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Clinton makes last pitch to Iowa Democrats

Posted by Foon Rhee, deputy national political editor January 2, 2008 09:35 AM


In her closing pitch to Iowa Democrats, Hillary Clinton will argue that she is the most ready to be president and tackle the pressing problems facing the country.

"After all the town meetings, the pie and coffee, it comes down to this: Who is ready to be president and ready to start solving the big challenges we face on day one?" Clinton says in the unusual two-minute message, which will air during the 6 p.m. local newscasts on TV stations across Iowa. Her campaign released it this morning.

"I'm not running for president to put Band-aids on our problems," she says. "I'm running to solve them."

America is at a crossroads, she said, on issues such as ending the Iraq war, enacting a new energy policy, rebuilding the middle class, and bringing affordable quality health care to all Americans.

She thanks Iowans for sharing their stories, then closes with a direct appeal to them, saying, "If you stand with me for one night, I will stand up for you every day as your president."

Clinton's principal rivals, Barack Obama and John Edwards, have both said she isn't the best positioned to bring real change because she is too polarizing and too tied to the Washington establishment.

And the Republican National Committee quickly weighed in with its own retort:

"Hillary Clinton closes her campaign in Iowa by claiming that she will solve problems. What Clinton won't tell Iowans is that her proposed 'solutions' would result in devastating tax hikes, socialized medicine, and a weakened national defense. At the end of the day, voters -- including increasing numbers of Democrats -- know that they can't trust Senator Clinton to be honest and upfront about her flawed policy proposals."

5 comments so far...
  1. If you are considering Obama, PLEASE research! Your county deserves better that a player like obamawinphrey!

    I think it’s a big mistake to believe that obama will win because older Americans will not come out in bad weather to support another candidate like Hillary or Edwards! I’m 67 yr old mixed race man and I can tell you that the older generation is wide awake and very much realizes we need the experience and not a snake oil salesman that needs a TV talk show host to get noticed, obama is just yelling with no substance. Its obvious in EVERY debate he kept losing his thoughts in the middle of making one, (pay attention to all the “ahhs” and “umms” he says between words, sign he doesn’t know what he’s talking about because he can't remember what is “written for him”(not a leader) he’s running on Hillary and Edwards solutions. Notice also, once the media has begun to report his short comings, oprah is no where in sight, feeling pretty foolish at this point id imagine.

    He did not show up to vote in the senate often in his short time there, missed 130 votes out of 153! bashes ALL the other 72 senators who voted for the war based on the intelligence they were provided by OUR PRESIDENT, but he will not answer any reporter on how we would voted at the time. But his record after fact shows he supports the war, voted twice in 2006 against bringing America's troops back home. He votes for war appropriations giving our money to Halliburton and Blackwater. His latest bit of posturing S 433 allows the Bush Administration to suspend any troop withdrawal!!!!Which if not suspended, still keeps the troops in Iraq for a long time to come? Obama when faced with tough choices always gave in to pressure from the Bush administration or corporate lobbyists. Such as Obama voted for Bush's energy bill, sending more than $13 billion in subsidies and tax breaks to oil, coal, and nuclear companies. Obama voted with Republicans to allow credit card companies to raise interest rates over 30 percent, increasing hardship for families. Obama voted for one of Bush's top priorities - expanding Nafta to South America - even as President Bush obstructed all the top Democratic priorities. Obama voted with Bush to make it harder for ordinary people to hold big corporations accountable when they do things like sell toxic toys, poisonous pet food, or just plain rip you off. Obama was the Senate's biggest Democratic advocate of subsidies for liquid coal, even though liquid coal produces twice the global warming pollution of the crude oil it's meant to replace (Obama "backed off" this position after being pummeled by environmentalists for several months, but still voted for increased subsidies, albeit with conditions)

    Obama, a Hamiltonian believer in free trade and supporters of globalization has lent his support to the "Hamilton Project formed by corporate-neoliberal Citigroup chair Robert Rubin and other 'Wall Street Democrats' to counter populist rebellion against corporate tendencies within the Democratic Party. Obama provided assistance to pro-war candidates (such as Joe Lieberman). Obama voted for "business-friendly 'tort reform' bill that rolls back working peoples' ability to obtain reasonable redress and compensation...from corporations!!! Obama considers single payer universal health care too socialist and has stated that he prefers voluntary solutions. He has no substance. He has provided no solution to any problem until Hillary, Edwards or even Mitt Romey publically expresses theirs, then he copies, He’s been constantly negative with everyone.

    Early on supporters were mad that race was initially talked about, but they insisted it wasn’t fair that he isn’t BLACK he is MIXED RACE! I highly recommend you check out his church websitehttp://www.tucc.org/about.htm. "I'm a black guy running for president named Barack Obama. I must be hopeful." said obama in a speech in Iowa.
    Now he’s claims hes just BLACK again trying to make fools of black voters. I have no respect for a man that is ashamed of his heritage and his parents. An ex-drug addict (per his words JUNKIE) that’s not someone who smoked pot, inhaled or not, a junkie is a person who had a serious addiction to harsher drugs. I do not trust he won’t fall backwards and start using again. In fact doesn’t his wife always look wired???? Makes you say hum…Is that the type of person you trust your great country too. He is a disgusting example for our youth. Michelle proves she is racist with every sentence she speaks. The younger ones who you claim only support obama have not gone through the problems with health care, the cost of prescriptions, struggling to pay home loans insurances and frankly keeping a job. Per polls young obama supporters live at home or on campus and have no idea what’s really at stake with our country, but when he cannot handle foreign policies and they find themselves drafted! they will feel mighty stupid! I suggest that the young and old voters RESEARCH before you vote it’s very important. Look how bush/Chaney destroyed the country that BILL CLINTON left behind, no debt, we had jobs and the housing markets were moving forward. I URGE ALL TO GET INFORMED BEFORE YOU CAST THAT IMPORTANT VOTE; YOUR FUTURE DEPENDS ON IT!

    Posted by Jackson January 2, 08 10:10 AM
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  1. I'm Caucasing for CLINTON.

    Posted by JON January 2, 08 11:38 AM
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  1. This Ad drives home the point that America cannot afford to elect a President who cannot handle the complexities that we are facing now. Senator Clinton has demonstrated by her life works that she has the skills and humility to effect the changes we need. Of course when anyone is facing problems or a bad situation he/she welcome someone with words of comfort because it calms you. America has faced 911, Iraq casualties, loss of homes, no health insurance, job loss etc.etc. So when folks listen to the rhetoric from Obama, they think "Oh what a fine speaker, he's saying all the right things, and we need a change." Axelrod his chief campaign strategist is trying to do for Obama what he did for Deval in Massachusetts. Deval is having a tough time executing his agenda with the Massachusetts legislature. Obama thinks he can step in and Change 50 United States. Hopefully people will use good judgement and don't pick a rookie like they did with Bush.

    Posted by Charly January 2, 08 12:15 PM
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  1. The first 3 postings, posted by the so called Jackson, Jon and Charly, cleary seems to come from the same person and very much likely a Clinton staff. We vote ideas not hate. We have listened to all candidates and know exactly where they stand on issues. Politics of slush and bum at the last minutes will just drive more away from the Clintons. I used to like the Clintons, but not any more after showing immaturity in campaign by going negative in a very foolish way. The kindergarten story will be the highlight of this campaign after Clinton is defeated. Go Obama, we like your policies and your authenticity. Obama for 2008.

    Posted by baba January 3, 08 01:11 AM
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  1. the cosntitution is something i feel you would love to ABOLISH!

    Posted by charles hayes January 11, 08 08:11 AM
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About political intelligence Field reports from Boston Globe reporters and editors covering the 2008 presidential campaign and the national maneuvering of Bay State politicians.

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