News
Clinton stumps for wife in N.C.
He swings through several small towns
Journal Photo by Bruce Chapman
Bill Clinton stumps for his wife at Glenn High School. He made several stops yesterday in North Carolina.
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VIDEO: Sen. Barack Obama in Charlotte on Friday, May 2, 2008
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Published: May 5, 2008
KERNERSVILLE
Bill Clinton was once the most popular Democrat in the country.
Then he started attacking Barack Obama, angering many blacks and young, highly educated Democrats in larger cities who once worshipped the former president.
In the small, mostly white, working-class towns that dot North Carolina, though, the former president still gets greeted like a rock star when he stumps on behalf of his wife.
"Don't you forget, she is in this race because of people like you in places like this," Clinton said to thunderous applause last night at a packed rally at Glenn High School. "She's been counted out more times than a cat's got lives. And people in places like this kept bringing her back."
Over the past two months, Clinton has become his wife's chief ambassador to small-town America. It's an important role.
Some of Hillary Clinton's most ardent supporters live in towns such as Lenoir, Kernersville, Morganton, all of which Bill Clinton swung through on a marathon day of campaigning yesterday.
His wife's campaign hopes that her strength in those cities with both Democrats and rural independent voters will be enough to overcome Obama's overwhelming support among blacks and young voters.
Many of these towns have suffered greatly from the loss of manufacturing jobs to Central America, Mexico and China. Bill Clinton's folksy explanation of her economic plans go over big -- everything from enforcement of violations of trade agreements that hurt American workers, to a windfall-profit tax for flush oil companies and a pledge to provide health insurance to all.
"Under Bill Clinton, we had eight years of peace in prosperity. We were not stuck in a war. We could afford food and gas. And under George Bush, we've lost every gain we've made," said Jack Fox of Lenoir.
The fact that a Hillary Clinton presidency comes with Bill Clinton in tow is one big reason he decided to vote for her. "We get two for the price of one," he said.
At every stop yesterday, Clinton said he was heartened by what he called a diverse crowd, "united across race, gender, religion and age." But the audiences to which he spoke underscored the deep racial, age and education-level divide that exists between Hillary Clinton's and Obama's supporters.
Clinton was once so beloved among blacks that he earned the nickname "the first black president." At his stops yesterday, only a handful of blacks showed up to cheer him on.
In many small towns, his message also hit home with independent voters, who can vote in the Democratic primary this year.
Both campaigns are gunning for the support of the state's 1.2 million registered independent voters as the campaign enters its final two days.
"I think they're likely to be very important, as we've seen in other states," said Craig Schirmer, Obama's director in North Carolina. "It certainly is a group that we believe will be favorable to Obama because of his message of change."
In many states, Obama has had more success courting independents. But Clinton's campaign is confident that North Carolina will prove different.
"We were getting destroyed with independents in all those early primaries," Ace Smith, Clinton's director in North Carolina, told The New York Times last week, adding that the campaign expected to split those voters with Obama here this time.
Independent voters in North Carolina are overwhelmingly white -- seven times more whites than blacks -- according to state statistics. About half are under 40, and they are split roughly equally between women and men.
Todd Gillihan, an independent from Winston-Salem, plans to vote for Clinton. If she doesn't win the nomination, his support would not extend to Obama in the fall, he said.
"She'll make a fine president," he said, "but mostly I don't want Obama to win."
■ Sean Mussenden can be reached at smussenden@mediageneral.com or 202-662-7668.
■ Journal reporter James Romoser contributed to this story.
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The Downtown Summer Music Series will begin on Thursday. Ed Bumgardner talks to some of the organizers of the Downtown Jazz lineup, in which a form of music known as "smooth jazz" will play a more prominent role this year.
Thursday's relish stories will appear in the Entertainment section.
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Reader Comments
Posted by ( citizen ) on May 5, 2008 at 8:02 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Why should we believe the Clinton's at this point? They have lied so much and changed so many stories in the past, that there is no reason to believe them now. They just want to continue living off of the taxpayers as they have their entire lives. It is time for a change in Washington and North Carolina.
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Posted by ( FellowAmerican ) on May 5, 2008 at 8:15 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
How could Hillary understand the working class (poor and middle class) if she has never been one and is definitely not one now (108 million dollars in 8 years)? Hillary has never lived, or walked in our shoes, so how could she possibly understand? Has Hillary ever wondered where her next meal will come from? Has Hillary ever been one paycheck (or a month) away from being destitute? Has she ever needed to wear other people’s clothes (from goodwill, other relatives, employers or friends)? Has Hillary ever had to decide between food, travel or her health? But yet she gets the White working class vote (overwhelmingly).Why is race constantly being injected into this election? I guess race is the biggest scare tactic there is in America so why not use it to Hillary’s advantage. Until we can dispense of our racial differences America will stay in the 1800’s. Please explain these things to the ones who are slow to understand the not so obvious.
Why is the issue of race continually injected into this election? Most Black people knew that it was going to be an issue but not to the extent that it has played so far. Many White Americans will not or refuse to see it. Even though Clinton is the most unpopular of the 3 remaining presidential candidates she is still in the race. When has that ever happened in a presidential election? Why? Is it because Obama is black? If Obama were White (he is half White) coupled with Clinton’s unpopularity he would have won the nomination long ago. Many will not vote for Obama because he is Black but he has transcended race, age, gender, barriers. Many thought he would never make it this far and I praise GOD and the ones (white Americans) who supported Obama despite his skin color. You have shown me that there is hope for all Americans. Thank you. Now let’s send a message to the racist of the world that we as Americans can look past the color of a man’s skin and elect him as president. GOD Belss!
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Posted by ( FellowAmerican ) on May 5, 2008 at 8:16 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
I have watched this election with great hope and despair. Hope because maybe, just maybe I was wrong about never seeing a Black president in my lifetime and despair because of America’s history with Black people. As the election progressed, there was such excitement about Obama and the polls indicated that the American people would elect a Black person to be president. The youth were registering to vote in record numbers, because of the hope and excitement that Obama was bringing to America. I was filled with a fullness that I cannot describe not because Obama may become the first Black president but because the American people finally said, “the hell with the past, we are going to elect the best candidate regardless of race”. However, after watching the last 2 months unfold (all news channels focused on Rev. Wright (lynching by association)), I have been slapped back into reality and now know that America (the country that I love) is not ready for a Black president despite the polls. Even though Clinton has fabricated stories, her and her supporters continually injected race into the election, her divisive tactics, being the least trust worthy of the last three presidential candidates (according to national polls) and many other Clinton controversies that the news media chose to overlook or keep in the public eye for a day or two. Yes, I have been forced to see the true America in which I live. The youth are the only good thing that I can truly have hope in for in the future, if they do not change into the old America. I just hope that this election does not break the spirit of the American youth (which turned into a movement because of Obama) and they will continue to be excited about the election process despite the news media. I refuse to ever allow my hopes to get that high in an election in American again. I am wide-awake now and will never dream again about a new American. Thanks America (not all American citizens) for the reality check. You have destroyed my spirit (when it comes to the presidential election) as well as many other people of hope and change. Why can’t it just be Americans, not Black Americans or White Americans or Hispanic Americans just proud Americans as one America that is not divided by race? GOD Bless!
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Posted by ( musicman27106 ) on May 5, 2008 at 10:52 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - America's presidential candidates, big money, media, governments and other sell-out U.S. institutions are deceiving our people. America is lost in hypocrisy and evil. Hold the presidential candidates and U.S. officials up to the following litmus test and they will prove to be hypocrites and liars. They swear vows of lies on the Bible to God. The Truth is not in them.
The vast majority of people in the world, who claim to be Christians, don't adhere even to the basic fundamentals of Christianity. For example, a beginning test in the extremely difficult task of finding a true Christian is to try to draw out a person's real religious doctrine. This is done in question and answer. A person will speak from the abundance of his heart. Good starting questions are; Do you believe war can be justified? Do you believe in executing people in some cases? If either of these questions is answered yes, the person's profession of Christianity is in vain. He does not trust in or know God and Jesus. God's Commandment is "Thou shalt not kill." The person, in answering yes, has spoken against the Holy Commandment of God. He has committed the sin of blasphemy which is equal to breaking any and all of God's Commandments. The Law of God is "Do not kill." (KJV Luke 18:20), (Mark 10:19), (James 2:11) The Law of God is "Love your enemies." (Matt. 5:44), (Luke 6:27) "Thou shalt not kill." (Romans 13:9) "Do violence to no man." (Luke 3:14) The servants of hypocrisy will attempt to argue that there is a difference of meaning in the translations of the words, kill and murder. Jesus put this lie to silence when he said, "Love your enemies." (Matt. 5:44), (Luke 6:27) To hit, shoot, bomb, execute, kill, etc. are not in the definition of love. True Christianity is nonviolent. "God is Love." (1.John 4:8,16)
Online version: http://BuenaVistaMall.com/Truth.htm
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Posted by ( justme819 ) on May 5, 2008 at 9:27 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
BO`s showing his hypocracy again...he voted FOR A GAS TAX HOLIDAY 3 times in 2000 when gas prices were less than $2 a gallon...so he`s showing us again that he`s just a typical Wash. politician!
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080430/ap_on_el_pr/obama_gas_tax_fact_check
Hillary voted AGAINST it in 2000 for the right reasons!
But because Hillary is PROVING to be the REAL uniter BO never was in Congress, by crossing party lines and trying to bring the Pubs and Dems together on this...BO can only attack the plan and HOPE!
BO`s elitism is on display again...BO doesn`t get it...the working-class want immediate relief from high gas prices...even if just a little...as long as there`s a long-term solution...which Hillary has!
http://facts.hillaryhub.com/archive/?id=7461
"Obama wants the American people to pay the gas tax this summer but Senator Clinton thinks Big Oil should.
The Clinton gas tax holiday is financed exclusively through a tax on windfall profits from oil companies and keeps the Highway Transportation Trust fund intact. Hillary opposed a plan in 2000 for a gas tax holiday because it was financed with transportation funds."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/04/AR2008050401795.html
And why did it take BO 20 yrs to figure out how extreme his Pastor/mentor really is...when it took America only a few 30 sec sound-bytes?!
Wright said nothing different last week-end...except that he called BO a politician just saying what politicians say to get elected!...
Since Wright exposed the WORST LIE OF ALL this campaign, BO had no choice but to divorce him!
But if we take BO`s word for it, he`s shown such bad judgment not just here but his other associations are a product of the same bad judgment:
Ayers, Rezko, Sinclair, Odinga, etc.
http://www.audacityofHypocrisy.com
We can`t afford a Pres. who`s shown such bad judgement...and is just another Wash. politician...here`s more Proof:
Lobbyists, Law Firms and the Obama Money Cartel
http://www.corporatecrimereporter.com/obama022108.htm
"Part of Obama's contrived Sainthood is an undertaking that he will not take funds from lobbyists or political action committees. But, like the Clintons and just about any other American politician, he has assiduously done just that."
An Asterisk to Obama’s Policy on Donations
http://www.caclean.org/problem/latimes_2007-04-22.php
Obama Finesses His Lobbyist Ties
http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/sen.-obama-finesses-his-lobbyist-ties-2007-04-19.html
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Posted by ( justme819 ) on May 5, 2008 at 9:33 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
BO`s record/experience is a joke conpared to Hillary`s...i don`t care what he did as state Sen...except the criminals he associated with to help him, comparitively, get only a few things done...
Meanwhile, Hillary`s met with leaders all over the world...and has visited over 80 countries to help in any way.
some of HRC`s achievements in Sen:
http://hillaryclinton.com/about/senator/
1st Lady,
http://hillaryclinton.com/about/firstlady/
Hillary has more experience in foreign matters than Obama...in Obama`s latest flurry of ARROGANT statements, he said that he has superior world experience to Clinton...because he was in Kenya and Indonesia for a grand total of 4-5 countries he`s been to...mostly as a kid...
Brief list of HRC`s achievements before 1st Lady:
Law professor (University of Arkansas),
Civil Rights attorney (studying under Marian Edelman Wright and serving as a staff attorney for the Children's Defense Fund),
Board member of multiple non-profit organizations,
Board member of multiple corporations,
Head of a state agencies - (having to implement federal directives & get federal funding) on Arkansas Rural Health Advisory Cttee and on Arkansas Educational Standards Cttee,
Head of a federal agency (appointed by Jimmy Carter) - U.S. Legal Services Agency (and managed a $300 million budget),
Partner of a law firm,
Chair of the ABA's Women's Cttee,
Advisor to the House Judiciary Cttee during Nixon's impeachment,
Twice named one of the top 100 lawyers in the US, etc.
Clinton works hard in Senate:
http://www.newsmax.com/politics/clinton_senate/2008/03/22/82305.html
http://bucknakedpolitics.typepad.com/buck_naked_politics/2008/03/clinton-positiv.html
according to FactHub, Hillary has passed 19 bills...Obama has passed only 2...to promote democracy in the African Congo...and to name a post office...
http://www.newsweek.com/id/129976/page/1
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Posted by ( justme819 ) on May 5, 2008 at 9:36 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
The fact is that we had one of the most prosperous economies in history under Clinton!...who left the WH to chants of, "4 MORE YEARS!!!"...and with a 65% approval rating...also one of the best/highest in history!...and currently more than twice Bush Jr.`s
The Clintons cleaned up the 1st Bush mess...they may be about to clean up the 2nd...according to most expert economists, Hillary gets it and has the best plan to solve the housing crisis, etc., and our current economic problems, etc...applauded more than both BO`s and McCain`s plans by the NYT...
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/28/opinion/28krugman.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
http://www.hillaryclinton.com/news/release/view/?id=6865
http://www.hillaryclinton.com/news/release/view/?id=6830
Hillary also has superior plans, experience, etc., for foreign policy and bringing our troops home within 60 days...as shown by her 4x as many endorsements as BO from high-ranking vets/military experts...37 as of a few wks. ago and counting...here`s just some testimonials why they All endorse Clinton!
http://www.hillaryclinton.com/news/release/view/?id=6500
6 more have endorsed her since then!
Hillary also has the best plans for Social Security and Healthcare which show an expertise favored by the Edwards, more healthcare experts across the country, etc...than BO`s plan...
http://www.hillaryclinton.com/news/release/view/?id=7194 ...
click on blue lettering for PROOF!
her plans for improving our schools and dealing with financial inequaties are well thought-out...and called the best by the experts...
http://hillaryclinton.com/feature/cities/
http://www.hillaryclinton.com/news/release/view/?id=7033
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Posted by ( bryan ) on May 5, 2008 at 11:53 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
FellowAmerican,
You need a hobby. Barack Obama will not be the first black President. If he gets the nomination he will only loose the election for the Democrats. Perhaps Harold Ford will run in a couple of years. HF would be a great first black President. Barack Obama is a divisive Chicago liberal elitist. He has nothing but disdain for the small town voter, and it has came out several times this election. He will now never catch the white vote. I know several lib dems that were so hopeful, and they have been punched in the stomach by the hate in the Obama campaign. Progressive does not equal elite hate for small and rural Americans. Sorry I will vote for McCain before I vote for a hater.
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