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President Clinton speaks at Chaffey

President Bill Clinton addressed the importance of education at a rally last Thursday at Chaffey Community College in Rancho Cucamonga. "We need to ask ourselves where are we now and where were we four years ago," said Clinton as Rep. George E. Brown, Jr., listened. / photo by Starr Carroll
President Bill Clinton addressed the importance of education at a rally last Thursday at Chaffey Community College in Rancho Cucamonga. “We need to ask ourselves where are we now and where were we four years ago,” said Clinton as Rep. George E. Brown, Jr., listened. / photo by Starr Carroll

by Lori Cruz
Features Editor

While promising to build a “bridge to the 21st century,” President Bill Clinton visited the Southland last Thursday, making a stop in Rancho Cucamonga to speak on education.

The president also made stops in Fresno and attended a gala Hollywood party in Bel Air.

More than 4,000 people carrying Clinton/Gore signs came to hear the president speak of tax credits for students, internet services in the classrooms and to bash presidential nominee Bob Dole and House Republicans for their lack of support for the crime bill and health care.

Clinton said he is “working hard to change how politics work in Washington. We still have a lot to do.”

Democratic National Committee Chair of California Art Torres spoke throughout the rally but never managed to get the crowd excited in the blistering heat. Many students and others who attended the rally waited up to four hours to hear the President.

Two-time Olympic silver medalist Mike Powell spoke about winning his medals by “listening to the optimists and the pessimists,” adding that it is important to listen but not to believe the pessimists.

Evelyn Ashford, a four-time Olympic gold medalist said, “I got to meet Bill Clinton after the last Olympics. I didn’t know if Bill Clinton believed in the things I believed in, but Bill Clinton will lead us into the year 2000.”

Lieutenant Gov. Gray Davis, said, “No president since Harry Truman has done more to help the middle class than Bill Clinton has.”

Davis said the president has done this by proposing to expand the student loan program, create a direct lending program and a $1,500 tax credit for college students.

Davis is expected to seek the governorship of California when Pete Wilson’s term expires.

State Controller Kathleen Connell also spoke on behalf of Clinton and said he was responsible for bringing California out of the worst recession the state has ever had.

She also said to the students, “We don’t want you getting jobs at McDonald’s when you leave college,” and quickly added that a job like that is not necessarily bad if that is what they are doing now.

Clinton took the stage an hour later than scheduled along with Rep. George E. Brown, Jr. (D-Calif.), the president of Chaffey College, Dr. Jerry Young and Kerry Matthews, a Chaffey student and single mother with four children.

Clinton said he has visited California in the past to help the people with problems such as earthquakes, fires, floods, base closings and to help the state “protect its borders from the south.”

“I also came here trying to create opportunity for the people,” he said.

He applauded himself that the country has over 10 million new jobs and that 12 million Americans took advantage of the family leave bill which allows for time off work for the birth or adoption of a child or to help with a sick relative.

Clinton also tied in health care by asking, “Isn’t is time we ought to do more in health care?”

He added that both Houses of Congress voted yes to allow new moms to extend their hospital stays over the 48 hour mark and to begin to provide insurance for the mentally disabled.

His goal for the future of America is to “meet the challenges and keep the values by building a bridge to the future, not to the past.”

Along with those who attended the rally included up to 100 Bob Dole supporters carrying Dole/Kemp signs.

James Haring of Alta Loma, a Dole supporter said, “Clinton did not say anything.”

California has always been a crucial state in national elections. With 54 electoral votes, the race can either be won or lost right here.

Although Clinton leads in the polls with a lead anywhere from nine to 21 points, voter registration in California shows a near even split between Democrats and Republicans.

Lori Cruz, Editorial Director
Lori Cruz
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Starr Carroll, Photography Editor
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