit-for-schip/> as
First Lady. The program, created in 1997, has increased health coverage for
millions of children in low-income and working families. Ted Kennedy, one
of the lead sponsors of the bill, said
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/05/AR2007100501343_pf.html>
the
program “wouldn't be in existence today if we didn't have Hillary pushing
for it from the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue.”

·         *HILLARY CLINTON: Fighting poverty as a private citizen. *Hillary’s
first job out of law school was for the newly formed Children’s Defense
Fund, an organization she would later chair. The CDF has
<http://www.childrensdefense.org/about-us/our-history/> “partnered with
numerous organizations and worked with policy makers to build bipartisan
support to enact laws that have helped millions of children fulfill their
potential and escape poverty because they received the health care, child
care, nurturing, proper nutrition and education they deserve.” Today, as
part of the Too Small to Fail Initiative <http://toosmall.org/mission> to
improve the health and well-being of children five and under, Hillary
Clinton is working to close the “word gap” for kids in low-income families
who often have smaller vocabularies than their classmates. Clinton points
out <http://www.clintonfoundation.org/blog/2013/10/03/closing-word-gap> that
“this disadvantage leads to further disparities in achievement and success
over time, from academic performance and persistence to earnings and family
stability even 20 and 30 years later.”

·         *HILLARY CLINTON: Expanding access to early childhood education
for children in lower-income families. *Senator Clinton introduced the Ready
to Learn Act
<http://beta.congress.gov/bill/110th-congress/senate-bill/1823?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22S.1823%22%5D%7D>
with
Republican Senator Kit Bond of Missouri to award competitive matching
grants to schools, child care providers, and Head Start providers for
voluntary full day pre-K for lower-income four-year olds. Clinton also
joined with Bond on his Education Begins at Home Act
<http://beta.congress.gov/bill/110th-congress/senate-bill/667?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22S.667%22%5D%7D>to
provide competitive grants for early childhood home visitation, including
for families with English language learners. The Act also called for
revisions to Early Head Start programs, including training in parenting
skills and child development. And, as U.S. News & World Report noted
<http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/washington-whispers/2014/04/29/hillary-clinton-is-a-proud-hippy-mom>,
Hillary Clinton “helped establish the first HIPPY program in Arkansas three
years before HIPPY USA was formally organized,” which expanded early
childhood education to economically disadvantaged families. As ABC News
reported
<http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2014/04/hillary-clinton-says-she-will-be-a-hippy-grandma/>,
“What started as an awkward phone conversation [with HIPPY founder and
Israeli doctor Avima Lombard] where [Hillary] Clinton had to explain that
Arkansas was one of the states ‘on top of Texas’ resulted in a partnership
that cultivated the HIPPY program’s largest statewide network.”

·         *HILLARY CLINTON: Strengthening healthcare for rural Arkansans. *As
the New York Times
<http://www.nytimes.com/1993/01/20/us/the-inauguration-the-first-couple-a-union-of-mind-and-ambition.html?pagewanted=all>
wrote
in 1993, “Her public involvement in policy issues began only a few months
after her husband was inaugurated to his first term as Governor on Jan. 10,
1979, when he appointed her to be the chairwoman of the 44-member Rural
Health Advisory Committee. Her work with that board in developing programs
to expand health care in the state's isolated farm and mountain country
began a career of committee work on health and education issues.” And as a
board member of Arkansas Children's Hospital she was credited with starting
a process “that has trained a generation of pediatricians to work in poor
rural areas, and has made emergency care available for children across the
state through a network of ambulances and helicopters.”

5.              No credible challenger can amass the kind of broad party
support Clinton has.

·         *The “massive support” at this point in an election cycle is
“unprecedented in modern politics.”* According to National Journal,
“Hillary Clinton has dominated the Democratic presidential discussion like
few other candidates before her. Two years out from the Iowa caucuses, she
already has a top-tier super PAC, a grassroots organizing machine, dozens
of big donors ready to open their wallets, and massive support from
Democratic voters. It’s unprecedented in modern politics, veteran
Washington operatives agree.” [National Journal, 2/12/14
<http://www.nationaljournal.com/politics/is-hillary-clinton-blocking-a-new-generation-of-democratic-leaders-20140212>
]

·         * “In Hillary Clinton, the United States of America is now
experiencing a rare, if not unprecedented, political phenomenon.” *According
to Time, “Hillary Clinton has not decided whether to run for President
again. I have this on good authority, despite a recent barrage of reports
detailing the many moves that signal a campaign in the making. People close
to Clinton and familiar with her thinking insist that she hasn't made a
decision. Perhaps it all comes down, in Clintonian fashion, to definitions.
It depends on the meaning of the word decide. And on the meaning of the
word run. In Hillary Clinton, the United States of America is now
experiencing a rare, if not unprecedented, political phenomenon; she
requires a new lexicon. Clinton is so globally famous, so politically wired
and so primed for the presidency after two campaigns at her husband’s side
and one epic race of her own that her life as a private citizen has become
virtually indistinguishable from her life as a candidate.” [Time, 1/27/14
<http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2162918,00.html>]

·         *Sec. Clinton was “the single biggest frontrunner for a
Democratic presidential nomination” in the history of the Washington
Post-ABC News poll. *According to the Washington Post, “Hillary Rodham
Clinton’s 61-point edge over Joe Biden in new Washington Post-ABC News
polling makes her the single biggest frontrunner for a Democratic
presidential nomination in the history of the poll, an affirmation of the
conventional wisdom that the nomination is hers for the taking. Clinton
stands at an eye-popping 73 percent in a hypothetical 2016 primary race
with Biden, the sitting vice president, who is the only other candidate in
double digits at 12 percent. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who has
signed a letter along with a handful of other Democratic senators urging
Clinton to run, is at 8 percent. And that’s it. That lead is almost three
times as large as the one Clinton enjoyed in Post-ABC polling in December
2006, the first time we asked the 2008 Democratic presidential primary
ballot question.” [Washington Post, The Fix, 1/30/14
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2014/01/30/hillary-clinton-is-the-biggest-frontrunner-for-the-democratic-presidential-nomination-ever-yes-ever/>
]

·         *Sec. Clinton’s support placed her in “the strongest position for
any non-incumbent in the modern era.” *According to FiveThirtyEight, “We’re
more than 20 months from the first Republican presidential primary, and the
pool of candidates is inchoate. Pollsters are asking voters about 10
candidates, none of whom registers higher than 20 percent support in early
state or national surveys. It’s the most divided GOP field at this point in
the cycle since the parties reformed the nomination process in the 1970s.
But on the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton has the field pretty much to
herself, and there’s little sign that party leaders are encouraging others
to run (as they did in 2008). Despite the fact that she hasn’t declared her
intention to run yet, she’s polling at 60 to 70 percent — the strongest
position for any non-incumbent in the modern era and 30 points higher than
at this point in the 2008 cycle.” [FiveThirtyEight, 3/26/14
<http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/clinton-is-polling-like-an-incumbent-and-that-could-help-her-in-2016/>
]

·         *Former Obama campaign advisor: Sec. Clinton is “in a more
dominant position than anyone I’ve seen in an open-seat race probably in my
lifetime.” *According to the National Journal, “To call her a prohibitive
front-runner is a comical understatement—she has a lock on the Democratic
money machine, unprecedented support from the party’s base, and a
pseudo-campaign ready and waiting for her to take charge. Is there a
potential Barack Obama lurking out there? ‘I don’t see anybody on the
horizon right now,’ says a former senior adviser to the 2008 campaign that
beat Clinton. ‘She’s in a more dominant position than anyone I’ve seen in
an open-seat race probably in my lifetime.’” [National Journal, 3/17/14
<http://www.nationaljournal.com/magazine/for-some-democrats-taking-on-hillary-clinton-isn-t-such-a-crazy-idea-20140317>
]

6.              Voters are behind her, not just politicos.

·         *Clinton’s strength amongst the Democratic base remains
energized, despite an onslaught of attacks.  *Republicans have spent much
of 2014 attacking Hillary Clinton with everything but the proverbial
kitchen sink, at times through their nine national Super PACs and projects
devoted to stopping her from being President in addition to their party
apparatus and other traditional infrastructure.  The right wing even
generated three books this summer devoted to smearing the Clintons,
peddling gossip and speculation.

·         *A recent poll in the key swing state of Florida shows that while
right wingers are throwing punches, they aren’t connecting.* Peter A.
Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll, analyzed July
survey results for Florida, concluding
<http://www.quinnipiac.edu/news-and-events/quinnipiac-university-poll/florida/release-detail?ReleaseID=2063>
:

o   “Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton may be taking some criticism
recently in the news media and among some liberal Democratic precincts, but
nothing has changed among average voters in Florida where she remains queen
of the political prom.”

o   “Two-thirds of Democrats say she is their candidate for 2016 and none
of the others even makes it into double digits.”

o   “Secretary Clinton leads the Republicans against whom she is matched by
double digits with the exception of former Gov. Bush who trails her by 7
points.”

o   “Inside the Beltway they may be talking about Mrs. Clinton's potential
weaknesses should she run in 2016. But at this point in Florida, the
nation's largest presidential swing state, her assets overwhelm any
vulnerabilities.”

·         *Since launching in January 2013, Ready for Hillary has
identified 2.5 million Hillary supporters, held more than 500 grassroots
organizing and fundraising events across the country, and raised over $8.25
million from more than 90,000 donors.* Ninety-eight percent of
contributions were less than $100. Ready for Hillary has shipped more than
500,000 bumper stickers and gotten 800,000 people to sign a pledge to help
Hillary Clinton win if she runs for President. Online, Ready for Hillary
engages with its over 1.9 million Facebook supporters, cultivating a
digital grassroots infrastructure. In the last quarter alone, Ready for
Hillary received $2.5 million of donations from 43,000 individuals in all
50 states, DC, Puerto Rico, and U.S. territories, as well as from Americans
living abroad, including members of the military. [Ready for Hillary Press
Release,7//15/2014
<https://www.readyforhillary.com/updates/ready-hillary-adds-more-33000-new-donors-second-quarter-raises-over-25-million>
]

7.              Hillary Clinton's work ethic has been on display for
months. Clinton and her supporters, if she chooses to run, do not want a
coronation but rather will work hard, seek voters’ support and build a
winning coalition.

·         *Nobody is looking for a coronation.  *Hillary Clinton told Fusion’s
Jorge Ramos in a July interview
<http://fusion.net/Leadership/video/hillary-clinton-2016-candidates-902453>,
“I think there will probably be many candidates,” referring to the 2016
Democratic primary. “I’m not sure I’m going to run, but if I do, I think
competition is healthy and if people want to get in and want to be in a
primary, more power to them.”

·         *Contested primaries are “healthy.”* MSNBC noted
<http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/hillary-clinton-welcomes-healthy-democratic-primary-challenger>,
“Hillary Clinton may be the prohibitive, if undeclared, frontrunner for the
Democratic presidential nomination in 2016, but she still thinks it’d be
‘healthy’ for the party to have a contested primary.”

·         *Sec. Clinton’s "Hard Choices" book tour “also put to rest
questions about her health and stamina.” *According to NPR’s coverage of
Sec. Clinton’s “Hard Choices” book tour, “The tour also put to rest
questions about her health and stamina — she showed no signs of the
‘traumatic brain injury’ Karl Rove suggested she's suffered.” [NPR, 7/30/14
<http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2014/07/30/336468262/hard-choices-tour-put-spotlight-on-clintons-strengths-weaknesses>
]

·         *Sec. Clinton: “Each of us has talents. I have stamina. I have
endurance. I have health and a sense of mission.” *According to Stylist
(U.K.) magazine’s interview with Sec. Clinton, “I find it interesting that
a woman with so much get-up-and-go, so much drive and ambition, is quick to
advise others to reduce the pressure where possible. ‘I think I’m very
lucky,’ she says again. ‘Each of us has talents. I have stamina. I have
endurance. I have health and a sense of mission. And I’ve had that ever
since I was a little girl. But it is something you have to maintain because
you can get drained. You have to be prepared and aware enough to say I need
a good night’s sleep, I need a session of yoga, I need a good long walk.
Whatever it is that fills you up again. I can’t stress that enough.’”
[Stylist (U.K.), 7/16/14
<http://www.stylist.co.uk/people/hillary-clinton-on-criticism-taking-breaks-and-why-the-white-house-needs-a-woman#image-rotator-1>
]

·         *Sec. Clinton, on her health: “I'm feeling great.” *According to
a USA Today interview with Sec. Clinton published the same day as “Hard
Choices,” “Clinton looks rested and relaxed, laughing at several points in
the interview and pounding the table when the topic turned to growing
income inequality, around the world and in the United States. (She cites
husband Bill Clinton's policies in the White House as a template for how to
address that.) She says she suffers no symptoms from the concussion that
briefly gave her double vision and dizziness. ‘I'm feeling great,’ she
says.” [USA Today, 6/10/14
<http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2014/06/10/hillary-clinton-interview-hard-choices-book/10260885/>
]

·         *Sec. Clinton said “luckily” she has “a lot of resilience and a
lot of stamina.”* According to CNN’s coverage of Sec. Clinton’s comments
during a moderated Q&A at the Unique Lives & Experiences series, “And
Clinton also seemed to take on some recent Republican critiques of her
health when she told the audience that while running for president is
exhausting, she ‘luckily’ has ‘a lot of resilience and a lot of stamina.’”
[CNN, 6/3/14
<http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2014/06/03/hillary-clinton-downplays-controversy-around-bergdahls-release/>
]

·         *Sec. Clinton, on a competitive Democratic primary in 2016: “I'm
somebody who believes anybody can run.” *According to Fusion’s coverage of
Sec. Clinton’s interview with Jorge Ramos, “Many observers think it's a
foregone conclusion that Hillary Clinton will get the nod in the 2016
Democratic primary. Leaving aside her coyness on whether she will actually
run, Fusion's Jorge Ramos asked Clinton whether she thinks her party would
benefit from a competitive primary. ‘Well, I think there will probably be
many candidates,’ Clinton said. ‘I mean, I'm somebody who believes anybody
can run.’” [Fusion, 7/29/14
<http://fusion.net/Leadership/video/hillary-clinton-2016-candidates-902453>]

·         *Sec. Clinton: “I'm not sure I'm going to run but if I do, I
think competition is healthy and if people want to get in and want to be in
a primary, more power to them.” *According to Fusion’s coverage of Sec.
Clinton’s interview with Jorge Ramos, “Clinton certainly remembers
President Obama's sudden rise from one-term senator to Democratic
front-runner during in 2008, but she still sees the value of the primary
gauntlet. Competitive primaries can often help energize a party's base
around a candidate and steel their campaign for the general election,
provided the primary winner avoids gaffes and extreme positions won't sit
well with crucial swing voters. Such a political trial would be a welcome
part of her potential campaign, Clinton told Ramos. ‘I'm not sure I'm going
to run but if I do, I think competition is healthy and if people want to
get in and want to be in a primary, more power to them,’ Clinton said.”
[Fusion, 7/29/14
<http://fusion.net/Leadership/video/hillary-clinton-2016-candidates-902453>]

·         *Sec. Clinton said potential primary rivals were free to “do
whatever they choose to do on whatever timetable they decide.” *According
to the Associated Press’ coverage of an interview Sec. Clinton did with ABC
News’ Diane Sawyer, “Hillary Rodham Clinton's decision on seeking the White
House again could stretch into 2015, and she's making no commitments about
testifying before a select congressional committee investigating the 2012
terrorist attacks in Benghazi, Libya. In an excerpt of an interview with
ABC News that aired Sunday, the former secretary of state said potential
primary rivals are free to ‘do whatever they choose to do on whatever
timetable they decide.’” [Associated Press, 6/8/14
<http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_HILLARY_CLINTON?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT>
]

·         *Priorities USA co-founder: “When you run an outside group, it is
very helpful to have some kind of organizing principle. In the absence of
Clinton-as-candidate, Clinton-as-author is going to provide some basis for
that.*” According to BuzzFeed’s coverage of emerging confusion surrounding
what Sec. Clinton’s message would be if she ran for president in 2016,
“Bill Burton, a former aide to President Obama who co-founded Priorities
USA and now works as a consultant, said the book tour could provide the
Clinton groups more material to work with. ‘When you run an outside group,
it is very helpful to have some kind of organizing principle,’ said Burton.
‘In the absence of Clinton-as-candidate, Clinton-as-author is going to
provide some basis for that.’” [BuzzFeed, 5/27/14
<http://www.buzzfeed.com/rubycramer/the-wait-for-hillary-clintons-new-book-and-policy-specifics>
]

·         *Correct The Record hosted two four-hour “media training”
sessions for Democrats in anticipation of the “Hard Choices” release.
*According
to BuzzFeed’s coverage of emerging confusion surrounding what Sec.
Clinton’s message would be if she ran for president in 2016, “Correct the
Record, a research effort aimed at defending Clinton from Republican
attacks, hosted two four-hour ‘media training’ sessions last week for
Democratic surrogates ahead of the midterm elections and ‘in anticipation
of the book,’ with a focus on ‘making sure people are aware of her
accomplishments [as secretary of state],’ according to one person familiar
with the Correct the Record trainings.” [BuzzFeed, 5/27/14
<http://www.buzzfeed.com/rubycramer/the-wait-for-hillary-clintons-new-book-and-policy-specifics>
]

·         *CTR released a memo a day ahead of the “Hard Choices” release to
rebut criticism of the book. *According to Politico, “The pro-Hillary
Clinton group Correct the Record is ramping up a defense of her book ‘Hard
Choices,’ which has been written about at length in the lead-up to its
release Tuesday. A memo released Monday from the group’s director, Isaac
Wright, rebuts critics who have called the book too thin, too cautious or
too boring, hitting back on 10 different points at issue. ‘False and
misleading attacks from the right will doubtlessly continue to escalate
with the release of Hillary Clinton’s book, *Hard Choices*, tomorrow,’
Wright writes. ‘Certain patterns indicate the attacks will be
predictable.’” [Politico, 6/9/14
<http://www.politico.com/story/2014/06/hillary-clinton-correct-the-record-hard-choices-107597.html>
]

·         *CTR planned to send surrogates and Clinton advocates daily
talking points. *According to BuzzFeed, “One of the organizations backing
Hillary Clinton’s possible presidential campaign announced on Wednesday
that it would release daily talking points to provide Democrats with a
‘unified message’ ahead of 2016. Correct the Record, a project housed under
the Democratic super PAC, American Bridge, will send surrogates and Clinton
advocates a ‘daily email program, The Daily Point,’ the group’s head, Burns
Strider, wrote to supporters on Wednesday.” [BuzzFeed, 7/2/14
<http://www.buzzfeed.com/rubycramer/for-unified-message-pro-clinton-group-will-distribute-daily>
]

·         *Ready for Hillary launched “The Hillary Bus” for a
“coast-to-coast” bus tour that would shadow Sec. Clinton at a number of
stops along her book tour. *According to BuzzFeed, “Hillary Clinton will
tour the country this month to promote her new memoir. And she’ll be
followed by a rolling advertisement for her possible campaign. Meet ‘The
Hillary Bus.’ Ready for Hillary, an organization that’s been harnessing
support for Clinton since early last year, announced plans for a
‘coast-to-coast’ bus tour this summer. The bus — fondly named the Hillary
Bus — will shadow Clinton at a number of stops on her national book tour,
the group announced on Wednesday. The Hillary Bus will also travel to
colleges, Democratic events, and state fairs.” [BuzzFeed, 6/4/14
<http://www.buzzfeed.com/rubycramer/all-aboard-the-hillary-bus-fans-launch-national-tour>
]

·         *Ready for Hillary said they are going to use their growing
network to drive volunteers and donations to congressional Democrats in
2014. *According to the Washington Post, “Officials with Ready for Hillary,
which is working to harness grass-roots support for Clinton, said they are
going to use their growing network to drive volunteers and donations to
congressional Democrats this year. Postcards being sent to supporters in
Iowa and other states will seek volunteers to help in 2014 races.” [The
Washington Post, 2/28/14
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/democrats-embrace-big-money-groups-but-some-fear-lack-of-focus-on-midterm-elections/2014/02/28/dbde5f48-9e6f-11e3-9ba6-800d1192d08b_story.html>
]

·         *Ready for Hillary distributed more than $175,000 to 33 state
Democratic parties and national Democratic organizations. *According to the
Huffington Post, “Ready for Hillary, the organization setting the stage for
Hillary Clinton to run for president in 2016, has strategically distributed
more than $175,000 to 33 state Democratic parties and national Democratic
organizations. On May 28, Ready for Hillary shifted from being a super PAC
to what's known as a ‘hybrid PAC.’ With the new designation, the group can
contribute directly to federal candidates while still making unlimited
expenditures like a super PAC (provided it's not coordinating with
campaigns).” [Huffington Post, 7/8/14
<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/08/ready-for-hillary-money_n_5567110.html?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed>
]

·         *Messina told Senate Majority PAC and House Majority PAC that
Priorities USA planned to make $250,000 donations to both groups. *According
to Politico, “Priorities USA, the pro-Hillary Clinton super PAC that plans
to eventually raise high-dollar donations, is making a fresh round of
contributions to outside groups focused on the midterms, POLITICO has
learned. The group’s co-chairman, Obama 2012 campaign manager Jim Messina,
told officials with Senate Majority PAC and House Majority PAC that
Priorities will make donations of $250,000 apiece to each, according to a
source familiar with the discussions. That’s on top of earlier $250,000
donations that Priorities already has given to both.” [Politico, 6/24/14
<http://www.politico.com/story/2014/06/priorities-usa-democratic-groups-108250.html?hp=l4>
]

*TALKING POINTS: TOUGH ON TERRORISM*

*“We are waging a broad, sustained, and relentless campaign that harnesses
every element of American power against terrorism. And even as we remain
tightly focused on the terrorist network that attacked us 10 years ago,
we’re also thinking about the next 10 years and beyond, about the next
threats, about that long-term ideological challenge that requires us to dig
deeply into and rely upon our most cherished values.”*

*- *Secretary Clinton, 9/9/11

*BACKGROUND:* This week, an audiotape was released of Bill Clinton
discussing a strike he considered when he was President to catch Osama bin
Laden, but decided against because it would have killed hundreds of
innocent civilians. The right wing has seized upon this tape, attempting to
spin it as breaking news that somehow proves that the Clintons are weak on
terrorism. Here are the facts:

*The proposed strike Bill Clinton discussed in the audiotape released this
week has been well known for years.*

·          According to CNN
<http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2014/07/31/bill-clinton-i-could-have-killed-osama-bin-laden/?hpt=hp_t2>,
“A number of books and the 9/11 Commission Report have acknowledged that
the Clinton administration considered a December 1998 strike on bin Laden
but scrapped the plan over possible collateral damage.”

*While the right wing is desperately trying to paint the Clintons as
anything but tough on terrorism, the facts show otherwise.*

·         As Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton played a crucial role in
bringing Osama bin Laden to justice.

·         Hillary Clinton was New York’s Senator on 9/11 and as she wrote
in *Hard Choices*, “I felt an intense responsibility to stand with the
people of our wounded city … I did all I could to urge the pursuit of bin
Laden and al Qaeda and improve our nation’s efforts against terrorism.”

·         According to *Hard Choices*, Secretary Clinton was frustrated
with the Bush Administration for “losing focus on the hunt for bin Laden,”
and she was adamant that nothing was as important as capturing al-Qaeda’s
leader.

·         Secretary Clinton actively stood up for the raid that brought
Osama bin Laden to justice.

·         She was one of the administration’s strongest voices in favor of
the raid, advising President Obama to “go for it,” believing that “the
risks were outweighed by the benefits of success,” according to her book *Hard
Choices*.

·         After the raid, Secretary Clinton was tough on Pakistani leaders
for harboring bin Laden, and she became a key player in adjusting
U.S.-Pakistan relations.

·         Following bin Laden’s death, Secretary Clinton declared that the
war on terrorism and pursuit of al-Qaeda was not yet over and pursued a
number of anti-terrorism efforts at the State Department.

·         Secretary Clinton built relationships with key players in the
Middle East, funded counterterrorism training initiatives, and instituted
new roles at the State Department to fight terrorism, including the Center
for Strategic Counterterrorism Communications, the Bureau of
Counterterrorism, the Global Counterterrorism Forum, and the Bureau of
Conflict and Stabilization Operations.

*THE POINT: Hillary Connects With Independents, Democrats, Swing-State
Voters, Women, Young Voters*

*BACKGROUND: *Despite all the right-wing attacks and media hype, Hillary
Clinton is connecting with Democrats, independents and Americans of all
backgrounds who are hungry for her experience and vision, according to a
new Quinnipiac
<http://www.quinnipiac.edu/news-and-events/quinnipiac-university-poll/ohio/release-detail?ReleaseID=2066>
poll
this week of the critical swing state of Ohio.

*KEY POINTS*

·         *Hillary connects with independents, swing voters, Democrats,
women and young voters in one of the nation’s premier battleground states:
Ohio.*

·         *Secretary Clinton leads every general election matchup and leads
in favorability.*

o   Secretary Clinton would win against every potential GOP contender
polled, including the state’s own governor, Governor Kasich.

o   Clinton led former Florida Governor Jeb Bush by 11 points and New
Jersey Governor Chris Christie by nearly 10.

o   A majority of people surveyed had a favorable opinion of Secretary
Clinton. She was the only potential candidate whom over half of the
population viewed favorably.

·         *Hillary is the strongest potential candidate among independents,
women, and young voters.*

o   Among independents, Clinton led Jeb Bush, Chris Christie, and Ohio
Governor John Kasich.

o   Clinton is the only potential candidate whom a majority of women voters
viewed favorably.

o   Hillary Clinton had the highest favorability among 18 to 29 year-old
voters.

·         *Hillary Clinton has astounding support among Ohio Democrats and
progressives.*

o   A whopping 92 percent of Democrats said they would vote for Clinton
over Jeb Bush and almost 9 in 10 said they would vote for her over Rand
Paul.

o   A whopping 87 percent of Democrats would support Clinton over Chris
Christie while 9 out of 10 (89 percent) would vote for Clinton over
Governor Kasich.

o   A staggering 92 percent of Democrats view Hillary Clinton favorably.

·         *Hillary is strong in Ohio, a key battleground state.*

o   “Ohio is considered a key prize in presidential elections. Clinton won
the state during the 2008 Democratic presidential primary.” – MSNBC, 7/31/14
<http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/hillary-clinton-ohio-poll>

o   The Republicans know the importance of Ohio, where they have chosen to
host their convention ahead of 2016.

o   Ohio is consistently viewed as a critical state, with George W. Bush’s
2004
<http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/09/20/just-how-important-is-ohio-in-2012-very/>
win
in the state locking down his re-election. Obama’s victories in 2008
<http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/05/us/politics/05campaign.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0>
 and 2012 <http://www.cnn.com/2012/11/06/politics/election-2012/> are often
credited with giving him the necessary 270 electoral votes to win the
presidency.

o   Ohio has voted for the winning presidential candidate in every election
since 1964
<http://www.cleveland.com/datacentral/index.ssf/2012/12/barack_obama_won_ohio_by_16621.html>,
a record longer than any other state’s.

*TALKING POINTS:*

*Hillary Clinton on Undocumented Immigrant Children and the Crisis at the
Border*

*“We need to, on a humanitarian basis, provide emergency care for all
children. I don’t care who they are, or where they come from. They need to
be given the basics and necessities and as much love as we can.” – Hillary
Clinton*

*In recent interviews, including one with Fusion’s Jorge Ramos airing
Tuesday night, Hillary Clinton discussed the crisis at the border with the
influx of unaccompanied and undocumented immigrant children arriving from
Central America:*

·         In a discussion with Jorge Ramos about the ongoing border crisis,
Hillary Clinton recommended a screening process for the children to
distinguish between “migrant” children and “refugees” on a case-by-case
basis.

·         Hillary explained that the children who qualify as refugees or
have family in the United States would be allowed to stay, and the children
who don’t qualify for asylum or have a family connection here should be
deported.

·         When Hillary Clinton recently told
<http://edition.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1406/17/se.01.html> CNN’s Christiane
Amanpour that some of the immigrant children should be sent back, she was
referring to “migrant” children who can be reunited with families in their
home countries, as long as we know there are responsible adults to receive
them.

·         Hillary told
<http://bigstory.ap.org/article/clinton-us-needs-orderly-process-border-kids>
Jorge
Ramos that the U.S. needs a “sensible, orderly process” for children
crossing the border. According to Clinton, "A lot of people are
understandably, as I am, upset about what's happened to these kids but if
we don't have a procedure, it's not going to stop."

·         Hillary thinks we need a system in place in Honduras, Guatemala
and El Salvador to screen children in their home countries, so that those
who qualify can come safely and those who don’t qualify will be less likely
to make the dangerous journey.

·         Hillary has repeatedly said that we must provide emergency care
even to those children who don’t qualify to stay in the U.S. As she told
Jorge Ramos, “We need to, on a humanitarian basis, provide emergency care
for all of the children. I don’t care who they are, where they come from.
They need to be given the basics and necessities and as much love as we
can.”

·         Clinton’s position is consistent with the Obama administration’s
policy.  Clinton and the Obama administration both support comprehensive
immigration reform and increased funding for border security.

*Hillary Clinton is Pro-Immigrant and Pro-DREAM Act:*

·         Clinton is a vocal supporter of immigration reform and a pathway
to citizenship.  She has consistently voted in favor of comprehensive
immigration reform. 5/25/06
<http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?&congress=109&session=2&vote=00157>
, 6/28/07
<http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=1&vote=00235>

·         Clinton is a supporter of the DREAM Act and advocated for it on
the Senate floor. 10/24/07
<http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?r110:S24OC7-0015:>

·         In the Senate, Hillary Clinton introduced an amendment to reunite
families separated by the immigration system.  The amendment would have
reclassified the spouses and minor children of lawful permanent residents
as immediate relatives.  6/6/07
<http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=1&vote=00195>

·         Clinton introduced a bill to restore access to Medicaid and SCHIP
benefits for legal immigrant pregnant women and children. 3/5/07
<http://beta.congress.gov/bill/110th-congress/senate-bill/764?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22Legal+Immigrant+Children%27s+Health+Improvement+%22%5D%7D>

·         Clinton introduced a bill to provide more funding for job
training for people with limited English language skills. 7/31/03
<http://beta.congress.gov/bill/108th-congress/senate-bill/1543?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22Access+to+Employment+and+English+Language+Acquisition+Act%22%5D%7D>

*Shame On America Rising, Judicial Watch: Right-Wing Groups Cry Foul When
Attacks Proven Empty*

In a bizarre twist to the anti-Clinton crusades of America Rising and
Judicial Watch, the two organizations today cried foul when their own
investigation into the Clintons’ financial reporting proved everything in
question was done with full disclosure, review, and without conflict of
interest.

So what do right-wing organizations do when their attacks prove empty?
What’s the next step when even a partisan-driven investigation proves
everything was done above board and handled with careful attention to
ethics and procedure?  *Cry foul anyway, of course.*

“Shame on America Rising and shame on Judicial Watch for yelling ‘fire’
when there isn’t even smoke.  Even a right-wing investigation turned up
that on 215 occasions during Hillary Clinton’s tenure, Bill Clinton and the
Clinton Foundation fully disclosed the details of his business and speaking
arrangements and on all 215 occasions they were without ethical objection
or conflict of interest,” Adrienne Elrod, spokesperson for Correct The
Record, said.  “These folks need something better to do with their time if
all they can do is complain about things going right.”

America Rising, an anti-Clinton organization, promoted, “A joint
investigation by the *Washington Examiner* and the nonprofit watchdog
group Judicial
Watch found that former President Clinton gave 215 speeches and earned $48
million while his wife presided over U.S. foreign policy,” today.

According to the report today,  “Under State Department protocols, a
‘designated agency ethics official’ is assigned to advise the secretary of
state about ‘potential or actual conflicts of interest;’” and after
thorough reviews, no conflicts of interest were found.

In fact, a December 12, 2008, memorandum of understanding was entered into
between the Clinton Foundation and the Administration, setting up a
thorough disclosure and review process to “not create conflicts or the
appearance of conflicts” of interest “for Senator Clinton as Secretary of
State.”  That memo has been publicly available for six years.

And the big scoop?  The protocols worked. Conflicts and the appearance of
conflicts were avoided.

Shame on you, America Rising and Judicial Watch, for spinning the facts.

BACKGROUND:
*Judicial Watch is “a tenacious political opponent that launched countless
probes of the Clinton administration.”* “On Thursday, Judicial Watch, a
tenacious political opponent that launched countless probes of the Clinton
administration, fired its latest legal salvo, nearly a decade after Clinton
ended his second term. The group filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in
the District against the National Archives and Records Administration,
saying it should maintain and release the tapes under the Presidential
Records Act.” [Wapo, 10/28/10
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/28/AR2010102805621.html>
]

*At one point, Judicial Watch was suing the Clinton administration on 18
separate matters. *“Richard Mellon Scaife, the Pittsburgh billionaire whose
foundations have bankrolled an array of anti-Clinton activities, gave one
of his largest grants last year to Judicial Watch, the conservative group
suing the Clinton administration in 18 separate matters, newly released
records show.” [Washington Post, 6/10/98
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/clinton/stories/klayman061098.htm>
]