Clinton at the diner counter: 'I'll take your order': The Swamp

Posted February 28, 2008 12:19 PM

by Rick Pearson

RIO GRANDE, Ohio — At a dateline that serves the dual purpose of appealing to Ohioans and Texans, Hillary Clinton made a quick stop at the Bob Evans General Store and Restaurant in far southeast Ohio, the original pork-sausage patty venue, farm and homestead of the breakfast baron.

As the smell of steaming hot eggs, biscuits and sausage, bacon and hash browns wafted through a crowd of more than 100 locals, including many from the nearby University of Rio Grande (pronounced Rye-Oh Grand), the New York senator and presidential candidate shook hands with prospective voters in Tuesday’s all-important primary. She heads later in the day to Houston to appeal to Texas voters who hold their primary on the same day.

Clinton posed behind the diner counter with servers and cooks, autographing menu booklets and order forms, accompanied by her usual traveling companion and top ally in the state, Gov. Ted Strickland. “I’ll take your order,” she told the diners.

One of the servers complimented her on how Clinton wrote on an order form, prompting the former first lady to note she had once been a waitress.

"In case this other endeavor doesn't work out,'' Clinton said, "I know I can come back.''

Local Democratic officials in the area, the foothills of the Appalachians about 30 miles north of Huntington, W.Va, alerted residents to Clinton’s visit at the restaurant, which opened in 1962, and located about 300 feet in front of the late Evans’ home.

“Oh yeah,” Herman Reese, who said he was a lifelong Democrat, said when asked if he was a sure vote for Clinton. “I won’t vote for Obama. I am definitely for her.”

Clinton’s visit to the Evans’ homestead followed an earlier stop in Pomeroy where she launched her theme of the day—proposals to combat poverty, including an increase in the minimum wage and an expanded income tax credit as well as improving the food stamp program and tougher food safety rules.

At least one member of Clinton's traveling press corps expressed surprise that Bob Evans had been a real person and not a fictional character. "Don't tell me Jimmy Dean is real, too," said the unnamed journalist, who is apparently not a fan of the country music of decades ago.

Comments

Hilary Clinton panders too much to voters. fake people don't pander and get my vote.

l am from Ohio and l will be voting for Barack Obama.

Posted by: Amanda | February 28, 2008 1:04 PM

Stealing a page from Mark Cuban no doubt.

Posted by: Logic Prisoner | February 28, 2008 1:12 PM

Hillary Clinton shows she is with the working people, for the working people, and cares about the working people of America.

Hillary Clinton is campaigning for the future of America; she is the qualified, experienced, visionary leader America needs to make change real and restore America to properous times and our good standing in the world.

Posted by: crat3 | February 28, 2008 1:55 PM

Hillary is a phoney, fake and a fighter. We already have that in Bush. We need someone who is a uniter, negotiator, and a diplomat. GOBAMA 08!

Posted by: MJ Carter | February 28, 2008 2:16 PM

Yes you may take my order, I'll have a large go away with a side order of please.

Posted by: WB | February 28, 2008 3:07 PM

So whats the scoop with Hiliary, is she hanging onto Barrack as in a worst case situation where she can at least be a vice president.Or maybe she just hopes Barrack will slip from his commanding position and/ or just give up.

The absolute worst sceniro would of course be that Bill decides to make a come back and the two of them run as interdependents.The only thing we can be sure of is that its going to be spectaculiar.

Posted by: John A | February 28, 2008 4:33 PM

I still want to know where she accounted for the $5 million she loaned to the campaign. Why does she continue to refuse to release her tax records?? Obama did...

Posted by: Pete | February 28, 2008 5:01 PM

For a Person who claim she is ready on day one, why is it so hard for her to release her tax records?

We're just an Ordinary family, not super rich like the Clintons but we can present our copies of out tax returns with out any problems. Either she is the most disorganized person around, do we really want her to be Commander in Chief, or she is hiding something, do we really want her to be Commander in Chief?

Posted by: Stop The Madness | February 28, 2008 6:47 PM

I support Hillary and donated to her campaign and hope she is elected president.

The media and voters need to do more research on Obama’s background and record in the Illinois senate and the US senate, now that he is the front-runner. DIG DEEP, ASK HARD QUESTIONS.

If for some bizarre reason Obama becomes the Democratic nominee, more Republican challenges/attacks will follow. Will be a test just how strong Obama and his “kum-ba-yah” rhetoric are.

Posted by: tsr | February 28, 2008 6:51 PM

I'll take a large order of Freedom and have that done by getting the large federal gov't out of our lives.

Posted by: Terry | February 28, 2008 8:44 PM

YOU MIGHT BE AN IDIOT:-)

If you think Barack Obama with little or no experience would be better than Hillary Clinton with 35 years experience.

You Might Be An Idiot!

If you think that Obama with no experience can fix an economy on the verge of collapse better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) led the greatest economic expansion, and prosperity in American history.

If you think that Obama with no experience fighting for universal health care can get it for you better than Hillary Clinton. Who anticipated this current health care crisis back in 1993, and fought a pitched battle against overwhelming odds to get universal health care for all the American people.

If you think that Obama with no experience can manage, and get us out of two wars better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) went to war only when he was convinced that he absolutely had to. Then completed the mission in record time against a nuclear power. AND DID NOT LOSE THE LIFE OF A SINGLE AMERICAN SOLDIER. NOT ONE!

If you think that Obama with no experience saving the environment is better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) left office with the greatest amount of environmental cleanup, and protections in American history.

If you think that Obama with little or no education experience is better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) made higher education affordable for every American. And created higher job demand and starting salary's than they had ever been before or since.

If you think that Obama with no experience will be better than Hillary Clinton who spent 8 years at the right hand of President Bill Clinton. Who is already on record as one of the greatest Presidents in American history.

If you think that you can change the way Washington works with pretty speeches from Obama, rather than with the experience, and political expertise of two master politicians ON YOUR SIDE like Hillary and Bill Clinton..

Best regards

jacksmith...

Posted by: jacksmith | February 29, 2008 7:54 AM

Pander Queen - that is Hillary Clinton. Behind the counter with the workers for the first time in almost 45 years.

Please step down Hillary Clinton - now.

Obama voter

Posted by: Old Lady USA | February 29, 2008 11:48 PM