The Editorial Board of the Technician recently announced its endorsement of Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton. The endorsement made a compelling case for voting against Donald Trump, a boorish, bigoted reality TV star and national embarrassment. The endorsement even admirably called for voters to scrutinize Clinton for her close ties to Wall Street financial institutions and her negligence in handling sensitive emails. However, despite this even-handed argument for Clinton and the disaster of a Trump presidency reason enough to vote against him, the Editorial Board omitted many troubling aspects of her career, particularly as secretary of state, of which every voter ought to be aware. 

Trump’s wildcard policy positions, stable of wealthy, extreme right-wing donors and inflammatory rhetoric have repulsed the left as well as many on the right. In addition to his nauseating public persona, Trump’s victory may also embolden the entire far right and lead to wins for extremists in state and local races. 

As such, a defense vote for Clinton is reasonable. However, Trump’s abundant negatives alone are hardly justification to whitewash Clinton’s history as a warmonger and promoter of exploitative business interests in other countries.

Under her direction, the State Department promoted fracking in Europe, enabled a military coup in Honduras, worked with U.S. garment manufacturers in Haiti to maintain poverty wages of about $3 per day, pushed for the invasions of Libya and Syria and approved thousands of murders by drone strike in Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia, including hundreds of civilians.

As first lady, Clinton lobbied hard for sweeping legislation that severely undermined the agency of working class and minority communities, and contributed to a massive wave of incarceration of nonviolent offenders. During her term as senator from New York, Clinton voted as part of a large bipartisan bloc to invade Iraq, despite the lack of concrete evidence of weapons of mass destruction and a good deal of opposition from the American public.

Voters who want an end to U.S.-led wars, real action on climate change and an equitable economy should consider Hillary Clinton’s record carefully before throwing whole-hearted support behind her. To not only vote for Clinton, but support her uncritically, would be disastrously naive.

Her policies can’t meaningfully be considered progress toward a more peaceful and more equitable future. Despite the claims that pressure from Bernie Sanders led her to adopt genuinely progressive policies, Clinton’s campaign promises and her posturing as a feminist hero tell a story that clashes with her record. 

Clinton’s rise from a young attorney to first lady of Arkansas then the first lady of the United States, U.S. senator, secretary of state and finally the first female candidate for a major party undoubtedly provides a model of success for young women, but these historic achievements are marred by actions that run counter to the interests of the working class.

Trump’s authoritarian and xenophobic rhetoric, astonishingly bad grasp of basic economic policy and history of unethical business practices make him an impossible choice for many voters. However, fear of Trump should not erase Clinton’s egregious failures in judgment from voters’ collective memory.

Although Clinton is polished and well-spoken, her policy mistakes and astonishing lack of transparency have had detrimental impacts on the lives of Americans, as well as soldiers and innocent civilians around the world.

We cannot forget her past as a warmonger and champion of predatory capitalism. Failing to hold her accountable will allow for the destabilization of more countries, the deaths of more soldiers and civilians and unresponsive domestic policies that favor the rich and multinational corporations. Before Clinton is elected President, we must resist her tactic of fomenting fear of the greater evil that undermines progressive movements. 

In 1970, NC State experienced a remarkable moment in our history when 6,000 students marched in protest of the Vietnam War. This moment and the courageous students who took part in it should inform the decisions that will shape our future as global citizens. We have the opportunity to challenge the reality of perpetual war, catastrophic climate change and growing economic inequality. This can only be achieved through rigorous and substantive criticism of our political leaders.