Clinton: A continuing force

By Jennifer Lesnick

After her unexpected defeat in Iowa, many people quickly wrote Hillary Clinton off as an actual candidate in the primaries.

After being favored in polls for most of the campaign season, the loss in Iowa certainly rocked the Clinton campaign. While the media has started to present early estimations of Clinton's win as false, I believe that Clinton continues to be a force to be reckoned with. She is not only a viable candidate, but also the candidate that is most qualified and best suited for the job.

Some argue that electing former President Bill Clinton's wife into office is a clear infringement on the 22nd Amendment. However, Clinton is in no way a piece of her husband.

Senator Clinton is a person who can certainly stand on her own two feet. In fact, the experience that she has undoubtedly gained from standing by and observing her husband will help guide her if she is to take office.

As any history student knows, there is much to learn from the past; both what we should repeat and what we should avoid. Either way, Clinton should not be dismissed from your voter ballot simply because she is married to a former president.

As for her stance on the issues, Clinton has some very ambitious goals for the country. A few that I find to be especially interesting and needed are strengthening of the middle class, making college more accessible and affordable, ending the war in Iraq and reforming our immigration system.

Clearly, with such ambitious goals, Clinton has her mind set on moving forward with innovation. We are ready for change and long to see the country go in the direction that Clinton prescribes. Many Americans can benefit from the plans Clinton has proposed for our country.

In order to strengthen the middle class, Clinton hopes to lower taxes for the middle class, provide quality, affordable health care to every American, confront the growing problems in the housing market and strengthen unions to ensure that the trade laws work for all Americans.

These are ambitious but certainly feasible goals for the next president to accomplish, especially if the people vote to maintain the Democratic majority in Congress.

Democrats have a reputation for large spending plans, but Clinton's approach is truly innovative. She plans to lower college costs through granting a tuition tax credit combined with increasing grants, strengthening schools and simplifying student aid.

This is a huge investment in America's youth, but it is one that is needed. College costs are getting larger and larger, and many students find that attending a university can be too expensive.

Clinton's plan to end the war in Iraq goes beyond pulling the troops out and bringing them home. In fact, she has a plan that ensures that the troops and their families are cared for once they arrive back at home.

Furthermore, her campaign platform also includes a plan to stabilize Iraq. This plan lays out three major points: non-interference, mediation and reconstruction funding. Together with groups like the United Nations, Clinton hopes to keep our troops out of the conflict while assisting Iraq in their time of need.

Although it is still early in the race, her victory in the New Hampshire primary demonstrated that Clinton is far from losing. Although some may choose to overlook her win, the fact is that Clinton is an intelligent woman with some very promising plans for the future of America.

It is unwise for anyone to write her off just yet -- I'm sure she still has a few surprises up her sleeve before the primaries come to their conclusion.

Jennifer Lesnick is a freshman English major.