New Clinton Economic Message has Echoes of Edwards.

[KoKo]

New Clinton economic message has echoes of Edwards
Sun Feb 17, 2008 2:08pm EST

By Caren Bohan

MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin (Reuters) - White House hopeful Hillary Clinton has a message for hairdressers in Wisconsin, postal workers in Ohio and autoworkers across the United States who are struggling financially: She cares.

The former first lady and New York senator is hoping blue collar workers will provide her with a crucial base of support as she tries to erode the lead her rival Barack Obama has opened in the tight race to become the Democratic nominee in the November presidential election.

Clinton is courting working-class voters with a new message of economic populism similar to the theme of John Edwards, the former North Carolina senator who dropped out of the Democratic race in January.

Edwards never gained enough momentum to be competitive with Obama and Clinton, but the New York and Illinois senators are trying to woo his followers, many of whom were passionate about his pledge to take on "corporate greed" and bring change to a government he said had sold out the middle class.

Obama and Clinton are both seeking the endorsement of Edwards, who has so far remained neutral.

At campaign rallies over the last few days, Clinton has vowed to rein in corporate interests from oil companies to credit card issuers and mortgage lenders, contending that they are profiting at the expense of the middle class.

"Some days, it probably feels like the perfect storm. You fill up your tank, and that's two twenties from your wallet. You pick up a gallon of milk and a few other things -- and there goes another," Clinton told autoworkers on Thursday at a General Motors plant in Lordstown, Ohio.

"After a while, you feel like a human ATM -- with all the money going the wrong way."
http://www.reuters.com/articlePrint?articleId=USN1763828520080217


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Notes I Took as I listened to her New Populist Message Speech in Wisconsin last night ...I was typing fast while watching but this is the jist of it::

Encourage Small Business on the Internet....like E-Bay...emphasis..to Global Marketplace where Americans who have small businesses can post and compete....She want's farming to be close to local...when she buys an apple in New York State..she wants to know it's not grown in China...Greenhouses in states with Short Growing Season...Methane from Dairy Farms to help our Carbon Usage Problem...and Wind, Solar, Retrofitting our Aging Buildings with energy efficient windows and insulation to save money...Re-building our Infrastructure which is crumbling..."so you don't have to hold your breath when driving over a bridge for fear it will collapse!"

Give Medicare the right to negotiate for Low Drug Prices. Cut out "subsidies that Bush gave to HMO's which is a waste...and put that into a National Health System. She says "Sick People are being Discriminated Against....because they are thrown off their insurance plans.

She says...Get rid of the Oil and Gas subsidies because the companies had them when they "needed them...but they DON'T NEED THEM ANYMORE... and Take that Money and put it into Renewable Engergies that will save our country from Imported Oil Dependency."

She wants "low interest College Loans for Students that they can work off if they do Community Service for a few years like Teaching...Health Care.

She wants to provide DENTAL CARE along with HEALTH CARE! She's proposing the Congressional Plan and limit on the Premium you have to pay for Health Care. She's saying it's "Private Health Insurance Options" and REGULATE the Insurance Companies....

She says "We need to Reign in the Special Interests" and give the money back to the Middle Class. Grow Jobs for Clean Energy and Infrastructure Repair. Stop the EXPORTING OF JOBS...TAKE AWAY THE INCENTIVES for JOBS TO LEAVE! She's GOING to RAISE TAXES ON WALL STREET CEO'S.

Restore Confidence and Competence in our Government... She says HALLIBURTON and SPECIAL CONTRACTS HAVE REAPED BENEFITS ...but they WILL NOT ANYMORE in her ADMINISTRATION...

She wants to Restore our Moral Leadership in the World and she will start Immmediately to Repair this Damage that Bush and Cheney have done and the World will breathe a sigh of relief when Bush/Cheney leave."

She says she wants to withdraw troops starting within 60 days...but she wants to do it carefully....but she will immediately start a plan. Iraqi Government has to take responsibility. "When we get the troops home...let's make sure we take Care of their Health needs."

She says "FORCE SHOULD BE USED AS A LAST RESORT .....NOT...A FIRST RESORT.....

Alot of work needs to be done...she says "We haven't been called to do anything...George Bush didn't ask us to do anything." "Americans want to feel PRIDE again." "We need to think about the Next Generation." "Hire Me for this Hard Job..."
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[AndyA]

1. One of the best things Hillary has done for the American public was to introduce

a bill that would require people to OPT IN to sales offers, third party advertising, and the like. Instead of the default being opt out, you must take action to get the offers in the first place. This is truly the way it should be, and I called her office to thank her on the day it was announced.

I don't know where it went, but I thought it was a damn good idea, and one that should be made law.

I like Hillary's health care plans better than Barack's, and I feel I have a better understanding of where Hillary wants to take this country if she's President. Barack's message is confusing and all over the place. I've checked his site, read his speeches, and I see a lot of promises but there are a lot of gaps in how he intends to actually do some of the things he's promised.

I also don't like his pissy, somewhat arrogant attitude (reminds me of Bush), and I think his wife has a chip on her shoulder. Not traits I look for in the First Family.

I don't currently support either Hillary or Barack, I'm just trying to determine which of the two is the least offensive to me, and it's a difficult choice since neither is as progressive as Edwards, who was my favorite. :shrug:

[KoKo]

2. A shameless kick....since so many other posters have done so....

:kick:

[KoKo]

3. Same as you....I'm trying to determine which of the two is least

offensive. I can't vote until May...so there's time...unless one of them locks it up and it doesn't matter, anymore.

[rodeodance]

5. Good for Hillary

[Andy823]

4. My questions

One why didn't she do this earlier? If she would have gone this route say 3 or 4 months ago, I think she would be on top right now. Starting on Edwards stand on poverty, lobbyists, etc. "should" have been front and center the whole race, not just now close to the end. I think it's great that both her and Obama are now talking about these things, but the big question is will the follow through with taking on these issues if elected? I really felt that Edwards would, but I am not sure about Hillary and Obama. I really hope so, but I am not holding my breath.

[rodeodance]

8. have you read her economic blueprint--its on her website. she handed it out

in WI yesterday at all 3 of her rally's

[KoKo]

10. Maybe they were both playing it cautious to not anger the Wall St. Crowd and

the rest of the Military Industrial Complex. Already this morning, CNBC was carrying on about the Dems going Leftward with their (dreaded) "Populist Message." So both Obama and Hillary's new message emphasis has their hair on fire.

Although one of the CNBC Pundit Mouthpieces said that former GE Chair Jack Welch thought Obama would be better for Wall St. than Clinton.

Who knows...but maybe their courting Edwards for his Delegates has something to do with the change, also.

:shrug:

[SammyWinstonJack]

6. K&R

[AX10]

7. I am 100% with her!

:thumbsup:

[rodeodance]

9. as am I. Just cast my vote for Hillary in Wisconsin!---wonderful feeling.

[KoKo]

11. ...