Clinton in Madison: On the Issues

Senator Clinton covered a fair amount of policy ground in her quick tea-and-pie pitstop at the Second Street Diner here in Madison this morning. Some highlights:

Glad to Be Here... Really!

The junior Senator from New York said she's excited to be here in South Dakota... although you know her advisors are kicking themselves for having to be here after blowing inevitability back in January. If the Clinton camp had mounted a 50-state strategy from the start and done the sort of small-town politicking we saw here today, they might have kept the junior Senator from Illinois from building a delegate lead on a big string of small-state wins like the ones Clinton is hustling for in South Dakota and Montana now.

HRC, Down-Home Girl

Clinton hit a number of good South Dakota points. She advocated a "more effective and sensible policy toward Indian Country." She argued her rural economic development chops by reminding us that she's the Senator not just from New York City, but New York State, which includes that great upstate area that feels a lot like South Dakota. (Andrea, the Clinton organizer from upstate New York who's been in the state all month and came to our Lake County Dems meeting May 2, said that South Dakota feels a lot like her home turf; Clinton made a similar observation this morning.) Clinton also noted that even in New York, the #1 industry is agriculture.* So don't think she's just some city girl -- Clinton has dealt with rural and ag issues.

Barack Who?

Senator Clinton mentioned her "highest regard and respect for Senator McCain." She made no similar mention of Senator Obama. She did mention that she has traveled to Iraq with McCain, a veiled reference to Obama's refusal of an invitation from McCain to travel together to Iraq.

Energy Policy: Go Brazil, Not Begging

Senator Clinton pointed to Brazil as a model of good energy policy. After 30 years of building its sugar cane ethanol industry, Brazil has achieved energy independence (or something darn close). Meanwhile, the President of the United States (that would be George W. Bush) goes to Saudi Arabia and begs unsuccessfully for his sheik-buddies to pump more oil. "That's not an energy policy," said Clinton.

No Child Left Behind -- Clinton Doesn't Pander

Clinton took two questions from the audience. The one I could hear came from a gentleman who identified himself as an insurance agent who sees the need for health care reform. Interestingly, his statement of support for Clinton's health plan (of course he supports it: requiring people to buy private insurance offers a captive market to the profiteers) was just cover for his real question: the man said he also works (or perhaps his wife does... sorry, I didn't hear it perfectly!) as a private tutor who has seen the good No Child Left Behind can do and wanted to know why Clinton wants to repeal that law. This statement drew strong boos from the crowd, and I joined them. This gentleman sounded like a corporate shill just trying to funnel more federal funding into private tutoring programs. Nothing like free-market folks enjoying their slop at the public trough.

And Senator Clinton, bless her heart, stood her ground. She defused the man's question as effectively as possible: after acknolwedging the good work that he and his wife may be doing as tutors, Clinton said that nationwide, No Child Left Behind isn't showing the kind of results that justify the investment of federal dollars. She repeated her call for repeal of the law, to the applause of the crowd. To hear a Clinton say something that a voter didn't want to hear was unusual and refreshing.

Sibby Alert: Clinton on Preschool Funding

Alas, Clinton set off the Sibby-Marxism-global-cabal alarms, saying that instead of No Child Left Behind, the federal government should make a commitment to pre-kindergarten education. She said investments in kids before age 5 produce the biggest returns. I didn't hear the words "universal" or "mandatory," but I'm sure my conservative friends will.

Clinton on the Abortion Ban

Had Clinton taken more than two questions, I wanted to ask what Senator Clinton could do to help defeat South Dakota's retread abortion ban. Alas, Clinton took two questions, then sat down for pie (and can you blame her? Shari makes good pie!). However, I lined up with the photo- and autograph-seekers, and before I knew it, I was right there at the Senator's seat.

I put out my hand, introduced myself, and said, "We're proud to have you here in Madison."

"I'm proud to be here," said Senator Clinton.

"And I hope you'll come back in the fall, whatever happens in Denver, and help us defeat the abortion ban and protect women's rights."

She smiled at me and said she will help. I thanked her and asked her to at least keep us on her radar. A few minutes later, I mentioned the question to the Wall Street Journal guy, hoping maybe he'll get a chance to ask Clinton a little more deeply about the issue.

Whether she returns as the Presidential nominee of the Democratic Party or simply as the most prominent female political voice in the country, I hope we will see Senator Clinton here again in the fall to stick a fork in the abortion ban.

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*Interesting ag facts for New York and South Dakota: In 2002, NY had 32,654 individual/family farms, 87.6% of the total farms in the state. The same year, SD had 28,189 individual/family farms, 88.8% of the total farms in the state.