Lots of accomplishments
Even though her major initiative, the Clinton health care plan, failed (due to Republican obstruction), you cannot deny that it laid ground for what we have today, the Affordable Care Act, something Clinton supports and would continue.
She played a leading role in the development of State Children's Health Insurance Program, which provides the much-needed state support for children whose parents cannot afford nor provide them with adequate health care coverage.
She was also instrumental in the creation of the Adoption and Safe Families Act and the Foster Care Independence Act. Successfully fought to increase research funding for prostate cancer and asthma at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
She spearheaded investigations into mental illness plaguing veterans of the Gulf War; we now have a term for it - Gulf War Syndrome.
At the Department of Justice, she helped create the office on Violence Against Women. She was instrumental in securing over $21 billion in funding for the World Trade Center redevelopment. Took a leading role in the investigation of health consequences of first responders and drafted the first bill to compensate and offer the health services our first responders deserve (Clinton's successor in the Senate, Kirsten Gillibrand, passed. Was instrumental in working out a bipartisan compromise to address civil liberty abuses for the renewal of the U.S. Patriot Act. Proposed a revival of the New Deal-era Homeowners' Loan Corporation to help homeowners refinance their mortgages in the wake of the 2008 financial disaster.
Was a major proponent of sensible diplomacy which brought about a cease fire between Hamas and Israel, and brokered human rights with Burma. Oversaw free trade agreements with our allies such as Panama, Colombia, and South Korea. Was the most traveled Secretary of State to date. The Clinton Foundation, founded by her and her husband, has improved the living conditions for nearly 400 million people in over 180 countries through its Initiative program.
These are not all of her accomplishments. Her activism on behalf of women a children across the world is renowned. Her activism for raising the minimum wage and combating climate change is stellar.
You do not have to support what she does or stands for. But do not say she doesn't have any accomplishments. The conservatives who say this are the ones who are pushing for Ted Cruz - who brought on a $24 billion shutdown. That, to them, is an accomplishment?
Yes, Hillary Clinton has accomplishments. You don't have to like them, but they do, in fact, exist.
Randy Swearingen
Naperville