The Case Against Clinton

I voted for Trump.  I am not a sexist, racist, homophobe or xenophobe.  I don’t even consider myself a Republican.   I vote based upon facts, logic and my principles.   I do not expect others to have the same ideologies as I do – and I don’t call them vile names when they don’t.

Don’t try to over simplify this election with generalizations and accusations.   Human nature is far more complex and not that easily ascertained or understood.  You have to take the time to look at the totality of all the intricate issues and nuances to understand the results of this election.  A 60 second sound byte and regurgitation of talking points and vitriol will not suffice.

Like the people screaming about Trump, I was equally, if not more, concerned about the country under a Clinton Presidency.   Why is one side’s concern more valid than the others and why in the world would I listen to a bunch of raging celebrities that display little semblance of intelligence?  I am extremely concerned about the America my kids will inherent.  That is my right as much as it is yours.

After a week of listening to name calling and protesting and watching people and kids be physically assaulted for supporting Trump, I decided it was time to lay out the case against Clinton.  Unfortunately, this could be an entire book – so I have tried to hit the highlights.

I refuse to be shamed for exercising my right to vote in the manner I believe best represents my hopes for this once great country.  For those that are willing to take 10 minutes to read the perceptions of a Trump voter, perhaps you will discover we are not as deplorable as you may think and that we vote for reasons other than racism, phobias or “whitelash.”

Clinton made no notable distinction between her proposed policies and Obama’s.  For purposes of this discussion, the two can be joined.

Foreign Policy

US foreign policy across the globe is in complete shambles.  At one point, when asked about her single biggest accomplishment, Clinton herself could not point to a notable foreign policy achievement while Secretary of State – other than most miles traveled.

Russia

• Relations with Russia are at their worst since the Cold war.  Her attempted “Russian Reset” clearly failed –  a “minor whoops”
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• Clinton stated she would create a no fly zone in Syria in the third debate
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• General Joseph Dunford, the Charmain of the Joint Chiefs, said creation of a no fly zone in Syria would require going to war with Russia –  “ a very big and serious whoops”
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• Russia has actually threatened to shoot down US aircraft in Syria and has moved an aircraft carrier group and sophisticated air defense systems into the region
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• NATO and Russia have mobilized nuclear (yes nuclear) and military forces
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• Trump wants to restore relations with Russia and de-escalate tensions – something they have already begun discussing.  Why are good relations with Russia a bad thing?  Personally, I don’t like being on the brink of WWIII with Russia – especially over Syria and the Ukraine
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• No proof has been provided that Trump has inappropriate support from Russia
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• So who is the greater risk for creating a WWIII scenario?

The Middle East – In complete disarray

• ISIS
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  • ISIS is a Sunni Islamic based terrorist organization known for the horrific crimes it commits upon humanity
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  • ISIS grew due the premature departure of US forces from Iraq by Obama/Clinton
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  • Obama/Clinton underestimated ISIS calling them the JV resulting in a large expansion of territory held by ISIS
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  • The presence of ISIS in Syria is now used as the rationale for US military presence in Syria and Iraq and which has resulted in escalated tensions with Russia, China and Iran
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  • The US is providing funding and arms to so called “moderate rebels” in Syria which are often indistinguishable from ISIS
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• Syria
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  • The US has no international legal basis for airstrikes or troop presence in Syria
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  • The alleged basis for US involvement in Syria is ISIS – not the Syrian refugee crisis
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  • Some believe the true rationale for US presence in Syria is to replace Assad with a Sunni based leader (like Turkey, Iran and Qatar) and install a pipeline to Europe – thereby creating competition with Russia for European energy requirements
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  • US diplomatic relations with Russia have been terminated relative to Syria – why would a Nobel Peace prize winner ever terminate diplomatic relations?
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  • Clinton says she wants to establish a no-fly zone in Syria in the face of a very sophisticated Russian air defense systems – placing our pilot’s lives at risk
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  • Does it make sense to risk war with Russia (a nuclear threat) over ISIS (which Obama has said is not a major threat to the US)
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• Libya
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  • The US killed Gaddafi leaving a power vacuum in Libya
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  • Clinton laughingly said: We came, we saw, he died.”
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  • Years later, the country remains mired in a civil war with ISIS trying to make in roads into the country and many people suffering

Other

• Iran (in violation of the nuclear agreement) and North Korea are testing intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of reaching the US
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• Iran received billions of dollars of released sanctioned funds and continues to support Hezbollah and other terrorist groups
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• China is threatening military conflict over freedom of navigation exercises in the South China Sea
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• Relations with our key ally in the Middle East, Israel, are at an all time low
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• Yemen is in a massive civil war and Iran funded rebels are shooting missiles at US ships
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• Can someone point to one foreign policy success?
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• Please don’t point to the Iran deal where ransom was paid – and it is naïve to believe the Iranians are not going to pursue nuclear capability to the extent they don’t already have it.
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• In the face of all of this, our military has been decimated.  Concerned yet?  Let’s keep going.

Integrity and Temperament

The complete list of Clinton’s questionable, unethical and illegal actions is far too long for this outline.   Can anyone give me an example of a more scandal laden Presidential candidate than Clinton?  Seriously – I’d like to see that list!  Personally, I could not vote for someone that has such a long history of questionable, unethical and illegal behavior.

• Integrity & Lies
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  • In a private presentation to a bank, the transcripts of which she would not release, Clinton said you need both a “public and private” position on issues – effectively acknowledging she tells the public things she does not believe
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  • I could not vote for someone who did not do everything they could to save the lives of US citizens in Benghazi.  Please watch the movie 13 Hours.
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  • Right before the 2012 Presidential election, Clinton lied to the public and to the families of the people killed about the cause of the terrorist attacks on the Benghazi consulate.  Consider the magnitude of this!  If your son had died, and the Secretary of State of the US told you a lie in front of the casket of your dead son, what would you think?  More important – how would you feel?
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  • FBI Director Comey, in testimony to Congress, acknowledged that Clinton lied about several issues related to her private email server
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  • Clinton colluded with the DNC during the Democratic primary
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  • Clinton colluded with the media during the Presidential debates knowingly accepting debate questions and coordinating media strategy
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  • I am not even going into Hillary’s questionable involvement in the Watergate investigation, her representation of a child rapist, Whitewater and the missing files, Travelgate and the allegations of the sexual victims of Bill Clinton.
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  • When stacked against Trump’s inappropriate talk, unproved groping allegations, and the weight of a Ms. Universe contestant – which weighs more heavily?  No pun intended.
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• The Email Server

This issue continually gets diminished in importance.  This was not a “mistake” or something done for “convenience.”  The private email server was set up specifically to avoid Freedom of Information requests and to avoid her emails to be seen by anyone (that didn’t work out well).  In the end, it allowed extremely sensitive US information to be compromised by at least 5 foreign governments. Is that bad – ummmm?  Clinton’s actions clearly violated federal laws.  How can this not be important to the viability of a Presidential candidate?

• 4 or 5 days before FBI Director Comey’s announcement on Hillary’s emails, Bill Clinton met with the Attorney General of the US – Loretta Lynch.  Bill Clinton appointed Lynch to a US Attorney position in 1999.  Let the “coincidences” begin.
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• Do we really believe it was a “coincidence” their planes were on the same tarmac at the same time in the same location and these two extremely busy people only talked about their kids for 45 minutes.  Really? Really? And why try to hide it from the press?
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• It was completely unethical for the Attorney General of the US to meet with the husband of a person under federal investigation while the investigation was still pending.  This meeting created a serious conflict of interest for Lynch and she failed to recuse herself – undermining her credibility with the FBI.
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• Regardless of whether emails were “marked” classified, there was clearly classified and very sensitive information on the Clinton’s email server.  Whether something is “marked” classified is completely irrelevant and is a diversion
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• The FBI Director stated that Clinton was “extremely careless” in handling classified information and laid out a blistering case against her.
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• Extreme carelessness is, by definition, gross negligence
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• The Federal law which makes the mishandling of confidential information a felony only requires gross negligence – not intent. Please read the statute – you do not have to be a lawyer.  Comey’s introduction of intent into the equation was improper and outside the scope of an investigative agency’s responsibility. 
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• Even if intent was relevant, I don’t know how setting up a private server and the destroying of its contents while under subpoena, does not exhibit intent.
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• Federal law prohibits a person who violates this law from holding public office! 
• It was not the job of the FBI Director to interpret the law – that is the job of the Department of Justice or DOJ
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• Ooops – but in this case the person that runs the DOJ – the US Attorney General – had just met with Bill Clinton making it just a bit awkward for the DOJ to make the decision.  No wonder Comey was in a bind.
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• The FBI has since stated there is a 98% chance that Clinton’s emails were compromised by at least 5 foreign governments
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• Numerous people have been prosecuted under the same statute for far less violations than Clinton
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• Either there is a rule of law or there is not.  Should not the potential President of the United States be held to the same standards and laws as the American people – if not higher?  Let me help:  WITHOUT QUESTION!
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• During the third debate, Clinton revealed the military response time for a nuclear event – extremely sensitive information.  Again, extreme carelessness – otherwise known as gross negligence with confidential information
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• Seriously – you can’t make this stuff up!
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• The Clinton Foundation
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  • The Clinton Foundation took large sums of money from foreign governments while Clinton was a sitting Secretary of State
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  • Not only is this clearly unethical, but it violated the terms of an agreement Clinton had with Obama expressly prohibiting payments to the Foundation from foreign governments while she was Secretary of State
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  • Saudi Arabia and Qatar contributed funds to both ISIS and the Clinton Foundation.  Do you think the payments to Clinton may have compromised Hillary’s ability to negotiate the cessation of those countries funding ISIS?
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  • The Clinton Foundation also took money from businesses with matters before the State Department.  At best, unethical, at worst, corrupt.
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  • The Clinton Foundation received tens of millions of dollars from the shareholders of a Uranium company that was being sold to – wait for it – the Russians.  Because of the strategic importance of uranium, the Secretary of State had to approve the transaction – which they did – making these same shareholders extremely rich and perhaps undermining a strategic US interest
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  • With the caveat of not verifying sources on this one – there are lots of stories out about Haiti and the Clinton’s involvement in bribery and corruption
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  • All of this has led to yet another purported investigation by the FBI of the Clintons for public corruption and pay-to-play.
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  • How many criminal investigations of the Clintons have to occur before you begin to wonder if, where there is smoke – there is fire?   In this case, it’s a raging inferno.
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• Temperament and Accomplishments
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  • Several secret service members and former staff members have stated Clinton has an appalling temper

Immigration

• I fully support legal immigration – every Trump supporter I know does
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• Does anyone truly believe it is possible to create comprehensive immigration reform given the current climate in Washington?
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• I believe Immigration policy needs to be broken down into manageable pieces – with the first priority being to secure the borders and slowing illegal immigration
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• Building a wall is not inherently racist – other countries have had border walls
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• ISIS has stated they will utilize open border policies to infiltrate terrorism into countries including the US
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• In Germany, Sweden and Norway (where open boarders are supported), rape and sexual assault by Muslim immigrants has soared
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• Why is it xenophobic to make sure that immigrants coming from countries that breed terrorism be vetted prior to admission into this country?
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• Why are sanctuary cities (where immigration laws are knowingly ignored) permitted by people that have sworn to enforce the laws of the land?  Selective enforcement of the law – is not law – it is executive policy mandated outside the legislative process!  Where is my nearest sanctuary city for the non-payment of taxes?

Economy

The US economy is no where near as healthy as portrayed and black families and kids are actually worse off under Obama.

• Contrary to popular belief, the Stock Market IS NOT an indicator of economic health – the stock market is up despite 7 straight quarters of declining earnings and incredibly high earning multiples – which makes no fundamental sense
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• Obama is the only President in US history not to achieve +3% GDP growth and current GDP growth is anemic at best (and is conveniently adjustment downward after initial announcements)
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• True unemployment is no where near <5%.  The U-6 unemployment rate, a much better indicator, is closer to 10%.  True unemployment is likely higher.
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• The US has the lowest labor participation rate in 40 years
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• Almost 95 million people are currently out of the work force (US Population 300 million)
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• The US has the lowest home ownership rate in over 51 years
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• Almost 13 million more people are on food stamps under Obama
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• The national debt has doubled over the past 8 years and is now close to $20 trillion dollars.  Obama has incurred more debt than all previous US Presidents combined.  And please don’t point to annual budget deficits – the debt is what matters
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• Zero and negative interest rates are not sustainable – but rising interests rates to a more “normal ” level are also not practical.  The Fed is in a bind.
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• Do I want to vote for another 4 – 8 years of this?

Globalism, Nationalism, Socialism and Fascism

• Globalism
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  • Hillary Clinton said her dream is to have a “hemispheric common market with open trade and open borders.”
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  • Clinton was for the UK remaining in the European Union and for TPP – globalist positions
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  • Clinton is a globalist, Trump is a nationalist.  I understand the merits of both and I prefer nationalism.  Nationalism, in and of itself, is not fascism.
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• Fascism
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  • Trump is constantly accused of being a fascist.  Fascism has a multitude of interpretations.  To keep it simple, and not subject to political manipulation, here is the definition of “Fascism” from the Meriam Webster dictionary:

“a political philosophy, movement, or regime (as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition”

• Can someone please give me an example of where Trump proposed policies or statements that suggest: (a) he would put the nation over US citizens; (b) severe economic or social regimentation; or (c) forcible suppression or opposition of the people?
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• Who is the party that desires a bigger, more controlling government?  Trump wants to limit Federal power and push more to the States – that does not appear to be fascist
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• Fascism is also frequently tied to a close relationship between government and business.  Under these definitions, Clinton is the bigger “fascist.”   She took more money, and is far more beholden to big business, than Trump – just ask Goldman Sachs
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• Where have we seen dictatorial actions – or actions taken outside of the President’s executive power (e.g. failure to enforce immigration law, failure to follow court orders on immigration, and unconstitutional executive actions).
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• So I ask – who really is the closest thing to a fascist – Obama/Clinton or Trump?

Other Reasons I Supported Trump

• The political system is broken and needs an outsider to disrupt politicians on both sides of the aisle who have become complacent and, in many cases, corrupt.  I never understood how so many career Congressional members become multi-millionaires on a public servant’s salary – things that make you say “Ummmm”
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• Trump supports term limits for Congressional members.  This would eliminate career politicians and help reduce corporate influence over politicians.  Never heard that from Hillary
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• Supreme Court
  • I strongly disagree with the numerous rulings of the liberal members of the Supreme Court – some of which simply defy logic.  I could never vote for a candidate that would swing the Supreme Court to a liberal majority.
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  • This is not racism, this is my ideological perspective
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• Veterans
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  • In prioritizing taxpayer dollars, I prefer funding the medical care of our veterans over those of illegal immigrants
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• Gun Rights
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  • I do not believe in the further erosion of my second amendment rights
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  • Contrary to public opinion, it is already illegal to obtain fully automatic military grade weapons
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  • Strict control laws have not worked in Chicago which has one of the highest murder rates (if not the highest) in the country
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• Education
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  • I believe education should be governed at the State and local level
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• Taxes
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  • The US has the highest corporate tax rate in the world and is losing jobs to the global marketplace.  Trump wants to lower those rates and attract business back to the States
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  • Clinton wants to raise taxes
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• Media
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  • I really enjoyed Trump exposing the media’s bias
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  • Anyone that can possibly say the debate moderators in the first two debates were not biased – is simply blind
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  • I also enjoyed watching Trump completely manipulate the media that was trying to destroy him

Those looking for a single reason for Clinton’s demise are missing the big picture.  It is the cumulative effect of the past 8 years plus total Clinton experience which caused the result so many protest.

Frankly, I was appalled by Trump’s locker room language and I have cringed at several of his remarks.  Despite some of his comments, I truly do not believe Trump is racist, sexist, homophobic or xenophobic.  I certainly do not believe Trump is Hitler incarnate and capable of gassing millions of people.  Comparisons to Hitler should not be made lightly and shows a complete lack of respect for those who suffered during WWII and the Holocaust.  

In the end, issues and policy drove my vote and it is insulting to have my vote characterized as “whitelash.”  Yes – white men have the right to be offended .and I really don’t want to hear about my “white privilege.”

For those of you that took the time to read this – I sincerely thank you.  For those of you that may disagree with any of the above (which I fully expect and respect), I would welcome a debate of the facts and issues – but without name calling and generalizations.  Be specific and state facts. 

For anyone that thinks I voted out of “whitelash” or “racism” or any “phobia” and that may have been triggered by any of the above, I would encourage you to go to your “safe space” and play with Play-Doh and coloring books like the students at the University of Michigan. 

Seriously, do some of our kids today really need “safe spaces” and days off from school and testing because of an election result?   Toughen up!  Those of us paying the majority of the taxes don’t have the luxury of hiding in our safe spaces when we hear things we don’t like or life does not go our way.   By the way, the kids and young adults I know do not fit in the above category.  Much of this is because of their parents – most of whom voted for Trump.