Bill Clinton rallies Riverside Campus

Former President Bill Clinton spoke to a crowd of over 1,000 people at Austin Community College last Wednesday, Feb. 27. Under a cloudless mid-afternoon sky at the Riverside Campus golf course, the former president spoke on behalf of his wife, Sen. Hillary Clinton's campaign. During the event, he outlined the candidate's plans and experience, and explained why supporters should vote in the Texas primary and caucus, set for March 4.

"You will never have a better chance to vote for a change-maker and I hope you won't do it once, but twice," said Clinton. "The future of your country is worth two votes."

The race between Senators Clinton and Barack Obama is close. The 42nd President recognized this, noting, "One of them says 'you should vote for me because I embody change,' … The other candidate says you should vote for her because she's spent a lifetime making a difference in other people's lives."

Clinton described his wife's plan for universal education beyond high school, and the need to crack down on private student loan companies. Community college experience raises students' chances for a job with rising income to more than 50 percent.

He also touched upon alternative energy, universal health care, the war in Iraq, and the economy. On veterans, he said, "We cannot confuse an unpopular war with our obligations to veterans."

Aundra Hawkins, an African-American student at Texas State University in San Marcos, came to catch Clinton.

"Other black people have forgotten how [Clinton] has always been for the community," said Hawkins, who feels that the New York senator is the better candidate. "The Clintons have always fought for not just the middle class, but the lower class."

Continued Hawkins, "I think that when she gets here, it's the new blood. It's a new person. We should not turn our back on people who have always been there to help us. Never."

The crowd was not all supporters, however, as some people, like ACC student Tracy Looney, came only to catch a glimpse of the man who once held the nation's highest office.

"I was originally a supporter for the Hillary campaign," said Looney. "I started to be turned-off by her tactics." Now, Looney says he will vote for Obama. "The freedom of choice is the way to go. With [Clinton's] healthcare, there is no choice," Looney said. "No one knows if it's really affordable."

The would-be First Gentleman connected with ACC students. "[Hillary] believes America should work the way this community college does," he said, which represents a "sense of our common humanity," cutting across lines of age, race, and gender. "You are in a constant state of innovation."

Clinton thinks the choice this March 4 is simple. "This is not rocket science," he said. "You've got to elect someone who can get this country back on its feet again."