Clinton, Obama, Address Supporters at JJ Dinner

By Connect Mason Reporter Rachael Dickson
Photos by Grace Kendall and Whitney Rhodes

Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama spoke in front of a group of approximately 4,000 Democratic officials, activists and supporters at the Virginia Democrat’s annual Jefferson-Jackson fundraising dinner in Richmond Saturday night.

• See photos from the event.

The crowds of supporters at the Stuart C. Siegel Center at Virginia Commonwealth University competitively traded cheers for their candidate of choice and waved signs in an atmosphere that more resembled a college basketball game than a political fundraiser. Though many of the attendees at the event were dressed in tuxedos and evening gowns, some in the crowd who paid just to see the program were just as likely to be sporting jeans and t-shirts, with campaign buttons the accessory of choice for the evening.

Several themes appeared in both Clinton and Obama’s speeches, as the candidates worked to excite and inspire the crowd.

“The Democratic Party must stand for change,” said Obama. “Not change as a slogan, not change as a bumper sticker, but change we can believe in.”

“You know, for me, politics isn’t a game,” Clinton said. “It’s not about who’s up or who’s down. It’s about your lives, your families and your futures. And isn’t it about time you had a president who brought your voice and your values to your White House?”

Both candidates addressed the recent appearance of Senator John McCain as the front runner for the republican presidential nomination.

Clinton spoke in fighting terms to a room that booed whenever McCain’s name was mentioned.

“If I am your nominee," said Clinton. "You will never have to worry that I will be knocked out of the ring, because I have the strength and experience to lead this country and I am ready to go toe to toe with Senator McCain whenever and wherever he desires.”

Clinton also described President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney as “the oilmen” on one occasion. She said that McCain represented “more of the same.”

"We have tried it President Bush's way: concentrate wealth, hoard power, disregard science, shred the Constitution, smear dissenters, impugn patriots," Clinton said.

Obama initially spoke well of McCain, saying, “He is a good man and a genuine American hero and we honor his service.”

However, Obama also criticized McCain heavily for his stance on current policy.

“He once opposed George Bush's tax cuts for the wealthiest few who don't need them and didn't ask for them,” Obama said. “He said they were too expensive and unwise. And he was absolutely right. But somewhere along the line, the wheels came off the Straight Talk Express, because he now supports the very same tax cuts he voted against. This is what happens when you spend too long in Washington. Politicians don't say what they mean, and they don't mean what they say."

Clinton and Obama also both referred to their respective health care plans.

“I am the only candidate left in this race, democratic or republican, with a health care plan to cover every single man, woman and child,” Clinton said. “I believe health care is a fundamental human right and a moral obligation for the United States of America.”

“My plan would bring down premiums for the typical family by $2,500 a year,” Obama said. “And the one difference between my plan and Senator Clinton's plan is that she said she'd ‘go after' your wages if you don't buy health care. Well I believe the reason people don't have health care isn't because no one's forced them to buy it, it's because no one's made it affordable - and that's why we bring down the cost of health care more than any other plan in this race.”

Obama also mentioned his desire to provide the best education possible for American children, by working to raise teacher’s pay and providing $4,000 a year tax credits for Americans to help pay for a college education.

Both candidates spoke of the need to get American troops out of Iraq, but Clinton said distinctly, “I will start to bring them home after 60 days,”

Obama stated that he believes the party will unite behind whoever the eventual nominee is.

"Senator Clinton was my friend before this race started, and she'll be my friend after this race," he said.