Barry Richard – How Likely Is It That Hillary Clinton Will Make Amends With New Bedford Over Convention Dig?

Does Democrat Presidential Nominee Hillary Clinton owe New Bedford an apology?  At least two members of the City Council believe that she does and are demanding it.

City Councilors Henry Bousquet and Kerry Winterson believe Democrat Presidential Nominee Hillary Clinton played fast and loose with the truth about her time spent in New Bedford more than 40 years ago and they want an apology from the former First Lady.

During her acceptance speech at the DNC last month Mrs. Clinton, who as a member of the Children's Defense Fund in 1973 recalled  "going door to door"  in New Bedford   "on behalf of children with disabilities who were denied the chance to go to school."  She said, "I remember meeting a young girl in a wheelchair on the small back porch of her house."  Mrs. Clinton said the girl, "wanted to go to school - it just didn't seem possible."

Well, the folks who were in power at the time recall Clinton's remarks as being pure bunk, that New Bedford was ahead of the curve and actually did provide access to education to those kids with disabilities.  Bousquet and Winterson feel as though Mrs. Clinton's remarks were inaccurate and could potentially cause harm to the city and those who were in leadership positions at the time and they want a  retraction.

The Written motion, to be presented at tomorrow (Thursday's) Council meeting reads as follows:
Item Detail:
8.     WRITTEN MOTION, Councillors Bousquet and Winterson, requesting, that a letter be sent to Democrat candidate for president Hillary Clinton, asking that she apologize to New Bedford for disparaging its educational progress in the 1970's, our City documented progressive accomplishments that were made during the Edward F. Harrington and John A. Markey Administrations and is credited with being part of the Massachusetts model of high standards in educational excellence.

I believe Mrs. Clinton owes the people of New Bedford some clarification of the issue at the very least.  Will it happen? Don't hold your breath.