Former President visits Monmouth in support of Hillary Clinton
Jeffrey Sawyer and Ashley Erb
Issue date: 5/2/08 Section: Headlines
"There's still people outside. I invited them in and was told there was no room... I believe they're right," joked former President Bill Clinton with the 1,000 person crowd packed into Western's Old PE gymnasium on Saturday, April 26.
Former President Bill Clinton was in town promoting New York Sen. Hillary Clinton's bid for the presidency and to inform rural Oregonians about Hillary Clinton's "Solutions for America" campaign. In addition to Monmouth, Clinton made stops in North Bend, Junction City, Albany, McMinville, Oregon City and Portland.
Hopeful and excited spectators began lining up to see Clinton before six in the morning. By noon, the line wrapped around Old PE, winded across Parking lot H, and followed the fence surrounding the football field on Jackson St. to Stadium Drive.
Spectators came for various reasons. Some said that they were there to support Sen. Clinton's campaign, others just to see a former United States president and some to show opposition to the candidate or the democratic party. One group showed up with a poster showing their support for the other democratic candidate, Barack Obama. There was even a young man who attended wearing a red shirt that read "Republicans kick ass."
For one Corvallis resident, Blake Hagan, hearing Clinton speak was "refreshing."
"A lot of what he said was music to my ears, it really all made sense and was intelligent," said Hagan. "A lot of the points he made would help us move to a more sustainable and prosperous society."
Clinton spoke about many topics during his hour-long address. "Our economy is in the tank and we need to restore our standing with the rest of the world," stated the former president early in his speech. He outlined Sen. Clinton's plan to create more jobs, make a stronger commitment to science and research, decreasing America's dependence on oil and improving education.
"Ninety percent of the benefits go to ten percent of the richest people in this country...the idea of trickle down economics is not working," said Clinton. "During the nineties more people were moving from poverty to the middle class and experiencing the American dream, during the past eight years a large portion of the middle class has moved into poverty and are experiencing the American nightmare."
Former President Bill Clinton was in town promoting New York Sen. Hillary Clinton's bid for the presidency and to inform rural Oregonians about Hillary Clinton's "Solutions for America" campaign. In addition to Monmouth, Clinton made stops in North Bend, Junction City, Albany, McMinville, Oregon City and Portland.
Hopeful and excited spectators began lining up to see Clinton before six in the morning. By noon, the line wrapped around Old PE, winded across Parking lot H, and followed the fence surrounding the football field on Jackson St. to Stadium Drive.
Spectators came for various reasons. Some said that they were there to support Sen. Clinton's campaign, others just to see a former United States president and some to show opposition to the candidate or the democratic party. One group showed up with a poster showing their support for the other democratic candidate, Barack Obama. There was even a young man who attended wearing a red shirt that read "Republicans kick ass."
For one Corvallis resident, Blake Hagan, hearing Clinton speak was "refreshing."
"A lot of what he said was music to my ears, it really all made sense and was intelligent," said Hagan. "A lot of the points he made would help us move to a more sustainable and prosperous society."
Clinton spoke about many topics during his hour-long address. "Our economy is in the tank and we need to restore our standing with the rest of the world," stated the former president early in his speech. He outlined Sen. Clinton's plan to create more jobs, make a stronger commitment to science and research, decreasing America's dependence on oil and improving education.
"Ninety percent of the benefits go to ten percent of the richest people in this country...the idea of trickle down economics is not working," said Clinton. "During the nineties more people were moving from poverty to the middle class and experiencing the American dream, during the past eight years a large portion of the middle class has moved into poverty and are experiencing the American nightmare."
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