The Charlotte Observer - Hillary Clinton: I'm Ready to Deliver the Solutions Nation Needs

Op-Ed

The Charlotte Observer - Hillary Clinton: I'm Ready to Deliver the Solutions Nation Needs

It has been an honor and privilege to travel across North Carolina and talk to you about the issues that matter most to you and your families. I know how hard you're working, how much you love this country, and how big you dream for your children. But I also know that you're feeling squeezed from every direction -- between the grocery bills and the doctor's bills, the credit card bills and the mortgage payments, and the outrageous cost of gas at the pump.

With two wars abroad and an economic crisis here at home, you know the stakes are high and the challenges great. But you also know the possibilities are endless if we elect a president with the strength and knowledge to tackle our challenges starting on day one. A leader who knows how to create good jobs, turn our economy around, and lift up the middle class. A commander-in-chief who is ready to end the war in Iraq, keep our families safe, and take care of our veterans and service members.

After 35 years of experience fighting for those who've been counted out, after representing America in more than 80 countries around the world and working to unite Democrats and Republicans to solve problems at home and abroad -- I am ready to be that president.

We've got our work cut out for us. And it's not enough to just deliver speeches and make promises. You have to know what it takes -- and have what it takes -- to deliver solutions. That's what my campaign is about -- and that's what my presidency will be about as well.

I'll deliver solutions to create good jobs. Jobs rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure, 21st-century manufacturing jobs, jobs in new clean energy industries.

I'll deliver solutions to provide relief from high gas prices and end our dependence on foreign oil. I'm the only candidate who will provide commuters, truckers, business owners and families relief at the pump by making the big oil companies pay the gas tax instead of North Carolinians.

I'll deliver affordable, quality health care for every man, woman and child in America -- no exceptions, no excuses. I'm the only candidate that won't leave anyone out.

I'll deliver solutions for our economy. I'll end $55 billion in special breaks for the corporate special interests and give middle-class families $100 billion in tax cuts to help pay for health care and college and save for retirement. I'll get tough on China for breaking the trade rules -- and I'll only sign trade agreements that are good for our workers and our economy.

Finally, I'll end the war in Iraq and start bringing our troops home as quickly and responsibly as possible. And when our troops come home, we'll serve them with the same devotion that they served us.

Accomplishing all of this won't be easy. But I don't back down from a challenge -- and neither do the American people. It's up to all of us to keep the promise of America for the next generation, and together, that's exactly what we'll do.

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