‘Intellect, Experience, Toughness and Courage’: New York Times Endorses Hillary Clinton

‘The Best Case for Hillary Clinton Cannot Be, and Is Not, That She Isn’t Donald Trump’

The New York Times’ Editorial Board has just endorsed Hillary Clinton for President. Citing the former secretary of state’s “intellect, experience, toughness and courage,” the paper’s editors state: “The best case for Hillary Clinton cannot be, and is not, that she isn’t Donald Trump. The best case is, instead, about the challenges this country faces, and Mrs. Clinton’s capacity to rise to them.”

The paper of record notes the movement Donald Trump has empowered, observing it exists in other nations as well, and needs to be stopped.

“The next president will take office with bigoted, tribalist movements and their leaders on the march. In the Middle East and across Asia, in Russia and Eastern Europe, even in Britain and the United States, war, terrorism and the pressures of globalization are eroding democratic values, fraying alliances and challenging the ideals of tolerance and charity.”

“Over 40 years in public life, Hillary Clinton has studied these forces and weighed responses to these problems. Our endorsement is rooted in respect for her intellect, experience, toughness and courage over a career of almost continuous public service, often as the first or only woman in the arena.”

Unlike President Barack Obama, the Times notes “Mrs. Clinton’s work has been defined more by incremental successes than by moments of transformational change.”

“As a candidate, she has struggled to step back from a pointillist collection of policy proposals to reveal the full pattern of her record. That is a weakness of her campaign, and a perplexing one, for the pattern is clear. It shows a determined leader intent on creating opportunity for struggling Americans at a time of economic upheaval and on ensuring that the United States remains a force for good in an often brutal world.”

The Times calls Clinton “a realist,” who “has learned hard lessons from the three presidents she has studied up close,” and  “has also made her own share of mistakes.”

But they unequivocally conclude Clinton is the best person for the job.

“Through war and recession, Americans born since 9/11 have had to grow up fast, and they deserve a grown-up president. A lifetime’s commitment to solving problems in the real world qualifies Hillary Clinton for this job, and the country should put her to work.”

 

Image by Gage Skidmore via Flickr and a CC license