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The defeated
Democratic candidate did not name the Republican president in
her remarks to the graduating class at her alma mater, Wellesley
College. But she took several veiled swipes at the
businessman-turned-politician, whose budget proposal earlier
this week proposed sharp cuts in programs for healthcare and
food assistance.
"Look at the budget that was just proposed in Washington. It is
an attack of unimaginable cruelty on the most vulnerable among
us," Clinton told a crowd at the all-women's college, located in
Boston's suburbs.
"It grossly underfunds public education, mental health and even
efforts to combat the opioid epidemic."
White House officials have described the proposed budget as
providing tax cuts that they say would stimulate economic growth
and create more private-sector jobs. As with all presidential
budget proposals, the proposal was more of a wishlist that is
unlikely to be approved in its current form by Congress.
Clinton, a former secretary of state, warned against an erosion
of accepted standards of truth in U.S. public discourse, and
also appeared to be attacking Trump on this issue.
"You are graduating a time when there is a full-fledged assault
on truth and reason. Just log on to social media for 10 seconds,
it will hit you right in the face," she said, citing hoax online
reports that her campaign was tied to a Washington pizzeria that
operated a child sex ring.
"When people in power invent their own facts and attack those
who question them, it can mark the beginning of the end of a
free society," Clinton said. "This is not hyperbole, it is what
authoritarian regimes throughout history have done."
She also urged graduates of the liberal-leaning school, which is
located in one of the most Democratic states in the country, not
to retreat into their own partisan echo chambers, saying, "your
learning, listening and serving should include people who don't
agree with you politically."
Clinton has had a long public career since graduating in 1969
from Wellesley. She was first lady during her husband Bill
Clinton's two terms in the White House and was later elected to
the U.S. Senate representing New York state. She made an
unsuccessful presidential run in 2008 before serving as the
country's top diplomat during President Barack Obama's first
term.
Clinton, 69, has gradually returned to the public eye since her
upset November defeat, saying that she will not run for office
again but will serve as an activist citizen.
(Writing by Scott Malone; Editing by Frances Kerry)
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