Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had a sudden scheduling change related to her appearance in San Diego on April 11, 2014 at a major healthcare conference. Local residents made aware of Hillary Clinton’s coming to San Diego organized a protest rally addressing the former Secretary’s role in what has been termed the Benghazi Cover Up. According to Pat Smith, mother of one of the fallen heroes Sean Smith, attendees were given a notice last week that Hillary’s appearance as Key Note Speaker had been changed to a satellite presentation.
Hillary Clinton’s swing through California for April 2014 was mentioned on the CNN Political Ticker blog January 22, 2014. The web posting said: “Hillary Clinton will make a multi-day swing through California in April, speaking at events in San Francisco, San Jose and San Diego that are sure to spark more talk about whether the former First Lady will run for President in 2016.” The article went on to say that the tickets for the San Diego conference were as high as $1,195.
Mary Kafka, one of the women organizing the protest rally addressed a group of about 75 people in Ramona, CA on Saturday March 29, 2014. Kafka stated that Hillary’s change of plans would not stop the protest from happening.
Lynette Williams, another one of the organizers and long term San Diego resident, attributed Hillary’s appearance by satellite instead of in person a result of the protest. Williams also raised the question as to whether Hillary’s schedulers saw the attendee list which included Pat Smith.
Kafka said the protest has been named “The Difference Matters”. The protest involves walking along public areas and sidewalks adjacent to the San Diego Convention Center where Hillary will be making her address. Kafka went on to say the protest website was “TheDifferenceMatters.org” and the Facebook page was under the same title.
Hillary Clinton, a potential candidate for President in 2016, has been touted by the press and media as being insulated from criticism because of allegations directed at her opponents about a “war on women”. However, the San Diego protest, The Difference Matters, defangs that argument as the protest concerning Hillary Clinton’s role in the Benghazi Cover Up is organized and led by women.
Any debate about the protest being part of the old “right wing conspiracy” theory mentioned by Hillary Clinton when challenged in the past similarly will not hold. Protest organizers maintain the protest is non-partisan and not politically based. Rather, the protest addresses the issue of good government and elected officials speaking honestly, an issue that crosses party lines.
San Diego recently made national headline news as a result of a stunning victory by Kevin Faulconer for San Diego Mayor. Many of the same San Diego citizens that helped secure that victory will now be exercising their First Amendment Rights speaking out on Benghazi.
Also noteworthy is the fact that San Diego County has one of the Congressional Districts held by Darrell Issa. Issa is the Chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. This Committee is in charge of investigating the confusing and misleading communications put forth by the former Secretary of State related to Benghazi.
In testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on January 23, 2013, in questions related to the facts surrounding the attack on the American Consulate in Benghazi, Hillary Clinton angrily retorted “What difference…does it make ?” On April 11, 2014, concerned citizens will let everyone know The Difference Matters.
Written by Wayne Iverson, MD, AAPS Board Member, Coordinator, AAPS California Chapter, San Diego Physician and Former Candidate for Congress 2012 CA D-52
Media Contact: Wayne Iverson, The Difference Matters, 858-674-4542, [email protected]
