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Sen. Hillary Clinton spoke to thousands of people in downtown San Jose on Friday evening. Clinton was introduced to the crowd of more than 4,000 by Delores Huerta, co-founder of the United Farm Workers.

A young Clinton supporter looks on with her mother at the rally.

Clinton urges San Jose: lead way to the future

By: Liza Atamy

Posted: 2/4/08

A rally of more than 4,000 Hillary Clinton supporters showed up at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center on Friday to cheer on the presidential hopeful.

"Si se puede!" was the chorus of the evening - "Yes we can!" the crowd chanted as United Farm Workers co-founder Dolores C. Huerta compared Clinton to the late Cesar Chavez.

"They both started their career going door-to-door and registering people to vote," Huerta said.

Supporting officials, such as Santa Clara County Assessor Larry Stone, were there to show their support.

"If there has ever been a time and opportunity for a woman to become president, it's now," Stone said. "Let's break the glass ceiling."

Clinton arrived 30 minutes later than her scheduled appearance of 5:45 p.m., as the crowd grew anxious to listen to her take on issues such as healthcare, the war in Iraq and taxes.

"I want to know what she's going to do for our country," said Marisa Melo, an SJSU student and coordinator for the Clinton campaign. "I want to know what she's going to do with the rebuilding of New Orleans."

When Clinton finally took center stage, she addressed the crowd: "Are Californians ready for change to take back our country?

"This is a campaign to take back America because we know there isn't anything we can't solve," Clinton said. "The future has been invented right here, in San Jose, in Silicon Valley and California. So let's show the world and prove to ourselves that we're the innovators, we're the inventors, and we're the people who understand the future is what America is about."

Stephany Zapata, a junior hospitality management major at SJSU said, "I've been following (Clinton) very closely since the beginning. I came here pretty much to meet my idol."

Clinton also got right into the matter of her plan to provide universal healthcare to every child and every family in the country.

"Quality healthcare is a moral right, not a privilege," Clinton said.

Although she never mentioned her opponent's name, she emphasized that the other candidate's healthcare plan would "leave 15 million people out to begin with."

"I plan to cover everyone," Clinton said. "A country as rich as ours, we can be smart enough to figure out how to provide quality healthcare."

Clinton said she wants to be a president who puts the American people first.

"I want to end the war in Iraq and bring the money back and invest it in America," she said. "When Bush came into office, there was a balanced budget and surplus; now we are borrowing money from the Chinese to buy oil from the Saudis."

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One SJSU student took particular interest in what Clinton had to say about the war in Iraq.

"She did a good job emphasizing that it's not going to be a piece of cake to bring the troops back," said Christina Bose, earth science major. "I think she wants everyone to know that she's supporting bringing the troops back, and she wants everyone's support even though it's going to be a long process."

Besides speaking about the war, affordable healthcare and tax credits, Clinton also covered the issue of school tuition.

"Let's make college affordable again," she said.

Clinton said that with completing two years of military service, young adults could be given the opportunity to go to college by making $10,000 per year.

"Education is the passport to the future," Clinton said. "Let's form new partnerships with educators, students and families and bring a 21st education system in America."

Michelle Shanelec, a senior history major said, "I thought she spoke really positively and was really upbeat. I especially like how she covered the way Americans see the world, saying it will be a sigh of relief when she comes into office."

Clinton emphasized restoring America's reputation in the eyes of the rest of the world. Her "old-fashioned idea" of appointing people in the government who are qualified for their positions is one way Clinton said she intends on restoring the country's credibility.

For Erik Tomafsky, a sophomore film major, this rally determined whether Clinton was her choice for presidential candidate.

"I wasn't quite a supporter until today," she said. "After what she said about helping college students, I would vote for her."

Calling the country the "innovation nation," Clinton said she was confident the United States could "compete with anyone in the world."

"I like what she said about not just putting a Band-Aid on everything," said Adriana Perez, a senior communication major, "but actually solving the problem."