By Sarah Kuta
Hillary Clinton spoke to supporters in Boulder for just under an hour Tuesday morning in a wide-ranging speech that touched on climate change, early childhood education, college affordability, gun control and the economy.
After being introduced by a group of Democrats — Colorado House Speaker Dickey Lee Hullinghorst, U.S. Rep. Jared Polis and former U.S. Sen. Mark Udall — the presidential hopeful took the stage at the Boulder Theater just after noon to address a crowd of about 1,000.
"It's always a treat to be in Boulder," Clinton told the crowd as she stood in front of American and Colorado flags, which flanked a blue "Fighting for us" campaign sign hanging at the back of the stage.
Hillary Clinton supporters lead a cheer during the Democratic presidential candidate's visit to the Boulder Theater on Tuesday. (Cliff Grassmick / Staff Photographer)
With a quick jab at Republican presidential hopefuls,("I want to start with a factual statement," she said to laughter and cheers), Clinton spoke about the economic challenges tackled by the two most recent Democratic presidents, her husband Bill Clinton and Barack Obama.
Despite praising their economic accomplishments, the former U.S. senator and secretary of state also made a point of setting herself apart from the two men.
"I'm not running for my husband's third term or President Obama's third term, I'm running for my first term, but I'm going to do what works for the economy," she said.
Clinton said her economic plan includes creating more jobs in infrastructure and renewable energy, and working to reduce some of the "red tape" faced by small business owners. She said she wants to change the tax code so that companies aren't moving overseas to save money, a tactic known as inversion.
She also spoke about raising the minimum wage and ensuring wage equality between men and women, an idea she sees as an economic growth strategy, not a women's rights issue.
"When I say I want equal pay for equal work, the Republicans often say, 'Well, there she goes playing the gender card,'" Clinton said. "Well, I'll tell you what, if equal pay for equal work is playing the gender card, deal me in."
Clinton's speech touched on her plans for paid family leave, a caregiver tax credit for people taking care of sick family members, universal pre-kindergarten education, free community college and other higher education affordability measures, bringing down the cost of prescription drugs, mental health and substance abuse treatment and addressing climate change.
Clinton vowed to see 500 million solar panels installed before the end of her first term, calling climate change a "consequential, existential" challenge.
She spoke at length about her plans for addressing gun violence and her strategy for tackling ISIS and other terrorist groups abroad. In response to recent Republican opposition to admitting and resettling Syrian refugees, Clinton said America should continue to be "open and welcoming" at the end of a vetting process.
"I have heard all this loose, inflammatory talk about refugees and I don't think that does us any good at all in waging and winning the fight against these criminals and killers who misuse religion and promote a different set of values than the ones that we believe in," she said.
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Hillary Clinton poses with Melanie Sawyer, a senior at Boulder's Fairview High School, during a campaign event at the Boulder Theater on Tuesday. (Cliff Grassmick / Staff Photographer) |
Campaign visits
After the public event, Clinton was scheduled to appear at a private fundraiser at the Boulder home of Jennifer and Mo Siegel, founder of Celestial Seasonings, and at Manual High School in Denver.At various points during her talk, the crowd erupted in cheers, especially at the end, when Clinton walked into the crowd to sign autographs and take pictures as Katy Perry's song "Roar" boomed over the speakers.
Clinton's visit marked the third Democratic presidential candidate to campaign in Boulder this year.
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders spoke to some 9,000 people on the University of Colorado's campus on Oct. 10 and former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley visited the campus Oct. 28, the same day that CU hosted 14 GOP presidential candidates in a debate presented by CNBC at the Coors Events Center.
Supporters in line
Standing outside in the crisp November air prior to Clinton's appearance, 17-year-old Melanie Sawyer was determined to be first in the door to see the woman she plans to vote for in her first election next year.
Sawyer, a senior at Fairview High School, showed up at the Boulder Theater at 7 a.m. in a puffy purple coat to ensure she'd see Clinton during her first public campaign event in Boulder.
"I'm just really interested in what she has to say," Sawyer said. "I want to hear from her directly. I've never been in close proximity of a presidential candidate."
Supporters ranged in age from 10 years old to 60, with many saying they've already decided they want to see Clinton in the White House after the 2016 election.
If she got the chance, Sarah Oro, 12, said she planned to ask Clinton a few tough questions. Chiefly, how would she make college more affordable for young people like her?
Oro, holding a handmade Clinton campaign sign, and her younger brother, 10-year-old Ryan, made the trek to Boulder from Littleton with their mother Cindy Robinson.
Ryan Oro said he's excited about Clinton's potential to be the first woman in the White House and that it was his idea to come to the Boulder campaign event.
"He's been watching the debates," Robinson said.
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