With a resounding victory in New York primary on Tuesday, Hillary Clinton advanced closer to securing Democratic nomination for presidential race and pledged to draw on America’s diversity for collective uplift of all.
Her tally of 1428 pledged delegates puts the former secretary of state ahead of Democratic contender Senator Bernie Sanders, and rejuvenates her campaign after Sander’s surprising streak of victories in contests during last two months. The addition of 502 superdelegates takes Clinton’s numbers to 1930, compared with Sanders’ 1189. According to the Democratic system, a candidate is required to win 2,383 delegates to earn nomination for the White House race.
In the Empire State, known for its multicultural complexion, Clinton had a two-fold message – uniting the Democratic Party under her, the increasingly likely victorious candidate, and contrasting her vision with those of Republican Donald Trump and Ted Cruz, whose statements have upset America’s minorities and progressive citizens alike.
Clinton spoke of a tomorrow “where no barriers hold you back — and all of our people can share in the promise of America,” and promised to address healthcare, immigration, jobs, discrimination and race issues.
“Imagine a tomorrow where every parent can find a good job and every grandparent can enjoy a secure retirement. Where no child grows up in the shadow of discrimination or under the specter of deportation. Where hard work is honored, families are supported, and communities are strong. A tomorrow where we trust and respect each other despite our differences. Because we’re going to make positive differences in people’s lives. That is what this is supposed to be about. Actually helping people and each other.”
The former first lady noted that the great recession wiped out jobs, homes, and savings, and a lot of Americans haven’t yet recovered from it. She cited several examples of New Yorkers striving to fight challenges, and vowed efforts to resolve systemic flaws.
“America is a problem-solver nation. And in this campaign we are setting bold, progressive goals backed up by real plans that will improve lives, creating more good jobs that provide dignity and pride in a middle class life, raising wages and reducing inequality. Making sure all our kids get a good education no matter what zip code they live in. Building ladders of opportunity and empowerment so all of our people can go as far as their hard work and talent will take them. Let’s revitalize places that have been left out and left behind — from inner cities to coal country to Indian country. And let’s put Americans to work rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure, including our failing water systems like the one in Flint, Michigan.”
The Democratic frontrunner also promised to take on the challenge of racism, enact comprehensive immigration reform and get women equal pay status.
“There are many places across our country where children and families are at risk from the water they drink and the air they breathe. Let’s combat climate change and make America the clean energy super power of the 21st Century. Let’s take on the challenge of systematic racism and invest in communities of color, and finally pass comprehensive immigration reform. And once and for all, let’s (have) equal pay for women.”
Calling the 2016 election as “one of the most consequential elections of our lifetime,” she criticized Republican presidential candidates.
“Donald Trump and Ted Cruz are pushing a vision for America that’s divisive and frankly dangerous: returning to trickle down economics, opposing any increase in the minimum wage, restricting a woman’s right to make her own healthcare decisions, promising to round up millions of immigrants, threatening to ban all Muslims from entering the country, planning to treat American Muslims like criminals.
“These things go against everything America stands for. And we have a very different vision. It’s about lifting each other up, not tearing each other down. Instead of building walls we are going to break down barriers. And in this campaign I have seen again our remarkable diversity and determination. This is a state and a country of big-hearted, open-minded, straight-talking, hard-working people.”
Also, Clinton vowed to reform the criminal justice system and “ban the box” so others have a fair chance to succeed.
“You know, New Yorkers and Americans speak every language, follow every faith, hail from every continent. Our diversity is one of our greatest strengths in the 21st Century. Not a weakness.”
Speaking in the face of economic and security challenges facing the United States and the world, and a variety of responses being propagated by politicians, Clinton reminded Americans of compassion.
“As Robert Kennedy, whose senate seat I was honored to hold, once said, ‘we are a great country, an unselfish country, and a compassionate country.’ And no matter what anyone tells you or what you might hear from others running for president, that is still true today.”
