Hillary Promises the Moon and the Stars (and a Comeback)
HOUSTON—Hillary Clinton contrasted herself with Barack Obama last night in a new way: she claimed to be more progressive on space exploration.
Houston is home to the Johnson Space Center, where NASA's manned spaceflight programs are based. And Clinton urged a large, fervent crowd at Delmar Fieldhouse to "be sure we have a president who wants to keep sending Americans into space so that we can continue to map the heavens."
"One of the differences" between her and Obama, Clinton said, is that she "want[s] Houston to remain the capital of the space race.”
“I don't want to be sending Americans into space on a Chinese- or a Russian-made vehicle,” she said. “I want that work done right here in Houston."
She seemed to be alluding to Obama's plan to fund new education initiatives in part by delaying for five years a NASA program called Constellation. The program aims to send astronauts to establish a settlement on the moon—a "lunar outpost," in the space agency's words. From there, it is hoped they could eventually journey onward to Mars.
When Obama laid out his plan in November, a Clinton spokesperson told The Washington Post, "Senator Clinton does not support delaying the Constellation program and intends to maintain American leadership in space exploration."
The remarks on space came in the midst of a relatively brief but energetic appearance by Clinton, who may have been buoyed by the announcement, earlier in the day, that her campaign had raised $35 million this month. The crowd here numbered around 3,000, was overwhelmingly female and included a sizable Hispanic contingent. Women and Hispanic voters have proven among Clinton's most loyal supporters during the election campaign.
A promise from the candidate to "fix our broken immigration system" elicited loud applause, as did a reference to her having been endorsed by the family of Cesar Chavez and by Dolores Huerta, who co-founded the National Farm Workers Association with Chavez (and is believed to have come up with the original version of “Yes We Can).
But the most striking moment of Clinton's 20-minute speech came when she related a story she said she had been told in southern Ohio. The arena hushed as she outlined how a young woman who had been having complications with her pregnancy had been unable to afford a visit with a doctor and had then been turned away from a hospital as her health problems persisted. The woman did not have the $100 upfront payment the hospital demanded, Clinton said.
"When she finally went into labor, the baby was dead," Clinton added. She then revealed—to gasps from the audience—that the woman herself died 15 days later. "This cannot continue to go on in America!" Clinton proclaimed.
She also used the dramatic story to pivot into her favorite line of attack against Obama's health care plan.
A "big difference" between her and him, she asserted, was that she was "not going to leave anybody out."
Clinton also delivered standard stump lines about strengthening national security, expanding access to college education and protecting the environment.
It seemed that she meant for the speech to be populist in style as well as substance, dropping her g's in an imitation, apparently, of the people she was talking to.
And seeking to bolster the sense of a candidacy on the rebound, she told the crowd, "I have a feelin' it's beginnin' to grow. We're movin'. We're gonna make it happen on Tuesday." (She said much the same in Ohio earlier in the day.)
Clinton's speech here did not begin until almost 10 p.m. even though the doors had opened almost three hours earlier. One section of the crowd, though, enjoyed its own entertainment—courtesy of a female Elvis impersonator in its midst.
The look-alike, 45-year-old Lucy Salazar, told me she felt an empathy for the New York senator because "as a female Elvis impersonator—and I'm a girl mechanic, too—I know what it's like to have to prove yourself all the time."
She also insisted that the King would "most definitely" have supported Clinton: "Elvis loved and cared for the people. He was a very caring person and so is she."
Salazar, turning back to the crowd, demonstrated some Vegas-period Elvis moves and yelled (in character), "Don't y'all forget to vote for Hillary, y'hear?"
She followed that up with a denunciation of Obama as "nuthin' but a hound dog."
- Poll
- Obama (D)
- McCain(R)
- Spread
- RCP Average
- 46.6
- 44.2
- Obama +2.4
- Candidate
- Favorable
- Unfavorable
- Spread
- Obama
- 55.8
- 35.8
- +20.0
- McCain
- 54.8
- 36.6
- +18.2
Earth to Hillary, who said yesterday that "Barack Obama is a blank slate."
1. No American is a BLANK SLATE. We too have lived lives of relevance and meaning, added to America's successess and worked/work VERY HARD in our professions, jobs and at school.
2. Barack Obama has framed the debate by tapping into the American zeitgist and that success is the reason he has beat you in 11 straight States. The voters know what the media and Democratic ESTABLISHMENT are only beginning to grasp. Barack Obama is no empty suit.
3. STOP giving John McCain/the Republicans talking points. Voters (again, vs. the elite Democratic ESTABLISHMENT) KNOW the only way George W. Bush became President (a real elite, empty suit if there ever was one) is as a REACTION to the Clinton dysfunctional Presidency and the FL hijacking, where ironically we heard NOTHING from either Clinton about the UNFAIRNESS and illegality of what occurred to the Democratic Party and their/our former Vice President and upstanding, graceful Al Gore, who did not pursue a divisive, rancourous scorched earth policy down in FL -- when he could have. The VOTERS have often thought about how different things could have been IF the Democratic ESTABLISHMENT had fought for Al Gore --and not held back (as they are now doing still in favor of you???) in support of the Clintons and their future AMBITION. We KNOW Al Gore had to lose and the Republicans take The White House -- for TWO AWFUL TERMS, in order for this year's PLANNED Billary run to be the slam dunk you thought it was to take place. You/and your White House-in waiting surrogates THOUGHT we would be desperate to bring back the Clintons. The last 8 years of NO GORE AND KERRY and a George W. Bush White House and all that means -- were REQUIRED in order for us to accept the Hillary Clinton ASCENSION.
5. WRONG. The VOTERS are more sophisticated than you and the "Super Delegates" know, in the Clinton bubble of "35 years." Americans are not empty suits, nor is Barack Obama. He is, however, a REPUDIATION to how you and your flipside -- the Bushes -- DO BUSINESS, beginning with how to manage a Campaign. Next, the Nation! And, you can take the "Super Delegates" and DNC with you! We are turning the page.
Ohioans and Texans, Hillary CANNOT keep ANY promises because she is divisive and cannot form COALITIONS and help form CONSENSUS. She cannot execute. Her mismanagement of her Campaign proves it. The aforementioned changes in HEALTHCARE and other promises will require SERIOUS CONSENSUS among a broad spectrum of coalitions -- and ONLY Barack Obama can get RESULTS upon which the healthcare and immigration promises are made. He is the son of an immigrant and has an intimate understanding of the issues. He has been a grassroots supporter of the disenfranchised and a CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY, for goodness sake. The healthcare debate must be MANAGED and you can't afford to get lost in Hillary's rhetoric in the matter. ONLY a consensus-builder and concilliator can take the reins of our Government and foment the biggest changes since the 60s, affecting every American citizen -- and end a war, stablize our economy and prepare for the ascension of the boomers into third age. We cannot afford a Clinton White House Soap Opera (read the Atlantic article re their Campaign Soap Opera). TX and OH, pls. think of the SECURITY of New York City and DC when you pull the lever. We need a NEW foreign policy for the 21st Century. Mr. Obama has lived outside of the US and understands how the perception of WHO we are effects our SECURITY. We are now HATED by friends as well as enemies. THEY have formed a consensus of our own and nobody is helping us fight these neverending WARS. Pls. validate the previous 11 States and think about ALL Americans before you cast your VOTES. WE need you on board. Help us turn the page. Mr. Obama will bring on board the best and brightest of America to help him sort out this mess...not cronies/stooges, backbiting like some kind of MEDIEVAL COURT.
If Obama is a blank slate Hillary is a written up slate owned by lobbyist and who makes excuses after excuses for her failures while playing the victim card and gender politics and then have the nerve to wonder why men aren't voting her.
Carol
Hillary would promise anything to get elected. People who fall for her crap, as well as those brain dead people who orgasm at Hussein Obama, don't deserve the franchise.
WHAT'S WITH ALL THE ANGST, COME NOW SPREAD SOME LOVE! AND WHO WOULD SAY ANYTHING RACIAL? REALLY WE CAN SPEAK AND DEMEAN WOMEN, BUT THIS IS JUST HISTORY REPEATING ITSELF, BLACK MEN HAD RIGHTS BEFORE WOMEN WHY WOULDN'T IT HAPPEN NOW AMERCIA IS TOO SENSITIVE WHEN IT COMES TO RACE... WE ALL ARE PEOPLE, AND TO BE HONEST I'M TIRED OF A "MAN RULED WORLD" TOO MANY PEOPLE OUT THERE SAYING HILLARY WILL USE THE GENDER CARD, WELL WHAT ABOUT THE RACE CARD? I WANT THE BEST FOR AMERCIA AND IN THE END I HOPE THE BEST IS VOTED IN AND IF IT'S OBAMA I HOPE WE WILL SEE AND IF IT IS CLINTON (HILLARY THAT IS) THEN SHE WILL WIN. BUT HOPEFULLY IT WON'T BE WHAT HAPPENED WITH BUSH... WE FOUND OUT TOO LATE THAT HE SUCKS!!!!!! SO LET THE BEST PERSON, NOT MAN, WIN!!!
Ha! Now Yahoo!News just posted Clinton Inc. are going to challenge the TX voting rules! You CAN'T make this up. TX and OH, PLEASE TURN THE PAGE and repudiate these thugs.
Before filing LAWSUITS to change the 40 year old TEXAS PRIMARY RULES, release the following immediately:
1. Clinton Library DONOR records;
2. Tax returns;
3. White House records that document and/or support the years of "experience" during Hillary's tenure as First Lady -- we are told about, but haven't yet validated. Taking responsibility for success, while disassociating yourself from NAFTA and what went terribly WRONG...doesn't wash.
Then, and only then, should any lawsuits be filed by Clinton Inc. against the State of Texas.
Zach, if you post again please post a surname or an initial.
Most politicians promise the moon or they're purposely vague.
Hillary Clinton is by far the U.S.A best choice!
Post your own initial; you think you're the only one with this name???
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HILLARY IS NOTHING IF NOT A PANDERER-IN-CHIEF !
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The "Barack is a blank slate" is a quote from his own book. I'm absolutely sick of Obama whining - anytime anyone says anything about his past actions, voting record, and yes, WORDS, the immediate complaint is that it's racist, anti-Muslim, part of a conspiracy, etc.
Sometimes his "never let the facts get in the way" attitude has comical results:
http://barack-is-wack-just-say-nobama.blogspot.com/
I have been a registered Republican, but the more I see the debates and Hillary's ability and knowledge on a broad spectrum of world information, I think she is the mostskilled person for the Presidency of this great nation.
Convinced
I still find it utterly amazing that I rarely see an Obama-based story with so many vitriolic, uniformed, negative, racist, and willfully ignorant comments like the ones I constantly see on Clinton stories (just exchange racism for sexism). Obama supporters/fans leave me cold, and for this very reason (along with the obvious one that Obama is not qualified for the job), if he gets the Democratic nomination, I will unapologetically write in Clinton's name on my ballot and vote for her anyway. And if McCain wins and gives us "100 more years of Iraq war," this country deserves it.
Found this on the web and thought some might find it interesting so I quote who I believe was Rudolf Steiner who said
"empty phrases", such as Rule By The Will Of The People, The Free World, Individual Freedom, and so on. These phrases are largely devoid of reality in our socio-political structure; here the pervasive actuality is the power of money over Men and over life. And where the empty phrase rules in language, mere conventions — rather than living human contact — rule in social life, and mere routine — rather than lively human interest — rules in economic life. And: "It is only a short step from the empty phrase to the lie." Again, this is especially true in politics and economics, for the prevalence of empty words makes possible the falsification of realities."
In my opionon Mr Obama's whole campaign is empty phrases the most popular being "Change We Can Believe In" and I don't feel that's the candidate for the future of America.
As prevalent as sexism is in our society how anyone, (especially the male dominated media which claims not to be bias) ,could see any rational behind the idea that this isn't a part of this electoral process seems hypocritical. When the concept of sexism is discussed as being part of how Mrs Clinton is portrayed in the media and is dismissed, this should raise suspect to the credibility of those reporting it given how common sexism is in everyday life in America.
Why have the media not delved more into the possibility that this is occurring, when by not looking further can only serve to give less dialogue on the matter? Then for the media to be seen by a wide number of polls taken of the voters, (which included Mr Obama's supporters), that the media is overwhelmingly bias in an unfavorable way toward Mrs Clinton, I would think should be something that would lead one to question this possibility of sexism in the process and the media rather than dismiss it.