Although she ’d been a U.S. senator for just eight of her 60 year , by the clip Hillary Clinton made a bid to become the first female president in the history of the United States , she was already an established political powerhouse . Hillary Clinton is a loyalist of the Democratic Party – but her political beginning are steeped in Republican activism .

As a child , she followed her father ’s case , becoming concerned in Republican politics at a young age . She attend as a " Goldwater Girl , " a youth supporter of 1964 Republican Party presidential nominee Arizona Sen. Barry Goldwater . As an undergrad at Wellesley College , she was the chairperson of the campus Republican group [ source : Hillary Clinton ] .

At Wellesley , Clinton ’s handsome views began to emerge , make a duality with her bourgeois views . " I ’m a heart liberal , but a mind conservative , " she wrote to a booster while in college [ source : UC Berkeley ] .

Her positioning in the Democratic Party solidify quickly after she planted herself steadfastly in the left . In 1973 , Clinton worked in the Southwestern United States for the Democratic National Committee ( DNC ) , registering elector in the edge states . It was a turning point for her political education : " We had a luck to go into people ’s homes , " she tell a crowd in El Paso 35 years after on the 2008 drive lead . " We ate a lot of with child food . We listened to some wonderful medicine . And we registered a few voter , too " [ rootage : Washington Post ] .

Five yr after her stint as a volunteer for the DNC , Clinton became the Democrat first lady of Arkansas .

It ’s inconceivable to distinguish the political story of Hillary Clinton without also describing her husband ’s political career ; the two are inextricably yoke . They are , as described by CNN , " the ultimate political power couple " [ generator : CNN ] .

Bill Clinton splendidly remarked during the 1992 presidential political campaign that if the American multitude elected him , they would get " two for the price of one " [ source : Washington Post ] . As first lady , Clinton was a force to be reckoned with . A bumper sticker from the Clinton White House geological era differentiate other motorists that the car ’s possessor planned on " voting for Hillary ’s husband " [ Los Angeles Times ] . The condition " Billary " was coined to describe their union [ source : Urban Dictionary ] .

But in the 2008 presidentialprimary airstream , Clinton go forth from her hubby ’s vestige . She cast herself as a oldtimer of Washington politics , " quick to direct from day one " [ source : AP ] . Her platform was build on strengthening the middle class , providing universal health fear reporting for Americans , ending the Iraq War , reformingimmigrationand supporting women ’s right .

The 2008 presidential primaries provided Clinton a field to display her political talents . Her campaign fundraising set record during the primaries and ultimately generate almost $ 230 million during the effort [ source : Open Secrets ] . And she boasted the documentation of both her husband and her daughter , both of whom campaigned for her . " She ’s in the answer business , and she always has been , " Bill Clinton told a crew before the Wisconsin primary coil in February 2008 . " She ’s the good at it and always has been " [ reference : WISN ] .

determine out about Clinton ’s voting platter , her liveliness , how she ’s viewed by special interest radical and her presidential platform . On the next pageboy , we ’ll take a closer look at Clinton ’s life .

Hillary Clinton Biography

Hillary Diane Rodham was bear on Oct. 26 , 1947 , to Dorothy and Hugh Rodham of Park Ridge , Ill. As a girl , she was a Brownie and a Girl Scout in the Chicago suburban area . Her political mindset was form by her father , a Republican [ source : Hillary Clinton ] . Her career in government begin through the law . She attended Wellesley College in Massachusetts , serving as the chairman of the College Republicans there . Clinton calibrate in 1969 with honors and a B.A. in political science [ source : Hillary Rodham Clinton ] .

Eventually she " followed her tenderness " to Arkansas [ source : White House ] . In 1975 , Rodham and Clinton were we d ; in 1980 , their first and only child , Chelsea , was born . Bill Clinton was elected Arkansas governor in 1978 and suffice until 1980 , when he lost re - election . He gain again two year later , and Hillary Clinton was the first lady of Arkansas again until 1992 [ reservoir : White House ] .

During her fourth dimension in Arkansas , Clinton continued to work as a attorney . She was a partner in the Rose law firm , was doubly name one of America ’s 100 most influential attorneys and was name by President Jimmy Carter to the board of the U.S. Legal Services Corporation , which provides funding for necessitous legal services [ author : Hillary Clinton ] .

In 1992 and 1996 , Bill Clinton made successful bids for the presidency . In the White House , " Hillary Clinton promptly set up herself as the most powerful and controversial first lady in chronicle , " write Linda Feldmann in the Christian Science Monitor [ generator : CSM ] . She doggedly pursued a campaign to provide universal health coverage for all Americans , serving as embassador for the marriage offer , visiting lawgiver in an attempt to get members of the House and Senate on board . Despite her best efforts , writes the Associated Press ' Beth Fouhy , the plan proved to be " an hardy effort that collapsed under its own complexness , Republican opposition and the Clintons ' unwillingness to attempt compromise with lawgiver " [ source : ­AP ] .

While in mansion house at the White House , the Clintons weathered a succession of malicious gossip together , the most famous being the Monica Lewinsky amour . When reports come out that her hubby had receive unwritten sex from the White House interne , Mrs. Clinton called the allegement false , suggesting on NBC ’s " Today Show " that they were an invention of a " huge right - wing conspiracy " that sought to hit Clinton as Chief Executive [ source : Washington Post ] .

President Clinton eventually admitted to the affair when he was question by a rarified jury . Mrs. Clinton later wrote in her 2003 memoir , " I was dumbfounded , heartbroken and enraged that I ’d believe him at all . " As long time pass , however , she opt to forgive her hubby . " Over fourth dimension we both begin to relax " [ source : New York Times ] .

Clinton is the author of " Living History " ( 2003 ) , " It Takes a Village and Other Lessons Children learn Us " ( 1996 ) , " An Invitation to the White House : At Home With chronicle " ( 2000 ) and " Dear Socks , Dear Buddy : Kids ' Letters to the First Pets " ( 1998 ) . She make headway aGRAMMY ® Awardin 1997 for Best Spoken Word Recording for the audio translation of " It Takes a small town " [ source : MTV ] .

smart out of the White House , Hillary Clinton became a senator for New York . say about her political career on the next page .

Political Career of Hillary Clinton

After expend eight years inWashington , Hillary and Bill Clinton move to Chappaqua , N.Y. , in early 2000 . The move came toward the end of a seven - month long " listening turn " Hillary bear around New York state . Although it was for the most part seen as the beginning of a bid for public office , Clinton deny to confirm this . On Feb. 6 , 2000 , she annunciate she would lam for the Senate seat will open by retiring Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan . CNN say the announcement finish the " one of the worst - keep secrets in internal politics " [ informant : CNN ] . Clinton won her bid and on Nov. 7 , 2000 , became the first former first lady to be elect to office [ rootage : Clinton . Senate ] .

Her quest for the Senate was gather with some mental rejection , but Clinton was able-bodied to win over elector . " After she became a senator , Republicans who might as well have recognize her with crucifixes and garlic and fluent bullet train learned they could influence with her and , grudgingly , pick up to respect her , " compose savant Tony Sachs [ source : The Huffington Post ] .

Her constituency apparently did as well . In the 2000 election , New York City’sfirefighterssupported Clinton ’s Republican rival for the Senate buns . Six old age later on , the firefighters publicly endorse Clinton before any Republican make his or her lid in the ring [ source : New York Times ] .

Clinton won re - election in 2006 , garnering more than 67 per centum of the democratic voter turnout in her State Department [ reference : New York Times ] . As of November 2007 , she enjoyed a 60 pct task approval evaluation [ source : Survey USA ] . On Feb. 14 , 2008 , the Washington Post reported that Clinton was among the top 10 senators for securing Union funds for her home state , generating more than $ 342 million in earmark for New York [ seed : Taxpayers for Common Sense ] .

In the Senate , Clinton became a unswerving opponent of the Iraq War . She voted in 2002 in favor of the initial invasion ; later she explained , " Knowing what I lie with now , I would never have vote for it , " [ source : Salon ] . She afterward cast vote against the warfare , including against a troop spate and in favor of margin call to retire troops .

She has championed a wide kind of suit in the Senate . Clinton has turn to expand entree to syndicate planning and contraceptives and support unwanted pregnancy prevention through education [ source : New York Times ] . When news leaked that a pop video secret plan contained sex scenes , Clinton co - buy at the Family Entertainment Protection Act , which called for strict rating guidelines and better enforcement of existing guideline [ source : U.S. Senate ] . In March 2007 , Clinton introduced the Count Every Vote Act in the Senate , which would want voter verify paper copy of electronic votes be used as the standard in a recount and tighten guidepost onelectronic voting automobile security[source : Clinton . Senate ] .

During her metre in Congress , Clinton has served on several committee . She ’s been a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee ; the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works ; the Senate Committee on Health , Labor , and Pensions ; and the Senate Special Committee on Aging [ informant : Clinton . Senate ] .

In the Senate , Clinton has voted along Democrat Party lines 97.2 percent of the time . She missed 206 vote ( 32.3 percentage ) ramble in the hundred-and-tenth Congress [ source : Washington Post ] .

observe out about what some special interest radical think about her votes in Congress on the next Sir Frederick Handley Page .

Voting Scorecards of Hillary Clinton

TheAmerican Civil Liberties Uniongave Clinton a score of 67 percent for her votes in the110th Congress . She voted against ACLU ’s opinion on two of seven key ballot and missed another . For the109th Congress , Clinton received an 83 percent grade on issues such as judicial review of agony , the ratification of Justice Samuel Alito and renewal of thePatriot Act . In the108th , she received a 78 pct . She get a 60 percent for her suffrage in the107th Congress .

TheAmerican Conservative Uniongave Clinton a lifetime score of 9 per centum in Congress . She get an 8 percent in2006forimmigrationreform , same - sexmarriageamendment and earmark revelation . She received a 12 percent for her votes in 2005 and a musical score of 0 percent in the 108th Congress on issues such as required stateseat beltuse enforcement , financial obligation for gun manufacturers and a Bachelor of Arts in Nursing on sure violation rifle .

The liberalAmericans for Democratic Action(ADA ) give Clinton a scotch of 95 percent for her votes in the109th Congresson flag desecration and withdrawal from Iraq . She experience another 95 percentage from the ADA in2004for vote onnuclearwaste clean - up and hate crimes expansion . For votes on issues like voting rights for felons and lasting repeal of theestate tax , Clinton receive another 95 percent in2002 .

TheLeague of Conservation Voters(LCV ) , an environmental policy group , give Clinton an 89 percentage for her votes in the 109th Congress , for votes on offshoreoil drillingand funding for environmental programs . In the 108th Congress , the LCV pay Clinton a scotch of 92 per centum on 20 votes . For her voting in the 107th Congress on issues like allowing Arctic boring , Clinton was cave in an 88 per centum .

The fiscally conservativeNational Taxpayers Union(NTU ) gives Clinton an " F " ( 9 percent ) , making her a " Big Spender " for her voting in2005 . The NTU includes every ballot mold throughout the twelvemonth that has any impingement on government spending , debt , annexation and other Union finances . In fact , she get all " F"s from the group : 11 percent in2004 , 21 percent in2003 , and 17 percent in2002 .

The conservative family rate group theFamily Research CouncilandFocus on the Familygave Clinton a mark of 0 percent for her votes in the 110th Congress [ source : FRC / FotF ] . She neglect two of the seven cardinal vote and vote against the groups ' opinion on the other five . Issues included expand the definition of hate crimes to include those based on sexual predilection and federal support for embryonicstem cellresearch .

The gay , lesbian and transgender right hand grouping theHuman Rights Campaign(HRC ) gives Clinton a score of 89 percent for her vote in the 109th Congress on exit like intimate orientation in hate crimes and carry Medicaid coverage to include HIV discussion . In the 108th Congress , Clinton received a score of 88 per centum , and in the107th Congress , the HRC give Clinton a 100 percentage score for votes on the confirmation of Attorney General John Ashcroft and enforcement of the Boy Scouts to reinstate gay leaders .

The pro - life radical theNational Right to Life Committeegave Clinton a score of 0 percent for her voting in the110th Congresson payoff like health care reportage for unborn small fry and embryologic stem cellular telephone research backing . She receive another 0 percent grade for the109th Congress . From the pro - choice groupNARAL , Clinton received a 100 per centum grade for her balloting in the 109th Congress on issues like continued legality of RU-486emergency contraceptiveand the Freedom of Choice Act .

register about how Clinton vote on a wide variety of key publication on the following pages .

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Voting Record of Hillary Clinton: National Security and the Economy

Beyond rhetoric , twirl and messages , perhaps the truest means of establishing what a candidate value is his or her voting record . Here are some select important issues that get up for a suffrage during Sen. Clinton ’s tenure in Congress .

The Iraq War / Military / National Security :

Economy/Government Finance:

scan about Clinton ’s votes on in-migration and wellness care on the next Sir Frederick Handley Page .

Voting Record of Hillary Clinton: Immigration and Health Care

Immigration:

Health care:

Some of Clinton ’s ke­y votes on issues of ethics and morality and veterans ' thing are on the next page.­

Voting Record of Hillary Clinton: Ethics, Morality and Veterans

Ethics and Morality Issues :

Veterans :

interpret about Clinton ’s suffrage on environmental issues and affair of jurisprudence and administration on the next page .

Environment :

Legal / Judiciary / Governance :

As the 2008 primary season evolved , Clinton ’s platform for her presidential dictation solidified . Read about Hillary Clinton ’s presidential agenda on the following varlet .

Presidential Agenda of Hillary Clinton

When she appeared on " Late Night with David Letterman " on Aug. 30 , 2007 , Clinton tongue-in-cheek deliver her Top 10 run Promises . Under provisions laid out in No . 8 , if Clinton is elected president , Americans will " have the option of rolling the dice against the IRS for double or nothing on your taxis " [ root : CBS News ] .

Her actual economical weapons platform was centered largely on strengthening the middle grade . This plan include interrelated part like helping more American pupil yield for college , expanding wideband service to rural areas and rewarding tech investors . She also patronage extending center class tax cut and strengtheningunions[source : Hillary Clinton ] . Clinton also pledge to play toward increase the minimal pay to $ 9.50 [ seed : Newspaper Tree ] .

For the centrepiece of her environmental platform , Clinton chose theGlobal WarmingPollution Reduction Act of 2007 . This pop the question bill called for the reduction of U.S. emission of greenhouse gases to 80 per centum less than 1990 levels by 2050 . The notice " was the most forth list in terms of what call for to be done to deal with the terror of world warming , " Clinton say in an interview with Amanda Griscom Little . Clinton also told Little she intend to strip oil colour companies of their tax breaks [ source : Salon ] .

As first lady , Clinton was focus on wellness fear . This focus did n’t come along to have shift during the campaign . Her American Health Choices Plan , draw on her prescribed site , called for guaranteeing health care insurance coverage for all Americans . Those already insured could opt to keep their current plan , take part in the same private reporting offered to Congress , or take advantage of public coverage similar to Medicare . Clinton propose grant tax credits for families to purchase coverage , rewarding businesses who provide coverage and roll back the Bush revenue enhancement breaks for moneyed Americans .

Clinton ’s program also included a national pre - kindergarten program with federal financing die to states to help establish programme or support already launch ones . Further expansion included hiring more teachers , raising salaries , increase Pell grant and creating tax credits as high as $ 3,500 for parents of student in high training . College would be made even more appealing with her architectural plan to implement a monetary reward system for college graduates who give a class of public service observe graduation exercise . She has also said her administration would invest $ 1 billion in programs that will reduce the number of minority dropouts by half [ germ : Boston Herald ] .

On Iraq , Clinton has proposed a troop drawdown within 60 days of her inauguration as Chief Executive [ reservoir : New York Times ] . It ’s necessary , she said , to go away some troops behind for counterterrorism , to thwart Iran from moving into Iraq , and protect ethnic Kurds . If the withdrawal of troops plunged the rural area into sectarian violence , Clinton said she would not allow U.S. forces to intervene [ seed : New York Times ] .

Clinton favoredimmigrationreform , opt for both impregnable borders and humanist discussion of illegal extraterrestrial already living in the United States . " Of naturally we ’re going to have secure borders , " she said in El Paso , Texas , in February 2008 , but also addressed her survey that there ’s a want to " bring mass out of the shadows " [ source : ABC News ] . The balance will be strike , Clinton envisioned , by providing illegal immigrants with a path to citizenship along with new law governing enforcement against next illegal immigrant , beefing up delimitation patrol and the engineering they use [ source : Clinton . Senate ] .

The 2008 campaign became the most expensive one in story . Throughout , Clinton was able to bring up as much money as needed , break some records forcampaign fundraising . study about her fundraising capabilities on the next Thomas Nelson Page .

Fundraising of Hillary Clinton

Toward the beginning of 2007 , Clinton sour to some heavy - hitting fundraiser to help oneself fill her campaign coffers . She hold a dinner party on Feb. 6 for about 70 studio apartment investors , lawyers , venture capitalistsand other members of the gamy - finance macrocosm . Each guest agreed to raise $ 250,000 and some as much as $ 1 million . The guests also consort to drum up $ 50,000 each by the terminal of February to help bulge up Clinton’scampaign fund[source : Washington Post ] .

Her tactic worked . By the undermentioned April , her campaign wear out the record for the most raised by a presidential campaign during that peculiar quarter . She was capable to generate $ 26 million in just three month , which was almost three times as much as the previous book of $ 8.9 million , set by Vice President Al Gore in 1999 [ reservoir : Washington Post ] .

September 2007 was a rough month for Clinton ’s fundraising strategy . That month , the senator confront literary criticism for holding a fundraiser inWashington , where she was impeach of using her position as a senator to bring other lawgiver to a tiffin host by a lobbying practice of law house . slate were $ 1,000 or $ 2,300 and gave lobbyists access to legislators [ root : AP ] .

Also that month , Clinton return at least $ 850,000 in campaign contributions to 260 giver . The money had been bundled by Clinton fundraiser Norman Hsu , who was arrest in September 2007 for evading authorities after being convicted on investiture fraud charges . Hsu had defrauded investor of over $ 1 million , was found guilty in 1992 , and a warrant was issued for his arrest after he failed to show up for sentencing . Clinton ’s campaign told media that they had done a background deterrent on Hsu ( standard procedure ) before assume his money , but had n’t institute any reference of the great warrant [ source : NPR ] .

Clinton ’s husband , former chairman Bill Clinton , pitched in to aid his married woman ’s fundraising effort . He help as a eminent - visibility surrogate at several events throughout 2007 . At one dinner party for 100 Edgar Guest in New York in March 2007 , Bill Clinton managed to generate $ 500,000 . E - chain armor send out by the campaign from President Clinton created $ 1 million in small contribution [ source : AP ] . At another fundraiser that calendar month , both Clintons appear for the two - hour event , and raised more than $ 1 million from slate that went for at least $ 1,000 [ ABC News ] .

Clinton spent most of 2007 garner donations from donors who gave the maximum $ 2,300 allow by law and who fund-raise for the senator . She largely avoided campaign to obtain small contribution from individuals [ source : National Review ] . Her large - money share scheme worked for her campaign ; in 2007 , Clinton conjure up $ 115.7 million ( her goal for the year was $ 75 million ) . By the ending of May 2008 , Clinton had raised $ 229.4 million for the entire campaign [ source : Open Secrets ] .

Of the money she call down in 2007 , where the gender of the donor could be watch , 50.2 percent of bestower weremenand 49.8 percentwomen[source : undefendable Secrets ] . She find out the most backing from organizations representing retired Americans and workers in the legal , investment and material estate manufacture ( more than $ 43 million compound ) , and the least from bestower in the defense and labour diligence ( $ 400,000 and $ 282,000 , severally ) [ source : opened mystery ] . Twenty - two percent of her campaign contributions in the 2008 slipstream came from the state of New York ( $ 30.64 million ) ; California provided the 2d most with $ 25.36 million ( 18 percentage ) [ source : Open Secrets ] .

During 2008 , Clinton ’s fundraising scheme of centre on big presenter procrastinate . " Most of our bestower are maxed out , " a Clinton fundraiser told Bloomberg News in February . The scheme shift focus to a " broadening of the base of operations " [ root : Bloomberg ] . Late in January , Clinton contributed a $ 5 million loan of her own money to her drive [ reference : Wall Street Journal ] . Her ostensible willingness to show supporting for herself paid off , as in the five days following Super Tuesday 2008 , Clinton generated $ 10 million in on-line donation from more than 100,000 donors . Her goal for the five days had been to raise $ 3 million [ source : Hillary Clinton ] .

The undermentioned May , however , Clinton ’s finances were in need of another boost . She loaned her campaign an extra $ 6.4 million [ source : Washington Post ] . Just one calendar month afterwards , she withdrew from the race after her opponent , Barack Obama , snagged the needed delegate vote to clinch the nomination . Clinton ’s campaign was pass on $ 25 million in debt , more than $ 11 million of that her own money [ source : New York Times ] . She find some avail from her former challenger : Obama come along at fundraisers for Clinton and ask his champion to donate to her post - withdrawal campaign to alleviate the debt [ source : CNN ] .

It ’s difficult to blame Clinton for her willingness to contribute millions of her own dollars to her campaign . Despite a droop in the polls in the other spring of 2008 , she was making as strong a screening in theprimariesas she had any other clock time in the race . On the next varlet , read about Clinton ’s last standpoint and her theatrical role in the 2008 presidential backwash after her drug withdrawal .

The Clinton Campaign

Like her fellow candidates , Clinton endured her fair share of controversy during the 2008primary race . The Clinton andObamacampaigns were lock in a battle over experience in March 2008 . Clinton ’s campaign suggest Obama had little to none , as he ’d been a senator for less than four years when he threw his hat in the doughnut for the administration . Obama ’s run anticipate with insinuations Clinton ’s experience in extraneous personal matters number to no more than the usual first lady responsibilities of good will tour ; that she held the traditional role of supportive , but exclude , figurehead during her husband ’s land tenure as president .

Clinton reply by citing a 1996 visit to Bosnia as first lady , where a reception ceremony on the tarmacadam was cancel due tosnipersin the surface area . Clinton recounted she and her daughter " ran with our heads down " across the tarmacadam to safety . The claim was quick ( and very publicly countered ) after CBS footage of the trip surfaced . The footage intelligibly contradicted Clinton ’s history , showing her and her daughter receiving a warm and calm reception on the macadam [ source : CNN ] . Even worse , she was shown surrounded by small kid , hardly a sign that theAir Forcebase she flew into was under the threat of onrush by sniper .

Clinton survived the PR incubus that followed , and actually lead off to put on in the polls . The Democratic chief race had been narrowed down to her and Obama after Sen. John Edwards drop out on Jan. 30 [ source : Daily Mail ] . AsSuper Tuesdayarrived on February 5 , two major polls show Clinton and Obama tied ( 41 percent ) , or Clinton with a atomic number 82 over her rival ( 49 to 46 percent ) [ source : The Guardian ] . With more than 1,600 of the 2,118 delegates needed to clinch the nomination up for grab on one day , Super Tuesday could have done what it was design to do : raise a decipherable front - runner . Instead , the two Democratic candidates virtually break up the delegates on Super Tuesday .

The race continued , with Clinton and Obama by and large cervix - to - neck opening . By the death of March , the race remained so tight that as anApril Fool ’s Dayjoke Clinton challenged Obama to a winner - take - all bowling match for the nominating speech [ source : AP ] . As is almost never see , the votes in the state of matter at the remainder of the primary calendar became vitally crucial . Ultimately , Obama was the first to clinch enough delegate votes , from the last two primary winding , held in Montana and South Dakota . Clinton , however , won more delegates in six of the last 10 primaries accommodate and separate one res publica evenly with Obama [ source : Real Clear Politics ] . This was enough for the Clinton camp to revisit an issue that remain contentious throughout the primary winding : the vote of Michigan and Florida .

The two state of matter had their delegate strip after violating company rules by scheduling their primaries ahead of the earliest approve engagement . Clinton was the only Democratic challenger list on the ballots in the states , and as such , if the delegates were give back formula vote right , it was potential the two state could advertize her over the top to clench the nominating speech . As Obama roll on , however , Clinton dropped the payoff and retreat from the race on June 7 .

After she pull back from the popular backwash , Clinton shed her full support behind her former rival . On June 28 , she and Obama mouth together publicly in Unity , N.H. An almost ethereal coincidence had transpired in the competently - named town the previous February , with the two candidates equally splitting 214 votes during a elementary vote . The Democrats ' campaigns choose the Ithiel Town as the setting for Clinton to unify her support behind Obama . She urged the citizens of Unity and all who ’d voted for her in the primary winding to drop their ballots for Obama in November : " We are one political party ; we are one America , " she proclaimed [ root : Hillary Clinton ] .

For more information on elections , government and other related to topics , visit the next varlet .

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