Why I support Hillary Clinton, not Trump: Azamgarh-born American philanthropist

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Mumtaz Alam, IndiaTomorrow.net,
New Delhi, Oct 17: Her thirty years of personal experience and accomplishments in the public arena are unrivalled and unmatched,” says Frank Islam, Azamgarh-born American entrepreneur and philanthropist about Hillary Clinton, Democratic nominee for US President. “America and the world need Hillary because there is a need for a steady hand on the tiller at this critical point in time. What is demanded in a volatile world is a quiet confidence and competence. Hillary has that and will bring it to her presidency,” says Aligarh Muslim University alumnus Islam who is a member, Hillary Clinton’s National Finance Committee has been playing a leadership role in fundraising for the Clinton campaign.

Excerpts from his exclusive interview with IndiaTomorrow.net:

Why did you decide to support Hillary Clinton, not Trump?
First, let me make it clear that I never gave any consideration to supporting Donald Trump. There were a few Republican candidates such as Jeb Bush and John Kasich who I felt were qualified to be the Republican nominee for President. Trump would have been at or near the very bottom of my list of the 17 candidates who sought the Republican nomination.

As for supporting Secretary Clinton, that was an easy decision. She brings the right stuff to the table both domestically and internationally. Her thirty years of personal experience and accomplishments in the public arena are unrivalled and unmatched. Her credentials as a U.S. Senator and the Secretary of State speak for themselves.

How have you helped the Clinton campaign?
In several ways, as a member of the Finance Committee I have taken a leadership role in fundraising for the campaign both during the Democratic primaries and now during the general election season. I have raised dollars personally and my wife Debbie and I have held several fundraising events for Secretary Clinton at our home. In addition to helping on the financial side, I have been a member of the campaign’s South Central Asia working group and provided input and feedback on policies directed toward that area of the world. Finally, as the campaign progressed, I sent my thoughts on issues and areas in which I had expertise and experience to several members of the Campaign.

After two presidential debates, where does Clinton stand now?
Secretary Clinton won the first debate convincingly. Trump was ill-prepared and she vanquished him easily.

The second debate was a little closer as Trump was somewhat better prepared and went into full attack mode going after Secretary Clinton and her husband personally. Clinton maintained her composure and stayed cool, calm and collected in spite of Trump’s broadsides. A CNN poll immediately after the debate showed that more than 55% of the audience felt she won as opposed to about 35% who felt Trump carried the day.

ALSO READ: From Azamgarh to America: The success saga of Frank Islam

Overall, Clinton is well positioned going into the final debate and virtually all of the national polls show voters moving towards her and away from Trump.

How are you sure that she would win?
Nothing is for certain. And, as the American saying goes, “It isn’t over till the fat lady sings.”

Nonetheless, the pollsters and pundits are setting the odds of Clinton winning in the 80 to 90% range. Those odds have gotten better since the debates have begun and Trump has become even more aggressive and agitated in his negative campaigning.

Why does America need a Hillary, not a Trump?
America and the world need Hillary because there is a need for a steady hand on the tiller at this critical point in time. What is demanded in a volatile world is a quiet confidence and competence. Hillary has that and will bring it to her presidency.

Trump has neither. He lacks both the temperament and the talent required to address the major problems and issues confronting us today.

How do you see the United States under the leadership of Hillary Clinton?
Secretary Clinton’s campaign slogan is “stronger together.” I see the U.S. getting stronger domestically under her leadership. That’s because I am confident that she will reach out and build bridges to bring the citizens of the U.S. together in order to make the country stronger economically. I am just as confident she will bring our international allies together in order to be even stronger in making the world a safer and saner place.

Finally, Secretary Clinton is a true friend of India. I would expect her to build on her legacy as Secretary of State with India and President Obama’s work in order to forge a stronger and enduring partnership between our two great democracies that will benefit both countries and the entire world economically, socially, and environmentally.


A brief profile of Frank Islam

Educational Journey
Primary Education at Kaunra Gani village in Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh, India
High School at National School, Pili Kothi, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
B.Sc. and M.Sc. (Mathematics) from Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India
B.Sc. and M.Sc. (Computer Science) from the University of Colorado, United States

Entrepreneurship
Alone and with just $500 he founded QSS Group, an Information Technology company in 1994. By 2007, the company had several thousand employees and generated revenue of $300 million. He sold the company in several hundred million dollars in 2007.

A successful entrepreneur and investor based in Washington, DC, Frank Islam founded FI Investment Group LLC (FIIG), an investment firm in 2007. He is the Chairman/CEO of FIIG which focuses on providing growth capital to emerging companies, as well as managing specialized and branded funds.

Philanthropy
Frank Islam is a well-known philanthropist whose private foundation supports educational, cultural and artistic causes worldwide. He participates in a number of non-profit organizations as a board member, such as TiE -DC and the Strathmore Center for the Arts (located in Montgomery County, Maryland), as well as chairing the State Democracy Foundation.

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