Posted on 09/15/2007 11:33:28 AM PDT by devane617
Stumping for his wife, who is leading the pack in most polls, former President Bill Clinton spoke to several hundred Laredoans and Nuevo Laredoans on Friday evening and explained why Hillary is "best suited" for the White House."This next president is going to have to undo a lot of damage," Clinton said at the private fundraiser held at Palenque Grill.
He made references to an economy "on the brink of recession," growing inequality between the haves and the have-nots, climate change, Iraq, terrorism, and the loss of trust and respect for the United States globally.
Clinton - who visited Laredo with his wife in 1972 and 1992 - described his third stop in the Gateway City as "profound" and "emotional."
After being introduced by U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar and state Rep. Richard Raymond, Clinton was presented a key to the city by Mayor Raul Salinas, his wife, Yolanda, and County Judge Danny Valdez.
The issues he touched on the most in his nearly half-hour speech were the need to restore a middle-class lifestyle, and the need for fundamental health care and education reform.
"You can't grow the economy in a rich country unless every five to eight years you have a source of new jobs," said Clinton, noting this has not happened under the Bush Administration.
Clinton also made room for immigration.
"We have got to pull this country together," Clinton said, noting that despite the ethnic and racial divisions that either rage or simmer in the United States, America is still "a country about an idea."
Hillary's immigration priorities, he said, are to create a path to citizenship for the estimated 12 million undocumented aliens, and to safeguard against terrorism by building an efficient entry and exit system.
"When you were president, you spoke of building bridges, this president (Bush) speaks of building walls," Raymond said to Clinton.
Cuellar agreed.
"We want bridges, not walls," Cuellar said, praising Clinton for the education, trade and health care policies enacted during his administration.
If Hillary becomes president, the nation would get "two-for-one," Cuellar said.
"We're on the border and understand the importance of international relations," Raymond said in his introduction.
"And I'm confident that if Hillary Clinton were president, she would … repair the damage done to our relations with Mexico and other countries by this president," he said.
"Hillary can win," Clinton said, because she understands national security and because she knows how to work with Republicans.
"You want someone who is president who knows what life is like in Laredo," Clinton said as some in the crowd cheered, before joking, "It's easy to forget as president when they play a song ("Hail to the Chief") every time you enter a room."
After his speech, Clinton calmly worked the crowd shaking hands, taking photos, signing books and mementos, and exchanging a few words before leaving to another event in San Antonio.
Prior to the fundraiser, between 50 and 75 Hillary supporters took photos and mingled with Clinton at the home of businessman Ross Khaledi.
"It was unbelievable, a beautiful experience," a jubilant Khaledi said, noting he made the commitment nearly eight months ago through his relationship with Tom Ebeling.
Ebeling's wife, Betsy, is a close childhood friend of Hillary Clinton.
Standing near the entrance and conversing with Laredoans such as restaurateur Liling Huang, Betsy said "it's time for a woman (president)."
She and her husband flew in from Chicago to attend the special event, Betsy said.
Antoinette "Toni" Vela, who attended the event with friends Juanita Garza and Gina Mejia, said she believes Hillary "will do well for our country."
Eduardo A. Garza, president of Uni-Trade Forwarding, a firm that handles customs brokerage, warehousing and freight forwarding, said Hillary "is the best option for Hispanics."
Juan Garza Jr., chairman of the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas in Eagle Pass, said he also believes Hillary is the right person to become president.
"There are a lot of things in the country she will need to correct," Garza said,
When pressed further on the matter, Garza smiled, "I don't know where to start."
Standing alongside some of Laredo's well-to-do were the superintendents of Laredo ISD and United ISD, Veronica F. Guerra and Bobby Santos.
They were accompanied by several trustees, namely John Peter Montalvo, Jesus Guerra, Mina Montes and Jorge Luis Rodriguez of LISD and Pat Campos and Francisco "Pancho" Gonzalez Jr. of UISD.
Other elected officials included district judges Elma Salinas Ender and Raul Vasquez and county commissioners Jerry Garza and Rosaura "Wawi" Tijerina.
(Tricia Cortez may be reached at 728-2568 or by e-mail at tricia@lmtonline.com)
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Now if we had Republicans with an ounce of brains running the RNC and in the Senate and among the candidates (Hunter and Tancredo excepted) they would be jumping on this and winning those millions of voters who stopped the amnesty bill this summer.
But it's the stupid party, and they will let this gift horse go right out the gate.
ditto. If GOP leaders would stand up and fight against the path to citizenship and for the deportation of the illegals that kill 9000 Americans a year, we’d have a good shot of not only defeating Hillary in 2008, but taking back the congress. But as you say we’re the stupid party. And we’re going to sit by like doves and let the left and their terrorist allies destroy this nation.
And the defeatocrats are more than willing to hand the fox the keys to the henhouse in exchange for more votes. It’s a shame we can’t run the illegals AND the dims out of town on a rail anymore.
Think she’ll bring back the “W” keys and the silverware she and her ilk stole from the White House?
Both Clintons are garbage.
“Yep, Hillary is gonna cure global warming, fix the economy, give everyone free health care, and a home with a 2 car garage” Why I tell ya folks, this is one amazin’ woman we got here. And I’m tellin’ you folks that as her husband (that’s me, Bill), I will be behind the scenes, workin’ hard for the next 8 years makin’ sure she does it right, jez like when I was your President.”
“And while I got your interest folks, is anyone up for a bottle of snake oil I’m sellin’ today. Cures everything from warts to cancer.”
She needs to get HSU a PATH to CITIZENSHIP....ASAP!!
Two for one, yep.......
Lets impeach Hillary too.
“Two For One? Yep - its the 1990s all over again, except the roles have been switched. “
No wonder why the fundraising scandals are still with the Clintons.
You forgot “a chicken in every pot”.
Or in their case, some pot for every chicken who evaded the draft.
Hillary, dear, there ALREADY IS a path to citizenship.
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