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Hillary Clinton keynote speaker at Democrat dinner
April 28, 2003
Associated Press

SOUTHINGTON, Conn. -- In a fiery speech Monday night, U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton accused the Bush administration of having the worst economic policies since Herbert Hoover, with no real plan to end the nation's fiscal troubles.

Clinton, D-N.Y., told about 1,550 Connecticut Democrats that an increasing number of Americans are unhappy with Bush's policies.

"There is an unease," she told the party faithful gathered at the Democrats' annual Jefferson Jackson Bailey dinner in Southington. "People know better than what they hear and what they see."

Clinton accused Bush of squandering the surpluses that accumulated during the administration of her husband, former President Bill Clinton.

"In just two years, the country again faces hefty budget deficits," she said. "We are, unfortunately, reaping the bad consequences of a wrong economic policy. They have the most wrong-headed economic policies that we've seen since Herbert Hoover."

She said many people, including some Republican lawmakers, have told her they worry about what she characterized as a Republican tax-cutting agenda that she compared to a snake oil salesman.

Clinton claimed Bush's tax-cut plan favors the wealthy while sacrificing the programs that Americans care about, such as public education, prescription drug coverage, child care and a clean environment.

She received a standing ovation when she angrily said it was unfair for critics of Bush's policies to be accused of being unpatriotic.

"We are Americans," she said. "We have the right to participate and debate any administration."

Numerous protesters with different causes showed up.

Some were escorted out by Democratic officials and Southington police during Clinton's speech, and another talk by Sen. Joe Lieberman's wife, Hadassah. They protested what they say is the killing of Iraqi and Palestinian children.

"Hillary's killing babies," some shouted.

In addition, 30 protesters outside criticized Lieberman, D-Conn., as being little different from Bush.

"Bush-Lieberman 2004. GOP Dream Team," one sign read.

A small contingent of laid-off state employees also attended the dinner. They wore T-shirts with messages criticizing the two top Democratic leaders of the legislature - House Speaker Moira Lyons and Senate President Pro Tem Kevin Sullivan - for failing to restore their jobs.

"We don't want people to forget about us," said Mark Williams, a Department of Transportation employee. "I think they did what they had to do to pass a budget, but they gave up very quickly."

Sullivan, D-West Hartford, said he sympathizes with the workers because everyone - the legislature, Republican Gov. John G. Rowland and the public employees' unions - are to blame for the layoffs.

"They got screwed and they deserve the chance to say that anywhere they want," he said.

Democrats expected to raise $350,000 from the dinner, which also featured comedian-actor Chevy Chase.