Chelsea pays a visit to Austin
May 1st, 2008, 3:23 pm · Post a Comment · posted by journalismrookie
I continue to be totally amazed at how people tied to the primary elections are visiting Indiana, particularly southern Indiana.
First there was news of Bill Clinton making a four-city stop in Columbus, Seymour, Bedford and Bloomington on April 2 to campaign for his wife, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, who is seeking the Democratic nomination for president. Then on April 11, Barack Obama stopped by Columbus East High School to talk about his issues, as well as hold a town hall-style meeting where people could ask questions.
Most recently, former first daughter Chelsea Clinton visited the Jennings Township Volunteer Fire Department in Austin, my hometown, to spend more than an hour answering people’s questions.
Plus, Chelsea and Hillary have visited other area locations, like Jeffersonville and New Albany, and on the same route through Austin, she visited Salem, Columbus and Rushville. It’s just seemed nonstop for this area. I guess, like everyone is saying, Hoosier voters’ vote will actually mean something this year. They are even saying that it could be a deciding factor. Also, last I heard, Clinton and her challenger, Sen. Barack Obama from Illinois, are neck-and-neck in the polls in Indiana.
With Chelsea’s visit, I was just as impressed in her speaking ability as I was when her father visited Seymour. The main difference, however, is that he didn’t field questions from the public. That’s all that she did. I think that makes a big difference, and I think that’s the way all of the visits should be.
At Austin, people asked questions about the Family and Medical Leave Act, paid maternity leave, real estate and the housing crisis, ending the war in Iraq, public and higher education, Social Security, taxes, jobs, trade agreements, health care, autism epidemic, gun control and cost of medical care and prescriptions.
Throughout her talking, Chelsea highlighted the many successes of her mother and father, as he was president and she was first lady and she is a senator now. With FMLA, for example, Chelsea said that was Bill’s first piece of legislation that he signed while in office. Hillary has done a lot of work to expand and extend it, she added.
Chelsea also noted a couple of times the failings of the George W. Bush administration, in relation to the housing crisis, the challenges of Social Security and the debt he will leave when he leaves office (after coming into a $5.6 trillion surplus from Clinton’s time in office).
I talked to people from Jackson and Scott counties afterwards to get their feedback on Chelsea’s words, and why they were going to vote for Hillary.
Donna Bowling of Austin, who was present with other Morgan Foods employees, is glad to see Hillary is thinking of all Americans.
“She will take care of people like us, the blue-collar workers, as well as the poverty-stricken people,” she said. “She is for the people and all the people. Every woman, every man, should get out and vote, and vote Hillary Clinton. I feel she is the most rounded person who is running. She has more of a hold on real issues that are important for all of us.”
Karen Mains, of Crothersville, is a member of the Crothersville Town Council. She is also a cancer survivor, so she was concerned of Hillary’s stance on helping alleviate treatment and drug costs.
“I like the fact that (Hillary) is very conscious of the needs for prescription medicine and lowering the cost,” Mains said. “I’m very impressed with (Hillary) being concerned with everyone having health insurance. I’m lucky to have health insurance. Even though I have it, it’s not enough. If the cost could be lowered, I would be in seventh heaven.”
Charlotte Keith of Retreat and Viola Gay of Uniontown were also concerned of Hillary’s view of health care.
“My vote was already for Hillary Clinton, but she has helped me come over the top with all of her plans and everything that she’s done for health care,” Keith said.
It was good to see a good turnout at the firehouse from people in the community, especially with the news of Chelsea’s visit being on such short notice. Also, seniors from the high school also got to come down and see Chelsea, sit up front as Chelsea spoke and afterwards got to get pictures with her and autographs.
Overall, it was a neat experience for everyone. Some things like this may only happen once, so it’s great to see people take advantage of it when it’s around.
***Check out the full story on tribtown.com. Also, I’ll be working on video from the day as well, so look for that, too.
