Clinton: US ‘careening from crisis to crisis’

In a speech to the Center for American Progress, Hillary Clinton blasted lawmakers who govern by ideology.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Thursday night blamed lawmakers who govern by ideology for sending the country careening from crisis to crisis.

Speaking at the 10th anniversary of the founding of the progressive Center for American Progress (CAP), Clinton said the group is needed now more than ever.

{mosads}“We are careening from crisis to crisis instead of having a plan bringing people to that plan, focusing on common-sense solutions and being relentless in driving toward them,” she said.

Specifically alluding to the government shutdown, Clinton derided the consequences when lawmakers use “scorched earth” tactics and operate in an “evidence-free zone.”

Clinton made similar remarks during a speech earlier in the week.

“We’ve seen unfortunately what happens in our public debate when they occur in what I do call an evidence-free zone, where people make claims and arguments that have no basis in evidence but which are ideologically motivated, when politicians choose scorched earth over common ground, families have felt the consequences,” she said, citing furloughed workers and kids kicked out of Head Start programs.

Clinton, considered a frontrunner for the Democratic nomination for president if she runs, made no allusion to a political run in her short, 10-minute remarks.

Clinton praised the group specifically for shining a spotlight on the healthcare debate.

“In particular CAP’s efforts to put affordable, quality healthcare for every American back on the national agenda was essential,” she said.

Clinton said CAP is influential around the world.

“As I traveled as secretary of State it was not uncommon for me to be asked about CAP, particularly by leaders who were hoping to have an infrastructure to support their views in their countries,” she said.

John Podesta, the chair of the group, served as President Clinton’s chief of staff, while CAP President Neera Tanden is a former Clinton staffer from her presidential campaign in 2008 and her previous Senate race.

Clinton is making back-to-back public appearances this week. On Wednesday, she gave a speech at the University of Buffalo and she will give another at Colgate University in upstate New York on Friday.

“Happy birthday, thank you, and let’s keep going,” Clinton said, ending her speech.