Jan. 15, 2019 - Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) Announces Exploratory Committee

• Gillibrand announced her exploratory committee during an appearance on CBS' "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert." 
• Her campaign released 1:57 video "Search," website.
• RNC.
• Media avail in Troy, NY on morning of Jan. 16, 2019.


CBS "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" segment opening:

Colbert: ...I'm just curious.  Do you have anything you would like to announce?

Gillibrand:  Yes.  [long pause, reaches for Colbert's hand] 

Colbert:  And what would that be, madam.

Gillibrand:  I'm filing an exploratory committee for president of the United States tonight.

Colbert:  Tonight.

Okay, well thank you for telling everybody here.  Thank you very much.  Honored that you're here.  Ah, why do you want to be president of the United States?

Gillibrand:  Well I'm going to run for president of the United States, because as a young mom I'm going to fight for other people's kids as hard as I would fight for my own, which is why I believe that health care should be a right and not a privilege.  It's why I believe we should have better public schools for our kids, because it shouldn't matter what block you grow up on.  And I believe that anybody who wants to work hard enough should be able to get whatever job training they need to earn their way into the middle class.  But you are never going to accomplish any of these things if you don't take on the systems of power that make all of that impossible, which is taking on institutional racism, it's taking on the corruption and greed in Washington, taking on the special interests that write legislation in the dead of night.  And I know that I have the compassion, the courage and the fearless determination to get that done.

The segment ran for about 10m46s, and closed with Colbert presenting Gillibrand some campaign gifts.  See: "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert."


Gillibrand's exploratory committee website, 2020.kirstengillibrand.com featured a 1m51s video "Search," which mimicked a web user searching for information about Gillibrand to highlight her accomplishments.  It was a busy video with a lot of different clips and headlines interspersed.

"Search" [1min51sec]
[Music] [Keyboard typing SFX]

GOOGLE: Kris...Kirsten Gillibrand
        Wiki page
GOOGLE: mom

GOOGLE: Transparency
         The New York Times: Congress and the Benefits of Sunshine   a quite touch of revolution

Gillibrand: I was the first member to publish my Senate meetings, requests for funding, and personal income taxes online.
         The  Hill: Gillibrand releases five years of tax returns
           
Unidentified Woman: There is no better leader on the issue of money in politics and on the corrupting in influence of money in politics than you.
            Washington Post: "Senate begins debating insider-trading bill"
            The Caucus: Obama Signs Bill Banning Insider Trading by Federal Lawmakers 
            Buzzfeed News: Kirsten Gillibrand Pledges To Stop Accepting Donations From Corporate PACs

 
Gillibrand: I am no longer accepting corporate PAC checks into my campaign.

Gillibrand (clip)
: You have to really break up the current system and say we need publicly funded elections. We need greater transparency and accountability.      

Gillibrand (audio, clip): We need to fight for anyone who wants to be working full time to be able to earn their way into the middle class.
            NCBA CLUSA: Landmark employee ownership act, signed into law yesterday, will amend lending landscape for worker coops
            [unidentified]: Gillibrand bill aims to help create jobs

 
Gillibrand (clip): I want to see Made in America again.

GOOGLE: 9-11 Health Bill
 
Gillibrand: Everyone said the 9-11 health bill couldn't get done
 
Man (John Feal. 9/11 First Responder): But Senator Gillibrand took on the fight by working with 9-11 responders and their families.
           MSNBC: Bill for 9/11 first responders finally passes Congress

GOOGLE: Women's Rights
      
Gillibrand (audio, clip): We need woman to understand that not only are their voices neccessary, but whern they're at the table, everyuthing is better.
            www.OffTheSidelines.org
            Business Insider: New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand Is Giving A New Voice To Working Women
           
Buffalo News article on Gillibrand campaign website: Gillibran Pushing Equal Pay Legislation

Gillibrand (clip):  It is outrageous to ask woman of color to bear the burdens of every single one of these fights over and over and over again.
 
Gillibrand (clips):...talked to so many constituents whose lives have been really ripped apart because of unfair and unjust... marijuana laws across the country.
 
GOOGLE: Taking on Trump

Gillibrand (on Van Jones): I am not afraid of him and I am not afraid of his nasty language and his name calling.
            Roll Call: Gillibrand Leads Democrats in Opposing Trump's Nominees

Gillibrand (clip): What the President is doing is inhumane and immoral.
            Rolliing Stone: How Kirsten Gillibrand Is Outsmarting Donald Trump

Jon Stewart: Instrumental in passing don't ask, don't tell, instrumental in passing the 9-11 First Responders Bill, instrumental in passing the food safety bill, Instrumental in passing the ban on drop-side cribs.  You have done all this very much under the radar, out of the spotlight.
Observer.com: Gillibrand Celebrates Don't Ask Don't Tell Repeal
Advocate.com: Gillibrand Keeps Up the Push for Equality
HuffingtonPost: Kirsten Gillibrand Unveils A Public Option For Banking
Food & Water Watch: Gillibrand's Bill Would Make Meat and Poultry Safer for Consumers
LCV tweet: Gillibrand's leadership helped boot Scott Pruitt from the EPA...
CNN: Gillibrand urges Senate to take up sexual harrassment bill
[unidentified]: ...legislation to help bring down prescription drug prices

[Music fade]

video


Republican National Committee
Statement

“If you looked up ‘political opportunism’ in the dictionary, Kirsten Gillibrand’s photo would be next to it. From jumping on the ‘abolish ICE’ bandwagon to turning on the Clintons, Gillibrand always goes where the political wind blows. Democrats know it, which is why she’s barely registering in the polls.” – RNC Spokesman Michael Ahrens
_________________

RNC Research Briefing [Top Takeaways]

Chameleon Kirsten Joins The Party

Gillibrand Transformed Herself From A Moderate Congresswoman To A Far-Left Senator, And No One In Her Party Is Excited About Her

______________________________________________________________

TOP TAKEAWAYS

·         Despite just announcing her intentions to form an exploratory committee for 2020, Gillibrand is facing serious questions about how she will gain enough support to remain relevant with only 1 percent of Democrats nationally supporting her.

·         In January 2019, Gillibrand made the curious move to reach out to Wall Street executives to gauge support for her campaign, a move that surely raised eyebrows on the left.

·         Traditionally, Gillibrand has been a “go-to advocate for the financial services industry,” and prior to her recent pledge to no longer accept corporate PAC money, she accepted $4.9 million from the industry between 2005 and 2018.

·         High profile Democratic donors have turned away from Gillibrand or “reconsidered” their support for the Senator based on her history of throwing colleagues under the bus to “improve her chances” in 2020.

·         Since moving from the House of Representatives to the Senate in 2009, Gillibrand has moved to the far left in an attempt to curry political favor; in fact, she was so quick to shift her positions on issues that Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) had to tell her to “slow down.”

o   When she first entered the Senate, Gillibrand was labeled anti-immigrant with a “hard-line stance” that “border[ed] on xenophobia,” but has since tried to appease the liberal base by shifting to the far-left on immigration.

o   In the House, Gillibrand once opposed amnesty for illegal immigrants, calling amnesty legislation “fatally flawed,” but now she supports abolishing ICE and forced a government shutdown in order to protect illegal immigrants. 



Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Press Conference
Outside Country View Diner
Troy, NY
January 16, 2019

[DEMOCRACY IN ACTION TRANSCRIPT / video from 10 News WTSP]

I'm going to run for President of the United States because as a young mom I will fight for your children as hard as I would fight for my own, and that's why I believe that health care should be a right and not a privilege.  I believe we should have better public schools because it shouldn't matter what block you grow up on.  I believe we need to start rewarding work in this country again because anybody who wants to work hard should be able to get whatever training they need to earn their way into the middle class and to be able to have the American Dream which has always been for everyone. 

But to get any of this done, you have to be willing to take  on the systems of power that make this impossible.  You have to be able to take on institutional racism, which holds far too many communities back.  You have to be willing to take on the drug companies, if you want lower prescription drug prices.  You have to be willing to take on the insurance companiies, if you want health care as a right and not a privilege.  You have to be able to take on the corruption in Washington.  You have to be able to take on the special interests that write legislation in the dead of night, not for you and me, not for the people, but for those with the power.

And I know that I have the compassion and the courage and the fearless determination that is necessary to get this done.  And I know this because of all the people on whose shoulders I stand, all the people that have come before me to fight for what's right.

It starts with my own family.  My mother's grandmother, my great-grandmother—she was raised in Albany, never went to college; she was a Rosie the riveter during World War II.  The country asked her to leave her home to help the country; she did.  My mother's mother also never went to college.  She organized women for a generation so that their voices mattered, so that they could be heard in our political process.  And my mom.  She dared me to be different because she dared to be different.  She went to law school when very few women worked outside the home.  She was one of only three women in her law school class, and I think she had to take her criminal law exam ust a couple days after she gave birth to my brother from the hospital bed.

We also stand on the shoulders of generations of Americans who have tried to make this country better, who have believed that we should have a more perfect union.  So whether we fought to abolish slavery, or we fought for suffrage, or whether we fought for workers' rights and unions' rights or whether we fought for LGBT equality or whether we fight today to make sure every child can breathe clean air and drink clean water, those are the fights of this country.  Every generation has chosen to make a more perfect union, to bring more people into those rights for a reason, because that's who we are as Americans.  Despite all our flaws, we want to bring people together not tear them apart.  Until now, until the person in the White House, until President Trump has chosen to tear this country apart against all racial lines, all religious lines, every division, every line you can find, and that is what we have to fight against.

This is going to be a very different campaign because we're willing to take on those systems of power that do not want Americans to have that opportunity.

So if you want to join me in taking on the drug companies, taking on the insurance companies so we can guarantee healthcare as a right and not a privilege; if you're willing to take on the corruption in Washington, the special interests that control everything, so that people's voices can be heard, so that we can take on global climate change and actually care about clean air and clean water for everyone, to have bold ideas to make that difference, to take on the institutional racism that corrupts so many people's lives, whether it's healthcare or education or through jobs.  The fact that you are a black woman in New York City today you are 12 times more likely to die in childbirth is part of the problem.

So if you're really willing to take on what it takes, at least get money out of politics.  It's why I'm banning corporate PAC money. It's why I'm not taking money from federal lobbyists.  It's why I don't think we should have individual super PACs and I don't want one.  It's why we need to take on how things work and restore that power to the people.

I think this is a moment for all of us to ask ourselves what we are called to do.  Only light can drive out darkness.  Only what's right can defeat what's wrong.  And I feel very called at this moment to make that difference, to help people, to listen to people, to listen to what's going on in their lives and to solve those problems.  If you want to help me do that, please join our campaign.  Let's go.

Reporter: Senator, I think a lot of people see you as pretty likable, a nice person. Given the person we have in the White House who I think most people will kind of agree, Republicans and Democrats, is not the most likable guy in the world, is now, how much of a selling point, like an Amy Klobuchar, a Kirsten Gillibrand, that maybe the country wants someone like that now?
And also, what do you tell the people who you know, back in November you said you weren't [inaud.]?

Gillibrand: I believe that what people want in our state and around the country is someone who will fight for them and someone who not only understands what their problems actually are, but will then do what it takes to solve that problem.

You have to be willing to have the courage and the compassion and the fearless determination to take on those battles, and they just need to know that you understand them.  And I will continue to fight for New Yorkers as I have always done, but I believe the urgency of this moment now is we have to take on President Trump and what he's doing.  I believe he's literally ripping apart the fabric of this country, the moral fabric, and you've got to restore that decency and our leadership in the world. And so that's why I feel so called right now to take on that battle.

Reporters: [crosstalk]: ...in the fall when you committed to serve out your six-year term...?

Gillibrand: As I said then, I was solely focused on winning our midterms, creating transparency and accountability over this White House to have some level of oversight, and to continue to serve New Yorkers, and I feel I will continue to do that.  But this sense of urgency has only grown in me, and I wanted to talk to my family, wonderful children and they will be making sacrifices too.  And so this is something I really need to get, I really needed to give that long, hard consideration about what will happen to our lives, and, and I do feel so called to fight as hard as I can right now.

Reporter: With so many Democrats in, what path do you see, what's the path for you that you feel that you have to show.

Gillibrand: I think you need to create a better vision for this country about who you're fighting for and why.  I think a lot of people feel left behind.  I can tell you, after the last election I traveled all around New York. I went to all our counties, I did town halls, and I listened to people.  And people do feel left behind. They feel like no one's fighting for them.  They can't earn their way into the middle class.  No one's taking on the drug companies so we still have opioid crisis that is all across this state [inaud.] country.  They feel like no one will take on the challenges that are necessary so that they can be part of this picture, that they can have the slice of the American dream.  So I think they just need someone who cares.

Reporter: But a lot of Democrats would say the same thing.  Why you?

Gillibrand: Well, I have a proven record of fighting for people in New York over the last 12 years  I've had the highest vote totals in the history of the state and you know this state.  We have people in rural areas that are working hard at agriculture manufacturing, we have suburbs that you know moms who were not happy in the last election, who who weren't inspired to vote with us.  And so I can reach out to all those people because I've done that for 12 years and I also get things done as you know, because you have covered me, whether you're fighting for first responders and, and making sure we have the 911 Health bill or having don't ask don't tell repeal or making sure members of Congress can't engage an insider trading. 

These are simple things, but these are things I've gotten done because I bring people together.  I think what the country wants and what I can give is that ability to bring all of us together on what's right, on what is in our hearts that all of us love our children and all of us want our children to have that chance to have a piece of this beautiful country and look out into the future and see their own future.  It's about the future.  And I think what I've shown in service is that I can do that.

Reporters: [crosstalk].

Gillibrand: Can someone—do you want to call on people because I don't want to be unfair...
Okay.  Yeah.

Reporter: Senator, looking over your career you have changed your position on issues such as gun control and immigration and then you changed about, you know, whether you're going to serve your full six-year term.  If a votor was suspicious of you, figuring that you're taking different sides at different times, how would you explain all of this to them?

Gillibrand: Yeah, I would just tell them to look at my heart.  When I, now 10 years ago, became senator for New York, when I met parents who lost their child to gun violence.  When I met Nyasia Pryear-Yard's parents and all her classmates (>), the pain and the suffering that families are facing every day, I was convicted and said I have to fight for them too.  I have to make sure that we fight to end gun violence.  And what I learned 10 years ago is what American families are learning with these kids from Florida who are literally creating a movement to talk about how we can all fight to end gun violence that is part of what's happening for the rest of America right now.

And so I think it's important to know when you're wrong and to do what's right and I will do what's right and I will fight for right what's right and I don't back down from those fights.

Reporter: Senator, have you gotten any pushback from the donor community, Democrats in particular, about the Al Franken scenario?

Gillibrand: I will stand up for what I believe in especially when it's hard.  And with Senator Franken it's, you know, sad for many people, but after eight allegations of sexual harassment and groping, credible allegations at the time, I just couldn't stay silent.  My job was not to say silent.  I couldn't defend it, and I had to do what was right.  And if some wealthy individuals, that makes them angry, that's on them.  [Inaud.?Question from Reporter]  It's been reported in the press.

Reporter: ...received support from Wall Street this time around as well.  There's been some criticism of you for the support that you've gotten from the financial services...

Gillibrand: I think it's important for people to know my values are never for sale, and that's why I've banned corporate PAC checks, it's why I'm not taking money from federal lobbyists, and it's why I don't think individuals should have super PACs.

Reporter: You mentioned the people who feel left out and a lot of us who were covering the midterms and the earlier campaign, for a lot of Trump voters said that's exactly how they feel, they felt left out.  Are you going to try to reach those Trump voters and if so what's your message to them?

Gillibrand: Of course. And you know, I'm running for president of the United States.  I want to represent our country, our whole country, and that means listening to their challenges and when I talked to folks in New York. they just want basic things for their families.  They want healthcare as a right and privilege.  They want to be able to afford it and have it be quality health care.  They want better schools.  They want to know that their children can have a better life than themselves. And for a lot of people they've been working so hard that they cannot make ends meet.  They just want the access to the training they need to get a better job.  And for so many people in New York, they need us to take on these these structural challenges.

Institutional racism is real, and it prevents you from getting a good job if it harms you because our public schools aren't funded equally, if it makes it impossible for you to get quality health care and survive childbirth.  Well, you've got to take on those things too.  So for all the people across America that feel left behind, I'm going to fight for them and I have a track record.  To your question. I've done it.  I've taken underdog causes, come from behind things.  I mean, for those who know me here, you know my first House race was in a two to one Republican district right here in this county and it didn't matter because I could run on my values, I could run on Medicare for all in 2006 in a two to one Republican district because back then people wanted basic health care. So I intend to talk to everyone about what they care about and I intend to listen and then I intend to fight for them.

Reporter: ...values.  What were some of the mistakes you saw happen with Clinton in 2016 that you're going to do differently?

Gillibrand: I think every candidate is different, and we have to all speak from our hearts about who we care about, why we care, and what we plan to do to make it better.

Reporter: Why put your headquarters in Troy, why...?

Gillibrand : 'Cause Troy's awesome!  Why wouldn't you put your headquarters in Troy?

Reporter: Anything else to say to anyone in the capital region that you obviously are putting your campaign...

Gillibrand: Come to Troy!  It's gonna be fun, and I want to be here because this is where I'm from. It's my story.  This is who I am.  This is where I first ran for Congress.  This is where I grew up, and my family's here and Troy is a lot like the rest of America.  We work hard.  We were part of the Industrial Revolution.  We made things here,  And from there we've had ups and downs like a lot of places all across America.  But we continue to work hard, start new businesses, see rebirth and growth, and you've seen the amazing renaissance in Troy and other places in upstate New York. And that's a lot like the rest of the country.  We don't give up.  We never give up. Where do you think I learned never giving up from it's from upstate New York, from my mother, and all the people I know and love.  And so that's what we're about and I think that's the American story.

Reporter: Senator I just wanted to follow up on what this gentleman was saying about Wall Street.

Gillibrand
: Yeah.

Reporter
: You said that you ran against corruption, against special interests, that your positions can't be bought, but if that's the case, how do you reconcile going to Wall Street to make sure they're okay with the run, as reported...?

Gillibrand: Well that's certainly not the case.  That is not true.  But you just have to look at the facts. I voted against the bailout twice.  I am a co-sponsor of two co-sponsors for a bill to do a transaction tax.  I believe that Glass-Steagall makes sense, a new Glass-Steagall and I am on a bill to support that.  I supported Dodd Frank. I  mean, just look at the facts.  Look at my record.  I always speak for for what's right regardless of who might be angry or disappointed or not agree.

Aide: Okay. Two more questions.

Reporter: Senator, the governor recently said that Joe Biden has the quote best case for the Democratic nomination because he has credibility.  I 'm curious when you made that comment as someone who once worked for the governor and do you intend on trying to change his mind.

Gillibrand: I intend to try to change everybody's mind.

Reporter: But did you take any offense to the governor...?

Gillibrand: No everyone's entitled to their opinions and Joe Biden's an amazing guy.  I know a lot of people who love and respect him and I'm one of them.

Aide: Last question; we're gonna move on to someone else.

Reporter: ...most anti-Trump voting record of your colleagues are you worried that you'll...

Gillibrand: No because I get things done.  In this Congress alone I've passed 18 bills in the last Congress to help New Yorkers, and I bring people together.  I probably have a piece of legislation with, if not every senator who's a Republican, but I bring people together on common sense ideas. It's how we passed the 911 Health bill unanimously.  It's how we repealed Don't Ask, Don't Tell.  Its how we passed the stock act.  Every piece of legislation I've ever worked on, it's because I've listened to my voters, I've brought people together from both sides of the aisle so that we could actually have a common sense solution.  People want common sense solutions; they want you to fight for them and get things done, and I have a really strong proven record of doing that in my last decade in public service.

Aide: Okay so that was the last question.

Reporter: ..rivals...Democratic field...?

Gillibrand: Well I just know why I'm running.  I have a vision for America that's really clear, and I have the track record to show, and the compassion and the courage and the determination to get things done for the American people, and that's what my history shows, that's what I've done in my decade of public service—I'm sorry it's so cold—and that's why I want to continue to fight for this country.  We have to fight for our country, and all of are called to do what it takes to restore what's been lost.  We have to restore our standing in the world, we have to restore that moral fiber.

Yes honey.  [Leans over to listen to her son]  Henry's cold.  So we're going to go in and have breakfast.  You guys are welcome to come in.  This is going to be a long journey so you can ask all your questions.  I really believe in the importance of the press, and I believe in transparence and accountability so I look forward to having a really great relationship with all of you.  Thank you.