On Thursday, we talked to older adults in Milwaukee about what they think of Hillary Clinton becoming the first female nominee for President. Today, we visit with seniors in Cudahy. Some are setting a high bar for Clinton. John Franecki is tooling around the lunchroom in his scooter. The 91-year-old says he’s seen a lot in his lifetime, and he’s pleased that he’s lived to see the first female presidential nominee.
“She did break the glass ceiling.” But, Franecki says Hillary Clinton has her work cut out for her, if she is elected. He hopes Clinton would rein-in federal spending but says she would need the cooperation of the legislative branch.
“We’re losing our country and to survive, we have to reduce our debt. That’s the biggest problem and we all have to get together, the Congress and the Senate and the House of Representatives have to get together,” Franecki says.
Another person dining is Keith Livens, a retired public school teacher. He says it’s about time for a woman to be President. But, Livens feels Hillary Clinton would have to work harder than a man, to prove herself.
“She’s got to have jobs for people. People are suffering. Even in South Milwaukee during the summer, the school system has to give free lunches to a lot of children who otherwise wouldn’t have a meal without that program. If she can be the first lady President to come up with lots of good jobs, she’ll get her second term without a doubt,” Livens says.
“I think Miss Hillary can figure out a way to do this. I don’t know exactly how she’s going to do it but I think she can because women are really smart.” Mary Ann Gagliano calls it wonderful that the U.S. has its first female nominee.
“I had seven children. My husband was a really good man, but when it came to the big decisions, I was the one who made them. I would tell him, and he would say, yeah that’s a really good idea,” Gagliano says.
Gagliano says she hopes Clinton could help bridge the racial divide in America. Arlene Wilson says her desire for Clinton would be to improve the environment.
“I want her to deal with fracking because I think she’s taken care of a lot of the other stuff but that’s one thing the Democrats have left alone. It messes up the water supply, it causes earthquakes and sinkholes. We’ve got to stop,” Wilson says.
If Hillary Clinton wins the White House, Wilson hopes the president makes smart decisions related to the country’s energy needs.
