Hillary Clinton says U.S. again ‘at a moment of reckoning’

Hillary Clinton accepted the Democratic nomination for president Thursday night with “humility, determination and boundless confidence in America’s promise,” saying “America is once again at a moment of reckoning.”

Clinton said she’d be a president for Democrats, Republicans and independents – “for all those who vote for me and those who don’t.”

Democratic delegates twice broke out in chants of “Hillary!” during her speech in order to drown out isolated hecklers in the convention hall.

Some supporters of primary rival Bernie Sanders still object to Clinton’s nomination and were planning to express their displeasure.

Clinton didn’t acknowledged any of the jeers or yelling.

Some Washington state delegates left quietly – with tape over their mouths – as Clinton spoke.

Clinton said her presidential nomination is a milestone on America’s “march toward a more perfect union.”

Clinton is the first woman nominee of a major party. She told the Democratic convention that the achievement is special “for grandmothers and little girls and everyone in between.”

But she said the nation must keep going until all 161 million women and girls in the country have the opportunities they deserve.

Clinton said: “When there are no ceilings, the sky’s the limit.”

She said she’s happy for boys and men, too, because when a barrier fall, it clears the way for all.

Clinton said she’s met many people who motivate her to fight for change, including sick children and survivors of 9/11.

Clinton said “it’s true, I sweat the details of policy.

She said details should be a “big deal” to the president.

Clinton said the U.S. needs a leader who'll work with allies to keep America safe.

Clinton said the presidential election presents a stark choice on national security, with the U.S. facing what she says are “determined enemies that must be defeated.”

She said people want “steady leadership.”

Clinton said she’s proud of the Iran nuclear and global climate agreements – and says both must be enforced now.

Neither deal happened while she was in government.

Clinton said she'll stand by NATO allies against any Russian threats.

And she pledged to defeat the Islamic States group with airstrikes and support for local ground forces, while authorizing a “surge” in intelligence to prevent terrorist attacks.

Clinton said: “We will prevail.”

Clinton questioned whether Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has the temperament to be commander in chief.

She said Trump “can’t even handle the rough-and-tumble of a presidential campaign.”

Clinton said Trump loses his cool at the “slightest provocation” – when he’s gotten tough questions from reporters, when he’s challenged in a debate or when he sees a protester at a rally.

Here’s her take: “A man you can bait with a tweet is not a man we can trust with nuclear weapons.”

Clinton said Democrats haven’t done a good enough job of showing working families that they understand what these families are going through.

Clinton said she agrees with families that have told her the economy just isn’t working.

She said Americans are willing to work, and work hard.

But right now, she said, “an awful lot of people feel there is less and less respect for the work they do.”

Clinton told Democrats at the party’s national convention not to believe anyone who says, “I alone can fix it.”

That’s a knock on Trump. He told GOP delegates a week ago that he’s the only one who can fix “the system.”

Clinton warned that Trump’s words should “set off alarm bells for all of us.”

She accused Trump of forgetting such people as America’s troops, its police and firefighters, teachers and others.

Clinton said Americans don’t say, “I alone can fix it” but “we'll fix it together.”

She emphasized her point by saying the Founding Fathers designed the Constitution so America would be a nation where no one person has all the power.

Clinton thanked President Barack Obama and said she’s a better person because of Obama’s friendship.

She had kind words for first lady Michelle Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and her running mate, Tim Kaine.

Clinton said people are “soon going to understand” why Kaine is so popular in Virginia, which he represents in the Senate.

She said Kaine will make the “whole country proud as our vice president.”

Clinton said she’s heard the views of Bernie Sanders’ steadfast supporters and says their cause is her cause.

She praisied Sanders for putting economic and social justice issues “front and center” – where she says they belong.

And she told Sanders’ supporters the country needs their “ideas, energy and passion.”

She asked them to move forward and turn their platform into “real change for America.”

Clinton said Trump has brought the Republican Party a long way – from “Morning in America” to “Midnight in America.”

The Democratic presidential candidate said Trump “wants us to fear the future and fear each other.”

“It’s morning in America” was an optimistic line from a famous political ad aired by Ronald Reagan.

Clinton asked whether Trump would stay true to the phrase on the country’s seal – “E Pluribus Unum,” or out of many, we are one.

And her take? “We heard Donald Trump’s answer last week at his convention. He wants to divide us – from the rest of the world, and from each other.”

She said President Franklin Roosevelt’s famous words are the perfect rebuke: “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”

Clinton also assailed Trump’s record as a businessman.

She pointed to Atlantic City, N.J. – about 60 miles from Philadelphia, site of the Democratic convention. She said there are contractors and small businesses that lost everything because Trump refused to pay his bills for work they did in his casinos.

Clinton said Trump talks a “big game” about putting America first. But Trump’s clothing line is made overseas, not in the United States. The same goes for other Trump products, such as furniture and picture frames, Clinton said.

“Donald Trump says he wants to make America great again,” she said. “Well, he could start by making things in America again.”

Clinton checked off one policy difference after another with Trump.

She promised to appoint Supreme Court justices “who will get money out of politics” and expand voting rights, “not restrict them.”

Clinton called for a constitutional amendment to overturn the high court’s 2010 Citizens United ruling that’s especially unpopular among Democrats.

The Democratic nominee said she'll fight to overhaul the immigration system.

She voiced support for raising the minimum wage, expanding health insurance and ensuring women are paid the same as men.

Clinton talked about issues on which she’s moved closer to Sanders. They include support for companies sharing more profits with workers and opposition to what she calls “unfair trade deals.”

Clinton said Trump didn’t offer any solutions to problems when he gave his nominating speech last week.

The Democratic nominee cited several goals for the first 100 days of a Clinton administration.

Topping her list was bipartisan support to pass what she said will be the biggest investment in new, good-paying jobs since World War II.

Jobs in manufacturing, clean energy, technology and innovation, small business, and infrastructure.

Clinton said she'll work with primary Sanders to make college tuition-free for the middle class and debt-free for all. She also promised to “liberate” millions of people already with student debt.

Clinton said she’d be an inclusive president.

She said she wouldn’t build a wall or ban a religion.

The Democratic nominee said she’d try to build an economy that benefits everyone and she’d work toward a path to citizenship for millions of immigrants.

Clinton said she’d work with all Americans and the nation’s allies to fight terrorism.

She said: “We are clear-eyed about what our country is up against. But we are not afraid.”

Clinton said the United States has the most dynamic and diverse people in the world – and the most powerful military.

So, she said, don’t let “anyone tell you that our country is weak.”

Clinton is continuing a theme at the Democratic National Convention that seeks to counter Trump’s starker vision.

She also said the U.S. has the most innovative entrepreneurs and the most enduring values.

“Don’t let anyone tell you we don’t have what it takes,” Clinton said. “We do.”

Clinton says the slogan “stronger together” that’s been featured in her campaign is a guiding principle for the country.

She said it’ll help define a future with a healthy economy “for everyone, not just those at the top.”

Clinton said it also means good schools for rich and poor, and safe communities.

Clinton recalled the book she wrote while she served as first lady. She said “It Takes a Village” envisions a country in which people work together to make “our nation better and stronger.”

This story was originally published July 28, 2016 at 7:30 PM with the headline "Hillary Clinton says U.S. again ‘at a moment of reckoning’."