2008 Woodie Awards
Presidential pit-stop
Kentucky welcomes Sen. Clinton at annual dinner
Mia Walters
Issue date: 4/4/08 Section: News
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The Madisonville-North Hopkins High School hosted the annual Governor Ruby Laffoon Dinner, as well as Clinton's visit. Gov. Steve Beshear, along with many other local and state democratic leaders, opened the evening.
"I'm just a warm-up," Beshear said.
Clinton arrived from Louisville, Ky., to a roaring crowd, which was hushed promptly after she reached the podium.
"Are you ready to take the White House back?" she asked, followed by an auditorium-wide, "Yes."
"So am I," Clinton said.
Clinton acknowledged Kentucky's importance in the primary election.
"Kentucky gets to help pick the next president, and I am so glad you do because it's about time your voices were heard," she said. "Let's turn the bluegrass state blue!"
Kentucky's late May 20 primary has an uncommonly large sway in this primary election, which thus far has been a relatively even race.
Clinton's speech also focused on a "clean energy revolution," withdrawing from the war in Iraq, universal healthcare, education reform, the outsourcing of jobs and her qualifications.
Betty Conner, a Benton, Ky., resident and Clinton supporter, is counting on Clinton for her qualifications.
"I support Hillary, first and foremost, because I think she is definitely qualified for the job," she said. "It will take decades for our country to get back to what our forefathers meant it to be, and I think she understands what needs to be done to achieve that."
Conner said she has been a long-time Clinton supporter.
"I have always been a Hillary fan," she said. "When her husband ran for office I went to the rally and held up a sign that said 'I'm voting for Hillary's husband.'"
Clinton also placed much emphasis on education reform, particularly the dissolution of No Child Left Behind.
"I am not interested in an education policy that turns our young people into test takers and our teachers into test givers," she said.
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