By Dave O'Brien
Record-Courier staff writer
At least 200 people braved Tuesday's snow to hear Chelsea Clinton drum up support for her mother, Sen. Hillary Clinton, during a stop at Kent State University.
The former First Daughter thanked the crowd that showed up in a steady snowstorm to hear her speak on behalf of her mother, on a day when classes at KSU were canceled because of the weather.
"I have to admit I'm jealous. When I was in college we didn't get snow days," joked Clinton, a graduate of Stanford University in California. "Just a lot of rain."
Only a few hours before the Democratic debate at Cleveland State University, she told the crowd that she wanted to "help you be a better advocate for my mom."
Students and members of the community, some holding "Hillary for President" signs, asked questions about many of the issues being batted around this election season, from healthcare to the Iraq War to education and jobs in Ohio.
"My mom will end the unfunded mandate known as No Child Left Behind" and push to begin education earlier because "we know the achievement gaps we see ... are visible when kids walk in the door in first grade," Clinton said.
In both primary and higher education, "we need to end the war on science," and "invest in future partnerships with universities in stem cell and global climate research," she said.
Chelsea also pleased the mostly college-going crowd by saying her mother promises to double the maximum Pell Grant available to students to $10,800, provide $3,500 per person in tax credits so more students can afford college and put an end to the "complicated" Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA form, an announcement that drew applause.
As for the Clinton campaign promise of universal healthcare, Chelsea said her mother was talking about universal healthcare in 1993 and 1994 and would bring such a program to 100 million un- or under-insured Americans through tax credits and healthcare parity initiatives.
A Hillary Clinton administration also would close tax loopholes that "reward companies for outsourcing jobs" overseas because "we as Americans should not be subsidizing that," Clinton said. Instead, Hillary Clinton would work to "green" the federal government by insisting on new energy-saving initiatives and subsidize "green" vehicles through the U.S. auto industry.
"We want our car industry to be part of the solution" and a source of job growth again, Chelsea said.
In response to questions from anti-war advocates, Chelsea criticized the Bush administration for getting the United States involved in the Iraq War.
"The tragedy of this administration is its allergy to anything multi-lateral," its adherence to "cowboy diplomacy" and unwillingness to engage nations such as Iran or Syria at the conference table, she said.
In comparison, "my mother actually believes in the Constitution," she said.
After the question and answer session, Chelsea " who turns 28 today " stayed to sign autographs, take photos with her mother's supporters and was serenaded with a rendition of "Happy Birthday To You." She was scheduled to drive to Cleveland Tuesday night to watch her mother debate Sen. Barack Obama.
"You should hold your government accountable for what it's doing and what it's not doing," she said.