by Jim Tankersley
PORTLAND, Ore. - At first glance, Doernbecher Children's Hospital appears a perfect setting for Hillary Clinton's push today to emphasize her commitment to health care as the reason she's hanging in the presidential race. It's a world-class facility filled with the sort of patients - kids - who make for great campaign backdrops.
Two problems with that.
The first is the Clinton campaign picked an outdoor courtyard for its event. This isn't balmy North Carolina here: It's cloudy and 48 degrees in Portland right now. The outdoor heaters at the edges of the courtyard don't seem to be helping much.
The second problem: Clinton is late.
As a result, the assembled photographers and cameramen here are busying themselves filming young, shivering hospital patients in the front row. Some of the children have Type-1 diabetes. Some are waiting on medical procedures later today. Most are wrapped in thin blankets as they wait for the senator.
Clinton's campaign just released a preview of her remarks. "I'm in this race is because I believe in universal health care,"she says. "I've been fighting to cover everyone - no exceptions, no excuses - as long as you've known me."
Perhaps she could start by covering the kids here in some thicker quilts.
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Comments
Cheap Shot.
Not entirely unexpected from the newspaper that endorsed Bush over Gore, Bush over Kerry.
Posted by: Golden oldie | May 9, 2008 1:00 PM
We all know the reason for this short smear piece. The journalists are pissed with their one star accommodation standing out in the cold waiting for Clinton reduced to filming some non news worthy children. The horror. I soooo prefer the way Mark Silva presents his information to this. I hope his boss reads this--Mark Silva needs a raise.
Posted by: Sam Adams | May 9, 2008 1:06 PM
That's the second wheel to fall off the Clinton bandwagon! One more and it is ready for history's heap!!! Come on, Senator Clinton join Senator Obama's campaign and help elect a Democrat to our White House. Believe it or not, thanks to your campaign, there will be a woman President in the not too distant future. For now, help elect the candidate of your Party, Senator Obama, to the Presidency!!!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, Chicago | May 9, 2008 2:51 PM
The hell with the kids! They can't vote anyway! They should be honored that the smartest woman in the world was stopping by to exploit them for votes.
Posted by: remus | May 9, 2008 5:25 PM
Yep, just like they would be left out in the cold under her proposed health care package.
Posted by: Rick/Sneads Ferry, NC | May 10, 2008 4:35 PM