Plains woman talks hair with Hillary

One of the highlights reported in the news of Senator Hillary Clinton’s visit to Missoula had nothing to do with her stance on taxes, her thoughts on the war in Iran or even her views of global warming — it was her hair. And all because of a comment by a Plains woman.

During a speech at Neptune Aviation in Missoula April 6, Clinton was telling the audience the various reasons why people would not support a candidate, including hairstyle. With a lull in the crowd cheer, Plains resident Susan Schroedel yelled, “Your hair looks fabulous!” Clinton looked over in Schroedel’s direction, but it wasn’t until the New York senator was shaking hands with the crowd after her speech that someone pointed out that it was Schroedel who made the remark about Clinton’s hair.

Clinton is a candidate vying for the Democratic nomination for U.S. president against Barack Obama, a U.S. senator from Illinois. Both made stops in Missoula as part of their campaign trail.

Schroedel said she was honored that Clinton talked with her after the near hour-long speech in front of about 1,500 people. Schroedel did most of the talking during her three-minute chat with the Democratic candidate.

“I told her that I could see why she was elected by the people of New York to be their senator,” Schroedel. “She has moxie, brains, and yes, she is indeed beautiful in person.” Schroedel told Clinton she was a Republican who “felt like a porkchop n a synagogue at a Democratic rally.”

Schroedel said that Clinton thanked her and told her she couldn’t imagine what her comments meant to her. She told Schroedel she had her hair done in Missoula that morning and hoped someone would notice. Schroedel said that Clinton’s aide was moved to tears over what she said to the senator.

The hair episode didn’t end there. It was picked up on local and national news. Schroedel said Reuters, a worldwide news wire service, along with KECI television and KPAX radio mentioned Schroedel’s comments.

Though Schroedel is a “staunch Republican,” she felt it was her obligation as a U.S. citizen and voter to be fully informed about each candidate. She and Jennifer Morgan, also of Plains, attended the Clinton speech together. Schroedel was impressed with what Clinton had to say and believes she’s an intelligent person who “offered real solutions to the problems and had a full understanding of the difficulties that lie ahead for the next president.”

Schroedel believes Clinton has a good plan to address the healthcare issues and how sub-prime lending market has impacted the economy. She said the senator spoke the entire time without notes or teleprompters. “She has an incredible command for the facts,” said Schroedel, who added that Clinton was an “amazing speaker” and warm and approachable in person.

In addition, Schroedel respects Clinton for rising above what happened to her when her husband was in the White House. “I have a lot of admiration for her. She went through a lot of public humiliation during the time Bill Clinton was president. “And she rose above that. It’s hard not to admire somebody for that.”

And regardless of Clinton’s political stance, Schroedel said it was an honor to be in the presence of someone so accomplished.

Schroedel also went to the Obama speech in Missoula days before, but was unimpressed with him. She said he said the same things he’s been saying on television. “It was more like a rock concert,” said Schroedel, who also noted that there were about 8,000 people at his speech at the University of Montana. After Obama’s speech, Schroedel was interviewed by a local TV and a reporter from the National Public Radio, but she said no mention was made of Obama’s hair.

She said she’s on the fence between Clinton and Senator John McCain. “Right now, I’m leaning toward Hillary. Schroedel said that if McCain were to speak nearly anywhere in Montana, she’d try to attend.