Hillary Hits Back At Rivals Over Lobbyist Money

Hillary Clinton has taken fire for weeks over her decision to take money from federal lobbyists, but she hit back during the HuffPost/Yahoo!/Slate Candidate Mashup.

"I think it's a little inauthentic for people to say don't take money from lobbyists but it's okay to take it from their spouses, their children, their associates, and from people that work for the companies that employ them. That is...kind of an artificial distinction."

Clinton said her commitment to providing health care for Americans shouldn't not be questioned even if she took money from health care industry-linked donors.

"I think it's somewhat silly that anybody would look at me with the record that I have and the extraordinary incoming fire that I've taken for 15 years and suggest that talking to people, even working with them is somehow out of bounds," Clinton said. "Nobody is going to be surprised when I unroll my coverage plan that I intend to dramatically reign in the influence of the insurance companies."

For his part, even Obama admitted he's tainted by campaign cash. "Money is the original sin of politics, and when you're running for President, you're going to do some sinning when it comes to raising money because otherwise you can't compete," he told Charlie Rose. He said it's worth it "to unify the country and overcome the special interest-driven agendas in order to actually get something done."

But John Edwards assailed the idea of negotiating with drug companies and private insurers in any way.

"I know that some of those who are running on my side, the Democratic side, argue that you should give them a seat at the table, you should negotiate with them, compromise with them," he said during his interview with Rose. "The reason we don't have universal health care is these people have absolutely no intention of giving away their power voluntarily."

When asked, Edwards wouldn't say whether he'd turn down campaign donations from executives at insurance and pharmaceutical companies.

Comments

[MetalCanuck]

I hope America doesn't go for Hitlery, Mike Gravel, Dennis Kucinich and Ron Paul are all great. Please no more corporate bought out Candidates.

[MetalCanuck]

(Correction)
I hope America isn't fooled in to voting Hitlery. Mike Gravel, Dennis Kucinich and Ron Paul are the real deal. Please no more corporate owned Candidates.

Here is all you need to know, if the MSM tries to make then look loony and insult them constantly by saying they can't win then vote for them.

[average joe]

Hillary she don't care show me the money I'll be your honey.

[lawyeredup]

Nonsense!

[OtayPanky]

Everything Billary 2.0 says and does is HIGHLY scripted by Howard Wolfson, Mark Penn and the gang of gals who surround her.

It sure took her (THEM) a long time to try to get out in front of this story. It has been front and center for several news cycles, and raised the spectre of all the stuff she (THEY) would like everyone to forget about her past.

Her (THEIR) tactic, in case you're not paying attention - is to trivialize the negative attention..."it's silly".

Watch for her (THEM) to keep using the same tactic over and over again.

She'll get away with in (maybe) during the primary season. But come the general election cycle, responding to the right winger with "it's silly" is going to be like trying to bring down an elephant with a peashooter.

Then, she (and her cutouts) will have only two options: ignore the "silly" comments, or try to fight back.

If she ignores them, they will dominate the national consciousness because of 527 ads (like the swiftboaters). If she tries to fight back, she'll be fighting the proverbial tar-baby.

Speaking strategically, she is the absolute WORST choice for dems, with the HIGHEST risk of losing in '08.

Oh well...

[mongus]

She has taken 'fire' all these years because, as they say, 'where there is smoke there is fire'.

Hillary attracts all kinds of sleazy people to her campaign, like Hzu, Huang, Chang, Mayor Rivera, and Rual Martinez. Then, when the dirt come out, she is 'shocked'.

She likes to use Bill's years in the White House as 'her experience', but she ignores the many scandals, like 'China-gate' that follows her around like a dark cloud.

Thanks, but no thanks.

The American people want a leader with integrity and vision, not a divisive person.
We have has enough of her 'fights' with that vast right-wing conspiracy.

We need a POTUS who can unite our nation, not one who loves to battle the republicans with her 'hand-grenade' style of politics. It's time to turn the page on petty political infighting, and it's time to rally behind a leader that we can respect.

It's time.

America, let's do it right this time.

Obama'08

[gulopartisan]

Edwards (my choice) is a prime example of the Catch-22 of national politics. If you conduct a "pure" campaign in the swamp of financial corruption, you are the man with a sword facing opponents with machine guns. Even with Gob on your side, purity gets dead.

I don't like Clinton's or Obama's compromises, but I am not foolish enough to believe that anyone can beat the drooling hordes of corporate power without using their own money.

[Nonamnesiac]

I am not a Hillary fan. However the campaign finance issue is put forward as a diversion. Absent comprehensive campaign finance reform, and I don't mean about outlawing meals paid by lobbyists, candidates have no choice but to become the prostitutes they are to those who contribute the most money to their campaigns. The reason there isn't campaign finance reform -- public financing with caps, fairness doctrine, scheduled public service debates and interviews -- and outlawing contributions altogether -- is the corporations like it the way it is. They completely dominate the debate and are able to use their property, the media, to limit debate to a point where Hillary is defined as "left" and Bill Maher is "far left". Michael Moore, the only one who actually might be "left" is just considered a nut.

It always amused me on the old "Crossfire" show to watch the end of the show. It would end up "From the left I'm James Carville (or whomever) and from the right I'm Bob Novak" (or whomever). It should have been "From the right, I'm James Carville (or whomever) and from the farther right I'm Bob Novak" (or whomever).

Things like ethics reform (don't take a trip from a lobbyist, but take tens of millions in campaign contributions from corporations) is also a diversion.

Attacking Hillary for campaign contributions is a diversion. It is the pot calling the kettle black, absent significant campaign finance reform. Lack of campaign finance reform is also how she got where she is. It takes an incredible amount of money to make someone who voted to give Bush the right to invade Iraq appear to be Ms. Omnipotence, when the vast bulk of the intelligence at the time showed Saddam had no WMDs and was an enemy of al Qaeda. It shows bad judgment, severe intellectual limitations (she believes the left is Carville and the right is Novak) and poor choice of advisors.

But in the US, instead of seeing her real deficiencies, those who can't raise as much but won't support serious campaign finance reform attack who she gets money from.

[NoFactsJustTruth]

The only diversion around here is that load of DLC/Hillary apologist talking points chaff you're trying to throw in the eyes of this "LOBBYIST" topic thread.

In your first paragraph you admit 'through implication' that lobbies are the heart of fascist corruption in OUR country and then suggest 'through implication' that WE just give up - that's just the way it is.

Pi$$ down your own lobby-owned leg and say it's raining.

[Nonamnesiac]

I must not have been clear, and I apologize. I agree it all sucks. But it seems to me to put the focus on individual examples of massive corruption (like Abramoff) does nothing and makes it appear that the effort will somehow correct things. If every Congressperson took nothing from lobbyists, the system would be just as corrupt as it is now, so long as it is legal for them to accept millions in private contributions -- as they know where their campaign funding is coming from and will take care of those who contriubte to them with legislation favorable to their contributors. Even ridiculous things like the "Reward Predator Credit Card Company Act" (Bankruptcy Act) passed with substantial Democratic support.

So Abramoff, or the next Abramoff, goes to jail and the Congress goes merrily along doing the bidding of the corporations at our expense.

I think if you read my full post, you would realize I am no DLC talking point apologist for the intellectually limited, incompetent Hillary Clinton, who voted to give Bush the authority to invade Iraq against the overwhelming intelligence at the time showing Saddam had no WMDs and was an enemy of al Qaeda. The DLC does not support serious campaign finance reform.

[jkbowman]

Hillary, they've already shut you down once.

[lawyeredup]

All you guys keeps on palling on Hillary, I am sure nor of u will be surprise at President Rude or thompson -- for let face it; Obama will not win the Presidency and, Edward have less than 34% chance, so we are left with Law & order Vs Law & order. Can any one say lesser of two evil? anyone!

[average joe]

She came out today I'm keeping it. Whats good for Obama good for me. I love this country all the drity thash thats close to me. Like Mr. Paw a har4d worker who makes 49,000 a year but love me so much he gave 200,000 to me. We need more good people like Mr Paw and his buddy Norman Hus.

[dijo]

JustTruth,you are so right!!! Hillary was first funded by criminals that Bill set up with "Pardon's for dollars" at the end of his term. That got her in the senate. Now she is being funded by lobbyists, and now Hsu whose story becomes more bizzare every day. He has rasied hundreds of thousand for her presidency. The Clinton camp was told of his shady history, but chose to ignore the warning. Now Hsu blames Obama for his troubles in a suicide note??!! He hasn't raised any money for Obama's presidential campaign. (He did contribute to his senate race.) That seems a little too obvious, Hillary. What favors has he been promised?
I am tired of the media trying to shove Hillary down our throats. It's as disgusting as she is!!!

[OhPlease2007]

Is it just me, or does Hillary -- smiling in that picture -- kind of look like, Dick Cheney; a kind of, 'the cat that swallowed the canary' look ?

[NoFactsJustTruth]

I should wake up before trying to type...

[NoFactsJustTruth]

What a crock of prevaricating crap.


MORE of her lobbyists are "..real Americans" BS. Yes ...pharmaceutical, insurance and energy lobbies ALL have OUR best interests at heart because they're us...
Dang, bescause it APPEARS to US that these industries are being allowed to over-charge US BILLIONS becaue they 'paid off' the lagislature in campaign donations.

The ONLY thing disingenuous, hypocritical and DISHONEST is Hillary's acceptance of this legal form of BRIBERY.

[OhPlease2007]

JustTruth, I second that!

Hillary gets an "F" grade for 'trying' to finagle her way out of her own mess; it's HER $850,000.00 bed, and she has no choice but to sleep in it.

America deserves better; John Edwards has my vote.

[lawyeredup]

Atleast she honest about it!. What those like Edward and, Obama that takes special interests money on one hand while no the other lie of their intent to rein it in. And may I remind you that the reason why we have George Bush has president is becuz Amricans can't handle the truth -- here we go again.