Let me finish with this battle for the mind of Hillary Clinton. My strong belief is that the former First Lady, U.S. Senator and Secretary of State should do what she believes is right.
Does she believe charter schools and rigorous teacher standards are important? Or does she believe they undercut public education?
Does she believe trade is good for this country or does she believe in restricting it?
These are fairly basic questions. Secretary Clinton has been focused on child development and education through much of her public career. She is a certified policy wonk and doesn’t need others to tell her where to stand. She knows the issues, knows the arguments, sees the flaws.
The same goes for trade. For four years she had to deal with the economics of foreign policy, the positive role that good, open trade plays in relations between countries. Bottom line: Secretary Clinton has a great grounding and perspective on these matters and should take the position that fits as closely as possible with her policy judgment. The right position is the one she believes in. All this lobbying by the interest groups is good for them, not necessarily for her, the person who has to believe in what she’s going to be out there fighting for and defending.
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