Why I’m voting for Hillary Clinton

I’ve been asked often during this campaign season why I support Hillary Clinton for president. Is it because she’s a woman? That’s certainly part of it, but a very small part.

It would be nice to see the US catch up with New Zealand on that!

Simply put, I support Clinton because she is the most prepared candidate in history and is a caring, compassionate human being.

When she steps into the Oval Office on her first day, she won’t be looking for the pencil sharpener; she’ll be working on implementing her policies.

Remember when we used to talk about policies instead of the size of a candidate’s anatomy?

I also support her because she’s hard-working and doesn’t give up.

She is, to use her phrase, a pragmatic progressive, and I think that’s great. She gets things done. Hillary has devoted her life to public service, advocating for women, children and others whose voices are not heard.

Legislation that she either sponsored, co-sponsored or supported has changed lives - from the Foster Care Independence Bill to SCHIP; from research funding on Gulf War Syndrome to the Lilly Ledbetter Act to setting up the Office on Violence Against Women or the First Responders Bill after 9/11. The list is extensive. I encourage people to do their own research into her life in public service.

Unfortunately, to do that, you have to go back to the records themselves.

There are some very un-factual memes, tweets and Facebook posts out there.

Everyone talks about her vote for the Iraq War, but no one talks about her speech on the Senate Floor at the time.

People talk about her ‘‘secret’’ speeches (as a private citizen) to Goldman Sachs, but don’t realise there’s one on Youtube that they can watch.

People talk about how difficult it is to vote and that Election Day should be a public holiday.

They praise the President and Senator Sanders for S1969, rightfully so, but forget who advocated for it in 2005. Again, the list is extensive. I’m also asked what it’s like to watch this election cycle from New Zealand. Quite frankly, it’s frightening. Trump’s fear-mongering, factfree campaign seems to be on CNN and every other American outlet constantly, talking about everything except what’s important and twisting truths or flat-out lying when it is important.

I’m not sure who frightens me more: Trump or the people backing him.

I’m not surprised Paul Manafort is no longer front and centre, considering his history defrauding HUD, the Karachi Affair, lobbying in the Ukraine, and more.

But the new, ‘‘alt-right’’ people in charge are even worse.

After all, while Hillary was advocating common sense gun control after the Sandy Hook massacre, Trump’s current campaign manager, Steve Bannon, was calling it a hoax and saying that child actors had been used.

I honestly don’t know how anyone could support this or what people expect from a Trump presidency except walls and lies.

If Trump is elected, I will move out of the country….oh, wait.

All Americans, whether they are living in the US or abroad, can help prevent the unthinkable.

All American citizens living abroad have the right to vote for president, their senators and representatives.

It is so simple to request an absentee ballot.

Americans, regardless of party affiliation, can go to www.votefromabroad.org and request a ballot in just a few minutes.

But time is running out so Americans here in New Zealand should act quickly.

Christine Valverde is an American voter who is living in New Zealand. You can read a piece by a Trump supporter on the opinion page of tomorrow’s Manawatu Standard.