Former President Clinton addresses criticisms in Michigan City campaign stop

by Leanne Tokars (ltokars@wsbt.com)

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A woman dons a T-shirt in support of Sen. Hillary Clinton while waiting in line to see former President Bill Clinton speak at Elston Middle School in Michigan City on May 1, 2008. (WSBT photo)

By Beth Boehne

Story Created: May 1, 2008 at 4:18 PM EST

Story Updated: May 4, 2008 at 9:12 PM EST

MICHIGAN CITY — Former President Bill Clinton took on recent criticism over Sen. Hillary Clinton's plan to fix high gas prices during a visit to Michigan City Thursday night. He spoke for about 45 minutes in front of a crowd of about 1,500 at Elston Middle School.

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But his big focus at the event was making the economy work for ordinary people. He says it's cities like Michigan City that have helped his wife in the race.

When it comes to gas prices, he said Hillary Clinton wants to increase the supply by diverting oil from the strategic oil reserve, suspend the federal gas tax and get oil companies to pay a fee.

It's something he says he knew from the beginning would get criticism.

"I have two responses to that. The first is she never said anybody could lower oil prices over the long run. She knows we've got to use less oil to travel. She knows you need higher mileage vehicles, but we can't get them tomorrow. We have Americans today who are choosing every single day between filling up their gas tanks and putting food on their table or buying medicine," Bill Clinton told the crowd.

He also said he doesn't believe oil will ever go below $100 a barrel.

He said long term, more incentives are needed for those who make and those who buy fuel efficient vehicles.

But perhaps the biggest cheers inside the school's gymnasium came when he talked about his wife's plan to get rid of the No Child Left Behind Act.

This was one of 15 stops for the former president in Indiana in just three days. He's scheduled to make stops in Warsaw, Plymouth and LaPorte on Saturday.

For more election headlines and voter resources, go to WSBT.com's Campaign ‘08 section.

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