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General Wes Clark introduces Senator Hillary Clinton at Reno Rally
January 18, 2008
transcript by Reg NYC
One of the most important states in America.
(cheering)
Tomorrow, you're caucusing.
(cheering)
Your vote in that caucus, your voice, is going to be heard around the world, as you pick the next Commander in Chief for the Armed Forces and the next President of the United States.
(cheering and applause)
I'm Wes Clark. I'm a retired Army General.
(cheering)
And I'm a proud Democrat.
(cheering)
And I'm proud to be here for the next President of the United States, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton.
(cheering and applause)
And here we are one night before the caucus. This is a time to gather ideas, gather resolve, understand exactly what our purpose is and why we are united in supporting Hillary Clinton as our next President.
(applause)
We've had seven years of George W. Bush.
(booing)
Precisely! people like you. That's why I ran for president in 2003. He's taken us to a war we didn't have to fight, neglected a war we did have to fight in Afghanistan, 800 billion dollars spent or committed in Iraq, 4,000 American troops, an economy that's sagged, 45 million Americans without healthcare. Do you think we've got some challenges?
(Yeah!)
Do you think we got some orders for the next President?
(Yeah!)
Do you think we want someone in the White House who will walk in on Day One who knows what to do and how to do it?
(Yeah! cheering and applause)
Do we need, do we need a President of the United States who can focus on the nation, who's had a life-long commitment to helping others, who knows how to get work done? We do. Now you're supposed to say 'yes'.
(Yeah!)
We want a President of the United States who can reach across the aisle and bring everybody together to work and solve problems?
(Yeah!)
We want a President of the United States who can not only inspire people but actually bring them together to solve problems?
(Yeah!)
Ladies and gentlemen, we've got a real deal for you tonight.
(cheering)
We have the opportunity to put that special person in the White House.
(cheering and applause)
Hillary Rodham Clinton spent her entire adult life working to help people. I met her 24 years ago when she was First Lady of Arkansas. She's an expert on women's issues and on health issues, on education issues, has strength on family and children's issues. She knew a rural economy, because that's what we have in Arkansas. She knew the military issues of the Arkansas National Guard. I watched her as First Lady in the White House where she worked hard on domestic policy issues, and she also made a difference in foreign affairs. She worked in Northern Ireland in 1999, after it had been racked by 35 years of civil war and inspired the creation of a program that brought Irish women into politics. And it took the Irish women to convince the Irish men to stop killing each other in Northern Ireland.
(cheering and applause)
As a United States Senator, she's on the Senate Armed Services Committee. She has worked tirelessly for national security, to keep our military strong and especially to look after the men and women and their families who are in the service and who have served their country honorably and well.
(applause)
She sponsored improvements in benefits for people in service, improvements for benefits for veterans and their families. She knows the issues. She does her homework, and I can tell you as a retired General, I talked to many of my colleagues and they tremble before they brief her because she knows the details.
(applause)
She is a leader who is ready on Day One to be our President. She'll be a great Commander in Chief for the United States forces. She will work diligently to solve the problems that are, have been left to her by George W. Bush and take America to new achievements at home and abroad.
Ladies and gentlemen give a strong Reno, Nevada welcome to the next President of the United States, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton!
Thank you!
(cheering and applause)
