Clinton, supporters take Bush administration to task

http://www.bnd.com/336/story/193528.html

"This president we have now is the worst president we've ever had in the history of the United States," - Former House Democratic leader Dick Gephardt



Clinton, supporters take Bush administration to task
By BETSY TAYLOR
Associated Press Writer
12/02/07

ST. LOUIS --Sen. Hillary Clinton and her supporters blasted the Bush administration at a rally in St. Louis Sunday night to support her presidential campaign.

Former House Democratic leader Dick Gephardt, who ran unsuccessfully for president in 1988 and 2004, told an audience of about 1,300 people that he told Clinton more than a year ago that she had his full support if she ran for president. "I will be for you, and I will do anything I can to help you, because I've never been this worried about the United States," Gephardt said.

Gephardt said he wouldn't criticize other candidates, but believed Clinton was the best choice. "What we need most now is somebody that doesn't need on-the-job training," he said. Gephardt said Clinton has the intellect, the heart and the experience to begin leading on her first day in the White House.

Clinton also did not talk about other presidential candidates in the race, but strongly criticized Bush's leadership. She said the era of "cowboy diplomacy" must end, and said she would work to restore America's leadership role in the world. She said a person cannot lead if no one is following. A president can do a lot, she said, and the wrong president can do a lot of damage.

"I'm not running just to go live in the White House. I've already done that," she said, to loud applause and cheering from the audience. "I'm running to enlist us all again in the great adventure of lifting up our country and being part of something so much bigger than ourselves."