(This caricature of Hillary Clinton is by the inimitable DonkeyHotey.)I have angered some of my fellow progressives because I support Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination in 2016. They think I should be supporting Bernie Sanders. I understand that. Bernie is a true progressive, and I don't blame any of my friends for supporting him. I think everyone should support and vote for the person of their choice -- the person that their conscience tells tham to vote for.
For me, that is Hillary Clinton. I admired the graceful way she accepted defeat in 2008, and I admired her for agreeing to serve as Secretary of State for President Obama (who I supported in 2008) -- and I think she did well in that position. She has done everything her party has asked of her, and I just think 2016 is her time. I also believe she is the only Democrat that can beat the well-financed GOP candidate (whoever that is) -- and for the good of this country, I think it is essential that the GOP be kept out of the White House in 2016.
I have also been told that Hillary Clinton is not a progressive. That's just silly. She may not be perfect, but neither is Bernie Sanders (as much as I do love him) or any other politician. I have yet to see the politician that I agree with on everything. Clinton is progressive on many things that are important to me. For example:
* She supports raising the minimum wage to lift millions of hard-working Americans out of poverty.
* She supports putting more regulations on Wall Street and the giant financial institutions.
* She supports equal rights for all Americans.
* She supports equal pay for women.
* She supports affordable child care for all working parents.
* She supports strengthening the right of unions to organize to protect American workers.
* She supports the Affordable Care Act (and in fact, showed a willingness to go even further with her proposal during her husband's presidency).
* She supports the overturning of the misguided Supreme Court Citizens United decision.
* She supports taxing the rich more, and shrinking the huge income and wealth gap in this country.
* She supports defending and enhancing Social Security.
* She supports making college affordable and attainable for all who wish to attend.
* She supports companies sharing gains in productivity with workers.
Like it or not, that is a progressive agenda -- and while I believe we should all vote our conscience, it is progressive enough for me. As a progressive, I am proud to support Hillary Clinton for the 2016 Democratic nomination.
