Brent Budowsky: Big truths about Hillary

In olden days, great columnists such as Walter Lippmann and James “Scotty” Reston would periodically step back and put great events into perspective.

As America’s summer of political discontent and distemper ends, and as Americans shift from the fun of enjoying our favorite political performer to the mission of selecting our next president and as a pope of epochal significance prepares to address a joint session of a vastly unpopular Congress, let’s look at matters from a larger perspective.

{mosads}It is revealing that while GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump gets a pass from many in the media for repeated comments that were verbally abusive toward women, the candidate who would be the first female president, Hillary Clinton, is treated like a pinata by pundits on television news — which, according to Gallup, is one of the least trusted institutions in America.

When Clinton stands with virtually all of America’s democratic allies by forcefully supporting a plan to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and stands with Pope Francis in support of treating refugees and immigrants humanely, she is acting like a stateswoman, commander in chief and humanitarian. 

Meanwhile, the policies of GOP presidential candidates would leave Lady Liberty crying in New York Harbor as the pope arrives in America.

It is a big truth that Clinton would be the first female president, an achievement equal in historic magnitude to President Obama becoming our first black president. 

If she is elected, moms and dads from Topeka to Tangiers will be telling their daughters that they too can achieve anything if they work hard and dream big. 

By contrast, the Republican front-runner describes moms and daughters as fat pigs, dogs, slobs, disgusting animals and bimbos.

It is an equally big truth that Clinton is the most qualified person in the race for the presidency. She was the closest confidant and full partner during the most successful and fondly remembered presidency of modern times, an achievement no other candidate can match.

Her qualifications are even supported by the big truth that many Republicans have offered praise for her leadership in high
councils of government.

Trump, claiming he was very close to both Clintons, offered extravagant praise for Bill’s achievements as president and Hillary’s accomplishments as first lady and senator.

Carly Fiorina, honoring Clinton’s leadership as first lady and senator, has repeatedly offered forceful praise and admiration for her, saying in 2008 that she was proud Clinton ran for president. 

That year’s GOP presidential nominee, John McCain, whose military heroism and time as a Vietnam prisoner of war were ridiculed by Trump, has said that Clinton was an “outstanding” secretary of State.

No doubt if Lippmann and Reston were here today, they would agree that such praise from current Republican candidates and the leading GOP voice on national security bears powerful witness to her extraordinary career. And that doesn’t even account for high praise from countless Democrats and admirers worldwide.

It is true that Clinton made a big mistake using only private emails and took an excruciatingly long time to offer what should have been an easy apology. No doubt Lippmann and Reston would have taken her to task for this, but with a perspective that is sorely lacking today.

It is no secret from my columns that there have been aspects of the Clinton campaign with which I have disagreed, but regarding the biggest truth of the biggest question that American voters must decide:

The candidate who would be the first female president is the same candidate who has the most towering qualifications and experience to be president — and potentially a great president. 

Budowsky was an aide to former Sens. Lloyd Bentsen and Bill Alexander, then chief deputy majority whip of the House. He holds an LL.M. degree in international financial law from the London School of Economics. He can be read on The Hill’s Contributors blog and reached at brentbbi@webtv.net.