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Policy Wonk for President: Clinton Says Green Collar Jobs are Inspiring
April 20, 2008 10:46 PM
ABC News' Eloise Harper reports: Sen. Hillary Clinton was fired up this evening at her final stop, a nighttime rally at Penn State in State College, Pa. Clinton proudly explained that she is a policy wonk -- and thinks that her proposals are as inspiring as speeches.
"There are those who say, 'Well, you know, talking about how we are going to create 5 million green jobs in specific detail about where the money's going to come from and how we're going to train people for green-collar jobs…well that's not so inspiring.' Well, I'm sorry. I find it incredibly inspiring," she said. "What I think we have to do is get beyond the generalities, get beyond the speeches, because when the cameras disappear and the lights are turned off you're electing a president to solve problems, not to give speeches."
Clinton explained that Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell is a "private policy wonk" -- and said he chose her because he liked her policies better.
"It's the translating of the ideas into reality that determines whether we are going to make any progress or not in the 21st century," Clinton said.
Clinton, while criticizing Sen. Barack Obama for saying John McCain, the Arizona Republican, would be a better president than George Bush, said that the current president should be "in the dust bins of history," but then turned to a criticism of Obama.
"We need a nominee who will take on John McCain, not cheer him on," she said.
Clinton, who is being outspent in this state where many of Obama's commercials are running , said to the crowd, "If we just vote on slogans and we just vote on commercials we don't know what we are voting on. Think of all the people who voted for George Bush."
Earlier at an event in Johnstown, Pa., Clinton reminded Pennsylvanians of the recent debate, where the candidate thought she had outperformed her opponent.
"This week Sen. Obama and I had a debate, and it shows you the choice you have on Tuesday," she said. "We both got asked a lot of tough questions. I'm used to that. It goes with the territory."
Clinton hit on her theme of reminding voters that the job of president is more difficult than a debate.
"Tough questions you get asked in a debate are nothing compared to the tough decisions you have to make in the White House," she said. "And I think that debate showed a big difference to a lot of people between me and my opponent. It's really a choice of leadership."
April 20, 2008 in Bush, George W. | Permalink | User Comments (48)
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The main point is exactly what she brought up. We are her potential employers, and as potential employers who would we hire, who would be best for the job? I was listening to the college age adults. One was mentioning that when Obama spoke, there weren't many details about his plan for our country. Hillary has a plan. There were people that are citizens that were born in another country, we spoke, they see that Hillary has desire to help our country and it isn't arrogant, it's REAL.
I really don't see why most of main stream media is pushing Obama, what REALLY is behind that?
I want my great country to go forward and in my opinion and in most of the logical people I speak with they can see it's Hillary that will give us our best chance of getting us out of this deep whole we find ourself in after Bush/Cheney.
If fear of race riots or whatever is causing people to speak out for Obama instead of the best candidate for the presidency then people need to rethink their motives for voting. Look at what FEAR has bought us the last 8 years.(I cannot figure out why anyone would vote for Obama based on his qualifications)
I just want the best candidate for the job and it's Hillary.
Posted by: Susan Powers | Apr 21, 2008 12:40:34 AM
Obama campaign has been outspent in every state.
He even owe $600,000 to some vendors.
Most big contributors are not from online unlikely Hillary.
If he did not get those big donation to support his campaign he'd be lost already.
Posted by: crisis08 | Apr 21, 2008 1:41:42 AM
Green jobs, yes. Keep talking about your policies that will turn manufacturing and jobs around in this country, Hillary!
America Working Again.
Hillary '08
Posted by: ralphdaugherty | Apr 21, 2008 2:03:35 AM
' Clinton, while criticizing Sen. Barack Obama for saying John McCain...would be a better president than George Bush, said that the current president should be "in the dust bins of history," but then turned to a criticism of Obama.
"We need a nominee who will take on John McCain, not cheer him on," she said. '
But she's the one that said people would be better off voting for McCain if she doesn't win the candidacy! What Obama said was an observation, but what Clinton said was practically an endorsement.
Posted by: justhesh | Apr 21, 2008 2:16:55 AM
I appreciate some of the complaining from Obama supporters about the three tough q's he got. I didn't enjoy the way Russert treated Hillary at the MSNBC debate.
The reality is the fall will be tougher. On the policy q's, when rhetoric wouldn't suffice, Obama was, well,just awful. For a great communicator he doesn't convey any sense that he owns any policy proposals, or sees them as the vehicle to deliver on the broad rhetorical goals he does deliver well.
I like policy to, I went from Edwards to Hillary.
As a younger woman of color, a lot of my most vocal peers have been for Obama. I tried to keep an open mind, and asked q's. Everyone's quick response was read the website, turns out I was the only one who had.
After 8 yrs of George Bush, I don't want to be post-partisan, especially when no one can tell me what that means, least of all Obama himself.
Serious, complex problems can only be solved with serious and often complex solutions. His speeches don't offer that, and I just don't know how else we're supposed to measure hope.
Posted by: Jas | Apr 21, 2008 2:19:18 AM
Please. If one candidate spends a bit more time here and there on an issue of substance, if one lies a bit more than the other, if one speaks better than the other, it hardly determines a good president, they are only small indicators.
Look at the lives these candidates have led. Both have a lot of interesting history. I prefer candidates who have spend honest time working with people in need. Obama is a community organizer, and his history shows he has been a fabulous and tireless worker for the rights of those less fortunate. Clinton has spent far more time looking for opportunities to grow her career than in selfless work that benefits others.
My PA vote goes to Obama!
Posted by: oh please | Apr 21, 2008 2:32:32 AM
It is no wonder Hillary did so much better in the debate. The only difference between this debate and previous debates is that it put the candidates on their toes and forced them to do some independent thinking. Obama had to make real decisions and come up with ideas that work and all he could do was complain that the situation was unfair. Is that what he'll do in the white house? Hillary has the unique ability to make good decisions and come up with great solutions on her own. Obama needs to copy these ideas from others, and most of his ideas he's copied from Hillary. Lets elect someone who can come up with solutions and make decisions on their own. Lets take our country back!
Posted by: Jon | Apr 21, 2008 2:43:48 AM
I totally agree. When facing tough questions, either the ones that were considered "distractions", or the ones about real "issues", Hillary clearly had the best quality to deliver thoughtful answers. I likeed very much how she explained her position on gun control, Iraq war, and the economy. Obama looked like a paniced high-school student being caught in a exam for which he hasn't studied for. His answers to those tough questions, Wright, Ayers, and bitterness, were so poor that I wonder if he should be in the presidential campaign at all. His answers to the real issues, he probably hoped no one was listening when he spoke.
I am for Hillary. Like she said, she may be a lot of things, but she is not dumb. And I truly believe she will make change to the country, and bring justice to gender-based inequity. Obama, according to his wife, is a guy who'd not pick up a sock on the floor and not put away butter from dinning table. I don't trust him.
Posted by: Amy | Apr 21, 2008 3:14:38 AM
Hillary didn't create 200,000 jobs in New York she promised. She blamed it on Al Gore, his fault for losing the Presidential election they couldn't work together.
Then it was Bush's fault not working on her New York behalf.
5 Million new jobs? Incentives for the corporates cutting jobs now? Does it stop the manufacturing leaking jobs to foreign countries? Doubtful, only executives will get the beneficial corporate tax breaks and their stock options rise.
We have to remember Hillary does know how to Federally reward friends and supporters.
After she championed NAFTA while First Lady, a whole bunch of lawyering to "fix it".
If she's fixing it, then the trade plan was flawed originally!
Some new job will be created for Bill and his staff having some undefined policy advisory role in the White House.
He'll have at least new 20 staff. He will jet around on Air Force 2 at his whim.
Three headed figureheads, Hillary, Bill and the Vice President.
Hiring a First Lady candidate for Hillary, someone has to do that job, an extra Federal employee.
It's a co-Presidency like it used to be in the 90's apparently.
The country can only be in the hands of Bush's and Clinton's. That's ludicrous!
Obama vs McCain, it's time for it already.
I can't wait to see Hillary supporting Democrats voting for a Conservative McCain trying to prove he is.
When Republicans and Independents want Obama, bitter Liberals will vote for McCain?
Can't vote for a black man, that's great to hear from Democrats when Obama is reduced to that description as an excuse.
Posted by: Marks | Apr 21, 2008 3:37:05 AM
I so look forward to oblama's concession speech.
Posted by: dem process is toast | Apr 21, 2008 7:44:28 AM
Excuse me? How is it that you say that Obama is UNELECTABLE but that Hillary is? You're so misguided and brainwashed. Maybe both of them are "UNELECTABLE".
I never liked Ms. Clinton much, but would've consider voting for her if she were the nominee.
However, after reading for weeks now the rationality of her supporters of why she is better than Obama, and how Obama is unelectable, and calling him Hussain, Osama, n....r, negro, etc., I'd rather not vote or vote for McCain than side with people like Clinton's supporters. Shame on you! You're a disgrace to the Democratic party (and this comes from an independent (leaning most to the right), that would've voted Democrat this election.
You, her supporters, are losing our votes as well as those of many young people and first-time voters inspired by Obama.
Posted by: SVO | Apr 21, 2008 8:49:59 AM
SVO,
Well I guess that works both ways. Some Hillary supporters for whatever reason won't for Obama so I guess each side has people who will go for McCain or not vote. So much for Obama's unifiying people.
Posted by: J | Apr 21, 2008 8:53:32 AM
Don’t you Clinton people get just what her umbrella comment was all about?
SENATOR CLINTON: Well, in fact, George, I think that we should be looking to create an umbrella of deterrence that goes much further than just Israel. Of course I would make it clear to the Iranians that an attack on Israel would incur massive retaliation from the United States, but I would do the same with other countries in the region.
Clinton vows 'massive' U.S. retaliation if Iran attacks Israel
Please tell me you dont want our men and women back into WAR!!! We have lost so many already!!! Wake UP!!
Posted by: BVosler-Cruz | Apr 21, 2008 9:37:47 AM
MLK, JFK and RFK didn’t make speeches about “green jobs”, so there isn’t much for Obama to say about this topic, now it there …? How uninspiring can he be? Can we stand yet another cheerleader touting empty, meaningless slogans?
Posted by: AmazonTraveler | Apr 21, 2008 10:05:49 AM
Not only has Obama commented "any of the three now running would be a good choice", "Better than Bush", thereby cheering on John McCain. He did so at the same time the DNC rolled out a new ad saying McCain was the SAME as Bush.
Wow, who's party is he campaigning for?
Posted by: BlueDog | Apr 21, 2008 10:52:25 AM
I am totally turned off by the meanness and fanaticism of the Obama camp. They are living proof of the emptiness of his supposed "new politics."
I'm supporting the civilized Democrat.
Who just happens to be miles more qualified.
Posted by: Judith | Apr 21, 2008 11:37:16 AM
Senator Clinton is by far the most qualified candidate. She has solutions to fix our economy and educational systems. She is a fighter and can get stuff done. Obama has proven himself to be a liar and a hypocrite and he is unelectable in November. It is time to vote smart
Posted by: Tobias | Apr 21, 2008 12:13:50 PM
Great ed piece ABC! I think we all know who is the MOST QUALIFIED and COMPETENT candidate! HILLARY CLINTON !!!!
Posted by: sand | Apr 21, 2008 12:50:50 PM
Go Hillary!!! You are brilliant and it shines through!! In all the other debates it seemed all Senator Obama did was say that he agreed with the answers Senator Clinton had given. It seems as time passed (Debates 1-20)he picked up all the answers she has given. I watched him try to be just like Hillary!!
Posted by: kt | Apr 21, 2008 1:07:06 PM
Yes We Can! We the People do know that Hillary Clinton has spent her life being competent for whatever reason. She has become qualified like no other candidate. She can percieve the realms of politics from many angles. Too many qualified people are standing with her. That is reason enough to see that she is a leader of leaders. Our country needs leadership to unify. She has accomplished that and we need to choose a VP. It is obvious to me that Gen. Wesley Clark is the qualified person to be the second *man.
Posted by: JB | Apr 21, 2008 1:07:23 PM
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