Clinton hits Pablo on campaign blitz

By Ali Bronsdon/Leader Staff

PABLO — "Hillary for President" signs, buttons and stickers decorated the hundreds of supporters who lined the block around Salish Kootenai College Tuesday afternoon for the chance to hear former first lady and democratic candidate for president Senator Hillary Clinton speak at the college.

Clinton returned to the campaign trail in Montana after spending Memorial Day in Puerto Rico. SKC President Joe McDonald welcomed the senator to the Flathead Indian Reservation by presenting to her authentic Native American gifts including a brightly beaded necklace and pair of traditional footwear.

"You go a million miles for Indian Country, so here are a pair of moccasins to help you on your way," McDonald said.

Clinton told the crowd she had spent time traveling in Montana twenty years ago when she and husband Bill came this way on a personal vacation.

"That was when we were still allowed personal vacations," she joked. "I am in politics because I believe it's not about the next election, but it's about the next generation. I want to be a strong partner with Indian Country… I want to bring justice to the trust that has been abused and misused."

Clinton cited the years under her husband's presidency when she worked to recruit 1,000 more Indian teachers and put additional funds into Indian services.

"We were moving forward with discernable progress," she said. "Much of which has stalled under the current administration."

Clinton shared her visions of a universal health plan that would cover "every single American." Her plan would provide tax credits to ensure that working families never have to pay more than a limited percentage of their income for health care. In addition, Clinton said, "Your health insurance will travel with you," so even if you move, lose, or change your job; you can still keep your health care.

"Health care is a moral right, not a privilege," Clinton said, referring to difficult issues like diabetes, which she said is twice as high in Indian Country than in the rest of the United States.

Another hot topic was education in America - from encouraging early education to making college affordable to all citizens.

"We have to make sure education remains the passport to opportunity," she said.

While Clinton's "middle-class" parents paid for her undergraduate education at Wellesley College, she said she paid her own way through Yale Law School "mostly by borrowing money from the federal government at a two to three percent interest."

Clinton promised to double college tax credit, increase Pell grants and end FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), which she called a "hoax because it rarely gives you any money."

Finally, concerns for the environment struck home to many in attendance. Clinton advocated for clean, renewable energies like wind, solar, geothermal, bio fuels and research into clean coal technologies. Clinton said these types of energy could create thousands of jobs across the state of Montana.

"Let's be the lead in cleaning up the environment by cleaning up the coal that comes out of Montana," she said. "You can count on me to take on the oil companies. I will be the president that helps you become leaders in the energy crisis."

Jeanne Windham, democrat running for Lake County commissioner was front-row and center at the event. "This is historic whether you support Hillary Clinton or not," she said. "It is an opportunity to meet a former first lady with the potential to be our next president."

Windham believes both presidential candidates have realized that the Indian vote counts. She said, "It's a recognition that Native American issues are important not only in Montana, but in the United States."

"I came to see what Hillary has to say," said Elmo's Rosemary Caye who saw Barack Obama speak in Missoula earlier this spring. "My concern is for Indian Country. Not only that, but the economy is bad and the environment. I am disappointed in the Bush Administration."

Gladys Jefferson wore a t-shirt that read, "Today, your vote is your voice." Jefferson, a single mom from Crow Agency and student at SKC said affordable health coverage was her biggest concern.

She said, "I think we need a woman in there. The woman is the backbone of the family structure and the woman is the one that's got the heart."