Hillary Clinton on Oil Profits

Sen. Hillary Clinton Campaigns In South MS

7 March 2008

by Danielle Thomas

HATTIESBURG (WLOX) -- Just days before Mississippians go to the polls presidential hopeful Senator Hillary Clinton made a stop in South Mississippi. The former first lady spoke to hundreds of supporters in Hattiesburg.

Clinton said she knows she's a long shot at winning Mississippi's Democratic primary on Tuesday. In fact, she said some people asked her why she bothered to come. She said it was because she wanted Mississippi to know if elected president our state can count on her.

"It took a Clinton to clean up after the first Bush. I think it's going to take a Clinton to clean up after the second Bush," the senator told a cheering crowd.

Senator Clinton spoke before a packed house at the Hattiesburg Train Depot if elected she'll be tough on oil producing countries that put the United States over a barrel when it comes to gasoline prices.

"Oil hit a $104 a barrel," said Sen. Clinton. "The president said 'I sure wish they'd drop the price' and they said 'No, we won't, Mr. President.' And he said he was disappointed."

Sen. Clinton continued, "I've got to tell you you won't see me holding hands with the Saudis. You'll see me holding them accountable for what they do to the oil price and to our country."

Senator Clinton says she's convinced its time the Iraqi people took responsibility sustaining democracy in their own country.

"On my first day I will ask the Secretary of State and the joint chiefs of staff and the security advisors to give me a plan so I can begin withdrawing our troops within 60 days," said the former first lady.

During her speech Senator Clinton specifically addressed a controversy brewing here in Mississippi about redirecting housing funds to the Port of Gulfport.

"Can I tell you it should go to both?" asked Senator Clinton. "We should have enough money in the United States of America to build a port and get people out of those FEMA trailers and get them into homes. Half a week in Iraq would pay for both."

"I am convinced that our priorities are up side down," she said. "Why are we being so miserly when it comes to people on the Mississippi Gulf Coast who are still in those trailers that are still leaking formaldehyde that still haven't had the money come to be able to rebuild their homes. It's time we took care of the American people first."

Clinton sharply criticized the Barak Obama campaign for contradicting itself on whether Obama has a plan to withdraw from Iraq.

Clinton said, "If he keeps telling people one thing and his campaign tells people abroad something else, I'm not sure what the American people should believe."

Dr. Mary Elizabeth Stevens of Gulfport resident went to hear Senator Clinton speak.

She was happy to hear the presidential candidate's promise to end the federally mandated No Child Left Behind.

"I'm a school teacher, a doctor of education. I feel in love with her for that because of her attitude about what we can do for our children. If you're going to design a program, you have to supply the money for it and our teachers have had a hard time with that."

Veteran Curtis Roberts liked hearing about the health care reform.

"All these older folks they're getting small SSI, you know social security and you wonder how are these people taking care of their medical needs. They're going and buying two or three day supplies."

Ryan Schilling, a teacher at Sacred Heart in Hattiesburg, brought a group of students to the rally. He said "She's such a terrific speaker, so energetic and she deserves to be one of the top two candidates within the Democratic party.