California Sen. Barbara Boxer praised former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s toughness and heart in a speech to the Democratic National Convention Tuesday night.
Boxer’s daughter was once married to Clinton’s brother, and they have known each other for more than 20 years. She said that connection, as well as their political past including working in the Senate together, has given her a full view of Clinton.
That includes rushing from the State Department to go to her nephew’s high school football games and having a “strong sense of empathy.” But that doesn’t mean she’s not a fighter when it comes to her political life, Boxer said.
“The right wing has thrown everything at her,” Boxer said. “Not only the kitchen sink, but the stove, the refrigerator and the toaster, too. And guess what? She’s still standing.”
Boxer said Clinton would be a champion for women in the White House, fighting for equal pay for equal work.
She compared Clinton’s positions with Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, who believes the marketplace eventually will bring women’s wages up to the same level as men.
“It’s 2016 and we’re still waiting,” Boxer said.
Boxer added that Clinton would protect a woman’s right to choose to have an abortion, and again contrasted that with Trump and his running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, who is strongly pro-life.
She said Trump doesn’t have the necessary demeanor to be president and Clinton would unite the country rather than divide it.
“There’s a lot of talk about what makes America great. Well, I’ll tell you this: It’s not when we insult each other, it’s not when we tear each other down,” Boxer said. “It’s when we work together, build together, fight together. That’s what makes America great. That’s what Hillary Clinton will do.”
