Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., is introduced prior to delivering a housing policy speech, Monday, March 24, 2008, during a campaign stop at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
Story Created:
Apr 12, 2008 at 2:04 PM EDT
Story Updated:
Apr 12, 2008 at 6:47 PM EDT
MISHAWAKA — Sen. Hillary Clinton told workers at AM General’s Humvee plant Saturday that she’ll get tough on China.
About 100 men and women who build the military vehicles attended the private gathering. Before her discussion, Clinton toured the Humvee assembly line, asking questions about how the ubiquitous military trucks are built.
The New York Democrat said she’s concerned about defense industry jobs being sent to other countries and, if elected president, she would give a complete review to U.S. Department of Defense purchasing practices.
“They’ve been imposing some rules that just don’t make sense to me,” she said.
One of those has to do with axles made for M1-A1 Abrams tanks, which are made in central Indiana.
“We’ve got to start asking some hard questions here,” she said.
Clinton also said she would tackle the problem of industrial espionage, especially as it applies to China. Industrial espionage is the theft of intellectual property, or copyrighted material.
“Some of it, frankly, we’re selling, which make some very concerned,” she said. “Some of it we’re giving away and some of it is being stolen from us.”
And she reiterated her health care plan, which was a main point of discussion the last time she was in Mishawaka, on March 28.
Clinton’s health care plan would allow uninsured people and those unsatisfied with their current coverage to be on the same plan that insures federal workers.
Workers milling around afterward described her appearance as “very neat’’ and praised her for giving a “good presentation.’’
Some were outspoken in their support of Clinton, but others weren’t so sure.
Steve Quimby of South Bend said he was impressed both by Clinton and by Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh, who accompanied her, but he remains undecided about who he will vote for on May 6.
“The union has not endorsed a candidate at this time,’’ Donald Taber, AM General unit chairman for the United Auto Workers, said while waiting for Clinton to arrive.
WSBT's Debra Daniel will have a complete report on Clinton's visit following Masters coverage on WSBT News at 7 p.m.
