NORTH LITTLE ROCK -- Bill Clinton touted his wife Friday as someone who can bridge the partisan divide and has the best experience to address the world's challenges, as the former president returned to Arkansas to help her White House bid and boost a state Democratic Party that has been routed by Republicans in recent years.
Headlining the Arkansas Democratic Party's annual Jefferson Jackson Dinner, the former president complained about "road rage" among Democrats and Republicans that's fueled by legitimate resentment about income inequality and other economic issues. He portrayed his wife, presumptive Democratic nominee and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, as the one best prepared to address that resentment.
"She can give us the space by working with other countries to grow so we can bring them along," Bill Clinton told a crowd of about 2,000 people. "We can move away from all this anger and all this resentment and hatred to a future that all our children can share together."
Clinton mocked Donald Trump's proposal to build a wall between the U.S. and Mexico, joking that the billionaire and presumptive Republican nominee would pay for it by borrowing money and installing slot machines in them. He also took aim at Trump's proposal to restrict Muslims from entering the U.S.
"Not every Muslim is trying to kill you. ... We can't stop the crazies without their help," Clinton said.
Clinton said people "could be forgiven for thinking things are going to hell in a handbasket," citing a string of tragedies that have happened in recent weeks, including the fatal shooting of five Dallas policemen earlier this month and Thursday's truck attack that killed 84 people in Nice, France. He said Democrats need to make sure that voters aren't driven primarily by resentment, fear or anger.
"We've got to do a better job of explaining to people that we're in it for them and that anybody that spends all their time trying to keep you mad at somebody else is not really your friend," he said. "They want your vote, not a better life for you."
The party said it expected to raise about $500,000 from the fundraiser, which will be the last to feature the names of Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson. Jefferson and Jackson are considered founders of the Democratic Party, but their ownership of slaves has drawn increased scrutiny in recent years
Party Chairman Vince Insalaco in May announced that a committee would recommend a new name for the fundraiser early next year. Insalaco said he has recommended the committee not name the fundraiser after a specific person.
"I'd rather it be something we can stick with for a long time because if they put a person's name on it, 10 years from now they're going to want to change it again," Insalaco told reporters Friday night.
Clinton, who served 12 years as Arkansas governor, headlined the fundraiser as Democrats are trying to rebound from a series of losses in recent elections that have turned his home state solidly red. Republicans hold all statewide and federal offices in Arkansas, and control both chambers of the Legislature. Insalaco said he thinks having a Clinton at the top of the presidential ticket again will help energize Democrats in the state after those losses.
"There is just such a deep personal connection between the Clintons and Arkansas," said Insalaco, a longtime friend of the Clinton family.
State Desk on 07/17/2016