Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton waves before boarding her campaign plane at Miami International Airport in Miami, Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016, to travel to Lake Worth, Fla. for a rally. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
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From the moment I stepped off the bus and onto those world-famous yellow footprints at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina, the U.S. Marine Corps constantly drilled into me – and every other Marine recruit – the importance of one being able to maintain their bearing.
Throughout this entire campaign (and her career in public service), Secretary Hillary Clinton has shown that she, more than anyone else running – and certainly more than Donald Trump, knows how to maintain her bearing.
She’s shown that she has the acumen to lead under pressure and she’s presented her case without bringing dishonor upon herself or embarrassing our country.
Secretary Clinton is aptly prepared, on day one, to serve as president of the United States and commander-in-chief. She will keep our nation safe. She will destroy our enemies.
Mrs. Clinton will also ensure our veterans – my fellow veterans – are welcomed home from service not simply with more standing ovations at football games, but with quality health care that’s delivered through a strong, fully-funded and fully-staffed VA; welcomed home not with more yellow ribbons, but with what we need more than anything else: a job – a good job that allows one to live a life with dignity and live out the American Dream that we fought to protect and defend.
On the other hand, her opponent, Mr. Trump, is the most unqualified, unfit, and unequipped candidate for the presidency that our nation has ever put forward.
Mr. Trump has no plan to keep us safe. Well, he says he has a plan, but he won’t share any pieces of it, aside from leveling attacks against our military, speaking in a terrifyingly careless way about our nuclear arsenal, being fickle with our allies, and fawning over dictators like Vladimir Putin and Sadam Hussein.
Mr. Trump has no plan for veterans. Sure he likes to use us as political props, but what else? He’s said that he doesn’t support the GI Bill. He wants to destroy and privatize our VA. And when it comes to jobs, he’s been quoted as saying that he believes that wages for American workers – including millions veterans – are already “too high.”
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
There are 14 Marine Corps leadership traits: justice, judgement, dependability, initiative, decisiveness, tact, integrity, enthusiasm, bearing, unselfishness, courage, knowledge, loyalty, and endurance. There isn’t a single trait from this list that Mr. Trump possesses. Not one.
For almost two years, we’ve has to endure Mr. Trump and his charlantry. Each day he’s showcased for the world his fascist proposals, racist ideas, sexist viewpoints, and anti-American values.
But there’s good news: Our long onerous slog through the bright orange Trump muck is nearly complete. Mr. Trump’s campaign is sputtering on what toxic fumes are left in the tank.
In all likelihood Secretary Hillary Clinton will soon be president-Elect Hillary Clinton, and you, me, our nation, and the world will be better for it.
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