Clinton rally generates excitement at the 'Berg

Former president Bill Clinton addressed thousands of members of the Lehigh Valley community in Memorial Hall on Mar. 19, 2008. Ed Pawlowski, Mayor of Allentown, introduced Clinton as "one of the greatest presidents we ever had," associating his terms in office with a decline in national debt unlike present policy.

"I'm a little out of practice. I'm only in politics to help Hillary," said Clinton as he started his speech. He used his time at the College to run through a list of economic and policy problems that have surfaced throughout the Bush administration. He criticized the Bush administration for adding four trillion dollars to the national debt, and leaving numerous children behind. According to Clinton, his wife, Sen. Hilary Clinton, should be elected "to stop these bad things from happening."

Although he joked about his speaking skills, the charismatic former president was well received by students of the College.

"Clinton did an excellent job keeping my attention and his speaking skills were even better than I anticipated. However, I had to keep reminding myself that he isn't the one running for President," said Adam Hirsh'09.

Clinton outlined three big problems of America that must be addressed: growing inequality in income, education and healthcare, insecurity and global terror, and instability of American youth due to global warming, higher gas prices, the cost of health care, and education loans. He explained what his wife would do to alleviate these problems. For example, pushing the development of lithium ion batteries to increase the production and lower the costs of electric cars, as well as supporting more Pell grants, increasing tuition tax credits and lowering student loan rates to make college affordable for all American youth.

Clinton commended McCain for his work and support of America, saying that he "has some redeeming qualities as a Republican," but continued to highlight what makes his wife a better candidate, according to him.

"There are a lot of mutually agreeable goals. Clinton said a lot of things that Republicans want to achieve as well, just the means of getting there are different, and I don't agree with how Sen. Hillary Clinton plans on reaching these goals," said Kyle Miller '08.

The College had never before hosted a former or current president and to make things more difficult, the College Democrats only had 48 hours to organize the event.

Jon Rosenau '09, a student responsible for planning the event, said, "Everyone really came together and worked together in order to throw this amazing and historic event in less than forty-eight hours. Honestly, there was no question of whether we would like to host the ex-President. This was not only an amazing opportunity for College Democrats, but a historic occasion for the entire school.