May 1, 2008 issue
It’s a Bird! It’s a Plane! It’s a Hillary Clinton Car!
Arizona Artist Traversing the Country in Automotive Ode to Clinton
Story by David Brewer
Bisbee, Arizona’s Gretchen Baer is a driving force behind the Hillary Clinton presidential campaign. Literally. Baer is the driver of the HillCar: a painted, decorated vehicle that serves as a mobile monument to Clinton. Baer and the HillCar arrived in Boone late Monday night and spent much of Tuesday cruising the High Country, drumming up support for Clinton.
In addition to creating and driving the HillCar, Baer started the Hillary Clinton Army, a group of Clinton supporter nearly 1,000 strong across the country who are dedicated to putting the New York senator in the White House through grassroots efforts.
“The Hillary Clinton Army puts the party back in the democratic party,” said Baer, adding that most H.C.A. events revolve around art, music and having a great time. “Somebody’s got to phone bank, just not the H.C.A.”
In recent months, Baer, decked in her custom decorated Hillary pantsuits (she calls them HillSuits), has taken the HillCar to campaign stops in Arizona, Texas, Pennsylvania, and now North Carolina.
“I’ve never been political in the slightest in my life,” Baer said. “She’s a brilliant, smart, incredible woman. I said to myself back in the early ‘90s, ‘If Hillary Clinton runs for president, I’ll do anything I can to help.’”
In addition to cruising around and meeting people in the HillCar, Baer and local friends Jennifer Garland and Melissa Reaves are planning to wear their HillSuits and take the Clinton campaign into the bars.
During her HillCar campaign stops, Baer has personally encountered the Clintons on a number of occasions. Her website, www.hillaryclintonarmy.blogspot.com, features several pictures of her mugging with various Clintons during her journey. She also received a call from members of the Rodham family thanking her for her efforts.
“They just told me that Hillary loves the HillCar and loves the HillSuits,” said Baer.
While Baer is spending her own money to travel the United States in support of Clinton, she hopes to possibly receive some financial support to keep the HillCar rolling until the end of the campaign.
“Hopefully I’ll get some kind of funding and I’ll just keep going,” said Baer. “I’m so fired up about Hillary Clinton that I just want to devote all my time to it.”
For more info on the HillCar or the Hillary Clinton Army, click to www.myspace.com/hillaryclintonarmy.
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