"But, I'm not running as a woman," Clinton said. "I'm running because I believe I'm the most qualified person. I believe I can lead this county back to national greatness."
About 450 people jammed into the cafeteria at Lewis Central Middle School to hear the New York senator during her "Four Corners Tour of Iowa," with this weekend being in the southwest corner. Besides Council Bluffs, Clinton also visited Red Oak later on where some 350 people participated.
As a young girl in Chicago, Clinton said she felt support from everywhere to help achieve her goals.
"I had great public schools and parks where I got my first job. I had neighbors. I felt supportive," she said. "I also believed my country was on my side."
When national goals were set, everyone believed that through hard work those goals could be achieved, she said.
"I never doubted that for a moment."
That's what she wants to do as president, Clinton said.
"I want to be a president that sets goals and to bring us together."
Growing up during the height of the Cold War with missiles pointed toward our shores, America still had dialogue with its adversaries, she said.
"We never stopped talking to them," Clinton said.
As president, she would continue that policy with countries like Iran, she said.
|
|
She criticized President Bush's recent veto of a Congressional war-spending bill that called for withdrawal timelines for troops in Iraq. If elected, she would "extricate" the U.S. from Iraq.
To make America energy independent is a major goal, she said, and Iowa has unlimited possibilities in that regard.
"We need to have home-grown fuels."
Among her educational goals are increased focus on pre-school programs and making colleges more affordable.
"College is so expensive," Clinton said. "It didn't use to be that way."
On government reform, Clinton said she would only appoint people to powerful positions who are qualified for those duties and would eliminate the practice of no-bid government contracts.
"We must end this culture of cronyism."
She supports universal health care and wants to prohibit the denial of health insurance for pre-existing medical conditions.
Numerous issues, including immigration, were raised during audience participation.
"We've got to get beyond the emotion," Clinton said.
It's simply impractical to find and deport the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants here, she said. Instead, there should be a way to have them registered, but they must also pay fines and learn English. Those who have committed criminal acts should be deported, she added. She said there should also be tougher sanctions for employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants, along with better border security.
Clinton also believes there should be more incentives to gasoline stations owners to install E85 pumps to reduce demand for foreign oil.
In closing, Clinton said it's time for people here and abroad to regain faith in what this country stands for.
"I want people to believe in us again, more importantly, I want us to believe in American again."
Clinton can do it, said local attorney Chuck Smith.
"She's very well qualified for the job," he said. "She would be a huge improvement over what we have in the White House today."
Smith was impressed with Clinton's belief in communication with adversarial countries.
"We do have to have dialogue with people who disagree with us to achieve our goals," he said.
"I didn't think she missed a single beat," businessman Terry Oswald added. "She's very aware of the issues."
){kind=link}