Indiana: steel, health care, trade, Chelsea: Rock on Hillary--and NC

rodeodance

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Sat Apr-26-08 02:43 PM
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Indiana: steel, health care, trade, Chelsea: Rock on Hillary--and NC

Edited on Sat Apr-26-08 03:07 PM by rodeodance

Indiana: steal, health care, trade, Chelsea: Rock on Hillary--and NC

http://www.nwitimes.com/articles/2008/04/26/news/top_news/doc2f903e53906b0d3e86257437001495f9.txt

BY JOE CARLSON
Saturday, April 26, 2008 .

EAST CHICAGO | U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton received a rock star welcome from a gymnasium of supporters Friday night as she made her third swing through the region in four weeks.

Talking about issues like foreign currency manipulation and universal health insurance, the New York Democrat was interrupted several times by chants of adoration from supporters.

"I will remember this night in this gymnasium in East Chicago, Indiana," Clinton told the crowd of more than 3,000 at East Chicago Central High. "And we will look back at this night and say, this is where it began."
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"Change is just a word unless you have the strength and experience to make it happen," Clinton said, referencing the central theme of "change" in Obama's campaign.

Amanda McKinney, a Munster native who lives in Illinois, said she entered Friday's event a skeptic and left as a believer.

"I thought it was very informative. It wasn't just about charm and charisma," McKinney said, officially renouncing her former support for Obama.
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Not so for Lenny Gillis, a Lake Station steelworker with Local 1014.

"Our jobs are quite literally, daily, on the line here," Gillis said. "If she executes like I believe she will, I don't think we'll have to worry."

An even more intimate and conflicted audience awaited the senator at her first Northwest Indiana stop of the day: the Bennigan's bar and grill on Fifth Avenue in downtown Gary.

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Betsy Cowan of Schererville, a campaign volunteer in Clinton's Hammond office, thanked her for signing two autographs and said, "We're working hard for you, senator."
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http://www.post-trib.com/news/917269,042608clinton_home.article

Hillary talks trade, steel, health care

April 26, 2008

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Clinton was in and out of the restaurant in about half an hour, hurrying off the United Steelworkers McBride Hall in Gary to talk with members of the USW’s District 7. There, speaking to a small crowd of more than 100 people, Clinton spoke at length about the trade policies she would pursue to help boost the manufacturing sector of the economy.

“This is not a Republican or Democratic issue,” the senator said. “It’s about who gets it and who doesn’t get it. Because you can’t have an economy that doesn’t make anything and have it be strong for long.” Clinton said she would immediately begin pursuing legal actions against countries that violate trade rules, restitution for companies and workers hurt by unfair trade practices, and the creation of a federal “trade prosecutor” whom she’ll task with ensuring that America’s trade agreements are being followed. “(Americans) are about the nicest people you’ll find in the world, but we’re tired of being taken advantage of,” she said to a rousing ovation.

Clinton also touched on what she called the moral imperative for universal health care. The crowd, which included Carol Betz and Robert Fraker, both of Cedar Lake, was a sympathetic one. Both Betz and Fraker have had family who lost half their pensions after spending their careers at LTV or Bethlehem Steel.

“She talked good. She’s interested in getting jobs back in American, which we need,” Fraker said. Clinton levied numerous criticisms at President Bush, but mentioned her “opponent” — Obama — only once. That is a change from the latter days of the Pennsylvania primary, which was dominated by infighting between the two Democratic candidates.

Sen. Evan Bayh, who appeared at the McBride Hall event at the end of Clinton’s speech, urged the union members to support her. “Hillary Clinton was there for us,” he told them, citing the high points of her pro-steel resume. From Gary, Clinton traveled to East Chicago. A lively crowd greeted Clinton as she arrived at East Chicago High School.

“Can I come here every Friday night?” Clinton asked. She discussed her detailed plans for universal health care, making college more affordable, and withdrawing troops from Iraq. Clinton said to provide health care, she would open up Congress’ health care plan for everyone. Clinton emphasized her experience and ability to get things done to the more than 1,000 area residents crowded into the East Chicago gym.

“It’s exciting. There’s so much to do,” she said. “We can begin to make all the changes we talk about. Change is just a word unless you have the knowledge make it happen.” She said that plan had 250 options to choose from. To make the plan more affordable, she would offer health care tax credits.

“I want to make it possible to say that nobody goes without health care in America,” she said. Clinton discussed the challenges for students who are forced to opt out of college due to the rising cost of tuition. She promised that those who engage in community service or pursue jobs in public service fields such as policing or nursing will receive student loan assistance.

If she is elected, Clinton also committed to begin withdrawing troops from Iraq within 60 days. Highland resident Lorri Russo said she brought her daughter, Anna, and mother, Rosemary Osmulski, to witness history. Russo is an educational tutor, and she appreciated Clinton’s vow to revamp the federal No Child Left Behind school program.

“I work in one of the schools, and I know it doesn’t work,” Russo said.
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http://riverdaughter.wordpress.com/2008/04/25/super-surrogate-chelsea-clinton/
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_20080426_03_47_58_8-116-165.imageContent

Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., enters Bennigan’s in Gary on Friday. Clinton made three stops in Northwest Indiana, including two in Gary and one in East Chicago. (Jeffrey D. Nicholls/Post-Tribune)

Sen. Hillary Clinton swept through north Lake County on Friday night, making two appearances in Gary and one in East Chicago.

……………………………….

Super Surrogate Chelsea Clinton
Posted on April 25, 2008 by katiebird

. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xp4_a188ws8

(Chelsea has a good grasp on the issues—Bill and Hillary did a great job raising her).
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Commenter Dee was actually at this forum and she’s shared her experience with us:

Quote:

"I attended this forum. In fact, I am visible in some of that footage. She spoke for an hour and because the audience appeared to be mostly graduate students (approx. 1/2 international students) the questions were really, really tough but thoughtful.

I was amazed by her grasp of both foreign and domestic policy and how her narrative wove the issues together. She broke down difficult to understand policy issues into easily understood relationships.

When the event was over I heard the following comments - “How long before she can run for President?” I wish she was on the ticket. She is the best combination of her mother’s wonkish knowledge and her father’s charm. I believe we have just listened to a future U.S. President. WOW just WOW. ”

I had not realized until this event that Chelsea is pulling the hardest duty of the campaign because the students are the toughest most knowledgable audience. She did not make a speech. It was not political. She just took questions and they were complex. A couple of times I thought how can she possibilty answer that? And then she smiled and went after it. She referred to herself as a “numbers dork” almost as an apology for having so much information in her data banks.

This was not a campaign event - it was a learning experience.

I have never seen anyone quite like Chelsea."
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Published on Friday, April 25, 2008

In campaign stop, Clinton calls for end to Iraq war (NC)

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In her second trip to the backyard of Fort Bragg in a month, Clinton focused mostly on issues important to a military community.
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Backed by former military leaders, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton outlined plans Thursday in Fayetteville to strengthen the armed forces and take better care of veterans.

During a 30-minute speech at Methodist University, her loudest applause came when she promised to reduce the strain that long deployments are having on soldiers and their families by giving troops one month at home for every month they spend overseas. She called for ending the war in Iraq as quickly as possible but said it would not be easy.
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Clinton’s speech was preceded by praise from military veterans, including North Carolina native Hugh Shelton, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.

“Unlike any other candidate, she understands that maintaining a well-prepared armed forces goes beyond providing dollars,” Shelton said. “She is the only candidate who has offered a responsible plan for bringing our troops home with honor.”
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Martha C. Sutton of Fayetteville, who calls herself a “rabid Hillary supporter,” said Clinton is much more attractive than the media presents her.

“She’s soft, she’s feminine and she’s brilliant,” Sutton said.

Sutton, 87, said Clinton needs to work on the young vote to overcome Obama. Does she think Clinton will win? “Oh, I hope so,” she said.

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