HILLARY: “WALK ON THROUGH THE WIND…”
By Don C. Reed
Remember that grand old song “You’ll Never Walk Alone”?
“Walk on through the wind, walk on through the rain, though your dreams be tossed and blown…”– Rogers and Hammerstein’s CAROUSEL
Throughout her career, Hillary Clinton has walked through an inordinate amount of wind—much of it from blowhard Republicans.
The formerly Grand Old Party has been insulting and attacking her for decades. They investigated her and President Clinton’s real estate holdings, labeling it the “WhiteWater Scandal”. When they could find no acts of criminality, they kept digging anyway, searching desperately to find something—anything—that could hurt the Clintons. The subject of that particular investigation was real estate transactions, but the Republicans dug up evidence that Bill was being unfaithful. Infidelity is of course a tragedy to the family, but not a crime, or else such well-known philanderers as Donald Trump and Newt Gingrich would long since have been on trial.
https://world.wng.org/2016/01/from_newt_to_trump?platform=hootsuite
Amazingly, although the sin of adultery was Bill’s, Republicans even blamed Hillary for that as well, as when Donald Trump called her an “enabler”.
–https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-05-09/trump-says-hillary-clinton-an-enabler-of-bill%27s-infidelity/7394734
When the Benghazi tragedy occurred, four brave men died soldiers’ deaths, losing their lives in the service of their country.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/10/18/gowdy-benghazi-panel-has-new-facts-focused-on-four-dead-americans-not-clinton.html
This was a deep sadness for all—but the GOP used it as a way to blame something on Hillary.
Seemingly endless investigations began. When one ended, another sprang up, lasting longer than the investigation of Pearl Harbor, Watergate, and the alleged weapons of mass destruction used as an excuse to invade Iraq.
https://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/7/5/1545292/-Benghazi-investigation-has-lasted-longer-than-Pearl-Harbor-Watergate-Iran-Contra-and-almost-9-11
And what grave crimes were discovered?
Columbus Telegram columnist Dick Polman summed it up well, saying:
“None of the previous investigations unearthed any evidence that Clinton, in her role as secretary of state, had done anything perfidious or criminal. (Neither did the) “Republican-led House Intelligence committee (nor the) Senate Intelligence Committee… the Senate Armed Services Committee…, the House Foreign Services Committee…the House Oversight & Government Reform Committee… the Senate Homeland Affairs Committee… Nor did the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff…”
https://www.gazettextra.com/20160629/dick_polman_goodbye_benghazi_sleuths_take_your_tinfoil_hats
However—the years of digging did disclose that Secretary Clinton had a private email account on which she did government business.
One of her chief interrogators, Jason Chaffetz (R-UT), puffed himself up in self-righteous indignation: stating that an ordinary citizen would “be in handcuffs” if he had done what Secretary Clinton was accused of.
But Mr. Chaffetz himself has a private email, on which he knowingly comports government business. Should he hold out his wrists for the metal bracelets?
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/rep-jason-chaffetzs-business-card-lists-gmail-address/story?id=29368587
And what about Colin Powell and Condoleeza Rice? Are they also in danger of imprisonment for their private email accounts, on which both conducted governmental business?
–https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/feb/04/colin-powell-condoleezza-rice-private-email-accounts-classified-hillary-clinton
When FBI director James Comey declared there was no case to be brought against Secretary Clinton, Republicans were furious—but the mere lack of a crime would not stop their investigation.
Watch the video: interrogator Chaffetz actually laughs as he promises to help the FBI continue the interrogation of Hillary, not to investigate her actions, (they having been found innocent) but the words she used to defend herself. Chaffetz’s face lights up with glee; he has found another avenue of attack!
https://www.mrctv.org/videos/chaffetz-promises-fbi-director-referral-next-few-hours-investigate-hillary-clintons-statements-under-oath
Remember the grueling eleven hour ordeal Hillary endured, facing their most recent committee? She sat there calmly, back straight, answering every question they could dream up. But it wasn’t enough.
It was like the “trial” of Joan of Arc, when her enemies knew beforehand that she was going to be found guilty, and it did not matter of what. They attacked Joan day after day, and finally found her guilty—of the sin of wearing men’s clothing!
–https://www.answers.com/Q/Why_was_Joan_of_Arc_convicted_of_heresy
Even some Republicans now admit the political nature of the anti-Hillary hearings.
“…a big part of this investigation…was designed to go after…an individual, Hillary Clinton.”—Rep. Richard Hanna, R-New York.
“Everybody thought Hillary Clinton was unbeatable, right? But we put together a Benghazi special committee…What are her numbers today? Her (poll) numbers are dropping…”—Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, (R-Calif).
And when Republican staffer Bradley Podliska was fired from the committee, he claimed that part of the reason he was ousted was that he had been insufficiently enthusiastic in going after Ms. Clinton. Podliska called it a “partisan investigation” with a “hyper-focus on Hillary Clinton”.
— https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-house-benghazi-committee-unravels/2015/10/20/ad6101c4-7763-11e5-a958-d889faf561dc_story.html
Partisan trickery must not deny us a potentially great President.
We know what she is capable of, how as First Lady, she fought for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP).
The late Senator Edward Kennedy said, “The Children’s Insurance Program wouldn’t be in existence today if we didn’t have Hillary Clinton pushing for it…”
–https://www.factcheck.org/2008/03/giving-hillary-credit-for-schip/
Compare that to the Republican “accomplishments” in healthcare, i.e. their 62 votes to try and kill Obamacare.
https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/obamacare-repeal-dead-enders-refuse-move
Granted, it must be frustrating for such folks to see one of America’s strongest healthcare advocates on the verge of becoming President.
But that is how democracy works. You win some, you lose some. I was not happy when George W. Bush was the President, especially as he won under what I consider questionable circumstances, but I put up with it.
https://commondreams.org/views01/0120-04.htm
One hopes Republicans will similarly respect the voters’ will, when Madame President Clinton takes the oath of office.
But I doubt it. So long as they have power, I expect Republicans will continue trying to obstruct anything offered by a Democratic President, just as they have done throughout President Obama’s time in office.
And Hillary?
She will be there too, fighting for our country. Calmly, undramatically, she will bring change, getting things done, making progress in small ways and large. She will nominate new members of the Supreme Court, raise the minimum wage, fight the poisoning of earth, sky and sea, help students make their way through college, all the while setting a shining example for young girls around the world—no matter what trash the opposition talks.
As the old song says, she will “walk on through the wind” with her head up high– and as long as Americans respect courage and compassion, Hillary Rodham Clinton will never walk alone.
Don C. Reed is the author of “Stem Cell Battles: Proposition 71 and Beyond: How Ordinary People Can Fight Back Against the Crushing Burden of Chronic Disease”, available from Amazon.com