Clinton vows to be president for 'all Americans'

Jul 29, 2016

Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton vowed to "be a president for Democrats, Republicans, and Independents".

PIC: Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton delivers remarks during the fourth day of the Democratic National Convention at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (AFP/Getty Images)

Hillary Clinton on Thursday accepted the Democratic Party's White House nomination, casting herself as a tireless champion of the people and rejecting Donald Trump's dark picture of America.

Becoming the first woman to win the nomination of a major political party, Clinton promised to be a president for "all Americans," whether they voted for her or not.

Making a bold play for the political center ground in an election year that has seen the hard right and the hard left become louder and more shrill, Clinton vowed to "be a president for Democrats, Republicans, and Independents."

"For the struggling, the striving and the successful. For those who vote for me and those who don't. For all Americans."

 
Much of Clinton's address to Democrats gathered in Philadelphia for their party's convention was focused on perhaps her biggest weakness come November -- a tough public image forged over decades of withering political trench warfare.

"Some people just don't know what to make of me," she said with a frankness that is unusual in American politics.

"The truth is, through all of these years of public service, the service part has always come easier to me than the public part."

But addressing her image of putting policy above politics, Clinton was unrepentant.

"It's true," she said. "I sweat the details," be it the amount of lead permissible in drinking water or the cost of prescription drugs.

"It's not just a detail if it's your kid, if it's your family," she said.

Former US president Bill Clinton stands with daughter Chelsea Clinton, son-in-law Marc Mezvinsky (L), and Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Kaine (R) as Hillary Clinton addresses delegates


 

Balloons descend as Clinton and running mate Tim Kaine celebrate on the fourth and final night of the Democratic National Convention


Clinton also trained fire on Trump's dystopian view of America.

"He wants to divide us from the rest of the world and from each other," Clinton said, mocking Trump's claim that he alone can "fix" the country.

"He's taken the Republican Party a long way from 'Morning in America' to midnight in America. He wants us to fear the future and fear each other."

Clinton also offered an olive branch to those who backed her rival Bernie Sanders, telling them their voice had been heard, even as isolated voices of dissent echoed around the Philadelphia sports arena.

"I want to thank Bernie Sanders... And to all of your supporters here and around the country, I want you to know I've heard you," Clinton said.

"Your cause is our cause."

*************

KEY QUOTES FROM CLINTON'S DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION SPEECH

 
Here are some key quotes from her address:

President for all

"I will be a president for Democrats, Republicans and independents. For the struggling, the striving and the successful. For those who vote for me and those who don't. For all Americans."

Service

"The truth is, through all these years of public service, the 'service' part has always come easier to me than the 'public' part."

Devil in the details

"It's true... I sweat the details of policy (...) Because it's not just a detail if it's your kid, if it's your family. It's a big deal. And it should be a big deal to your president."

-- Clinton defends her reputation as a policy wonk

History

"Tonight, we've reached a milestone in our nation's march toward a more perfect union: the first time that a major party has nominated a woman for president."

More jobs

"My primary mission as president will be to create more opportunity and more good jobs with rising wages right here in the United States... From my first day in office to my last!"

Sanders shout-out

"Bernie, your campaign inspired millions of Americans... And to all of your supporters here and around the country: I want you to know, I've heard you. Your cause is our cause."

-- Clinton offers an olive branch to disappointed supporters of her rival

Hard truth

"Here's the sad truth. There is no other Donald Trump. This is it."

Never fear

"He wants to divide us -- from the rest of the world, and from each other. (...)  He wants us to fear the future and fear each other."

-- Clinton on Trump

No nukes, please

"Imagine him in the Oval Office facing a real crisis. A man you can bait with a tweet is not a man we can trust with nuclear weapons."

What did he say?

"He spoke for 70-odd minutes. And I do mean odd."

-- Clinton mocks Trump's acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland last week




(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});