MyDD :: Thousands flock to hear Bill Clinton in rural Ohio

Thousands flock to hear Bill Clinton in rural Ohio

by mgee, Tue Feb 19, 2008 at 05:18:26 PM EST

Thousands of people turned out to hear Bill Clinton speak in Marietta, Ohio Sunday night, the final stop in his Sunday tour of Ohio's rustbelt. Marietta is a small city - according to the 2000 census, the population is under 15,000 - situated in the mid-Ohio valley, not far up and across the river from Parkersburg, West Virginia - which - at 30,000 and falling - is not much bigger.

Sunday night is reserved for church services for many. Nevertheless, at least 2000 people showed up for a Solutions for America rally with Bill Clinton. More were turned away, or diverted into another setting where they could hear - but not see - President Clinton. According to one local news report, when President Clinton asked how many people knew someone without health care, everyone in the auditorium raised a hand.

People started lining up in the early afternoon even though the doors did not open until 8:00 p.m., and President Clinton did not take the stage until 9:00 p.m.

You can watch video of local news coverage of the event here. There is also a video of President Clinton's full speech.

More local coverage of the event can be found here, here [Note: on the comments on that link you'll see an Obama supporter spreading the right-wing talking points about universal healthcare on the local level. Not particularly attractive.], here [Note: the story is the same, same byline, but the comments at the bottom are different.]

Here is an interesting account of the event from a local political blog, written by an Obama supporter who "expected to hate" President Clinton, but came away feeling... well, otherwise: here.

Full audio of the event is available for download here.

And, finally from ABC News, an overview of the Sunday tour, including a discussion at the end regarding President Clinton's friendly reception in Marietta: here.

I hope you enjoy!

Tags: Ohio, clinton, local news (all tags)

Permalink :: 19 Comments :: Post a Comment

Re: Thousands flock to hear Bill Clinton in rural (2.00 / 4)

Ohio twice gave its electoral votes to Clinton. No Republican has ever become president without winning Ohio.

Our long national nightmare is over.

by Beltway Dem on Tue Feb 19, 2008 at 05:49:42 PM EST

Ain't that the truth! (2.00 / 4)

I'm glad to see all the excitement for Hillary in Ohio now. It really bodes well for us in the fall. As you said so well, no Dem wins without Ohio. And if Hill carries Ohio this fall, we're set to win. :-)

Want to defend marriage equality in Maine? Ask me how!

by atdleft on Tue Feb 19, 2008 at 06:03:45 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Ain't that the truth! (none / 0)

yeah the Clintons and the Ohio Valley are virtual love-fest. Just ask the folks near the WTI incinerator up in East Liverpool!

by cargocult on Tue Feb 19, 2008 at 06:18:29 PM EST
[ Parent ]

flock (none / 0)

I wonder if the stagers of this Clinton event realized that Marietta was the model for the fictional town of Cordella in the legendary lost television series 'dramedy' IT'S A MAN'S WORLD.

Some of the exterior shots for the show were actually filmed on location in Marietta!

It was a great old show about ideas and words, some borrowed. :)

by cargocult on Tue Feb 19, 2008 at 05:55:54 PM EST

Re: flock (none / 0)

given recent events, i'd especially like to recommend episode 12, titled 'HOUR OF TRUTH'

here's a synopsis:

When Souther Boy, Vern begins to feel like a 'social dud' . He decides he'll break out of that if he becomes more like Chicagoan Tom-Tom. Tom-Tom tells him to "be yourself" and to "get your thoughts out of your head and into the world". So every day, Bill, i mean Vern, vows to "take an hour of truth" so expressing himself will be easier and easier. But always saying exactly what's on your mind can get you into a mess of trouble.

by cargocult on Tue Feb 19, 2008 at 09:50:27 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Thousands flock to hear Bill Clinton in rural (2.00 / 7)

He is rated the third most popular president, according to Gallup. Bill and Hill beat the Republicans and the MSM twice. You never heard that so called dynasty issue when W was running. Now, Dems have chimed in with Republicans to bash Bill and Hill. Well, Bill is still very popular contrary to MSNBC's mika and joe's views.

by Actright on Tue Feb 19, 2008 at 06:05:09 PM EST

Re: Thousands flock to hear Bill Clinton in rural (1.00 / 1)

IT'S A MAN'S WORLD gave American TV audiences some of their first glimpses of young Ted Bessell, Max Baer Jr. and Dawn Wells. It also starred Randy Boone and Glenn Corbett. Series regular Kate Murtagh's face may be familiar to many of a certain age. She was the smiling waitress on the cover of Supertramp' 1979 multi-platinum LP "Breakfast In America". Fresh faces, that's waht I'm tellin' ya, America's lookin for fresh faces.

by cargocult on Tue Feb 19, 2008 at 06:12:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]

What is with all of your (2.00 / 3)

nonsense comments? The first one, I let go, this one I can not.

Washington Woman

Progressive Blue

by kevin22262 on Tue Feb 19, 2008 at 06:34:53 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Thousands flock to hear Bill Clinton in rural (2.00 / 6)

Great news...thanks for the post.

Democrats are waking up to the real question facing them...not who is the one they'd most like to see give a speech, but who is the one best prepared to take over the military during a time of war, who is best prepared to revitalize a sagging economy, who is best prepared to get us to universal health insurance, who is best prepared to make college education affordable, get us pre-k education, stop global warming, get high bandwith internet access into all rural communities, who is most qualified to be Commander in Chief?

If we get the question right I know we'll get the answer right.

by seattlegonz on Tue Feb 19, 2008 at 06:50:03 PM EST

You know who is going to KILL (2.00 / 4)

universal health care AGAIN? The Obama supporters! So many of them remind me of reagan supporters. Me Me Me Me Me Meeeee!

Washington Woman

Progressive Blue

by kevin22262 on Tue Feb 19, 2008 at 07:06:13 PM EST

Thanks for the news (2.00 / 3)

This news does revigorate me. I believe in my heart that Clinton can win this. She is such a kindly soul.

by HillaryKnight08 on Tue Feb 19, 2008 at 07:17:03 PM EST

"flock" (1.00 / 2)

Sounds very cultish if you ask me!

by highgrade on Tue Feb 19, 2008 at 07:18:58 PM EST

Re: "flock" (1.00 / 2)

oh whatever can you mean? Hillary is double plus good

by cargocult on Tue Feb 19, 2008 at 07:27:58 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Thousands flock to hear Bill Clinton in rural (2.00 / 2)

Thanks for the update. This is the only place I can hear some news about Hillary campaign. Media always turn blind eyes and don't cover Hillary campaign.

"It's not over until it's mathematically impossible."
Fernando Alonzo

by JoeySky18 on Tue Feb 19, 2008 at 08:16:34 PM EST

Cheers! (2.00 / 1)

I just wanted to say that I'm glad you have all enjoyed the diary. The news doesn't look good at the moment, but we have two weeks to refocus and win Ohio and Texas, and it is absolutely do-able.

by mgee on Tue Feb 19, 2008 at 09:50:41 PM EST

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