by Jody Spear and Kelly Meyer –
MASON CITY – Former President Bill Clinton made a stop in Mason City on Wednesday in support of Barack Obama and other Democrats running for office.
Before President Clinton spoke, Christie Vilsack came out on the stage to talk to the people of Mason City and North Iowa, respect was shown to America and to God. The Pledge of Allegiance was said by Veteran David Pope. God Bless America was sung by Melissa Hand and the National Anthem was sung by the NIACC Concert Choir. A Invocation was done by Reverend Patricia Aurand from the First Congregational Church.
Clinton said that voting for Obama would continue the president’s policies and electing Vilsack would strengthen them here in Iowa.
“Let’s not take education away,” said President Clinton while he was at the NIACC Gymnasium. Clinton was talking about how Mitt Romney wants to eliminate Pell Grants and tell the kids “go to your parents.”
“Not all kids have parents that own a business or is CEO of a company. Most come from moderate means like me and President Obama.”
President Clinton started out talking about how bittersweet it was to be campaigning. His daughter and son-in-law are on the east coast without electricity and he’s thinking of them. On the other hand, he wants to speak for the Democratic Party and started out with a joke. “It being Halloween, I think the scariest costume I’ll see is Steve King dressing up like Steve King.”
“We’re all in this together,” President Clinton stated plainly. “In the 12 years before I became president, they more than quadrupled the national debt. It took me four years to get rid of it. I gave you four surplus years, four of the five ain’t bad. The score on a balanced budget is Democrats, five and Republicans, zero.”
After Clinton was done with his energetic and enthusiastic speech, he went around the semi-circle and shook hands, took pictures and signed autographs.
Lonna VanHorn, who was holding a “Hill-Bill for 2016” poster, is a huge Democrat. “Why can’t we listen to people who think. Romney doesn’t think. Republicans seem to celebrate ignorance and bigotry.”
Watch video:
httpv://youtu.be/3ZWb3BsrDJE
