April 30, 2008
Union Leader: Endorsed HRC, Said Nation Needs A Prez With "Testicular Fortitude"
PORTAGE, IN - Hillary Clinton's campaign has worked hard of late to portray her as the fighter in the race, someone with the determination to see her plans through no matter what the obstacles.
In North Carolina yesterday, Gov. Mike Easley raised some eyebrows when he said Clinton was so determined she made "Rocky Balboa look like a pansy." Well, this afternoon, a local labor leader introducing Clinton pushed the envelope further, saying the nation needed a leader "that has testicular fortitude."
While defending Bill Clinton's role in the passage of NAFTA, Paul Gipson, president of a steelworkers local, said that union members need to support a leader who can work to change and improve the trade agreement.
"I truly believe that that's going to take an individual that has testicular fortitude," he said. "That's exactly right. That's what we gotta have."
Clinton, standing behind Gipson, smiled sheepishly before breaking into a nervous laugh.
Gipson then slammed unnamed "Gucci-wearing, latte-drinking, self-centered, egotistical people that have damaged our lifestyle," before endorsing Clinton.
The New York senator had some fun with Gipson's remarks.
"I must say, Paul, I appreciate that endorsement. It means a lot to me," she said. "I do think I have fortitude. Women can have it as well as men."
Many in the crowd roared their approval.
Clinton's remarks focused heavily on trade issues; she offered hearty praise for the role of unions in American history.
"No state needs a president more who understands the importance of manufacturing and the significance of the labor union movement than Indiana," she said. "We've got to fix our trade laws, it's overdue, and we've got to get tough on China. But you can't just make speeches about it, you both have to have a plan to do it, and then you've gotta have the follow-through, so that when we get back to the White House in January 2009, we're going to hit the ground running and we're going to start fixing the economy again."
The event took place after Clinton's much-anticipated interview with FNC's Bill O'Reilly was taped. She referred to it in passing while discussing her plan on taxes.
"I just taped an interview that will be on Fox tonight with Bill O'Reilly," she said, drawing some jeers. "Hey, I'm running for the toughest job in the world," she joked.
"We got into a little back and forth ''cause he said, 'You're going to raise my taxes, aren't you?'" she said. "I said, 'I sure am.' If you make more than $250,000, you're gonna go back to pay the tax rates you paid in the 1990s. Because frankly, I'd rather cut taxes on all of you, and that's exactly what I'll do."
(NBC/NJ's MIKE MEMOLI)
Posted at 04:35 PM
Comments
North Carolina Steel workers you are in for a let down. I come from Brooklyn NY, one block from the East River over looking the sky line of Manhattan. I remember the docks when all the ships use to come in. (my father/uncles/neighbors all worked on the docks. The Brooklyn Navy Yard,Domino Sugar,Shaffer Beer,They are all gone. Moved out because of high rents and taxes. Our community was alive with working middle class. They are all gone. No one tried to stop this or help the people out of work. Hilary Clinton is our Senator, she has never visited Brooklyn or any of the other Boros of NY. Bill has his office in Harlem .We pay the rent.He only moved into the office before the primary started. He did that to get the Black/Latino vote. They live in Westchester,where the rich live. They visit Long Island, only in the Hamptons where the rich and famous live. We on Long Island pay the higest Real Estate Taxes in the U.S.. Etric we one Company LICO. Electric this month $153.00 Surcharge on that bill $154.00 9that helps pay for their gas usage)/ Last year 250,000 FAMILIES LEFT LONG ISLAND, THIS YEAR IT HAS DOUBLED.Gas is any where from $3.79 to $3.96 a gal.We have no jobs on L.I.They have all moved out.We have several mini malls they have two or three stores open. My niece is a teacher in the Bronx. It cost her $25.00 for gas for two days and $9.00 each way to/from the bridge. She makes $45,000.00 a year.I could write a book. My point is Hilary makes big promises, doesn't keep any. She will use anyone, to get a vote
kelly | 05.01.08 05:04 AM
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When Barack first entered the public arena, he said We all pray to an awesome God! That we are not red states or blue states but the United States... and that is his simple message and goal, to unite Americans. With nothing to gain, Barack said this at the Democratic National Convention for Kerry when he reached out to all Americans -- not just the Democrats! However, they have tried to skew it by stating he does not even pray to the flag, he's a Muslim -- and going forward they (the forces of Materialism and Corprate Greed) will do all they can to confuse us, but if you go back to your first introduction of Barack, you will realize that that is who he really is!
Republican-controlled Media wants to keep us blindsided by Rev. Wright because it divides us as Americans and does not unite us. They don't want us united, to find our Powerbase, which would be to their demise. We must not let them blindside or brainwash us again and take us down a path like the Iraq war... there are WMD's -- Iraqi oil will pay for the war and yet our gas prices have never been so high -- economy is good, and a host of misleading statements, sniper fire included. We have a man in Barack who is aunthentic, honest, who truly sees a way for us to be united and to work on our common goals... He is not an elitist, that is another attempt to blindside us and divide us! God Bless America!
Mike Huckabee was right-on in his recent comments regarding Rev. Wright and his need to stay bitter to justify his anger against some people in America, an anger that Barack does not share.
Angellight | 05.01.08 08:46 AM
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For the uninitiated, "Testicular Fortitude" was a phrase popularized by Dwayne Johnson aka The Rock back in his wrestling days in the late '90s. So Mr. Gipson obviously smelled what the Rock was cooking.
If Mr. Bush were to make reply, which I don't expect he will, he would do well to borrow the reply that Mick Foley used on the night he beat Rocky for the World Title: "I have a lot of fortitude... in these testicles."
Wrestling Fan | 05.01.08 10:27 AM
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