Hillary Clinton brushes off concerns about age, dynasty
Hillary Clinton, the frontrunner for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2016, sought to put some of her potential political liabilities in a positive light on Wednesday during a campaign visit to South Carolina.
Among other charges, some of Clinton's critics have said she's too old to offer a forward-looking vision for America, and that she's riding the coattails of her husband, former President Bill Clinton, into the White House.
Clinton, 67, brushed off both criticisms during a speech at the "Day in Blue" event for the South Carolina House Democratic Women's Caucus.
She suggested her own experience as the spouse of a president, far from smacking of dynastic politics, would actually make her a better leader.
"I do know how hard this job I'm seeking is," she said. "You're not going to catch me wondering what it's like. Instead I'm spending my time planning what I will do for you."
And in a nod to questions about her age, Clinton noted that past presidents have seen their hair quickly turn gray in office and added, "I may not be the youngest candidate in this race, but I have one advantage: I've been coloring my hair for years. You're not going to see me turn white in the White House!"
Clinton's speech at the event focused largely on the importance of empowering women to participate in business, politics, and other arenas. She stressed the importance of passing a bill to guarantee pay equality and the need to ensure "pay transparency" so women can know whether they're being paid fairly. She also pushed policymakers to raise the minimum wage and "make it easier for women to enter higher paying fields like science and technology."