Posted by student JAMES MITCHELL- Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack introduced Hillary Clinton to a packed gymnasium at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa yesterday. Vilsack told the crowd that the rapidly approaching caucuses made him think of a football analogy: “It’s the fourth quarter, we’re in the red zone, it’s first and goal, and I sure am glad that my QB is Hillary Clinton.”
Hillary entered the room to wild applause and cheering. She began her speech by describing the challenges the next president will face: Iraq, Afghanistan, 47 million uninsured Americans, and the host of unforeseen problems that are sure to arise.
Within five minutes her microphone went dead. When three replacement mics failed to work, someone from the crowd yelled, “here’s your unforeseen challenge.” Without missing a beat Clinton fired back, “I’m not easily deterred when it’s hard to be heard” and continued her speech by projecting her voice over the crowd.
Clinton focused on describing her experience and track record of successes, telling the crowd “I’m not just asking you to take me on faith.”
The senator from New York lashed out at the Bush administration’s failure to support the middle class by saying “it’s time to stop talking about family values and to start valuing families again.” She asked the crowd, “Since when did America become a can’t do country?”
Clinton stressed that under her presidency, America “would be the nation again that is viewed as the peacemaker in the world.”
Clinton took a discreet jab at her primary rivals, John Edwards and Barack Obama, by saying that “Everyone talks about change. But I don’t think change comes from demanding it or hoping for it, but from hard work.”
Clinton told the crowd in Cedar Rapids that she’s spent her entire life working hard for positive change in America. She closed by asking them to stand with her on Thursday night so that she can stand for them every day of her presidency.
James Mitchell is a Clinton School student covering the Iowa Caucuses for the Clinton School Blog.
