Hillary Clinton's Greatest Credential (Hillary Group)
Pundits sometimes struggle to describe the signature accomplishments of Hillary Clinton, as she begins to contemplate a second candidacy for the U.S. Presidency. While her tenure as Secretary of State is generally admired, analysts often point to a lack of headline-grabbing peace deals, historic treaties, or any kind of “Clinton Doctrine” as evidence of a kind of second tier status for her time as America’s top diplomat.
Yet they ignore what is — in my view — the greatest single accomplishment of any living U.S. public servant.
Over the last quarter century, Hillary Clinton has managed to put the interests of women and girls atop the global development agenda.
She didn’t do it alone — her partners ranged from her husband, to the United Nations, to a network of brave human rights leaders around the world, to global and regional NGOs, to the man who defeated her for the 2008 Democratic nomination for President.
But two aspects of this journey cannot be denied, even by those who dislike Clinton for political or personal reasons: she used every facet of every office and position she had to pursue this effort — from First Lady to U.S. Senator to the State Department—and her name is synonymous in the global movement for equal rights for women and girls with that ongoing fight for justice.
And a third aspect cannot be denied: impact....
During her four years at State, Clinton made the advancement of women and girls a central focus for Administration policy, with the strong support of President Obama. Occasionally derided as a “small bore” initiative by commentators who tend to favor power politics and manly photo opps, Clinton’s push for women’s participation was in fact a signature accomplishment of her tenure — and it continued the work she began in the 90s when she first arrived in Washington.
Indeed, Hillary Clinton’s record at the State Department is deeply progressive, and the work of a major feminist leader....
I would...offer one observation on behalf of our consensus Democratic nominee: the movement you lead continues, it gathers strength, it’s bringing new generations of women (and men) to the cause. The networks are growing.
Building and supporting and leading that movement is the greatest accomplishment of your public life, and breaking the barrier at the top of U.S. politics would matter deeply to its future.
Tom Watson of #HillaryMen: https://medium.com/@tomwatson/hillary-clintons-greatest-credential-af4513497d51
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Thank you!
