MDE FROM THE ARCHIVES: KISCADEN ATTACKS HILLARY CLINTON
First lady's visit heavy on hype, some believe
First lady Hillary Rodham Clinton visits with Mayo Clinic Chief Executive Officer Dr. Robert Waller at Friday's health care forum in the Siebens Building.
The forum, called "Minnesota Speaks: Our Hopes for Health Care Reform," was televised in Minnesota and neighboring regions and broadcast via satellite to Mayo's sister locations in Scottsdale, Ariz., and Jacksonville, Fla.
Some of the 250 people who saw first lady Hillary Clinton in person were impressed with her.
But some also acknowledged that the 60-minute program she taped in Rochester on Friday night was heavier on hype than substance.
"There wasn't any content to this," state Sen. Sheila Kiscaden said after Rodham Clinton's appearance at the Mayo Clinic Siebens Building. The Rochester Independent-Republican called the show an "infomercial."
U.S. First District Rep. Tim Penny agreed, saying the program focused more on the need for health care reform than the reform itself. "This was not a nuts and bolts seminar on American health care," the New Richland DFLer said.
Still, this was an appearance by the first lady, and many in the audience had never seen her before.
"She's delightful," state Sen. Pat Piper, DFL-Austin, said. "She's a very bright, very able, very articulate person."
Piper said the most memorable moment was when U.S. Sen. Dave Durenberger, via satellite, made the seemingly presumptuous signal of running his finger under his throat. He was telling Rodham Clinton to cut off a long-winded answer and caused the audience to break into laughter.
David Niedfeldt, 5, who was on stage with Rodham Clinton, stole the show early on when he spoke out of turn freely. "We weren't surprised by that," his father, Steve Niedfeldt, said.
Steve Niedfeldt, of Rochester, said he was impressed with the first lady's health care effort.
"I think she has a sense she's dealing with people," he said. "She cares."
Deb Niedfeldt said she was nervous at first, but Rodham Clinton went out of her way to be kind. The first lady visited with David after the show and presented him with a hat with a presidential seal on it.
"Personally, she was very nice, she was very kind," she said. "I was told she was very good at making people feel comfortable, and she was."
Deb Niedfeldt said she was comforted by the first lady's words about home health care, special needs children and the elimination of pre-existing condition clauses.
"Truly, that's a comfort for us that health care would be provided for David," she said.
She said the American people are smart enough and strong enough to be able to handle knowing that they, not just business, will ultimately pay for the plan.
But she said she is cautionary about believing that the package won't get watered down in Congress. She told the first lady to be bold and to stand her ground.
Former School Board President Pam Smoldt said seeing Rodham Clinton made her proud to be a woman. "I'm so glad to see successful women, and that's how she came across tonight," she said.
Olmsted County Board Chair Mike Podulke said small business people clearly have a concern about their health insurance costs doubling or tripling, but it's not clear yet whether their concerns are warranted.
"The numbers haven't come out," Podulke said. "That's where it could come unglued."
Penny said the key to the plan's success is getting cooperation from Democrats and Republicans.
He said the program, which featured interviews via satellite from three locations, was well done. "Dr. Waller looked like a natural up there," he said.
Robert Waller, president and chief executive officer of Mayo Foundation, was a sort of David Brinkley for the event. He served as moderator, feeding questions to Rodham Clinton and the guests.
And he seemed at ease during the program, quipping to the smartly dressed David Niedfeldt during the program, "I wish we all had a bow tie like that."
Waller said afterwards "I thought it was a high honor for Rochester to have her visit Mayo Clinic." Source: Rochester-Post Bulletin, September 18, 1993
First lady Hillary Rodham Clinton visits with Mayo Clinic Chief Executive Officer Dr. Robert Waller at Friday's health care forum in the Siebens Building.
The forum, called "Minnesota Speaks: Our Hopes for Health Care Reform," was televised in Minnesota and neighboring regions and broadcast via satellite to Mayo's sister locations in Scottsdale, Ariz., and Jacksonville, Fla.
Some of the 250 people who saw first lady Hillary Clinton in person were impressed with her.
But some also acknowledged that the 60-minute program she taped in Rochester on Friday night was heavier on hype than substance.
"There wasn't any content to this," state Sen. Sheila Kiscaden said after Rodham Clinton's appearance at the Mayo Clinic Siebens Building. The Rochester Independent-Republican called the show an "infomercial."
U.S. First District Rep. Tim Penny agreed, saying the program focused more on the need for health care reform than the reform itself. "This was not a nuts and bolts seminar on American health care," the New Richland DFLer said.
Still, this was an appearance by the first lady, and many in the audience had never seen her before.
"She's delightful," state Sen. Pat Piper, DFL-Austin, said. "She's a very bright, very able, very articulate person."
Piper said the most memorable moment was when U.S. Sen. Dave Durenberger, via satellite, made the seemingly presumptuous signal of running his finger under his throat. He was telling Rodham Clinton to cut off a long-winded answer and caused the audience to break into laughter.
David Niedfeldt, 5, who was on stage with Rodham Clinton, stole the show early on when he spoke out of turn freely. "We weren't surprised by that," his father, Steve Niedfeldt, said.
Steve Niedfeldt, of Rochester, said he was impressed with the first lady's health care effort.
"I think she has a sense she's dealing with people," he said. "She cares."
Deb Niedfeldt said she was nervous at first, but Rodham Clinton went out of her way to be kind. The first lady visited with David after the show and presented him with a hat with a presidential seal on it.
"Personally, she was very nice, she was very kind," she said. "I was told she was very good at making people feel comfortable, and she was."
Deb Niedfeldt said she was comforted by the first lady's words about home health care, special needs children and the elimination of pre-existing condition clauses.
"Truly, that's a comfort for us that health care would be provided for David," she said.
She said the American people are smart enough and strong enough to be able to handle knowing that they, not just business, will ultimately pay for the plan.
But she said she is cautionary about believing that the package won't get watered down in Congress. She told the first lady to be bold and to stand her ground.
Former School Board President Pam Smoldt said seeing Rodham Clinton made her proud to be a woman. "I'm so glad to see successful women, and that's how she came across tonight," she said.
Olmsted County Board Chair Mike Podulke said small business people clearly have a concern about their health insurance costs doubling or tripling, but it's not clear yet whether their concerns are warranted.
"The numbers haven't come out," Podulke said. "That's where it could come unglued."
Penny said the key to the plan's success is getting cooperation from Democrats and Republicans.
He said the program, which featured interviews via satellite from three locations, was well done. "Dr. Waller looked like a natural up there," he said.
Robert Waller, president and chief executive officer of Mayo Foundation, was a sort of David Brinkley for the event. He served as moderator, feeding questions to Rodham Clinton and the guests.
And he seemed at ease during the program, quipping to the smartly dressed David Niedfeldt during the program, "I wish we all had a bow tie like that."
Waller said afterwards "I thought it was a high honor for Rochester to have her visit Mayo Clinic." Source: Rochester-Post Bulletin, September 18, 1993
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