Hillary Clinton Draws Large Pre-Caucus Crowd in Ottumwa, Iowa

Senator Hillary Clinton told a large crowd on Wednesday that she believes people learn more when they don't succeed than when they do, which is why she has carefully thought about plans to make health coverage available for all. The key to her proposal is to offer the American public access to the insurance plans that members of Congress and other federal employees can purchase. She also noted that taxpayers pay for 75 percent of the costs of these plans.

Stressing the negative changes in the economic picture for middle-class families, Clinton discussed the need to restructure tax brackets so that higher income earners return to the tax rates that they paid in the 1990s and lower wage earners get to keep more of their income. She noted that her favorite billionaire, Warren Buffett, agrees with her to the extent that he has sponsored two fundraisers for her.

Clinton discussed her many efforts to work with Democrats and Republicans to provide more access to health care for children and provide care for veterans. She also noted that it is important to "seek common ground when we can, but stand our ground when we must." She cited her strong opposition to privatizing Social Security as an example of the latter.

In an hour-plus speech, Clinton emphasized the need to rebuild the United States' relationships with other nations. The United States cannot go it alone, and she promised to lead in a way that unites other countries with the United States as it works to achieve peace. She promised to end the war in Iraq and develop a plan that would begin to bring troops home within 60 days. She also cautioned that it would be dangerous for troops and Iraqi civilians if the United States were to pull out too quickly. Reducing U.S. presence entails drawing down not only military personnel but also diplomats, aid workers, contractors, and nonprofit organizations who are there to assist the Iraqi people.

Noting that she had visited with recuperating soldiers at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, Senator Clinton discussed the importance of providing health care and other support for returning veterans. She gave an example of a conversation with an Army captain who said he was adjusting to his prosthetic limb and getting good care. But how, he asked, could he get his brain back? A West Point graduate, his wife now has to make lists for him of his planned activities each day. Clinton promised care for those with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

She closed with two points. First, force should be a last resort, not a first option. Second, she promised to "bring the constitution out of cold storage."