Hillary entered from behind the big curtain just to our right and strode up the short stairs while honoring the crowd with her princess wave. She was still wearing the tailored brown pants suit from this morning, but it did not look like most pants suits after a busy day of work. There wasn't a wrinkle or a crease anywhere to be seen. She did have a large set of red lips plastered on the right side of her face, however, and that punctured the air of perfection. I did wonder whether her husband had ever campaigned in NH with a similar lipstick tattoo on his face, but I quickly decided that should I be called on, that is not the question I would ask.
Senator Clinton provide us with her stump speech before taking questions. She talked education, and favors universal pre-K and debt forgiveness for college grads who commit 2 years to serving the country in areas and professions where we have the most need (doctors in Appalachia, teachers in the inner city, that sort of thing). She views government as a great initiator of social change and industrial progress. She reminded us that the Internet was born from a government project, and of course, the space program could not have gotten off the ground (pardon the pun) if we had waited for the private sector to begin investing in it. Government has been at the leading edge of jump starting change in this nation for years, and we cannot ignore this important role. In particular, she sees energy innovation as having to begin with the government before it can truly take root and be profitable for independent business.
On health care, she is in line with most other Democratic candidates. Give the public access to buy into the Congressional health care plan. She stated that she will tell the "big" insurance companies that "you can no longer make money by denying people coverage." Big applause line. There is one thing she mentioned during her speech that I still need to research. She mentioned a boy named Graham Frost, a 12 year old car accident victim. She had dropped his name in the morning speech as well. She gets all emotional and angry and says that the Republican attack machine could go after her, but they had better leave a 12 year old boy alone. I had no idea what she was talking about. Perhaps I need to read more blogs. I did not understand the reference, but again, big applause line.
For me, one of the most telling moments of the speech was her definitive statement about getting out of Iraq. As she makes this powerful statement and the cheering is at its loudest, she adds "as soon as it is safe to do so." I am not sure who else heard that, but I did. I wanted her to define "safe". My gut tells me that she would not have defined "safe" for me or anyone else. She is the consummate politician, leaving all her options open while convincing the public that her mind is made up and she is steadfast and resolute. I'm not so sure.
Once questions began, an African American woman standing in the back directly in the center called out to Hillary and everyone hushed. For those of you who remember her, it was Carol Simpson, former ABC News reporter who had even once moderated a presidential debate. She has retired from the media and is now a school teacher in Massachusetts. She said that she had brought her students so that they could hear her say in public that she was supporting Hillary Clinton for the Presidency of the United States. A very spontaneous moment that I am sure was carefully orchestrated. Bravo, it looked natural and unplanned.
Hillary took maybe 5 questions, and none from us. Even with Marra waving that homemade sign, we were left to create our own answers to the questions with the little she gave us. She called on the woman behind us, and she asked a softball question about health care. Every question that was asked had been asked before in a larger forum than this. No one had anything tough to ask. That was a shame. I was hoping someone would grill her, force her into answering a new question, one she had not rehearsed for. It was not to be tonight.
When Hillary completed her grueling 5 answer set, she exited the stage to "Every Little Thing She Does is Magic" again, and came our way. We had quite a bit of luck with Hillary coming right in our direction. I wanted to get Marra's sign autographed. We bartered with a woman seated behind us. We would have her program signed by Cllinton if she would take a family shot of Marra and me with the candidate. Deal.
Hillary came up to Marra and admired her sign. She gave her a big signature right in the middle of the colorful poster board, and graciously posed for a quick shot with the two of us. I'll say this, the woman knows how to work the rope line. Autographed sign, reserved seating sign, and camera in hand, we got out of the mosh pit and dove across a few folding chairs to avoid the crush. It got a little hairy in the front row, but we survived without cuts or bruises.
As we left the gymnasium, we saw the Clinton staffers working the crowd for votes. We felt like we knew them at this point, so Marra and I said good-bye to most of them and wished them well. We were a part of the primary fabric. It was a very comfortable feeling. Four days completed, and we knew our way around a campaign event.
Nothing left to do but find our way to the hotel, pack and leave the state in the morning. Everything I had dreamed about doing for 4 years had come true. Mission Accomplished.
JS
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