Published: May 02, 2008 12:07 am         

Clinton vows quick end to Iraq war

Hopeful will ‘work my heart out’ for voters

TERRE HAUTE — Sen. Hillary Clinton developed a new energy plan Thursday night during her second visit to Terre Haute after hearing many cheers from the audience.

“There’s another source of energy we’re going to harness,” she said, “the people of Terre Haute.”

Thunderous applause and foot-stomping noise filled the Terre Haute South Vigo High School gym from the nearly 1,500 people after hearing Clinton’s plans for jobs, energy, health care and education from her 30-minute speech.

Those plans include ending tax benefits for companies that move overseas; investing in American manufacturers; investing in clean energy; releasing oil from the federal reserve; establishing universal health care by giving citizens the chance to obtain the same benefits as members of Congress; ending No Child Left Behind; and making college affordable.

At some points, it was hard to understand what Clinton was saying because the applause was so loud.

The biggest applause and cheers came after she stated she was going to end the war in Iraq and begin withdrawing troops within 60 days of her presidential inauguration, if elected.

“I’m convinced that this is the right decision for our military, for our country and also for the Iraqis to face up to what kind of future they want for themselves and for their children,” Clinton said. “It won’t be easy, there’s no predicting what the consequences will be, but we know that if we stay there year after year, the Iraqis will not take the steps that they must and we will continue to be stretched thin …”

Clinton also stressed the importance of taking care of the troops when they get back, which was also received by applause.

“I think it is the highest responsibility for the commander-in-chief to take care of those who are under the commander’s command,” she said.

In the end, she told the audience to think of casting their votes Tuesday as a hiring decision and her campaign was the job interview.

“When you think about it like that, you have to stop and say to yourself, ‘Well, who’s got the experience to do the job I’m hiring for?’” she said. “ … What you know about me is I don’t quit, I keep going.”

She told them to ask themselves who they would hire to bring in more jobs, to start universal health care, to end No Child Left Behind, to take care of the veterans, to end the war in Iraq and to end the war in Afghanistan.

If the answer to those questions was Clinton, she said then vote for her and “I will work my heart out for all of you.”

Voting for Clinton is exactly what Carla Lewis and Gina Richey plan to do, they said after hearing her speak.

“She talked about all of the issues we are concerned about and promises to work on everything,” said Lewis, a teacher in the Vigo County School Corp.

Lewis said hearing Clinton talk about how she was raised in the suburbs of Chicago and her comparison of her background to other Midwesterners hit home with her because Clinton’s been there, “ and knows the problems of the common man and not just the rich.”

Though campaign promises are one thing, Lewis said she believes Clinton can make good on hers.

“If she attempts to,” Lewis said, “she will be able to get some of it done for certain.”



Crystal Garcia can be reached at (812) 231-4271 or crystal.garcia@tribstar.com.