Hillary Clinton blasts Bush at Minnesota fundraiser
President Bradshaw believes the senator will be “a force with which to reckon” if she seeks the presidency in 2008

-- Sandy Sweep

There was nary a mention of a personal presidential bid, but U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton had no problem rallying support with her Bush-blasting speech on April 9, 2005. More than 2,000 supporters paid $100 a plate to hear Clinton speak at the 28th Annual Hubert H. Humphrey Day Dinner at the Minneapolis Hilton.

Acknowledging Humphrey and the efforts of former Sen. Paul Wellstone, Clinton touched on issues in the hearts of many voters—poverty, the jobless rate, children, taxes and patriotism. She added that the current administration is headed toward totalitarian rule. “To look at the heart of the republican agenda is to find no heart at all,” Clinton stated. “It’s aim is to protect the wealthy…Republican math consists of division and subtraction. We need to get back to the democratic math of multiplication, where this country can gain strength by joining together.”

Referring to program reform and national debt, Clinton stated that turning back the clock on progress needs to stop. She said that George W. Bush’s proposed “Social Security Revision” is an ideological rejection of the elderly because it will take away their breadwinner. “Minority rights should never be subject to majority rule,” explained Clinton.

She went on to say that in a country as wealthy as ours, a father should never be laid off from the job he worked at for twenty years, and then have to work three jobs to support his family. Never should a single mother wake up in the middle of the night to find her child with a 103-degree temperature, and unable to afford a doctor visit because she has no insurance.

Clinton thanked the Bush administration for the break on her personal taxes, but added that the break isn’t helping the rest of the country. Furthermore, she said, “Our country is more in debt than ever, with no accountability, no checks and balances.” She criticized Bush’s No Child Left Behind Act, saying that instead of improving our nation, current policies are “leaving our country and it’s entire people behind.”

Lamenting many political changes since 2000, Clinton assured the audience that hope was not lost. She quoted her husband, saying, “Bill always said there isn’t anything wrong with America that can’t be fixed with what’s right with America.” She added her own hopeful sentiment to his, saying, “I’ve always said it takes a village to raise a child, but it takes a democrat to raise hope in America.”

Presenting her audience with a final call to arms, the senator said, “Democrats need to be ready to fight for our country…victory is just around the bend, as long as we hope and believe.”

Opening remarks were made by DFL Chair Mike Erlandson and U.S. Sen. Mark Dayton. In attendance were Mike Hatch, Vance Opperman, U.S. Rep. James L. Oberstar, and Metropolitan State University President Wilson Bradshaw. “(Her) remarks were insightful and to the point. If she decides to seek the presidency in 2008, I believe she will be a force with which to reckon,” said Bradshaw after the dinner.

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