By Laura Sanicola

With eleven days until the U.S. presidential election, The Fordham College Democrats have endorsed Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton in a unanimous vote.  College Democrats President Thomas Palumbo, FCRH ’17, shared the club’s endorsement with The Fordham Ram on Tuesday, as breaking news from national media outlets simultaneous revealed that the Federal Investigations Bureau (FBI) launched another investigation into Hillary Clinton’s emails.

The College Democrats cite Clinton’s extensive domestic and foreign policy experience, including expanding healthcare for veterans and assistant New York’s recovery following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, as a key factor in their endorsement.

“While she may not grab as many headlines as her opponent, there is no question that Hillary Clinton has a far greater understanding of policy and implications on every issue,” the College Democrats wrote in a letter of endorsement.College Democrats President Thomas Palumbo, FCRH ’17.

The College Democrats were highly critical of the abilities of Clinton’s opponent Donald Trump, the Republican presidential candidate, who the club calls “woefully uninformed” on policy and “unfit to be a President to represent all Americans as our face to the world.”

Trump attended Fordham from 1964-1966 before transferring to the University of Pennsylvania. He does not hold a Fordham degree.

The College Democrats conceded that while many in the organization supported Bernie Sanders in the primaries, the club feels that Clinton would better serve as president.

“Within our club, many of us do not agree with everything that Hillary Clinton has done in the past, but every time Secretary Clinton has learned from her missteps, explained her evolving thinking, and arrived at the correct position,” the club members wrote.

As of Tuesday afternoon, The Fordham College Republicans have not endorsed a presidential candidate, and executive members of the organization were split on an endorsement in September.

Clinton gained a wide lead over Trump in national polls following the release of an Access Hollywood tape in which he was heard speaking in explicit language about women. Her lead has been narrowing in recent days. FBI director James B. Comey wrote to Congress Tuesday that new Clintons emails had surfaced in an unrelated case. Comey wrote that the emails “appear to be pertinent to the investigation” into her use of a private email server, which had been closed by the FBI in July.

The full endorsement from The Fordham College Democrats can be found below:

For many students at Fordham, November 8th will be our first opportunity to vote for the Presidency. While many people have derided the level of discourse and at times the sheer absurdity of this year’s election, voters this election are awarded a unique opportunity: a choice between the most qualified candidate for the Presidency in modern American history against the least qualified major-party nominee in the history of United States elections. Without hesitation, all members of the College Democrats of Fordham University unanimously endorse Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton for President.

During her four years as Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton was the most traveled Secretary of State in American history, visiting 112 countries and spending 401 total days on the road. She has earned the respect and cooperation of countless world leaders, including crucial American allies such as the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, and Mexico. In addition, Secretary Clinton was instrumental in negotiating peace between Israel and Hamas, as well as levying sanctions against Iran that would eventually allow for the Iran Nuclear Deal which eliminates Iran’s ability to obtain a nuclear weapon in the near future.

As a United States Senator, Hillary Clinton fought tirelessly for the people she represented. She expanded healthcare for veterans, protected businesses and farmers, and helped New York state recover after the terrorist attacks of September 11th. This experience is all in addition to her service as the most active First Lady since Eleanor Roosevelt, fighting for affordable healthcare and championing women’s rights across the globe.

The next President of the United States will face serious challenges, and it is clear that Secretary Clinton is by far more equipped to meet these challenges than Mr. Trump. While she may not grab as many headlines as her opponent, there is no question that Hillary Clinton has a far greater understanding of policy and implications on every issue. During her time in Washington, Secretary Clinton has amassed a reputation of being able to work across the aisle to achieve real change for her constituents.           

Mr. Trump has consistently proposed unconstitutional and unfeasible policy ideas for some topics, such as banning all members of a specific religion from entering the United States. He has done this while refusing to give policy details about crucial issues, including his plans for healthcare reform and containing ISIS. This is in addition to his constant attacks against Women, Muslims, Mexicans, and countless other groups. Mr. Trump has proven that he is woefully informed on policy, but moreso unfit to be a President to represent all Americans as our face to the world.

Within our club, many of us do not agree with everything that Hillary Clinton has done in the past, but every time Secretary Clinton has learned from her missteps, explained her evolving thinking, and arrived at the correct position. There is no question that someone who learns from their mistakes is more fit to lead than someone who refuses to admit that they ever made a mistake. The Fordham Democrats, many of whom supported Senator Bernie Sanders during the primary, have unanimously endorsed Secretary Clinton as far and away the best and only reasonable choice for President. We strongly encourage you to vote Secretary Hillary Clinton for President on November 8th.