Hillary Clinton announced her candidacy for president of the United States in a YouTube video April 12. The video was a collage of Americans of various ages and races, in which Clinton said, “The deck is still stacked in favor of those at the top.”
With Clinton officially making this declaration, social and news media has been abuzz with opinions from the left, the right and the middle.
Certainly, I believe, she gives the Democrats the best opportunity of winning the Presidency in 2016.”
— Sen. Keith Ingram, Arkansas Senate Minority Leader, via email
“People across the country and right here in Arkansas are excited by Hillary’s announcement for President because we know she has the experience to get things done. Hillary has always put working families, women, and children first whether she was serving as Secretary of State, a US Senator, or Arkansas’s first lady. Her announced candidacy is encouraging for all Arkansans and for the Democratic Party of Arkansas. While we expect there will be a Democratic primary, we are excited about Hillary’s announcement, as we remember the positive impact Hillary had as Arkansas’s first lady.”
— Candace Martin, Democratic Party of Arkansas executive director,via news release
“I just refreshed my Twitter feed and saw that Hillary Clinton is running for President. I find that interesting because in my view she has been running for President for more than a decade. That being said, she has been running from scandal for much longer. Arkansas voters are all too familiar with the Clinton political style–thinking laws and regulations about transparency and accountability don’t apply to them. I can’t wait to see how Clinton will attempt to side-step her conflicts of interest and hypocrisies on issues important to everyday Arkansans. Hillary Clinton may be able to delete her emails, but she can’t delete her record.”
— Doyle Webb, Republican Party of Arkansas chairman, via email
“Our Party is concerned about civil liberties; the rights of women, minorities, and all people, making sure the poor are cared for, ending wars, having peace and friendship with all people, solving race relations and protecting our families. We cannot in good conscience support Hilary Clinton, a big-government Democrat who will be running against a big-government Republican, whose policies in practice do the exact opposite. We can do better than that.”
— Libertarian Party of Arkansas statement via e-mail
“@HillaryClinton has the same Washington-knows-best mentality people around the country are looking to move beyond. - SKW”
— Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker via Twitter
“America can’t afford another 4 years of the Obama-Clinton agenda. Stop Hillary.”
— Texas Gov. Rick Perry via Twitter
@HillaryClinton Congrats. Your announcement makes me nostalgic for our days doing political battle in Arkansas. #ImStillStanding”
— Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee via Twitter
Just yesterday, a leader from yesterday began a campaign for President by promising to take us back to yesterday.”
— U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Florida, via Twitter
“@HillaryClinton announced she is running for president. Man, I did not see that coming.”
— Comedian and television host Conan O’Brien via Twitter
“Good luck @HillaryClinton ! I know how strong your passion is for the United States.”
— Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy via Twitter
“It’s a little early for endorsements since [Hillary Clinton] just announced yesterday. But here’s what I can say. She is talented, tenacious, was a great Secretary of State. She is a friend of mine, and I think she would be an excellent president.”
— President Barack Obama speaking to WBNS in Ohio
“I think the thing is about the Clintons is that there’s a certain sense that they think they’re above the law. I think there’s also this grand hypocrisy for the Clintons in the sense that we’ve got this whole thing, this war on women thing that they like to talk about. And yet Hillary Clinton has taken money from countries that rape victims are publicly lashed.”
— U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, via Meet the Press
“She’s a creature of Washington. … I think people want to see change, want to see something new, and Hillary Clinton is just not that person.”
— Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney on Fox News Sunday
She’s so talented, she has so much stamina, she is so knowledgeable, and she will be one of the best prepared people to enter the White House when she does.”
— U.S. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-California, via Yahoo News
“Very proud of you Mom!”
— Chelsea Clinton via Twitter
Contact Joseph via email (joseph@syncweekly.com)