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Health & Fitness

Secretary Clinton's Accomplishment

Hillary Clinton's accomplishments won't be measured in a vacuum.

Republicans and Republican-leaning rightists (two indistinguishable groups in my eyes) really think they're on to something when they ask, "What are Hillary Clinton's accomplishments?"

Now they have a point that Hillary Clinton can't yet point to some kind of awe-inspiring accomplishment to make a monument of herself.  That's true, but it completely dismisses the fact that her portfolio is authentically impressive, which, of course, it is.

She's been first lady of Arkansas, first lady of the United States, the first female U.S. senator for the State of New York, and she most recently was United States Secretary of State.  Those things aren't meaningless.  She's seasoned.  She's experienced, and, yes, she's accomplished.

Now in those roles did she chalk up major achievements?  I'd say not.  She had achievements, but they were largely small-bore accomplishments.  As U.S senator for New York, she worked to secure funding for rebuilding the World Trade Center after the 9-11 attacks.  As secretary of state, she created good will abroad for the United States, worked in international women's issues and also set a good international example for the American value of full equality by being an effective executive in her role.  All of those things are good things, but they're not exactly major.

But does that mean she's not qualified?  Certainly not.  She's fully qualified, and what the right wants the listener to forget when they challenge her accomplishments, is that the accomplishments won't be measured in a vacuum.  They will be compared to her rivals' all along the way.  They will be compared to other Democrats in the party's primary elections, and then, once nominated, they will be compared to her Republican opponent's.

Whom will the Republicans nominate who can outshine her in the accomplishment department?

I think the answer to that will be "No one."

Kentucky U.S. Senator Rand Paul is frequently cited as a likely nominee.  What big things has he accomplished?  Or let's say it's Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, a sleeper candidate whom I think will turn out to be a big deal if he wins reelection and decides to run for president: What big things has he accomplished?  Beating down public unions and surviving a recall vote?  Let's see: Whom else?  N.J. Governor Chris Christie?  Chances for him are slim.

You see, if Hillary Clinton wins the Democratic Party's nomination for president, then she will have answered the challenge (with plenty of bonus to boot): What is her biggest accomplishment?  The answer will be that, by winning a major party's nomination, she will have become the first person ever to give the American public a politically viable opportunity to make history once and for all by electing the first woman ever to sit in the Oval Office.

That will be a big deal.  No, let me take that back.  It will be a huge deal.

It will be exciting.  It will capture the public imagination like almost nothing else can.  And even if Republicans tried to do the same thing, then we could compare portfolios, and Hillary Clinton would still come out on top because they have no potential woman candidate with anywhere near Hillary's stature.  The best they'll be able to do will be to make a patriarchal promotion of some white guy doing some lady a favor to pick her as his running mate.  That's not authentic equality - not by a mile.

I don't see how Secretary Clinton could not run.  It's practically her duty.  I think she will run and win the Democratic nomination.  It's almost hers for the asking.  I think she will make history to be the first woman to ever win a major party's nomination for president and then go on to one-up herself and become the first woman president ever for the United States.

And it's about time.  Women are a shade over 50% of the American population, but they are 0% of American presidents.

Getting there will be a major accomplishment for her, but, just as importantly, it will be a major accomplishment for us because it won't happen without our votes, and that's a very positive and appealing choice to offer.

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