WILTON MANORS, Fla. — Hillary Clinton pledged to keep her “foot on the gas” in the final stretch of the campaign, despite the “noise and distraction” coming from her opponent amid the news that FBI is seeking a warrant to review newly discovered emails tied to her private server.
Speaking at an LGBT event here Sunday, Clinton said she wanted voters to know she was “focused” and wouldn’t be “knocked off course” despite what “our opponents throw at us.”
The Democratic candidate made a similar vow earlier in the day during a stop at New Mount Olive Baptist Church in Fort. Lauderdale, where she pledged to tackle systemic racism, sexism and prejudice.
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At both events, she made no explicit mention of the FBI probe that has once again thrust her private email server into the headlines, but repeated several times that she would not “back down.” Emails that FBI director James Comey said “appear to be pertinent” to the original investigation were discovered by agents on a laptop that belonged to former Congressman Anthony Weiner, who is under investigation for allegedly sexting an underage girl, that Weiner's wife, current and former top Clinton aide Huma Abedin, also used.
During the church service, the Democratic nominee cited scripture when she said that “suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,” and spoke extensively about her mother, who taught her that when facing hardships “what matters is whether you get back up.”
At her next stop, Clinton went beyond her usual charge that Donald Trump is divisive and dangerous for his “fear-mongering” to slam him for overstating his level of charitable giving throughout his career. Citing a Washington Post report that details several instances in which Trump exaggerated his generosity, Clinton ripped his philanthropy record.
"For as long as he has been rich and famous, he has wanted people to believe he is generous,” Clinton said, arguing that David Fahrenthold’s new story shows the exact opposite. “With Donald, it’s always Donald Trump first and everyone else last. He abuses his power, he games the system and doesn't care who is left holding the bag.”
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Noting the “unity” theme of Sunday afternoon's event, Clinton bashed Trump for his “terrible” record on LGBT issues as well.
“This election will determine whether we continue the progress we've made or let it be ripped away. We know Trump has promised he'll appoint Supreme Court justices who will overturn marriage equality and that he will repeal President Obama's executive actions to protect LGBT people from discrimination,” she said.
Throughout this riff, several members of the crowd yelled “lock him up!” — a twist on the usual Trump crowd rallying cry.
