Clinton Fundraising Machine Hits DC
March 21, 2007
ABC's Sunlen Miller Reports: Team Clinton-Clinton hit the fundraising circle in a joint appearance at Washington DC's Marriott Wardman Park hotel Tuesday night. Surrounded by former Clinton administration officials, members of congress, donors, and supporters, Mr. and Mrs. Clinton took the stage hand-in-hand, in their second appearance together this week, following a Manhattan fundraiser Sunday night.
Former President Bill Clinton's short statements highlighted his wife's leadership and dedication to serving the public, sighting her work domestically and abroad while in law school and as first lady.
"Long before she was in public office she was a public servant," he said, "tonight I feel more strongly than I did thirty-five years ago when I told her that out of all the people in our generation, she's still the best."
Senator Hillary Clinton addressed the guests, as her husband joined the crowd and listened on. She poked fun at Bill's historic role if she were to win the presidency.
"People ask me all the time, if you are elected will you make him Secretary of State?" she said to a giggling crowd at the suggestion, "since President Kennedy and Robert Kennedy I think that is illegal, but I sure will make him ambassador of the world because we have a lot of work to do."
Clinton then focused on her policy goals and listed universal health care coverage, energy independence, and education among her priorities.
Highlighting the importance of independence from foreign oil, Senator Clinton told how proud she is of her husband for walking around the house with a bag of energy-efficient florescent light bulbs replacing regular ones. She added that with each light she turns off in their home she says in her head, "Take that Iran. Take that Venezuela," and added, "Why do we want to be spending our money to go to regimes who are taking actions that are against America's interest? Let's get smart about doing what we need to do about a different energy future."
Shifting and addressing the war in Iraq, Clinton was interrupted by a protester who had snuck in on the press riser, and only about 30 feet from the senator.
"You don't care if our soldier's die," the female protestor screamed repeatedly and was quickly escorted out amid applause from the crowd encouraging Clinton to continue. Unfazed, Clinton resumed, "I understand the frustration about this administration's handling of Iraq. This president owes this country a plan to end our involvement in Iraq. And if he does not extricate us from Iraq before he leaves office, I will, as president," garnering the loudest applause of the night.
Clinton went on to attack the Bush administration further by highlighting problems she claims the administration treats as invisible.
"Ninety-thousand people are still living in FEMA trailers along the golf coast," Clinton said, sighting the administrations handling of the Katrina hurricane disaster, "that is an absolute national disgrace, to the administration they are invisible."
She went on to say that similarly, " If you are a scientist working on climate change the administration doesn't want us to see you or hear you. If you are someone who is trying to get a handle no bit contracts for Halliburton they sure don’t want us to see you or hear you. " Clinton rebutted that she wants to get back to evidence based decision making.
Terry McAuliffe, fundraiser for the senator, claims the event Tuesday night raked in $2. 7 million dollars for the campaign. Tickets for the standing room only fundraiser, went for $1,000, $2,300 and $4,600, the highest being the legal limit for contributions to a candidate for the primary and general election. And, Terry in the ever-hyperbolic McAuliffe way, cracked a joke that they’ll close the first quarter on March 31st with $10 trillion.
Washington power players in attendance prompted a Clinton Administration reunion of sorts, including Madeline Albright, John Podesta, Mickey Cantor, John Merrigan, and Tom Boggs, among others. Several members of Congress, including fellow Democratic New York Congressmen Charles Rangel and Jerrold Nadler were also present.
Hillary and Bill mingled with guests separately after the speech, glad-handing, signing books, and flashing smiles for adoring supporters.
A woman in attendance who attended the fundraiser in Manhattan on Sunday as well said, "Bill did great….and she's getting better."
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