This is a wonderful story. High school students Megan Adam, Abby Schulte and Kylea Tinnes from Keota High School in Keota, Iowa were participating in a project to improve their community and they came up with the brilliant idea to bring presidential candidates to their school to talk about small towns. They got Rick Santorum to visit and also Martin O’Malley. But they were really hoping for Hillary Clinton. They called their campaign “Keota Hopes for Hillary” and even created a Twitter account to get more supporters.
Local Hillary campaign organizers brought some of the Keota students to the Jefferson Jackson dinner and they spoke to Hillary at the rope line and invited her. More invitations followed. Hillary Clinton heard their call, she heard it loud and clear, “I am coming to Keota. I am coming,” Hillary promised.
And she fulfilled that promise today. Hillary Clinton held a town-hall meeting at Keota High school. Almost 70% of the entire town showed up
“Hillary is paying attention to the little guy today, and it is amazing,” Schulte, one of the original conspirators said to the assembled people, before Clinton spoke. And then our candidate took the stage. And she addressed issues of education, violence, and bullying. She spoke about the importance of keeping schools open, “As president, what I’d be looking for are schools that exceed expectations. And I don’t care whether they are urban, suburban or rural… I am very partial toward districts that are doing well, and from everything I can tell this one is.”
The most emotional moment came toward the end when a student, Hannah Tandy asked Clinton what she can do about bullying since she herself had been bullied because of her asthma. Clinton hugged Hannah and thanked her for speaking out against bullying.
And here is the video. Hannah Tandy in all her bravery, Hillary Clinton, in all her compassion,
“I think we all need to be aware of the pain and anguish bullying can cause,” she said, “I don't think a lot of people who do it really understand how it makes other people feel.” And then she lit into Trump, “We shouldn't let anybody bully themselves into the presidency, because that is not who we are as Americans.”
I leave you with some tweets and images from the event