Chelsea Clinton Speaks at Cleveland State

Chelsea Clinton spent Valentines day in Cleveland Ohio speaking on behalf of her mother to a packed audience at Cleveland State University. She was a self described "proud daughter" who was there to talk about her mom whether the audience liked it or not. She was an amazing speaker, calm, eloquent, and convincing.

Chelsea stated that her mom is emphasizing the importance of improving the nations public school system. Part of her goal would be to get rid of unfunded mandate "no child left behind." Chelsea Clinton spoke of Hilary's ideas to increase early childhood education. She knows that children's education needs to start before kindergarten. She wants to have programs in place to help parents be better teachers for their children. She is also behind instituting a universal pre-kindergarten and increase support teachers to meet the needs of our youngest citizens.

Being in Ohio where we have four cities in the top ten most critical conditions when it comes to housing Chelsea had to address the housing crisis. She takes the housing crisis seriously. She is the only candidate that is addressing this beyond a one sentence response. Hilary has created a stimulus package to deal with our housing crisis. Chelsea says the rebates are great, but we need to keep people in their homes and Hilary has a plan to do this. Hilary will increase predatory lender laws, offer emergency assistance to failing cities, offer a five year freeze on ARM rates.

It wouldn't be a speech without a question about the war in Iraq. Hilary will bring the troops home. "If she could end the war yesterday, she would" Chelsea stated.

Hilary is standing up for Universal Health Care. She is proposing that one of the more then one hundred million Americans who do not have health insurance for part of the year she will allow you to buy into the Congressional health plan. Hilary would make sure that this plan would have mental and dental health plan as well. She will make sure that everyone is covered, not just the rich.

Hilary wants to make college more affordable for everyone. She wants to expand tax credits for families putting yourself through school. Chelsea threw out a figure of $3,500. She wants to double the maximum Pell Grant to $10,800. She wants to get the government to get back in the business of student loans to help lower the payment on student loans. She is even interested in letting peoples community service as payment in kind to pay off student loans. She would get rid of the FAFSA form and just have a box that you check on your tax forms. This would be great for anyone who has hours upon hours filling out that form, and it saves trees!

Chelsea really helped me understand what Hilary stands for and what she plans to do. Having her daughter Chelsea speak to college students really brought her words and messages to a generation that will vote and does make a difference.