In N.H., Clinton calls her economic plan ‘progressive'

MANCHESTER, N.H. -- This was not the Hillary Clinton of 2006, the seemingly inevitable Democratic nominee who staked out careful, centrist positions, her sights firmly set on the general election. Today, her focus on the primary, Clinton was declaring herself a "progressive" in the tradition of Teddy Roosevelt, and announcing a set of economic policies that she said would narrow the widening gap between the haves and the have-nots.

At a policy speech at the Manchester School of Technology this morning, Clinton unveiled a nine-point “progressive vision to aid the middle class, address rising income inequality."

Clinton was trying to paint a vision far different from that promoted by the Bush Administration.

“They call it the ownership society, but it's really the ‘on your own’ society,” Clinton said. “It's time for a new beginning, for an end to government of the few, by the few and for the few, time to reject the idea of an ‘on your own’ society and to replace it with shared responsibility for shared prosperity. I prefer a ‘we're all in it together’ society.”

Among the specific proposals Clinton discussed were expanding access to pre-kindergarten programs and greater access to college for poor and middle-class families.

She also wants to change the tax code to create disincentives for companies to outsource jobs oversees and change corporate governance rules to create more accountability.

While positioning himself for a chance to shake Clinton’s hand before she left, Richard O’Leary liked what she had to say.

“I don’t know if I am more likely to vote for her after hearing her, but she was really impressive,” said O'Leary, of Manchester.

Virginia Irwin, the New Hampshire Department of Education administrator in career development, said Clinton had the right focus by not just focusing on college.

“From where I sit she is right to recognize that college isn’t the only option for people and that those who do not go to college should be respected also,” Irwin said.