Clinton asks voters to consider full foreign policy record, not just Iraq vote

IOWA CITY - Hillary Clinton would like Iowa Democratic caucusgoers to consider her entire foreign policy record, not just her vote to go to war in Iraq, which she admits was a mistake.

The former secretary of state who campaigned in Iowa City Tuesday afternoon said she's been 'on all sides of that … and I understand some of the pushes and pulls for that,” referring to the use of military force to solve problems.

The decision to go to war is too easy - a 'default position,” she said in response to a question from one of about 250 people who attended her organizing event at the Iowa City Public Library. Another 100 or more people listened from an overflow room, according to the campaign.

'Unfortunately, it's very tempting and politically explainable for presidents to revert to using military force,” Clinton said.

However, Clinton said the thrust of her efforts as secretary of state was to use 'smart power.”

'We needed to elevate diplomacy, development, economic work to the same level as defense,” she said. 'I will work really hard to make that a reality in the White House.”

Clinton's 2002 vote in favor of the Iraq War dogged her in her unsuccessful 2008 bid for the Democratic nomination and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, her chief challenger this year, has called that vote 'fair game.”

However, Clinton said it's up to voters to decide whether it should disqualify her as a presidential candidate.

Iowa Republicans agree Clinton should be judged on her record as secretary of state that 'was marked by disaster and embarrassment,” according to Republican Party of Iowa Chairman Jeff Kaufmann. 'From her failed reset with Russia, to ISIS' spread across the Middle East, Iowans know Clinton has earned retirement, not a promotion.”

Clinton defended her record, saying that 'working with the Obama administration we did exercise smart power that I think needs to be the hallmark of our security policy.”

'So I think I am very well-prepared and very grounded in what will work in dealing in a very complicated world,” Clinton told reporters after spending more than an hour talking and answering questions from her audience. 'This is a multipolar, challenging world that we have to get right on so many different fronts. I think I bring a level of understanding and experience to the race that would do me well in the White House.”

That includes a commitment to the 'slow, hard, boring work of diplomacy … (because) nobody else but the United States can do it,” she said.

That's why Tina Koepnick of Iowa City is supporting Clinton just as she did eight years ago.

'I'm looking for someone who is smart, articulate and a good leader - and that's Hillary,” Koepnick said.

'I've been ready to vote for Hillary for a while,” her husband, Kevin, added.

Their daughter, Emily, a University of Iowa student, is eager to cast her first vote in a presidential election for Clinton, who she has looked up to for a long time.

'She's a strong female who's done great things for the country,” Emily Koepnick said.

Waiting in a line that snaked from the library around the downtown Ped Mall to Washington Street, Sue Zaleski of Solon agreed Clinton has a 'great track record” and 'talks about the right things in the right way.”

However, first-time voter Bruce James, who was just in front of Zaleski, wasn't so sure.

'I'm keeping my ears open,” James said.

That includes listening to Sanders. He likes what Sanders has to say about the economy and taxing the rich.

'I need to hear her speak,” he said about Clinton, 'and then I'll make up my mind.”

Loretta Ross drove in from Topeka because she has 'great respect” for Clinton, but like James, she's listening to Sanders, too.

'I'm weighing the established foundation Hillary brings - her experience and the breadth of her experience - with Sanders' very clear goals in areas that are important to me,” Ross said.

At the moment, Ross added, she thinks Clinton has more general election appeal.