Clintons, at Queens temple, pledge support for tsunami relief effort (Caption time!)

Staten Island Advance ^ | 12/31/04 | DEEPTI HAJELA

[Libloather]

Clintons, at Queens temple, pledge support for tsunami relief effort
12/31/2004, 5:28 p.m. ET
By DEEPTI HAJELA
The Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — Former President Clinton and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton toured a Buddhist temple in Queens on Friday and pledged their support of relief efforts for the tsunami victims in Asia.

The temple, on a residential street in the Parkside Hill neighborhood, was a hive of activity as volunteers packed boxes of clothes and other supplies being shipped to Sri Lanka, where about 28,500 people were killed by the raging tidal waves last weekend.

"It is very heartwarming to see the outpouring of efforts by the people here," Hillary Clinton said, after she and her husband had toured the site and spent some time speaking privately to the temple's leaders.

Clinton said she and other elected officials would assist the relief efforts any way they could. She highlighted the need for a particular kind of donation — shipping containers for material being sent by sea, as well as free air transport to get material to the devastated regions as soon as possible.

Bill Clinton emphasized that donations would be used effectively, as the Queens temple is connected to other temples in Sri Lanka.

"They can deliver directly to the most in need through their network of temples there, and I think that's very important," he said.

Clinton said he would spend the next few days focusing on helping with the transportation needs.

"I think, like all Americans, I just want to make as much of an effective contribution as I can," he said.

He also said that he and his wife would make a "substantial" contribution to the relief efforts.

Relief money and aid has poured in from all over the world in the wake of the earthquake and tsunami, which killed more than 121,000 people along thousands of miles of Asian and African coast. On Friday, the United States raised the amount it was giving to $350 million from $35 million after criticism that it was being stingy.

Hillary Clinton said she had no doubt Americans would be generous in responding to the crisis — as individuals and as a nation.

"I'm very confident that the generosity of the American people will rise to the task, and this is not just an obligation for today and tomorrow, this is an obligation for weeks and months," she said, adding that Americans have to "be there for people in the long run, and we will be."

[Libloather]

Sen. Hillary Clinton , D-N.Y. center left, shakes hands with Director of the New York Buddhist Vihara, Indrawansa Jayalaph, upon arriving at the temple with Former President Bill Clinton , not shown, to meet with local religious leaders and tsunami relief workers, in the Queens borough of New York, Friday, Dec. 31, 2004. The Clintons toured the Buddhist temple in Queens on Friday where volunteers were gathering supplies for tsunami victims in Sri Lanka and pleged their support for the relief effort. (AP Photo/Jennifer Szymaszek)

[borntobeagle]

I know this is OT, but Clinton looks horrible. He looks like he's lost too many pounds.

[Swanks]

More people in the orbit of the Clinonista - simply being used for some press coverage.

[ChadGore]

"Indeed I did . . ."

[IncPen]

They should ask for relief funds for their own party

Bwa hahahahahahahaha. God, I just kill myself.

[pamlet]

I just said the same thing to my husband... he looks feeble.

[VRWC For Truth]

Are you sure that isn't the peanut farmer from GA? ;)

[darkwing104]

Hillary Clinton started her 2008 Presidential election bid today at a buddist campaign fund raiser.

[Rummyfan]

Billy Jeff looks horrible. Is he suffering from something that has not been disclosed (alright Freepers, there's an opening for responses if there ever was one!)?

[bitt]

His TORSO has lost weight, but his NOSE hasn't...

[Piquaboy]

What a way to start off a new year. Pictures of these two makes me want to drive the porcelain bus again.

[hershey]

Bill does look bad. The white hair doesn't help, either.

[OldFriend]

Blood disease. Either hepatitus or some other malady. Clearly he is quite ill.

[mdittmar]

Don't think we'll see al gore going for a photo op!

Bwa hahahahahahahaha

[linn37]

Mrs. Clinton pledges her husbands used underwear again.

[Drango]

Did Al Gore get any donations?

[AngrySpud]

The 'Toon: "Did the tsunami unearth any good lookin' mummies?"

[backhoe]

Good Lord, he looks positively gruesome. Much as I dislike the critter, I hate to see that.

[nj26]

This was on the local NY news. It is amazing how much glowingly positive, free publicity this woman gets.

By 2007, the networks will be calling her Saint Hillary of Ark.