Capitol Hill Democrats Wish Hillary Clinton Was President Already

(cont.)

Clinton, unlike Obama, has the advantage of a long history in Washington. And that, many lawmakers say, will give her the edge when it comes to building support for her agenda.

"She has genuine friendships with members of the Senate that are very rare. Put aside the relationship President Obama had with Congress. As a matter of personality and style, she is genuinely a person who reaches out and wants to engage people," said Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut.

Many of the Democratic members Clinton met with are already lining up behind her campaign, but her attentiveness to legislators only made them more committed.

"There's nobody smarter, more experienced, more passionate—man or woman—running for president of the United States than Hillary Clinton. She would be a terrific president," said Sen. Debbie Stabenow of Michigan.

Clinton even assured members that she would follow up on the issues that came up in their private meetings.

In a discussion with the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus that ran roughly 30 minutes, the conversation turned from the appointment of Asian Pacific Islanders in high-ranking federal positions, to immigration reform, to Filipino veterans and more. Clinton assured members she would have her policy staff follow up.

"Secretary Clinton was very receptive. She actually had quite a bit of familiarity with the issues," Rep. Judy Chu of California, the caucus chairwoman, told National Journal after the meeting. "She pledged to continue working with us, and in fact said that we would be meeting with her policy team very soon."

But Clinton's visit was not just straight policy. She did not shy away from showing a more personal side with members than she has often done on the campaign trail. Comfortable with her audience during her first meeting with House Democrats, Clinton recounted a revelation she had about immigration and family. She said she had volunteered through a church to babysit the children of farm workers and was reminded of what unites everyone when she watched the children running toward their parents when they'd arrive home.

"She realized we are all alike," Rep. Maxine Waters of California recalled Clinton saying. "There is no difference between the children of farm hands and myself."

Rep. Raúl Grijalva of Arizona said the story exemplifies how strong Clinton can be as a candidate.

"I think sometimes in these manufactured campaigns that we see these days, you don't get to see that very human side. It was good to see," he said.

During a meeting with members of the Congressional Black Caucus, Clinton described how her mother, growing up in the 1920s, would attend school with scant food, and how the teacher would share her personal food with Clinton's mother. It was an anecdote that Rep. G.K. Butterfield of North Carolina called "touching," and one that speaks to issues close to the Congressional Black Caucus: poverty and food insecurity.

And once again, Clinton was up to speed with what the Congressional Black Caucus was invested in. She highlighted the 10-20-30 plan, which recommends that at least 10 percent of certain federal funds go toward areas that have had a poverty rate of 20 percent for the last 30 years.

"She was very well-briefed on 10-20-30," Butterfield said. "We have a pledge from Mrs. Clinton that she, if elected president, will work untiringly to address the question of poverty."

Clinton may not be in the White House yet, but her command of Congress left many Democrats on Capitol Hill hoping she'll get there soon.

By next year November 11, 2016!

Too bad those pesky voters got in the way.

Problem with Hillary is the same as withJoe. Their actual policies are similar to GOP. But too many Americans view candidates more on emotions than on fact. In '16 she had no real platform, except "I'm better than Trump". She had a tough time attracting ppl to her rallies and avoided press. Anyone. should have been able to beat Trump easily.

After it was leaked her own party said she was a tainted candidate- 50/50 odds against Cruz and also revealed they were colluding with the press, her response was "Blame the messenger".

Review: She voted for Iraq war, and against Pentagon advise, urged Obama to bomb the crap out of Libya. This lead to chaos weak borders for terrorist to smash thru and the current slave trade. After she left she doubled down and encouraged Obama to bomb Syria more aggressively! Honduran activist Berta Caceres pointed to Clinton as the architect of the Honduran coup shortly before she was assassinated.

She basically supports all US imperialism, like Biden. Including arms sales to Saudi Arabia! Foreign policy like GOP. The cost has been money and lives and the worst humanitarian crisis today. Also planting a puppet govt in Ukraine and stirring them into war- a whole other story.

She tried to bully the Bulgarians into accepting fracking 2x despite their protests and her public stand against it. Then there's Wall Street money. Anti M4A. She and Biden support the Crime Bill and privatized prisons which have reduced many African Americans to life long free labor. And a record number incarcerated. I won't even go into the Clinton Foundation and corruption there.

See they're too similar to Republicans when they get into office. And that includes Harris too. Americans don't pay attention to what's really important.

R4, I actually partially agree with a lot of what you wrote. The problem is Donald has no real policy other than whatever Sims-like whim pops up in his head. The Right has used him as a shield for for their divisive tactics but even they are realizing that if he implodes the country what do they have to gain?

R3 is the 2015 bump troll.

She should have been.

"I have never had a relationship with President Obama to speak of."

This was Obama's major failing. He refused to engage with congressional members of his own party. Several Democrats (such as Jane Harman) pleaded on MSNBC to Obama to reach out to congress in his second term. Didn't happen. Oh well.

R3 is the Bump Troll and very conveniently R4 the anti-Democratic Party Troll was right here, ready to post at length about how HRC and Biden are both exactly the same as Republicans, and no one should vote for them.

This is why DL needs some kind of even cursory moderation. This working the crowd bullshit is going to get worse as we get closer to the election.

As a member of the crowd, I am defiantly unworked r9.

You are correct that it is bullshit and that it will get worse.

Why would you have to be pro Trump to be anti Hillary? The record itself should alarm Democrats.. Its like saying all the people who protested Johnson and called him a war criminal were pro Richard Nixon. This country needs to pay attention to the issues again not the party. Trump only could have happened bc the DNC ran an incredibly shitty candidate.

I don't know if people who don't see this are genuinely naive of facts, don't care about facts or just trolls.