Clinton cleared of e-mail issue, cheers in Cleveland for her “look to the future”

Clinton with American Basketball star LeBron James at the Cleveland rally 

The Public Auditorium in Cleveland was where the first concert of the famous musical group Beatles was held, we are told by our Programme Coordinator Liz A. Dorn. It was the location for the Clinton grand rally which LeBron James was holding in support of the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party.

Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton stepped into the Cleveland Public Auditorium in a beautiful pant suit in a shade of sea green to rapturous applause. The applause was more amplified than usual. The news of Hillary Clinton having been cleared of any investigation on the e-mail issue had only been just received and her followers gathered went ballistic with the latest news.  

The FBI Director said a fresh inquiry into the Democratic candidate’s communications found nothing to change the bureau’s earlier conclusion. The Clinton campaign said that they were “glad the lingering issue has been resolved”.

The 69-year-old Clinton took the stage with her usual confidence and LeBron James, American professional Basketball star introduced Clinton as “Madam President”. 

James was accompanied on stage by team mate J.R. Smith, as well as Smith’s daughter. He said: “With my charitable foundation giving the kids the assurance that someone cares about them – that’s what they dream about that someone like myself, and J.R…,” pausing for effect added, “and President Hilary Clinton,” can make their dreams become a reality. “This is very important to me,” he said. Giving more emphasis to the word “President” added to the introduction had the jam-packed audience in the hall breaking into thunderous applause. 

James was campaigning for Clinton in the swing state of Ohio hoping that he, an Akron native who just brought Cleveland its first major sports title in 52 years, could use his considerable popularity to help get out the vote for her, particularly among African Americans.     

Clinton praised the Cavaliers superstar for his basketball skills and “what he does off the court”. Clinton said what he does off the court is “to care for each child as though that child was his own.” He is using the national platform as a baseball player he earned to advocate for children.  

Clinton’s rally here this evening came hot on the heels of yet another rally of here on Friday where she hosted a free concert with the rapper Jay Z and his wife Beyoncé Carter Knowles.

Clinton said: “The election is about the future… our American values have been tested.” She spoke of people who come up to speak to her in the street or in the coffee shop and take her hand and speak to her. “There’s a lot of frustration and anger in the election,” she added. “It is very important to go and vote,” she stressed. 

“I really believe in hard work … I believe everybody needs to be paid fairly … and the minimum wage should be raised. There’s lot of work to be done and there are jobs to be done by the workers right here in Ohio. We are going to grow our economy from the middle out … and not from the top down,” she declared.

She also spoke of the importance of education. “Another barrier we need to knock down is making college affordable for everyone. I believe a good education is a good investment.”

Winding up her speech she stressed the importance of the vote again and said that “elections are about the future… we have a lot of work to do… nobody should sit this one out… I want a better, fairer, stronger America” and ended with the words “Love trumps hate, thank you.”She walked towards the crowd and helped take a number of selfies and looked absolutely relaxed.

Pix by Liz A. Dorn, Programme Coordinator East West Centre and Charnika Imbulana