Hillary Wins Over Asians In Flushing Appearance

A placard-waving Susan Ahn, 26, closed her laundromat for the morning to join hundreds of fellow Asians welcoming Hillary Rodham Clinton outside the Flushing Library on Main Street.
"I had to be here for her," Ahn said excitedly as she stood outside the library at 9:30 a.m. on Monday to greet the first lady. "You know we Koreans are big believers in education and Hillary feels that way too."
Then suddenly the crowd grew excited and began screaming as Hillarys caravan pulled up in front of the Library where she was greeted by Borough President Claire Shulman, County Democratic leader Tom Manton and Governor Gary Locke (D-Wash), the first governor of Chinese descent.
As soon as Hillary and her entourage entered the Library, Ahn and her followers were invited in. Hillarys first stop was the childrens room where Queens Library officials had assembled mainly Asian children for a storybook hour with the first lady.
As dozens of TV cameras and press photographers looked on, Hillary, who spent 30 years working with children, read a book to the assembled tots.
"I read many a book to Chelsea," she said.
Halfway through the book, she turned the book over to the Washington governor to read.
"I think theres a happy ending coming up," he said.
Locke was right.
The tots chimed in when the reading ended.
"I like toys better."
"I got five Barbis at home."
Hillary then left the building as Secret Service agents guided her to the front door. Then she headed across the street to the Chao Zhou Restaurant, trailed by Susan Ahn and dozens of placard wielders.
Hillary spent 40 minutes in the Chinese restaurant with Democratic dignitaries. When she left, the Secret Service pleaded with the crowd to move back. Mounted police had to help clear a path to the first ladys van and she left to the crowds cheers.
Later in the day Hillary visited the Margaret Tietz Nursing Center in Jamaica Hill where its CEO, Ken Brown, led her on a tour of the senior center, where 60 percent of the residents are Holocaust survivors. She won an endorsement there from Rep. Tom Lantos of California.
Hillarys day ended on a positive note when Holocaust survivor and author Elie Wiesel endorsed her.