4,000 turn out for rally
Clinton discusses repairing 'damage of previous 8 years'
By: Yusra Tekbali
Posted: 2/4/08
Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton came out in a strategic campaign
push before tomorrow's Arizona Democratic primary in front of more than
4,000 spectators in Bear Down Gym on Saturday night.
The New York senator, accompanied by her daughter, Chelsea, spoke about
her plans for the troubled economy, global warming, health care and
higher education, not shying away from criticizing the current
administration or taking hits at her opponents.
"Here's an old-fashioned idea - let's appoint qualified people again,"
she said. "We have to elect a president to repair the damage of the
previous eight years and get us optimistic about the future."
Associated Students of the University of Arizona invited all the
presidential candidates to campus last August, but only Clinton opted
to attend. Her visit was paid for by her campaign.
Clinton supporters, foes and those still on the sidelines waited for
several hours before hearing the senator speak - two hours after her
scheduled 4 p.m. appearance.
The two-mile line snaking around the UA Main Library and McKale Center
didn't discourage students from waiting, as many cracked jokes, enjoyed
the warm weather or took the opportunity to flaunt their own political
opinions.
Members of the UA chapter of the Arizona Public Interest Research
Group, which aims to help students become involved in the political
process by bringing issues like student debt to the attention of
lawmakers, carried signs that said, "What's your plan for college
affordability?"
"We want to make sure Hillary listens to what young people want - to
afford college and graduate with less debt," said Kristi Van De
Wyngaerde, a pre-nursing freshman and member of the group.
Clinton spoke about reforming higher education to fit the demands of the 21st century.
"Let's make college affordable again. Let's give $3,500 in tax credits
for families with children in college, and let's expand the Pell
Grant," she said.
She also spoke about ending the "abusive, predatory spending practices"
of banks who charge high interest rate on student loans, and forgiving
debt for students who work in public-service jobs after graduation.
Clinton spoke about bettering the economy and the need to balance the
budget and surpluses. Her solution to unemployment garnered some of the
loudest applause of the night when she said, "Regardless of what George
Bush may think, global warming is real," before going on to explain how
green technology will revolutionize the job industry.
"We need to invest in green, clean, affordable energy," she said.
"You've heard of blue-collar jobs, you've heard of white-collar jobs. I
want to begin training people for 'green-collar' jobs."
Clinton repeatedly referred to her competitors by name, saying,
"(Barack) Obama doesn't have a universal plan," and "(John) McCain has
said it wouldn't bother him to leave troops in Iraq for 100 years."
Clinton outlined her plans for universal health care, which she originally drafted in 1993.
Her plan would open up the congressional healthcare package to average
citizens and require every uninsured American to purchase insurance,
providing a subsidy for low-income citizens.
"If you have a health care plan and you like it, you don't have to
change it," she said. "But if you're uninsured, we'll open up the
congressional health plan."
Clinton reminded the crowd of her experience in the White House
alongside former president and husband Bill, saying, "I hear a lot of
people say they are going to take on the special interests, but it was
awful lonely back in 1993 and '94."
On Iraq, Clinton said she would begin bringing troops back within 60
days of taking office, allowing Iraqis to take control of their
government.
"Iraqis will only get serious when they see a president committed to
withdrawing," she said. "And when we bring the troops home, let's take
care of them."
Clinton suggested giving war veterans severance packages and treating them for post-war trauma afflictions like brain injuries.
At one point during her speech, the crowd erupted in an applause not
over what anything the senator said about her campaign, but over her
demand to distribute water to several spectators, after a few passed
out.
University of Arizona Police Department responded to five medical calls
about several people who fainted inside the gymnasium due to high
temperatures, said UAPD Cmdr. Kevin Haywood.
The incident didn't disrupt Clinton from outlining her plans to change
America, and she acknowledged that while she had several supporters in
Arizona, there were also some faces in the crowd who were likely still
undecided and may be considering voting for her rival Sen. Barack
Obama, D-Ill.
"Whichever one is nominated, Barack or me, we will change history," she
said. "But who is most likely to change our country? Who can on day one
begin to turn the economy around, end the war in Iraq and restore a
belief in America?"
Cinton ended her speech about 40 minutes after her arrival with the phrase, "Let us change America together."
Several students waited around to see if they could speak with the senator or get her autograph.
"I thought she was impressive," said Jerron Rice, a creative writing
sophomore. "I'm undecided, but after that speech, she gets a plus."
Daleesia Underwood, a junior majoring in family studies and human
development, said it appeared Clinton was on campus "to make change."
"Tuition is ridiculously going up, so I'm glad she talked about that," Underwood said.
Saraha Dahaybi, a physiology senior, was one of about a dozen students
standing on the UA Mall across from Bear Down protesting Isreal's Gaza
blockade.
"We just want to make sure that (Clinton) sees the rights of
Palestinians are important to student voters," Dahaybi said. "We are
concerned about all the money (the U.S.) government gives Israel, and
we are concerned about what Isreal is doing with it."
Other students were downright opposed to Clinton's visit.
"I think it would've been a more valuable investment to bring 'Cirque
de Soleil' to the UA than Hillary Clinton," said Michael Flores, a
pre-business sophomore.
© Copyright 2008 Arizona Daily Wildcat
