Former President Bill Clinton came to Newport Coast yesterday to speak at a fundraiser for his wife Hillary’s campaign. The speech was a combination “what America needs to do to right the ship” and “why Hillary is the best candidate to be president.” The crowd was very enthusiastic and the questions from the audience that followed shows considerable concern from the Iranian-American community, well educated and pro-west, about what President Bush and Vice President Cheney have in store for Iran.
I had a couple of favorite momments from the speech. President Clinton nearly welled up with tears after being stopped by a NYC firefighter who thanked him for the legislative work Hillary did to help get 9/11 first responders funding for treatment of the air they were briefing in the wake of the towers’ collapse. Many first responders have a number of respiratory ailments.
My second moment is more personal. I brought my daughter with me. She’s 7. And she shook the president’s hand just before we had our photo taken. When it was my turn, I told President Clinton that his wife’s candidacy means that when I tell my daughter she can be anything she wants to be when she grows up, I’m not lying. He said he appreciated that. And an hour later, after his speech was over, I had a thristy girl on my hands. And in trying to get to the bar for a bottle of water, I had to wait for President Clinton to finish shaking hands. He saw me, and waved, and then said, “where is your daughter?” I pointed to Madison who was behind someone, and Bill Clinton came down the line and offered her his hand and said, “Thank you Madison for coming to see me.”ÂÂ
I have video of the speech that I will be uploading to YouTube and this blog later. My kingdom for a tripod.
No coverage from the OC Register, LA Times, or any MSM in SoCal on this? What gives?
ÂÂ
Dear Dan,
Thank you for covering the former President Clinton’s visit. I was touched to read your account of the speech and his praiseworthy treatment towards your daughter.
I look forward to listening to the speech when you make it available on this site.
Your observations regarding the lack of coverage by other news sources calls into question the claims of a liberal news dominance? Your accurate reporting gives you more crediblility and will continue to be a daily choice for my news and information.
Thoughtfully,
Robin Marcario
Wow! It sounds like you all had quite a time in Newport with the last legitimately elected US President. Damn, I wish he could be President again. Well, at least we may have Hillary in 2009, and I’ll be VERY HAPPY with that. (Of course, I’ll also be THRILLED with President Barack Obama in 2009, but I digress…)
Thanks for sharing this with us, Dan! Oh yes, and congrats on your daughter meeting the Presdient! : )
Dan — No coverage because they wouldn’t let any press in. Most of these dang fundraisers are like that — it’s shame because there are so many candidates coming to town. Events for Fred Thompson and Rudy Giuliani were exceptions — and then only because they were not doing fudnraisers for themselves.
Glad you were there and look forward to the video, which I’ll happily link to.
I just wanted to second Martin’s comment – I’m sure I’m not the only reporter that asked and was told no media. You can’t even casually knock on the door when they hold the event in a gated community. Here’s a link to my attempt to take a fun angle on this issue (excuse my shameless self-promotion): http://www.dailypilot.com/articles/2007/06/25/politics/dpt-clinton24.txt
First off, the PR guy in me says its wrong for any candidate to exclude the press. You can certainly make the candidate available for comment to the media. So I think Hillary’s people were wrong here.
On Gated communities, it is “private property” so I suppose unless you’re an invited guest, how can you get in.
But seriously, you can’t call the neighbors and ask if you can visit during the luncheon by hanging out in the back yard. Could you call someone who was going and ask them to carry a tape recorder? A camcorder? There was a pretty good A/V system. How much of an effort was made to be creative in covering the event? If all else fails, a $300 contribution could have been made (the VietNamese press contributes heavily to Vietnamese candidates running) which is less than a hotel room in Las Vegas during a convention. C’mon, you guys always pay for tickets to sporting events or concerts you might cover, why not a political event?
I read your story. Not bad, but highly imbalanced towards the right (do a word/paragraph count of Dems to Reeps– 3 paragraphs to Dems, 8 to Reeps; fair and balanced?); Its funny that Adam Probosky is quoted on a press management issue. Quote him on polling issues wher he has some creds, but not on managing the press where he has none. The ex-wives question he suggests is something only Republicans have to worry about BTW.
In addition, Bill Clinton isn’t running for anything. And there was nothing he said in his address or in answering questions from the crowd that was remotely inappropriate. He told some good stories. Best of all, he gave detailed reasons *why* he believes the country would be best served by a Democratic president and by his wife in particular. He was gracious to his guests and his hosts.
In all due respect to you and to Marty. Bill Clinton did bring up the example of how John Kerry was swiftboated in 2004; and how none of the charges that came forth in the election cycle held water. The press has a responsibility and an obgilation to expose stuff like that, and it didn’t happen. Trust is a two way street with the press and the candidates. So when the Republicans come after whoever the Democratic nominee with more lies, I expect the fourth estate to do their jobs. I don’t expect you to favor the Democratic candidates and nominees, but I do expect you to be fair and report the truth.
It is moments like that, where human caring become appearant that we find our common bond as Americans. From the Right, thanks for the post – it really was great to read.
Richard Rios
When the history books are written, Clinton will be considered one of the great Presidents. And Bush will end up being considered one of the worst with folks like Hoover and Harding.
That’s an insult to Hoover and Harding