The Clinton Kaine bus rolled into Pittsburgh Saturday to a thunderous welcome from thousands of excited fans in the City of Champions.
Entrepreneur Mark Cuban introduced Hillary at a rally just one day after endorsing her for president. It was appropriate that a local boy made good who created lots of jobs would be the opener at an event where Hillary and Kaine spent most of the evening talking about jobs.
"I'm ready to vote for a true leader. I'm ready to vote for the American Dream," said the owner of the Dallas Mavericks, Landmark Theaters and Magnolia Pictures. "I'm ready to tell the world that I'm here to endorse Hillary Clinton."
"I want each and every one of you to know ... in Hillary Clinton's America, the American Dream is alive and well. And there's no place that knows that better than Pittsburgh because we are an American Dream city."
Cuban, whose muscular body and youthful looks belie his 57 years, has been vocal in the 2016 presidential election, mostly slamming Donald Trump for his controversial remarks and policy positions after originally applauding his campaign early on. With plenty of Pittsburgh pride, he talked up his business record, from his first jobs to his hit show "Shark Tank," which he said "kicked 'The Apprentice's' ass," a dig at Donald Trump's own investing show.
"In Hillary Clinton, the American dream is alive and well," he said. "Leadership is not yelling and screaming and intimidating.
"You know what we call a person like that in Pittsburgh? A jagoff."
Tim Kaine spoke next and had the crowd roaring "No" when he repeatedly asked if they believed Trump.
There were huge and sustained cheers when Hillary then took the stage, with the crowd waving American flags. She talked about long car rides as a child from outside Chicago via Pittsburgh to Scranton, where she was born. The bus tour, she said, was a "sentimental" trip that brings her joy.
"I know a lot of great things are happening here in Pittsburgh." She said she wants to create more jobs, increase incomes and "create an opportunity society where if you do your part, you're going to get ahead and stay ahead. That's the basic bargain of America."
"I've seen what Pittsburgh has done," she said. "I've had a first-hand look at how this great American city has reinvented itself. It didn't happen by people insulting each other, or people pointing fingers and demeaning each other."
Hillary stressed the parts of her platform devoted to job creation -- rebuilding the electric grid, bringing broadband to every home and business, supporting workers in unions and trades and providing free preschool and community college educations. "I love teachers," she said to rousing applause.
She praised Cuban, saying, "What he exemplifies is the American dream. But what he understands is, the dream gets bigger the more you share it."
She made few references to Trump, but like other speakers, reminded us that Trump's merchandise is made overseas and not in Pa, contradicting his boasts that he will bring jobs back to America. In a humorous reference to her husband's colorful sports shirt, Hillary said that Bill had asked her that morning what shirt he should wear. She replied "Bus tour dress" and he picked out that one. "The interesting thing is that it is made in Pa in a place called Bill's. "
After the rally Hillary, Tim and Bill worked the rope line for 40 minutes before boarding the bus for another rally in Youngstown, Ohio. Judging by the animated talk amongst folks heading for the exits, Hillary's focus on job creation was exactly the right note to strike in a region where there has been some recovery, but more growth and more jobs are badly needed.
Back in 1992, Jim Carville, Bill Clinton's campaign strategist, coined the phrase, "The economy, stupid." Today, it seems that Hillary's campaign strategist, John Podesta ( a native of Pa who stood smilingly to the side of the stage), should coin the phrase, "The Jobs, Stupid."
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July 30, 2016
