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Meeting with Bill
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| H&N photo by Andrew Mariman Nearly 800 people gathered at Klamath Community College to hear former president Bill Clinton speak on behalf of his wife, Hillary Clinton, who is trying to become the democratic nominee for president. |
Clinton gets a warm welcome
By Ty Beaver
H&N Staff Writer
Former President Bill Clinton received a warm response from a crowd of about 800 Klamath Basin residents when he said the government needed to renew federal timber payments to rural counties. Click here to see video of his speech. Click here to see video of the crowd's response.
The former president appeared at Klamath Community College late Tuesday afternoon stumping for his wife, Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Hillary Clinton. Hillary Clinton is facing a tough campaign for the nomination against Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois.
He received the most applause when he criticized the federal No Child Left Behind Act and said Hillary would eliminate it. He also received applause for Hillary’s plans for health care and the economy.
Organizers originally planned to have the event in KCC’s commons area, but the size of the crowd prompted them to move it to the parking lot on the south end of the building.
Clinton referenced successes of his own presidency in illustrating how his wife also is the best candidate for president. He even said she would be a better president than he was.
“Our family believes in under-promising and over-delivering,” he said.
Klamath Falls was the last stop of a three-day tour of Oregon. Clinton’s motorcade traveled from Grants Pass to Klamath Falls, and he was scheduled to take a flight from the Klamath Falls Airport Tuesday evening to Kalispell, Mont., where he was scheduled to make a speech.
The economy formed a large portion of the former president’s speech. More people are falling into poverty and incomes are not increasing with inflation at the same rate as when he was president, he said. Tax cuts in recent years worsened the problem.
Klamath County residents are facing uncertainty because of the loss of timber payments, something Hillary plans to preserve. Hillary also would create jobs by promoting alternative energy and the industries needed to produce it.
High gas prices also are hurting people and making them choose between food and fuel.
Making efficiency affordable
Clinton said his wife supports not only pushing higher fuel economy standards and new technology to make such vehicles affordable, but would seek legislation to have oil companies pay federal gas taxes for six months, giving people time to save money to buy efficient vehicles.
Energy policy also is crucial. The Bush administration took away the ability of local and state officials to determine the route of the three liquid natural gas lines planned in the state, including one planned between Coos Bay and Malin. Hillary would give that authority back, he said.
Health care is an important issue for Hillary, and Clinton said her plan for universal health care would insure everyone. He told the crowd that nearly a third of every dollar paid to insurance companies goes toward paperwork.
“Is there a company in Klamath Falls that could blow 30 cents of a dollar off the top?” he asked.
In education, Hillary would make sure people can achieve some schooling after high school, giving them a better chance at success, he said. She would make more federal tuition aid available and those in public service would have their tuition debt paid down by their employers.
Clinton also addressed the needs of older Americans and veterans. The politics of stem cell and genome research needs to stop in order to find cures for Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and autism.
Hillary has shown strong support for veterans, Clinton said, and he pointed to her record in Congress, including getting body armor to those in combat and protecting those wounded early in their service.
Despite all those reasons, the former president said people are pressuring Hillary to withdraw. He commended Obama for his campaign, and said the Clinton family would unite with the Democratic Party and support whomever is the nominee.
But she still has a chance, and he urged people to watch the primaries in West Virginia and Kentucky to see the support she has.
“We just need to chill out and let everybody vote,” he said.
The former president appeared at Klamath Community College late Tuesday afternoon stumping for his wife, Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Hillary Clinton. Hillary Clinton is facing a tough campaign for the nomination against Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois.
He received the most applause when he criticized the federal No Child Left Behind Act and said Hillary would eliminate it. He also received applause for Hillary’s plans for health care and the economy.
Organizers originally planned to have the event in KCC’s commons area, but the size of the crowd prompted them to move it to the parking lot on the south end of the building.
Clinton referenced successes of his own presidency in illustrating how his wife also is the best candidate for president. He even said she would be a better president than he was.
“Our family believes in under-promising and over-delivering,” he said.
Klamath Falls was the last stop of a three-day tour of Oregon. Clinton’s motorcade traveled from Grants Pass to Klamath Falls, and he was scheduled to take a flight from the Klamath Falls Airport Tuesday evening to Kalispell, Mont., where he was scheduled to make a speech.
The economy formed a large portion of the former president’s speech. More people are falling into poverty and incomes are not increasing with inflation at the same rate as when he was president, he said. Tax cuts in recent years worsened the problem.
Klamath County residents are facing uncertainty because of the loss of timber payments, something Hillary plans to preserve. Hillary also would create jobs by promoting alternative energy and the industries needed to produce it.
High gas prices also are hurting people and making them choose between food and fuel.
Making efficiency affordable
Clinton said his wife supports not only pushing higher fuel economy standards and new technology to make such vehicles affordable, but would seek legislation to have oil companies pay federal gas taxes for six months, giving people time to save money to buy efficient vehicles.
Energy policy also is crucial. The Bush administration took away the ability of local and state officials to determine the route of the three liquid natural gas lines planned in the state, including one planned between Coos Bay and Malin. Hillary would give that authority back, he said.
Health care is an important issue for Hillary, and Clinton said her plan for universal health care would insure everyone. He told the crowd that nearly a third of every dollar paid to insurance companies goes toward paperwork.
“Is there a company in Klamath Falls that could blow 30 cents of a dollar off the top?” he asked.
In education, Hillary would make sure people can achieve some schooling after high school, giving them a better chance at success, he said. She would make more federal tuition aid available and those in public service would have their tuition debt paid down by their employers.
Clinton also addressed the needs of older Americans and veterans. The politics of stem cell and genome research needs to stop in order to find cures for Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and autism.
Hillary has shown strong support for veterans, Clinton said, and he pointed to her record in Congress, including getting body armor to those in combat and protecting those wounded early in their service.
Despite all those reasons, the former president said people are pressuring Hillary to withdraw. He commended Obama for his campaign, and said the Clinton family would unite with the Democratic Party and support whomever is the nominee.
But she still has a chance, and he urged people to watch the primaries in West Virginia and Kentucky to see the support she has.
“We just need to chill out and let everybody vote,” he said.
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| Clinton in Klamath |
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George wrote on May 15, 2008 5:59 AM: