Hillary in North Carolina featuring "Solutions for a Strong Military"
Submitted by Nick Kelly on April 25, 2008 - 1:25am.
Hillary Clinton | Iraq | Military | veterans | Democratic politics
Hillary Clinton Talks Military Strength In Fayetteville
Thursday she campaigned in Fayetteville, the home of the Army's Fort Bragg, and in Asheville. Friday she will will be in Jacksonville, near the Camp LeJeune marine corps base.
“We need a commander-in-chief who is ready on day one to keep our country safe,” said Clinton, who spoke under a banner that read: “SOLUTIONS FOR A STRONG MILITARY.”
She said she understood the precarious nature of the war in Iraq, and how it would not be easy to bring American troops home “responsibly.” But she also said that after giving Iraqis their freedom it was time for them to make their own decisions.
Hugh Shelton, the former chairman of the joint chiefs of staff under the Clintons and a North Carolina native, introduced Clinton.
“She is the only candidate with a responsible plan for bringing our troops home with honor,” Shelton said.
Clinton promised to end the so-called “stop loss” policy of keeping troops in the military beyond their contractual time, enact a new “GI bill of rights” to pay for veterans to go to college and help with housing and starting a business, and improve funding and services in the Veterans Administration, which she said had been neglected during the Bush administration.
“The day I retired from the military, I became a third-class citizen,” one man told her during a question-and-answer session here. “I just wanted to thank you for what you’re doing for the veterans.”
Fayetteville is located next to the U.S. Army’s Fort Bragg, and Clinton spent much of her time discussing the difficulties faced by veterans. Surrounded by several retired military officials, Clinton promised to bolster a broad range of veterans programs from health care and tuition assistance to home loans.
She was cheered when she mentioned the shortcomings of Tricare, the military health plan.
And she promised to mothball FASFA, short for Free Application for Federal Student Aid, a form evidently much hated by the students forced to fill it out.
Clinton’s willingness to talk specifics was an important asset for Keith Zeigler, a Navy veteran who said Obama’s affluent, youthful supporters don’t have to worry about navigating the United States’ paltry safety net.
“They go to college to party. They have the money to pay their way out of trouble,” said Zeigler, who said he couldn’t afford to go to college and now drives a truck.
“They’re not educated in the ways of the real world,” he said.
"We need to make her the next President of the United States! Ladies and Gentlemen, Please give a big North Carolina welcome to Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton!"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwbcdVw1djk
"You know in the history of our great nation, there has been only one former President who received an endorsement of a Chairman of the Joint Chiefs prior to being elected. And in this case, not only one, but two former Chiefs along with a former Vice Chairman have expressed their support for Senator Clinton. And so I'm proud to be one of those two." So begins the introduction of Hillary Clinton by General Shelton. He is one of 34 former Generals and Admirals endorsing Hillary.
Nick Kelly
Wes Clark could still secure America as a national security candidate.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3JSxvYyY0k&feature=related
http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200880425004
Some 2,500 people packed the auditorium while hundreds more couldn’t get in. Attendees waived signs reading, “Welcome Madam Future President,” “Asheville Loves Hillary” and “Rural Country = Clinton Country.”
Clinton was introduced by retired Gen. Hugh Shelton, a North Carolina native and former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff....
“She understands the impact of endless commitments on our service personnel and their families,” he said. “She is the only candidate to offer a responsible plan for ending the war in Iraq.
“We need a president who will return America to its rightful place as the leader of all nations. We need to make her the next president of the United States.”
Nancy Perez, 64, pushed to the front of the Asheville Civic Center and waited two hours to try to shake Clinton’s hand.
“I did it. I shook hands with her. There were so many people trying to grab a handshake,” she said. “I’m voting for her. I’m totally in favor of everything she advocates. One of the best things is affordable health care for everyone.”
Nick Kelly
Wes Clark could still secure America as a national security candidate.
Nick,
I'm sure it's been said and I apologize for not being here as often asI should but hugh Shelton's endorsement of Hillary speaks volumes of Wes Clark to me. Blessed are the peacemakers and Gen.Clark is a class act.
"Ours is a world of nuclear giants and ethical infants."
Gen. Omar Bradley
can mend their old broken fences together in a common cause. I give all due credit to Hillary as well as both of these great Generals.
Nick Kelly
Wes Clark could still secure America as a national security candidate.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QL6HSJ4dQcE
http://www.wect.com/Global/story.asp?S=8226769&nav=2gQc
Clinton said it is an uphill fight for her in the Tar Heel state, but she'll fight hard, just like the Marines stationed here.
Nick Kelly
Wes Clark could still secure America as a national security candidate.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSgcYIEFepY&feature=related
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/04/24/politics/fromtheroad/entry4044083.shtml
She also challenged Barack Obama to debate her in North Carolina. “I’ve said I’ll debate anytime, anywhere – I’m so sleep deprived, I’ll show up,” she said, to applause from the crowd. “I hope we will, because I think you deserve your own debate.”
Obama has not entirely ruled out a debate with Clinton in North Carolina, but his campaign has so far refused to commit to a firm date.
The main topic of Clinton’s campaign stops today is her commitment to the military. Arguing that a strong economy is an essential part of having a strong national defense, she outlined her plan for strengthening the military by taking care of veterans, ending the war in Iraq, and pulling most U.S. soldiers out. “Our young men and women have done a magnificent job. They have given the Iraqi people the most precious gift you can give another human being – the gift of freedom,” she said. “Now it’s up to the Iraqis to govern themselves, and we must bring our troops home.”
Nick Kelly
Wes Clark could still secure America as a national security candidate.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHix-hWDT_s&feature=related
Nick Kelly
Wes Clark could still secure America as a national security candidate.
"First Husband" :)
Has Leno already gone there? Sounds like a quip he might make. ;)
Nick Kelly
Wes Clark could still secure America as a national security candidate.
If Bill were to be called "First Man," would he have to change his name to
"Adam?" Of course, if he did, he could always say to Madam President, "Madam, I'm Adam." ; )
It's clearly too late in the evening and the sauce has been flowing.
Stan Davis
Lakewood, CO
Wes Clark -- Make America All It Can Be!
to ensure that O doesn't win a single red state if he gets the nomination.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7o84PE871BE
Wow. At least he didn't promise Dennis Kucinich for SecDef....
and he doesn't take money from powerful defense contractors.... Er, maybe he takes it from weak defence contractors....but wait - that would be illegal....too....like taking money from oil companies (which we all know he doesn't do).
http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/obamas_oil_spill.html
Nick Kelly
Wes Clark could still secure America as a national security candidate.
title IN 52 SECS WHY BARACK OBAMA CANNOT WIN A GENERAL ELECTION
John McCain must just love this.
I hope our Democratic delegates realize just how improbable it has now become for O to be able to win the GE.
Nick Kelly
Wes Clark could still secure America as a national security candidate.
While he's talking, there's no sound - just his usual empty rhetoric, I guess.
Whoops, cat stepped on the mute button. Smart cat.
We're electing the President of the United States, not some g.d. prom king.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEqut3mQ6Pg&watch_response
The comments on that one haven't been disabled, and they further reveal the intensity building against O's candidacy. Some 527 group will doubtless run something like this video if O gets the nomination.
Nick Kelly
Wes Clark could still secure America as a national security candidate.
and clearly acceptable as a Commander-in-Chief over BO. Why is that? Perception that Hill is more grounded in the reality of war and inspires them that in times of conflict, sleep-deprived notwithstanding, she will be in command? Certainly, General Wesley Clark knows who is the real deal. It takes one to know one.