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Su Ri Noh/For The Hoya

Presidential candidate Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) addressed an audience of several hundred at a fundraising event at The George Washington University yesterday. Her speech highlighted several aspects of her campaign.

Topics ranged from “going green” to glitter last night when presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y) spoke during a fundraising event at The George Washington University.

Gov. Ed Rendell (D-Pa.) introduced Clinton, praising her efforts throughout the campaign and her intentions if elected president. He also commended what he believes has been successful fundraising by the Clinton campaign, which had raised over $118 million by the end of 2007.

“I’ve done a lot of fundraising, but I have never seen anything like this,” he said.

Rendell tried to separate Clinton from her husband’s image by describing her as the best candidate he has ever seen.
“There is no doubt in my mind that the Democratic candidate [with] the best solutions, even better than [former President] Bill Clinton, is Hillary,” he said.

In her speech, which was attended by several hundred people, Clinton said that one of the most important issues facing the country today is finding alternative energy sources. She said that new energy will help the U.S. economy by creating new jobs.

“Clean, renewable energy will ignite imaginations and innovations,” she said. “The [United States] needs to be part of an energy revolution … [and] take away tax subsidies from the oil companies.”
Clinton said her plan will create 5,000,000 “green-powered” jobs.

Another part of her platform that Clinton reiterated in her speech was her desire to institute universal health care in the United States.

“[The United States] must have a system to provide affordable healthcare to every citizen,” she said.

Clinton also addressed her support for the development of stem cell research.

“I want Congress to send me the bill that [President George W.] Bush has vetoed twice to permit [the U.S. government] to do stem cell research,” she said.

Clinton stressed the importance of greater availability of financial aid for college students by providing direct aid and getting “rid of student loan companies” in the process.

Clinton also touched on her desire to end the war in Iraq and to “bring our troops home.”

Comedian and actress Ellen DeGeneres made an appearance via satellite for a dialogue with Clinton on her talk show. DeGeneres lightened the tone of the rally by asking if Clinton would “put a ban on glitter.” Clinton responded that she would, at the request of DeGeneres place a “ban on glitter for children over age 12.”

DeGeneres then agreed that the New York senator does in fact “have solutions.”

Clinton says that she has a broad range of goals for the future.
“Winning Texas and Ohio ranks way up there with banning glitter,” she said.

“I am asking the people of America to hire me for the toughest job in the world,” Clinton said. “I will stand up to whatever comes my way.”