Hillary Defends Special Interest Lobbyists

[Atomic Rooster]

Democrats court liberal bloggers - Yahoo! News - AP

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton refused Saturday to forsake campaign donations from lobbyists, turning aside challenges from her two main rivals with a rare defense of the special interest industry.

"A lot of those lobbyists, whether you like it or not, represent real Americans, they actually do," Clinton said, drawing boos and hisses from liberal bloggers at the second Yearly Kos convention.

Nonetheless, the bloggers booed and hissed when Clinton insisted a moment later that nobody would believe that she could be influenced by lobbyists' money. So would she continue to accept those donations?

"Yes, I will," she said, arguing that plenty of lobbyists represent good causes. "They represent nurses, they represent social workers, they represent, yes, they represent corporations that employ a lot of people."

One thing most bloggers have in common ? regardless of their political leanings ? is an intense frustration with the political establishment. And so it was a convention dripping in irony when liberal bloggers welcomed the living symbols of the Democratic status quo ? seven presidential candidates.

Living symbols, or just dinosaurs?

 

[2Xtreme21]

It'd be great if anyone could get elected without coughing up 150 bajillion dollars. I don't think anyone likes it-- it's just a fact of life. It's up to her regarding how much influence they'll have on her presidency (i.e. the people who funded the current idiot in chief).

 

[Hacp]

If none of the democratic candidates took lobby/special intrest money, they would be horribly underfunded compared to republicans. Obama takes lobby money too, just not Washington Lobbyists, which is really only a symbolic move.

 

[Moonbeam]

What does the fact that lobbyists are real Americans have to do with taking their money. If they represent good causes and their lobbying efforts convince you of that, vote for their interests, but don't take their stinking money because their stinking money is there to convince you they are good only in the sense of good for your reelection prospects.

 

[b0mbrman]

The New York Times piece has more of the transcript: Text. It started with this challenge from John Edwards:

?Now I think my party, the Democratic party, the party of the people, ought to say from this day forward we will never take a dime from these Washington insiders.?

Here is more of Hillary's response:

?Well, well, I think it?s a position that John certainly has taken. Well, I have to say that I don?t, I don?t think based on my 35 years in fighting for what I believe in anybody seriously believes I am going to be influenced by a lobbyist or a particular interest group...?

?Yes, I will. I will [continue to take money from lobbyists]. You know, a lot of those lobbyists, whether you like it or not, represent real Americans. They actually do. They represent nurses. They represent, you know, social workers. They represent ? yes, they represent corporations. They employ a lot of people. The idea that somehow a contribution is going to influence you ? I just ask you to look at my record I have been fighting for the same thing, my core values have not changed. But I do want to be the president for everybody. And I want to represent the entire country. And that?s what I?m aiming to do on my campaign.?

So, first she diverted attention away from lobbyist money and toward what is seen as her strong point -- her experience. Then, she explained why she'll continue to take lobbyist money. Obama and Edwards both followed up by saying lobbies don't work in the public interest.

Originally posted by: Hacp
If none of the democratic candidates took lobby/special intrest money, they would be horribly underfunded compared to republicans. Obama takes lobby money too, just not Washington Lobbyists, which is really only a symbolic move.

Hillary campaign adviser Howard Wolfson pointed that out as well:

Howard Wolfson, told reporters that campaigns had made different decisions about fund-raising sources. Playing to character, Mr. Wolfson didn?t hesitate in discussing this to take his own shot ? at Mr. Obama?s campaign ? by pointing out that the Illinois senator had accepted money from lobbyists in his home state.

Offhand, do you have the link to the story you and he are referring to?

 

[Hacp]

www.opensecrets.org, they show you which industries contribute. Obama might not be taking Washington Lobbyist money, but he sure isn't raising the bulk of his funds from average joe.

There's also a story on Politico.

 

[Moonbeam]

Originally posted by: Hacp
www.opensecrets.org, they show you which industries contribute. Obama might not be taking Washington Lobbyist money, but he sure isn't raising the bulk of his funds from average joe.

There's also a story on Politico.

This is not what I have heard.

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: Atomic Rooster
Topic Title: Hillary Defends Special Interest Lobbyists

Special Interests is what you get with career politicians.

Until the country wakes up and decides to either dump them or revolution we are stuck with this corrupt system.

 

[nick1985]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: Atomic Rooster
Topic Title: Hillary Defends Special Interest Lobbyists

Special Interests is what you get with career politicians.

Until the country wakes up and decides to either dump them or revolution we are stuck with this corrupt system.

You have been talking about a revolution for years, claiming that it will come soon. When is it coming Dave? Are you organizing one?

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: nick1985

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: Atomic Rooster
Topic Title: Hillary Defends Special Interest Lobbyists

Special Interests is what you get with career politicians.

Until the country wakes up and decides to either dump them or revolution we are stuck with this corrupt system.

You have been talking about a revolution for years, claiming that it will come soon. When is it coming Dave? Are you organizing one?

Nope but watching a whole lot more people negatively affected everyday.

We'll watch the tipping point together.

 

[nick1985]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: nick1985

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: Atomic Rooster
Topic Title: Hillary Defends Special Interest Lobbyists

Special Interests is what you get with career politicians.

Until the country wakes up and decides to either dump them or revolution we are stuck with this corrupt system.

You have been talking about a revolution for years, claiming that it will come soon. When is it coming Dave? Are you organizing one?

Nope but watching a whole lot more people negatively affected everyday.

We'll watch the tipping point together.

Can we watch it at your campaign headquarters?

 

[Wreckem]

I dont know why everyone makes a big deal out of lobbying groups.

Lobbying groups play advocates for groups in society.

FYI the largest lobbying group in the US is the AARP. Not big biz, not these "special interest groups" we keep hearing about...

 

[b0mbrman]

Originally posted by: Moonbeam

Originally posted by: Hacp
www.opensecrets.org, they show you which industries contribute. Obama might not be taking Washington Lobbyist money, but he sure isn't raising the bulk of his funds from average joe.

There's also a story on Politico.

This is not what I have heard.

I'm not finding the story pertinent to Obama and lobbyist money on opensecrets.org, however, I did find this:

http://www.opensecrets.org/pre...nordems.asp?cycle=2008

Among the top three candidates from each party, here is how much each got from donors of $200 or less by percentage of total:

8% Clinton
10% Romney
21% Giuliani
22% Edwards
23% McCain
27% Obama

Here's those same candidates with percentage of total donors who gave less than $2300, exclusive:

29% Clinton
47% Giuliani
50% Romney
55% McCain
56% Obama
57% Edwards

So, assuming the "average joe" gives less than big industry, Obama is certainly getting a good amount of his from normal people when compared among those top six.

 

[b0mbrman]

Ah, I just found the by industry list:

http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/select.asp?

Here are the industries where Obama is leading all candidates:
$607,259 - Commercial Banks
$1,367,384 - Education
$3,218,528 - Retired

So I guess among big industry, bankers prefer him, teachers like him, and he is really liked by the most evil industry of all -- old people :evil:

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: nick1985

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: nick1985

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: Atomic Rooster
Topic Title: Hillary Defends Special Interest Lobbyists

Special Interests is what you get with career politicians.

Until the country wakes up and decides to either dump them or revolution we are stuck with this corrupt system.

You have been talking about a revolution for years, claiming that it will come soon. When is it coming Dave? Are you organizing one?

Nope but watching a whole lot more people negatively affected everyday.

We'll watch the tipping point together.

Can we watch it at your campaign headquarters?

No, lost that, the business, boat, everything when we were lied to.

 

[Sinsear]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: nick1985

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: nick1985

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: Atomic Rooster
Topic Title: Hillary Defends Special Interest Lobbyists

Special Interests is what you get with career politicians.

Until the country wakes up and decides to either dump them or revolution we are stuck with this corrupt system.

You have been talking about a revolution for years, claiming that it will come soon. When is it coming Dave? Are you organizing one?

Nope but watching a whole lot more people negatively affected everyday.

We'll watch the tipping point together.

Can we watch it at your campaign headquarters?

No, lost that, the business, boat, everything when I made a bad business decision.

Fixed that up for you.

 

[Wreckem]

Originally posted by: b0mbrman
Ah, I just found the by industry list:

http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/select.asp?

Here are the industries where Obama is leading all candidates:
$607,259 - Commercial Banks
$1,367,384 - Education
$3,218,528 - Retired

So I guess among big industry, bankers prefer him, teachers like him, and he is really liked by the most evil industry of all -- old people :evil:

Like I said, the AARP is the largest lobbying group. They hold a lot of power and clout, merely because of the demographics of the US.

 

[nick1985]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: nick1985

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: nick1985

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: Atomic Rooster
Topic Title: Hillary Defends Special Interest Lobbyists

Special Interests is what you get with career politicians.

Until the country wakes up and decides to either dump them or revolution we are stuck with this corrupt system.

You have been talking about a revolution for years, claiming that it will come soon. When is it coming Dave? Are you organizing one?

Nope but watching a whole lot more people negatively affected everyday.

We'll watch the tipping point together.

Can we watch it at your campaign headquarters?

No, lost that, the business, boat, everything when we were lied to.

Please elaborate.

 

[dwcal]

Sure, lobbyists should have influence in our government... but in proportion to the number of citizens that they represent. It's safe to say the founding principle of our democracy is "one person, one vote" not "one dollar, one vote". When lobbyists representing a small number of very rich citizens get to write policy, that's a problem for democracy. *cough* Cheney energy policy meetings, Medicare Part D *cough*

 

[imported_Shivetya]

Honestly I applaud Hillary for coming out and saying she takes the money and will continue to do so.

If you look at Congress all they do is lie to the American people. The latest reform is yet another sham. Why? Because the big exception called "charities". If it is defined as a charitable benefit then you can take all the attention and gifts you want.

 

[Hacp]

Originally posted by: b0mbrman
Ah, I just found the by industry list:

http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/select.asp?

Here are the industries where Obama is leading all candidates:
$607,259 - Commercial Banks
$1,367,384 - Education
$3,218,528 - Retired

So I guess among big industry, bankers prefer him, teachers like him, and he is really liked by the most evil industry of all -- old people :evil:

Look at Obama's actual numbers. http://www.opensecrets.org/pre...d=N00009638&cycle=2008

 

[Hacp]

Originally posted by: b0mbrman

Originally posted by: Moonbeam

Originally posted by: Hacp
www.opensecrets.org, they show you which industries contribute. Obama might not be taking Washington Lobbyist money, but he sure isn't raising the bulk of his funds from average joe.

There's also a story on Politico.

This is not what I have heard.

I'm not finding the story pertinent to Obama and lobbyist money on opensecrets.org, however, I did find this:

http://www.opensecrets.org/pre...nordems.asp?cycle=2008

Among the top three candidates from each party, here is how much each got from donors of $200 or less by percentage of total:

8% Clinton
10% Romney
21% Giuliani
22% Edwards
23% McCain
27% Obama

Here's those same candidates with percentage of total donors who gave less than $2300, exclusive:

29% Clinton
47% Giuliani
50% Romney
55% McCain
56% Obama
57% Edwards

So, assuming the "average joe" gives less than big industry, Obama is certainly getting a good amount of his from normal people when compared among those top six.

Obama counts every tshirt and sticker that he sells as in individual donation of less than 200.

 

[wiin]

Originally posted by: Atomic Rooster
Democrats court liberal bloggers - Yahoo! News - AP

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton refused Saturday to forsake campaign donations from lobbyists, turning aside challenges from her two main rivals with a rare defense of the special interest industry.

"A lot of those lobbyists, whether you like it or not, represent real Americans, they actually do," Clinton said, drawing boos and hisses from liberal bloggers at the second Yearly Kos convention.Nonetheless, the bloggers booed and hissed when Clinton insisted a moment later that nobody would believe that she could be influenced by lobbyists' money. So would she continue to accept those donations?

"Yes, I will," she said, arguing that plenty of lobbyists represent good causes. "They represent nurses, they represent social workers, they represent, yes, they represent corporations that employ a lot of people."

One thing most bloggers have in common ? regardless of their political leanings ? is an intense frustration with the political establishment. And so it was a convention dripping in irony when liberal bloggers welcomed the living symbols of the Democratic status quo ? seven presidential candidates.

Living symbols, or just dinosaurs?

She is correct. AARP for seniors, teachers union for teachers. The AFL-CIO have people as members. She is the only one with an ounce of brain.

 

[Starbuck1975]

AARP for seniors, teachers union for teachers. The AFL-CIO have people as members. She is the only one with an ounce of brain.

Which is not saying much. As for the examples you cited, most of these special interest groups have taken on a life of their own, and are just another part of the political machina.

Our elected representatives are supposed to serve the needs of the people...instead, we have special interests who buy out the loyalty of politicians seeking to prolong their political careers.

So yes, Hillary is the only one with an ounce of brain towards leveraging the very system that continues to destroy our system of government.

 

[Hacp]

Originally posted by: Starbuck1975

AARP for seniors, teachers union for teachers. The AFL-CIO have people as members. She is the only one with an ounce of brain.

Which is not saying much. As for the examples you cited, most of these special interest groups have taken on a life of their own, and are just another part of the political machina.

Our elected representatives are supposed to serve the needs of the people...instead, we have special interests who buy out the loyalty of politicians seeking to prolong their political careers.

So yes, Hillary is the only one with an ounce of brain towards leveraging the very system that continues to destroy our system of government.

She's the one that speaks the truth. Of course she is going to take the money. If none of the democrats took special intrest money, then they would only be raising a few million.