Obama Criticizes Clinton Over Lobbyists

Obama Criticizes Clinton Over Lobbyists
By MIKE GLOVER, Associated Press Writer

Monday, August 6, 2007

LE MARS, Iowa - Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama criticized chief rival Hillary Rodham Clinton on Monday, contending that candidates who are comfortable with the role of lobbyists in this country have been in Washington too long.

In an interview with The Associated Press and later at a town hall-style event, Obama said the matter would be a critical issue in his campaign for the party nomination.

Obama pointed to Saturday's bloggers forum in Chicago where he touted his promise not to take money from lobbyists. Clinton argued at the event that taking money from lobbyists was acceptable because they represented real people and real interests.

Obama declined to use Clinton's name, though he told the AP, "I profoundly disagree with her statements."

"If lobbyists for well-heeled interests in Washington are setting the agenda on the farm bill, in the energy bill, on health care legislation and if we can't overcome the power of those lobbyists then we're not going to get serious reform in any of those areas," he said. "That doesn't mean they don't have a seat at the table. We just don't want them buying every chair."

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"When they've come to so dominate the debate that ordinary citizens' interests and viewpoints and concerns are drowned out then I think we've got a problem," Obama said. "This campaign is going to come down to whether you believe that it's enough just to get somebody other than George Bush in the White House to fix what ails Washington, or do you think we need to set a fundamentally new course."

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http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/08/06/politics/p113543D89.DTL&type=politics

Hillary must not be a Beatles fan.

"I don't know how someone controlled you
They bought and sold you.
...
I dont know how you were diverted
You were perverted too
I dont know how you were inverted
No one alerted you
...
still my guitar gently weeps"

From the article: "Mark Daley, a spokesman for the Clinton campaign in Iowa, called Obama's comments "disappointing" and noted the money he's taken from lobbyists in Illinois and elsewhere."

Purely my opinion, but if he has any dealings with lobbyists of any kind, I'm not sure it would be smart to highlight this in his opponents as the spotlight will eventually -- contrast and compare, you know -- be turned on him in response. And it could possibly and unfortunately make him look hypocritical.

What's that old adage about choosing one's battles?

who has lobbyists in her back pocket. if she won, her administration would mirror George Bush's and she would just be a do nothing figure head for corporate interests. :thumbsdown:

Anyone recall back when about the only DU'er here that liked the DLC crowd was NickDemShep?

Now Mrs. Clinton has a slew of DLC supporters over here spewing insults at anyone who won't consider voting for her.

Strange how that turned out.

They now love the DLC'er in the crowd..

And Nick never drops by here anymore..