Former President Bill Clinton argues why his wife, Hillary, should get the Democratic nomination for president. (West Life photos by Larry Bennet)

Bill Clinton campaigns in Lakewood
By Ben Saylor
Lakewood
Published March 5, 2008

Several hundred people packed Lakewood High School’s East Gym last Saturday to hear former President Bill Clinton speak.

Clinton spoke in Lakewood last Saturday morning to a crowd that included many young people, something Clinton noted in his remarks. Many in attendance also brought books for Clinton sign such as the former president’s autobiography “My Life.”

Among those who spoke before Clinton were Congresspersons Eliot Engel (D-NY) and Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-OH). Governor Ted Strickland was also in attendance and spoke before Clinton.

“This is such an incredibly diverse state,” Clinton said of Ohio. He noted that the Clinton campaign has traveled all over the state, including rural areas. He said that Strickland told him that not ignoring the rural areas is important in running in Ohio, and Clinton said not ignoring them worked for him too.

“That’s how I won Ohio twice in ’92 and ’96, thank you very much,” Clinton said to cheers.

Clinton spoke of the economy, saying that much of current news has dealt with economic troubles and how the country is about to enter a recession. He countered that assessment by saying, “Most Americans think they’ve been in a recession for quite some time, thank you very much.”

Clinton also extolled his wife’s health care plan, asking for a show of hands for anyone in the crowd who knew someone who did not have health care.

“There is not another wealthy country in the world where you would get that response to that question. There is not another wealthy country in the world where that question would be asked,” Clinton said after some in the crowd raised their hands.

Former President Bill Clinton (second from left) is joined by Ohio Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones (left), New York Congressman Eliot Engel, Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland, United Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten and Ohio Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher at a rally for Senator Hillary Clinton. (West Life photo by Larry Bennet)

Clinton also said that health care costs cannot be controlled unless everyone is covered.

“Everybody has to buy in or we will never get control of the costs,” Clinton said.

Clinton also spoke of his wife’s education plan, as well as national security and the conflicts in the Middle East. He vowed that in future conflicts, Hillary would use military force as a last result, “not the other way around.” He also said she would bring the troops in Iraq home, “But she wants to do it in the right way.”

Clinton also praised his wife as a “world-class change maker.”

Inside the gym, Katie Shaver, a former Bay Village resident currently living in Brook Park, said she attended the rally because, “I’ve heard that he’s very charismatic.” On whether she supported Hillary Clinton for president, she said, “I’m still in between. I like what she’s doing, though.”

For Denise Ross of Lakewood, why she attended the event came down to: “Well, how often do you get to see a former president?” She added that she has been a supporter of Hillary Clinton “since before she was in the White House.”