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 the Clintons for decades. They investigated the family's real estate holdings, labeling it the "WhiteWater Scandal".
Nothing much came of that investigation-- except 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.
Amazingly, though the sin of adultery was Bill's, Republicans even blamed Hillary for that as well, as when Donald Trump called her an "enabler".
When the Benghazi tragedy occurred, four brave men died soldiers' deaths, giving their lives in the service of their country.
This was a deep sadness for all--but the GOP used it as a way to blame Hillary.
Seemingly endless investigations began. When one concluded without the desired result, another sprang up to take it place: these multi-million dollar affairs lasted longer than the investigation of Pearl Harbor, Watergate, and the alleged weapons of mass destruction used as an excuse to invade Iraq.
And what grave crimes were discovered?
Columbus Telegram columnist Dick Polman summed it up:
"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 the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff..."
However--all that digging did disclose that Secretary Clinton had a private email account on which she did government business. So that too was investigated.
When no less than the director of the FBI James Comey declared there was no case to be brought against Secretary Clinton, Republicans were furious.
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 be in handcuffs too?
And what about Colin Powell and Condoleeza Rice? Are they also in danger of imprisonment? Both had private email accounts, on which they conducted governmental business.
But the mere absence of a crime was not enough to stop the investigation.
These are no objective seekers of truth! Watch the video: interrogator Chaffetz actually laughs as he promises to help the FBI continue the interrogation of Hillary, not to investigate her actions, but the words she used to defend herself. Chaffetz's face lights up with glee; he has found another avenue of attack!
Remember the grueling eleven hour ordeal Hillary endured before their committee? She sat there so calmly, back straight, answering every question they could dream up. But it wasn't enough.
These endless investigations are like the "trial" of Joan of Arc, when her enemies knew beforehand that she was going to be found guilty of something, and it did not really matter what. They attacked Joan day after day, until they finally found her guilty--of the sin of wearing men's clothes!
Even some Republicans grudgingly admit the politics 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".
Partisan tricks must not deny us a potentially great President.
We all 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..."
Compare that to the Republican "accomplishments" in healthcare, i.e. their dozens of votes to try and kill Obamacare.
Granted, it must be frustrating for them, 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 questionable circumstances, when a Republican-dominated Supreme Court stopped a recount that might have given us President Al Gore. But I put up with it.
One hopes Republicans will similarly respect the voters' will, when it is Madame President Hillary Clinton taking the oath of office.
But I doubt it. So long as they have power, I expect Republicans will continue 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 the non-millionaire portion of our country. She will bring change, getting things done, calmly, undramatically, but making progress in small ways and large. She will nominate new members of the Supreme Court, raise the minimum wage, help students pay their way through college, fight the poisoning of earth, sea and sky, setting a shining example for youth 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 held high-- and as long as there are Americans who 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