September 13, 2003
Clinton at the Harkin Steak Fry
Senator Tom Harkin, while introducing Bill Clinton, called for the ultimate revenge on Chief Justice Rehnquist: Making him swear in a Democrat in 2005. Sounds like a plan, Tom.
Clinton: Had something nice to say about all the candidates who were there, and others who had left. Mentioned Dean's good record on healthcare. He said that when someone talking about candidates says they're not big, "they mean they're not famous yet." The current field of Democrats was described as the best group of candidates they'd put out in ages. The 2000 Supreme Court decision was Scalia, Thomas, and Rehnquist finally standing up for minority interests.
Turned the class warfare argument around by saying that while his administration oversaw record numbers of newly wealthy, it also "We ought to all go up together." After that, he used Dean's favorite Truman line about telling the truth and letting them think it's hell. "Your neighbors didn't know that Bill Clinton was going to get a tax cut while" police were fired, firemen lost funding, and students were kicked out of federal aid programs, etc.
"[Ideological people] believe they [deserve] to rule. Practical people believe they're fortunate to be given the chance to serve."
Three things Democrats need to do: Tell people how we disagree with Republicans. Tell people about the things the Republicans are doing that they don't know about, but would hate if they did. "Tell them what we'll do if they give us the job."
Clean energy is the next major job generator for America. It could be as big a job generator as the internet boom. [ed: This is the same line that Dean has been pushing lately. Whoever started propagating this meme, I don't care, but maybe great minds think alike.]
"In a world where you can't kill or jail all your enemies, you have to make more friends and fewer terrorists." Said that we can't grow stronger abroad while becoming more divided at home. He closed by praising the candidates once more, describing them as talented, gifted, and devoted.
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I didn't tune in until the end, so I missed the candidates speak. You can get the other Deaniacs' real time comments here.
Update: Minor corrections after a second listen. Had to drag everybody into the living room to hear Clinton talk when C-SPAN rebroadcast it.
Posted by natasha at September 13, 2003 07:30 PM | TrackBack