Former U.S. President Clinton speaks at Penn
February 28, 2008 by Christopher Wink
Filed under Articles, Featured, News
Former U.S. President Bill Clinton gave the opening address of a two day conference on inequality at the University of Pennsylvania this morning.
“In the last decade, inequality has returned with a vengeance, and it has a racial aspect,” Clinton told an audience of more than 500 to open the Kerner Plus-40 symposium. “It leaves in its wake, a quiet disillusionment.”
The name of the symposium refers to former Democratic Governor of Illinois Otto Kerner, Jr., who chaired the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders. It was formed in July 1967 by then-U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson to investigate causes of the race riots that were plaguing the country. Tomorrow is the 40th anniversary of the commissions’ findings being released, Feb. 29, 1968.
The speech was held in the Great Hall of Irvine Auditorium at 34th and Spruce Streets on Penn’s campus. Clinton was scheduled to come on at 11 a.m., but didn’t begin until after 11:40 a.m. He was introduced by Amy Gutmann, Penn’s president.
“He is a life-giving force, an American icon, an extraordinary leader,” Gutmann said.
Clinton, who served as president from 1993 to 2000, spoke for roughly an hour, on subjects as varied as the mortgage crisis, the prospect of a national recession, college aid, and childhood obesity. During his speech, he made no mention of his wife’s candidacy for the Democratic Party nomination for President. Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) is involved in a heated two-candidate race with Barack Obama (D-Ill.).
The former president’s theme was what social change requires government action and what doesn’t.
“Government policy matters,” Clinton said. “The failure of government policy matters.”
But a recurring focus was, like the symposium he was introducing, about access.
“I wouldn’t spend five minutes celebrating,” he said. “Not with inequality still growing.”
He mentioned regrets of his presidency, things he didn’t accomplish because, as he mentioned, his “party lost control of Congress.” Those regrets involved offering more low interest, federal loans for low-income students hoping to attend college and growing education programs in prisons.
“We say we’re a country of second chance,” he said. “We don’t mean it.”
The Kerner Plus-40 is a joint project of Penn’s Center for Africana Studies and Annenberg School for Communication, with the Institute for Advanced Journalism Studies at North Carolina A&T State University. At 1:30 p.m. today, the symposium, which concludes tomorrow at 3 p.m., opened with the continued separation of access in U.S. society.
After his speech, he was interviewed by DeWayne Wickham, director of the North Carolina A&T’s journalism institute, and Tukufu Zuberi, the Lasry Family Professor Race Relations at Penn. The panel includes a number of free and open-to-the-public kernerplus40.org.
Christopher Wink can be reached at cwink@temple.edu.
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Bill Clinton had his time, but his days of old school, say anything to be liked version of politics is over. Anyways, Chris Wink is still the man and I’m glad that you were able to cover this story.
http://sethandray.wordpress.com/2008/03/20/barack-obamas-campaign-managers-seth-and-ray/
BELOW — IS WHAT WAS SENT TO FOX NEWS
Please do yourself a favor and spend a few minutes of your time to see and hear the FULL SERMONS of Obama’s Pastor and then let your conscious speak. As a Christian this is your moral duty. Hope fully you as FOX EXECUTIVES will then pass this on to Hannity & Co-conspirators.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvMbeVQj6Lw
Re: God Damn America
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOdlnzkeoyQ
Re: The chickens have come to roost
I read watch your TV on a regular bases Yes! in Politics (people, newspapers etc.) often differ in opinions. This is natural human trait. BUT to manipulate and give out false news and info is very distressing especially when it concerns ones faith.
I am a non-christian & it does bother me when Christians bash other Christians with false accusations. May God bless you and open up your heart. If you have to say something, do it —but do it without a prejudiced mind.
Last but not the least — if this Obama Bashing continues — I will stop using your channel and worst – I will write to all advertizers about the same.
PS: VERY IMPORTANT : Worth checking this out
Neo Nazi/White Supremacist Hal Turner Confirms Friendship And Kinship With Sean Hannity of FOX NEWS.
Reported by Ellen —Just Google “News Hounds”
Bill Clinton speech – test skills for Obama !!!
While Bill Clinton’s speech on the third night of the convention will only be a courtesy accorded former presidents, Obama — who speaks tomorrow, the last night of the convention — needs his support desperately.