Hillary Clinton Loving Every Bit of It in Indiana

MERRILLVILLE, Ind. — Two days after climbing into the back of a pickup truck in search of blue-collar votes in North Carolina, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton on Monday made herself at home in front of a fire truck in this town of 31,000 Hoosiers in the industrial northwestern corner of the state.

So ended the run-up to the latest Super Tuesday, which features primaries today in Indiana and North Carolina, where voters will select nearly half of the remaining elected delegates in the marathon campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination.

. After morning events in North Carolina, Clinton flew to Merrillville and planned later stops in New Albany and Evansville.


Backed by Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana and a fire truck with a dozen uniformed firefighters in Merrillville, Clinton lauded small-town fire companies as part of “the real heart and soul of America.”

Decrying higher prices for gasoline and food, she said: “I do see you, and I do hear you. I believe you are doing the best you can under difficult circumstances. We’re going to get in there and change those circumstances.”









Hillary Rodham Clinton began the campaign in pearls, assembling a team of fundraisers that included luminaries from New York's financial services industry. (http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/politics/blog/2008/05/hillary_clinton_from_pearls_to.html)

She's ending it in pickup trucks, Dairy Queens and fire stations, taking a 2-by-4 to "Wall Street money brokers" and vowing to break up oil-rich OPEC.

No development in the 2008 campaign is quite so striking as Clinton's transformation from a front-runner policy wonk with deep pockets to a cash-starved populist staking her hopes in Tuesday's North Carolina and Indiana primaries on a promise to lower gas prices.

"If I were president, I would be jumping up and down in the White House" to cut gas prices, she shouted to a crowd of several hundred supporters at firehouse here in the northwest Indiana suburbs.







It's become a Monday ritual in America, this time played out under a giant U.S. flag, in an overcrowded suburban firehouse shaking to the strains of country music.

Hillary Clinton, her Tuesday 2008 political obituary only 24 hours away – again – bounds on to the stage, indefatigable, energized as if this was the first time she had ever visited voters in this part of Indiana, not the 10th time.

It is an unabashed populist theme Clinton dishes up, promising to save American jobs, calling for a global trade timeout, vowing to take on China, telling them she is tough enough to wrestle the big oil companies to the mat.

"This is the real heart and soul of America," Clinton says, speaking of the volunteer firefighters arrayed on the stage behind her . . .

She is the fighter, she says, the one who can take a punch and get back up, just like the hard-working middle class she is courting.

"You can do it," members of the crowd shout out.

"We can do it. We can do it together," Clinton calls back.







Standing in front of a Merrillville Fire Department ladder truckMerrillville Fire Department ladder truck topped with volunteer firefighters and framed by an American flag, Clinton took the stage with John Mellencamp anthems still echoing off the walls of Fire Station No. 2.

Sen. Evan Bayh introduced the candidate, as he has at several area events.

Bayh reminded the crowd about the shot and a beer Clinton drank at Crown Point watering hole Bronko's, an event credited with helping revive her campaign.







"We learned in Crown Point she can take a shot not only figuratively, but literally," Bayh said as Clinton laughed.

In the crowd at the packed fire house, Bronko's bartender Russ Panning said he has decided to support Clinton since he offered her a shot of Crown Royal April 12.

But Panning said he likes Clinton because of her plans for the economy, not because they drank together.

"We have to get something going economically," Panning said. Others in the crowded truck barn said Clinton's economic message resonates.








Hillary Clinton made a new vow to confront OPEC, after oil broke the symbolic 120 dollars a barrel barrier on the eve of the next White House nominating showdown. (http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iqZOY9sLo1nPmNSYM3MqZjrebGTQ)

"We're going to go right at OPEC," Clinton said, on a last-minute campaign swing ahead of Tuesday's Indiana and North Carolina primary clashes against her Democratic rival Barack Obama.

"They can no longer be a cartel, a monopoly that get together once every couple of months in some conference room in some plush place in the world," Clinton said, sparking cheers in a crowded fire station.







"They decide how much oil they're going to produce and what price they're going to put it at," Clinton said.

"That's not a market. That's a monopoly," Clinton said, in her latest condemnation of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, as her campaign takes on an increasingly populist tone amid rising gasoline prices.

Clinton has said she would amend US anti-trust law to allow the United States to confront OPEC, and also promised to tackle the group through the World Trade Organization (WTO), if she is elected president.









EVANSVILLE, Ind. -- Hillary Clinton admitted on Monday it would be tough to lift the federal gasoline tax this summer as she has proposed because of a likely veto from President George W. Bush.

"Realistically, it's tough. I know that," she told reporters on her campaign plane on Monday.

"Do I think we can get it done, past a veto by President Bush as the ultimate blocker?" she said. "It's obviously a very difficult challenge. But that doesn't mean you don't try.

"We've got to produce results for working people. They've got to feel that Democrats are on their side," she said.

"Folks really respect it if you get up and fight. Even if you can't on the first, second or third time produce all the results that you would like."










Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton had been campaigning for more than 16 hours when she strode onto the stage at Evansville Central High School just before 11 p.m. Monday.

She had started her day at a community college in eastern North Carolina. There were rallies at a train depot, a firehouse in northwest Indiana and another across the state on the Ohio River.

But Clinton betrayed barely a hint of fatigue as she beamed at a crowd of screaming supporters at the high school. "This campaign has been a joy," she said before launching into a full-throated attack on the Bush administration.






"I love campaigning," the senator from New York told a crowd over the weekend in Gastonia, N.C., a onetime textile manufacturing mecca decimated by the flood of cheap goods from China.

Even when her days end near midnight, Clinton often pauses before boarding her charter plane to shake another hand and chat with a bus driver or a baggage handler.

On Monday night, despite a broken microphone and the advancing hour, Clinton delivered a nearly complete campaign speech. And when it was over, she spent more than half an hour signing autographs and posing for photos, finally ending her day after midnight.









Hillary Clinton – along with her Hoosier campaign partner Sen. Evan Bayh – held an impromptu press conference on her campaign plane Monday night, stressing that she started as the underdog in today’s North Carolina and Indiana primaries, acknowledging getting a gas-tax bill enacted would be a “difficult challenge” and explaining why she thought her populist push on kitchen-table economic issues is resonating with voters. (http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2008/05/06/clintons-in-flight-menu-the-economy-is-the-issue/?mod=WSJBlog)

“I think the economy is the issue in this election right now, and for most Americans there is this pent-up frustration that people are just not addressing it in a way that makes sense to them,” the New York senator told a clutch of reporters and photographers.

“I happen to think that we’re ready for a president again who really does take on these interests in a strong, heart-felt, effective way. And that’s why talking about the gas tax, by contrasting my position with both Sen. Obama and Sen. McCain really does seem to resonate with people. Because they really want somebody who’s going to stand up for them.”

As for her chances in today’s races: “We knew we started out behind, Sen. Obama had a tremendous amount of advantages going into this and we’ve worked really hard and its been a great, great experience and I’ve loved every bit of it.”

A reported asked, “What happens next?”

Clinton’s answer: “West Virginia. West Virginia happens next.”

Senator Clinton looks a little grim.

Obviously she is trying hard to make the best of an impending disappointment. Based on these pics, I wonder how confident she is that she is even going to win Indiana.

now you're making me cry!

so clever with your discouraging words! . . . Now my day is just RUINED!!

boo hoo hoo hoo . . . hooey!

Yeah that would help the situation a lot. And people complain about Obama's happy talk?

. . . through regulation, conservation, and by holding the oil industry accountable.

profits tax. Hardly a comprehensive plan - and the tax holiday wasn't even original with her - she said "me-to" to McCain. And it is a bad idea from just about any way you look at it. So the part of her "plan" that she talks about the most - and bashes Obama for not supporting - is a cheap trick meant to pander to voters. That's may be a plan but it is not leadership.

here's the plan for anyone who actually cares (not you, of course)

Take Immediate Action to Crack Down on Speculation and Market Manipulation in Oil and Gasoline Markets – Oil and gasoline markets contain loopholes for traders, and the markets are inadequately policed by regulators under current law. As a result, there is considerable concern that current market prices reflect the influence of speculators and other forces beyond supply and demand. In early April, an Exxon Mobil executive testified under oath before a House committee that the price of oil should be $50 to $55 per barrel based on supply and demand fundamentals. Marathon Oil's CEO stated last October that: "$100 oil isn't justified by the physical demand in the market…it has to be speculation on the futures market that is fueling this." Hillary would take action to reduce the influence of speculators, crack down on market manipulation in oil markets, and outlaw price gouging by:

* Closing the Enron Loophole – Hillary supports closing the "Enron loophole," which exempts electronic trading of energy commodities by large traders from U.S. government regulation. The loophole has helped lead to the dramatic growth of trading on unregulated electronic energy exchanges, and has made the U.S. energy markets vulnerable to price manipulation and excessive speculation. Even Alan Greenspan has cited "investors and speculators who took on larger net long positions in crude oil futures" as one cause of oil prices. In June 2006, the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations issued: "The Role of Market Speculation in Rising Oil and Gas Prices: A Need to Put the Cop Back on the Beat." This report analyzed the degree to which financial speculation in energy markets had contributed to the dramatic increase in energy prices in recent years. The report concluded that "speculation has contributed to rising U.S. energy prices," and endorsed the estimate of various analysts that the influx of speculative investments into crude oil futures accounted for approximately $20 of the then-prevailing crude oil price of approximately $70 per barrel.

* Protect the consumer market from price gouging for petroleum products – Hillary will make it unlawful for any supplier – wholesaler or retailer – to sell crude oil or gasoline at an unconscionably excessive price. Price gougers would face new fines and criminal penalties of up to $1 million and five years in prison and civil penalties could be assessed from $500,000 up to $5 million. Today, there are no federal laws prohibiting price gouging in the oil and gas industry, leaving some states to prohibit these actions. In 2006, the Federal Trade Commission conducted a study of post-Katrina gas price, and while it did not find widespread gouging, it did find 15 examples of pricing at the refining, wholesale, or retail level that fit a definition of price gouging under legislation that Senator Clinton has backed and is proposing to enact now.

* Call on the Federal Trade Commission to Take Action Against Market Manipulation in Wholesale Oil Prices – The energy bill passed last year included new provisions to provide greater transparency and prevent manipulation in wholesale oil markets, and to empower the Federal Trade Commission to investigate and pursue violations. Unfortunately, the Bush Administration has chosen not to use this new authority. To ensure that oil companies and traders are not ripping off consumers, Hillary is calling on the FTC to begin investigations using these new powers. In addition, Hillary is calling on the FTC to propose regulations under the new law within 60 days to prevent market manipulation in oil markets. Recent cases show that market manipulation is a concern in oil markets. In 2007, Marathon Oil paid a $1 million fine to the Commodities Futures Trading Commission to settle charges that a subsidiary had tried to manipulate crude oil prices in 2003. Action by the FTC to investigate the current oil market and to develop and enforce new prohibitions on market manipulation would help to minimize foul play in oil and gasoline markets.

Take more aggressive action to pressure OPEC to increase production – OPEC recently reiterated that it will not even consider increasing crude output until September 2008, even though limited supplies are contributing to record oil prices. Hillary believes we should be taking more aggressive action to address OPEC's control over global production levels and hold OPEC accountable for its decisions. President Bush's efforts to pressure OPEC over the past seven years have been inconsistent and unsuccessful. Hillary supports sending a strong signal to OPEC that the era of complacency has ended. Hillary will:

* Use the WTO to Challenge OPEC's Production Quotas – With nine of the thirteen OPEC member countries also being members of the WTO, Hillary believes we should use the tools available at the WTO to address OPEC's refusal to increase production. WTO rules currently prohibit member countries from imposing export quotas. Yet OPEC member countries are actively and explicitly banding together to restrict oil production and affect global prices. Hillary is calling on the President to engage in immediate negotiations with OPEC members and, if no progress is made, file a formal complaint against OPEC countries at the WTO. Filing a complaint at the WTO will send a clear signal to OPEC countries that the U.S. is committed to an open, transparent global oil market. Such a step will give OPEC members an incentive to increase production as well.

* Allow OPEC Production Decisions to Be Challenged Under U.S. Anti-Trust Law – Currently, OPEC countries cannot be challenged under U.S. anti-trust laws, even when they are engaged in coordinated, commercial activity to control the global oil market. Hillary supports amending the Foreign Sovereignty Immunities Act so that the Justice Department can bring suits against OPEC countries in U.S. courts for price fixing. Changing the rules would help hold OPEC countries accountable for their decisions.

Close the oil and gas loopholes and use those resources to provide direct assistance to working families facing skyrocketing energy bills on top of record gas prices. Hillary believes that in addition to imposing a windfall profits tax on large oil companies, Congress should move immediately to end the approximately $7.5 billion per in tax giveaways and subsidies that we continue to provide to oil and gas companies, despite their record profits. These subsidies are in part a result of the 2005 Energy Bill she voted against. She would use those resources this year to provide assistance to lower-income families who are not only being hit at the gas pump, but with skyrocketing energy and food bills as well. This winter, a record number of families were forced to seek assistance through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to heat their homes. This included 61,000 Oregon families. Hillary was the only candidate to call for providing emergency energy assistance to these and other struggling families as part of the economic stimulus package. Now, as many states' moratoriums on utility cutoffs expire this spring, millions of families could face the prospect of having their energy shut-off and having to go without electricity, hot water or the ability to keep their homes cool this summer. Hillary will use a portion of the proceeds from closing the oil and gas loopholes to ensure that these hardworking families, who are already struggling to pay for gas at the pump, do not face the extra hardship of having their energy cut off. She will use the remainder of the proceeds to provide immediate aid to lower-income families that are facing high food prices as a result of the record price of oil.

Stop filling the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) and release oil from it when that becomes necessary – Hillary is calling on President Bush stop taking oil off the market and putting it into the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). The SPR is now 97 percent full, which analysts believe is more than adequate. Continuing to fill it at these high prices exacerbates high oil prices and costs taxpayers money. Hillary also believes that the SPR should be more actively managed to enable releases from the SPR to counter market spikes and reduce volatility.

Proposals to Reduce our Dependence on Foreign Oil Over the Long-Term

The plans to address rising gas prices in the short term build on Hillary's bold, long-term, comprehensive plan to reduce our dependence on foreign oil and move America towards energy independence. (www.hillaryclinton.com/poweringamericasfuture.pdf ). Key elements of that plan include:

* Raising fuel efficiency standards (CAFE) to 55 miles per gallon by 2030;
* A $150 billion investment in researching, developing, and deploying renewable and alternative energy;
* Cutting our foreign oil imports by two-thirds by 2030;
* Providing $1.5 billion per year for public transit, an additional $1 billion for intercity rail, and additional funds for congestion reduction, better traffic management and telecommuting;
* Providing tax credits and research and development funding for plug-in-hybrid vehicles, which can get up to 100 mpg; and
* Conserving fuel in the federal fleet. Hillary will call on all federal government agencies to suspend non-essential travel and other activities that use gasoline or diesel fuel, and encourage employees to carpool, telecommute, and use public transportation to reduce fuel use. And she will direct federal employees to reduce maximum speeds to conserve fuel, with exceptions for law enforcement and other emergency services. Under Hillary's plan, the agencies will to report to the White House once a month on their energy use and the impact of conservation efforts.

bashing Obama for not supporting same. You really can't have it both ways. All the plans in the world don't matter if you are going to wage a campaign based on pandering to voters on gas prices.

I've posted plenty of accounts where she's describing her overall approach, but the focus in the media you're focusing on must be promoting the controversy over the gas tax holiday portion of her proposal to the exclusion of the rest.

We see what we want to see in these campaigns. I don't expect that you're immune from following whatever supports your view and supports your choice in this election.

Somehow, it's not available to the public yet.

You people who support her don't have a copy of it somewhere do you?

If so, why not share it here with us?

Could it be because she ONLY FILED THE BILL LAST FRIDAY???? And no one has seen the text yet?

You Hillary supporters need to do a better job of getting the word out to the folks... and the press... no one has seen the bill yet, it is NOT YET BEFORE CONGRESS!!!!!!!!!!

...of her dignity.

there goes your own . . .

at least I have some left. :think:

You are just pathetic.

:rofl:

...a very historic Dem primary!

Go Hillary!!

:kick::woohoo::bounce:

she will take Indiana... The love the Bayhs in Indiana....

both candidates worked really hard, just like in Pa..

The voters there will remember the Democrats.

n/t

. . . some say.

absolutely correct....

She looks good. I'm for Obama but still appreciate the fact that she looks great.

she looks GREAT!!

because she doesn't look half as good as Hillary at half her age.

Go spread your bitterness somewhere else.

I can only imagine the incredible transformation I would have to make every morning to go out and do it again and again and again....and I'm only 44, much younger than Sen. Clinton!

I thought this was a great post about one of our Dem candidates both of whom look great on the trail every single day. Shame on you for your catiness.

Julie--an Obama supporter who thankfully isn't caught up in the nastiness

Looking forward to having her in Kentucky next.

Really enjoyed it. Well done.

Julie