Published: April 8, 2008
|
By JILLIAN BEAUDRY
Of the News-Register
More than 5,000 lucky locals crammed into Liberty High School in Hillsboro on Saturday morning to hear presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton talk about universal health care, the environment, the economy and what she can do for Oregon.
This trip was planned to try to sway Oregonians to vote for her in the May 20 primary. Her daughter, Chelsea, joined her for a Eugene stop later in the day.
Details of her Portland visit were not finalized until Thursday. Coordinators did their best to pack the stands without violating the fire code.
The line to see the senator wound far around the school. Attendees clutched coffee cups for warmth, praying the morning’s light sprinkle would not turn into a full-blown rainstorm.
Inside, the event carried something of a “girl power” vibe. However, a lot of men also turned out, many holding up signs in support of their candidate.
Don Steven of Gaston showed up early, eager to get more information.
With me, I’m either going to vote for Hillary or McCain,” Steven said. “Obama would be a great vice president, but I think his term is next time. I would like to see Hillary do eight years and Obama do eight years after Hillary.”
He thinks McCain is streetwise and understands the economy, but is concerned about McCain’s statement that we could end up spending another 100 years in Iraq, as he opposes the war.
“I’m concerned with his comments, and I’m not sure being a POW really helps,” Steven said.
He praised Clinton for her knowledge of the economy, environment and health care, and her views in those areas seemed to resonate with the crowd.
Jennifer Palmquist, a lawyer from Portland, said she does not want to see a Republican in the White House. She began her career as the first woman her firm had hired in its 80-year history, so can relate to the trials Clinton has faced as a woman lawyer.
She showed up with a friend to see the first major run for the presidency mounted by a woman.
Retired professor Jack Timmons of Hillsboro first met Clinton in 1980, when she was the first lady in Arkansas. She spoke about education at a conference he attended, and he was so impressed he walked up to her afterward and invited her to move to his home state of Missouri to run for governor there.
“I don’t need to hear her in order to support her,” he said. “I just came to see her again.”
The speech was carried live on local TV stations. She was introduced by a pair of prominent Oregon supporters, Gov. Ted Kulongoski and U.S. Rep. Darlene Hooley.
“This is going to be the first time in decades in a presidential primary in Oregon matters,” Hooley said. “She is the only person who has experience to lead us out of this disaster.”
Hooley said Clinton can restore prosperity and peace, fix the economy and provide universal health care. “There is only one person with the know-how, the experience and the plan to make that happen on day one,” the congresswoman said.
A former labor lawyer, Kulongoski called Clinton the voice of the working people. He said she would work to restore the middle class and lead the fight against global warming.
“(She’s) the best for Oregon and the best for America,” he said. “She will never give up.”
Clinton said she believes too many Americans lack the tools to make the most out of their lives. She said she would work to fix that.
“I believe we can not only keep faith and give our children the future they deserve, but actually solve the problems, meet the challenges and seize the opportunities,” she said.
Though behind in the delegate count - irretrievably so, according to her critics - she said she won’t be giving up.
“One thing I hope you know about me is, I don’t quit,” she said. “I am a fighter. And I believe this country is worth fighting for.”
The environment was a major theme for her in environmentally conscious Oregon.
Praising Oregon’s low-carbon footprint and developments in green technology, she said she would encourage creation of more “green-collar” jobs, commit the country to energy independence, cut reliance on fossil fuels and slash oil imports by two-thirds, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, set higher fuel-efficiency standards and establish a green building fund. She said her goal is to see renewable resources supplying 25 percent of the nation’s energy needs by 2025.
Clinton said she would set about undoing the environmental damage done by the current administration, starting with repeal of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which cost Oregon any say in the siting of liquefied natural gas terminals.
“I am the only candidate who voted against Dick Cheney’s energy bill, and I believe this is a clear difference in this campaign between me and my opponent,” she said.
She said she planned to return to Oregon before the primary.
Suzanne Kaster, a community college math teacher, called Clinton’s speech inspiring. She said she would be happy to support either of the Democratic candidates, in order to restore the face of America.
Tyce Winship, a 19-year-old Lake Oswego resident, said gender has proven a handicap for Clinton. “She is holding her own with all of the stigma behind being a woman in this age,” he said.
Winship said of critics, “I don’t think they understand the issues that she’s here for. They don’t see her as someone who can do the job and take control.
“I think the environment is our main issue in Oregon. We’re all the new hippies.”
1 response so far ↓
1 Clinton goes with green theme // Apr 9, 2008 at 8:29 am
[...] 9th, 2008 · No Comments Mark wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptTed Kulongoski and US Rep. Darlene [...]
You must log in to post a comment.