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Clinton pleases crowd with speech filled with local references

March 11, 2008

Hillary comes 'home'

By Bill O'Boyle boboyle@timesleader.com
Times Leader Staff Writer
Bill O'Boyle on Facebook   |   @TLBillOboyle on Twitter

Most national political candidates need to learn about an area and its people before they make a campaign speech.

Hillary Clinton didn't even need a cheat sheet.

Speaking to an overflow crowd in the gymnasium of Scranton High School, Clinton on Monday delivered a speech filled with local references and tinged with a lifetime of memories that made a direct hit on the hearts of the more than 3,000 supporters who welcomed “home” the presidential candidate.

With the crowd cheering and waving signs of support, Clinton entered the gym with Bruce Springsteen’s “The Rising” blaring over the loudspeaker. She was led onto the stage by Scranton Mayor Chris Doherty, Wilkes-Barre Mayor Tom Leighton, Gov. Ed Rendell and Lt. Gov. Catherine Baker-Knoll.

Later in her speech, Clinton leaked a secret – she and Rendell will be back in the Electric City on Saturday for the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade.

“This feels great,” Clinton said. “This area was such a big part of my growing up. Every summer and most Christmases were spent here. It really feels like coming home.”

That brought a loud response from the crowd, but not the loudest. That came near the end of her speech as she had the crowd on its feet with non-stop cheering.

“It took a Clinton to clean up the mess after the first Bush presidency and it will take another Clinton to clean up the mess left by this Bush presidency,” Clinton said to an earth-shattering roar from the crowd. “Northeast Pennsylvania is the key to winning the Keystone State.”

The Pennsylvania primary is April 22 and a win here could vault the New York senator to the Democratic nomination. She trails Illinois Sen. Barack Obama in the delegate count; however, uncommitted superdelegates could hold the key to selecting who will oppose Arizona Sen. John McCain in the November general election. McCain is the presumptive Republican nominee.

Clinton talked about her childhood visits to the region. She recalled shopping at Scranton Dry Goods for school clothes and eating ice cream at Shadowbrook in Tunkhannock. She mentioned the Castle Restaurant, Lake Winola and the Court Street Methodist Church, where she was baptized and where her father’s funeral service was held.

After landing at the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport, Clinton stopped at Revello’s, a popular Old Forge pizzeria.

“My regret is that my dad isn’t here to see this,” Clinton said. “But he’s buried not too far from here, and something tells me he’s up there watching this and he’s very proud.”

Clinton said she remembers the area as a great place to visit and all her memories are those of fun and family.

“I had so many most wonderful experiences here,” Clinton said. “It was a great place to be a kid. We would leave the house after breakfast and return home for dinner.”

Her grandfather worked at the Scranton Lace Mill for more than 50 years and the family home was at 1042 Diamond Ave.

“This area is such a big part of my life,” Clinton said. “I love the people here; they are hard-working and have the resilience needed to survive.”

She talked about the issues – the economy, health care, the Iraq war.

“We need to create good jobs to keep our young people here,” Clinton said.

“I’m here in a high school that has an outstanding academic record. We need for our graduates to stay here.”

Clinton said she fielded many questions as she walked through the crowd – and she knows how important the answers are.

“At least three women asked me when their husband or son would be coming home from Iraq,” Clinton said.

“When I’m president, we will start by ending the war in Iraq and bring our troops home. Our young men and women have done everything we have asked of them, and when they come back, they will not be forgotten. It’s time that the Iraqis stood up and took responsibility for their country.”

Affordable health care will be another priority of a Clinton presidency.

“We need a health care system that covers everyone,” Clinton said. “I met a woman in Old Forge who has two children with diabetes and can’t get insurance. Insurance companies are discriminating against sick people and I think that’s wrong. My plan covers everyone and lowers costs for everyone.”

Education is still the password to opportunity, Clinton told the crowd. College must be affordable, she said, noting that costs continue to rise at an alarming rate while the average national income can’t keep up.

“We have to ease the stranglehold that student loan companies have on our students,” Clinton said. “And those graduates who go into public service, like teaching and nursing, should have their debt forgiven.”

Then Clinton really worked the crowd.

“Are you ready for a new president?” she asked as the crowd roared.

“Do you want a president who leaves no child behind for real? Let’s have a great victory together.”

Clinton also advocated her Strategic Energy Fund, saying that it can be funded by taking away tax breaks from the big oil companies.

“We have to rebuild our country,” Clinton said.

“This is a country of freedom and we have to start acting like it.”

Clinton said she told Rendell that the 1990s were good for Pennsylvania and the country, but the governor said we can’t go back to the ’90s.

“What can’t we go back to?” Clinton asked. “Peace or prosperity?”

Clinton ended her speech by telling the people that we can learn from the past and get back to doing what works best for the country and its people.

“Together we can make a lot of progress,” she said.

Bill O’Boyle, a Times Leader staff writer, can be reached at 829-7218.

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