At YearlyKos, Clinton Defends Lobbyists

[jefferson_dem]

At YearlyKos, Clinton Defends Lobbyists
04 Aug 2007 03:34 pm

CHICAGO -- After dozens of forums in the last four months, it seemed as if the presidential candidates had run out of new things to say, and despite the promise of Netroots sparkle, today's YearlyKos roundtable, held in a poorly lit, cavernous convention hall, was kind of dingy.

And then Hillary Clinton was forced to explain to why she accepts contributions from federal lobbyists.

Twice in the debate, Sen. John Edwards challenged his fellow candidates to refuse to accept contributions from federal lobbyists. The second time he brought up this demand, the narrator, Matt Bai, asked Clinton whether she'd continue to take money from lobbyists.

"I will," she said.

"A lot of those lobbyists whether you like it not, represent real Americans," she said. "They represent nurses, social workers" -- here the audience began to boo -- "and yes, they represent corporations and they employ a lot of people." "I just... I just ask you to look at my record." Never, she said, in her 35 years of public service, had she bowed to the will of a lobbyist. But she would not change her mind.

Two hours earlier, Clinton spoke to a convention of police officers in Chicago and might well have pointed out that police officers employ lobbyists; unions in Washington use dozens of them, as do non-profits, colleges, universities, towns and cities.

Sen. Barack Obama, who, like Edwards does not take donations from federal lobbyists, jumped in. "I just disagree" with Clinton's notion that lobbyists don't have a disproportionate influence on the system. "Now Hillary, you were talking about your effort back in 1993, and you can't tell me that money didn't make a difference, and you can't tell me that the money they are spending is just to contribute to the public interest."

<SNIP>

http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2007/08/the_mccormick_place_convention.php

[Tom Joad]

1. It is natural that she would defend her profession.

[Faux pas]

2. oh puke hillary. Thanks for all your support of the regular folk....

not.

Please dear Lord ABHRC.

[venable]

3. looking forward to HRC supporters comments on this. nt

[wyldwolf]

4. Funny how the distinction is now "federal" lobbyists

Since we know Obama takes money from STATE lobbyists and the wives and lawyers of FEDERAL lobbyists, to make him compatible with the KOS crowd, the line is drawn in Obama's favor.

[frazzled]

5. She wasn't defending lobbyists

Only defending her taking money from them, if that's a distinction with a difference. But I was there in the room, and when asked about whether she would forego lobbyists' money she (honestly) said no. In doing so, she made two points, take 'em or leave 'em:

(1) That lobbyists include not only corporate lobbyists but lobbyists on behalf of unions, nurses, etc. etc. This, of course, is true, and something that many of us forget too often. I recall during the "culture war" years of the Gingrich Revolution, I made a donation to hire a lobbyist to go to Washington to lobby on behalf of continued support of the National Endowment for the Arts. So on this point, she was saying something people understood and were fairly receptive to.

(2) That just because she takes this money does not mean she is infuenced by them. This is always a little harder to believe, and this is where Obama challenged her, both in the forum and in a subsequent breakout session, at which she was not present. The system puts stress on politicians, he argued ... but on a positive note said that a legislator would pay more attention to 1,000 people like us writing in on an issue than a $1,000 check.

The article hyperbolizes the amount of booing. There was some occasional booing or groaning that was received by several of the candidates, but it was brief and fairly good natured on all sides. Clinton also received some hearty applause as well.

My impression was that each of the candidates got some groans or silence as well as some applause, and it really wasn't so much factional as based on what was being said. Edwards was met with relative silence at a few points when he refused to answer questions, instead substituting, "I'm the guy who will change things" responses. Hillary sometimes got deserved applause. Obama seemed to be well received. Dodd was impassioned, Gravel got some laughs, .... it was a good debate.

[jefferson_dem]

8. Thanks for the "first hand" account.

I was following the debate online and it was tough to tell what the reaction truly was in the hall.

...and we all know how the media so love the "conflict" frame...

[emilyg]

20. Thank you.

[Cameron27]

23. Thanks, it's always good to get a first hand account.

Dodd had the room on it's feet with campaign finance reform, that's for sure.

[SaveElmer]

6. Good for her...

Netroots: "JUMP"

Obama and Edwards: "HOW HIGH?"


Lobbyists are the latest ridiculous bogeymen of the left...and she was right not to go along lockstep with them simply because it is the currently fashionable thing to do...as Obama and Edwards seem compelled to do...

Hillary was correct in pointing out that there are lobbyists on behalf of many many worthwhile causes and organizations...do you really want to shut down the halls of Congress to the World Wildlife Fund and the Sierra Club....?

The problem is not lobbyists, the problem is the campaign finance system...

As others have pointed out, the left is not even consistent on this point...they cheer to the rafters Obama's decision not to take federal lobbyist money, while ignoring his willingness to take money from federal lobbyists wives and lawyers...and to take money from state lobbyists...

[BeyondGeography]

9. Bullshit, Elmer

Edwards is a netroot pander bear without peer...Obama pisses 'em off all the time. How'd that Pakistan speech play with the netroots, anyway? Constantly talking about his religion? Framing urban problems in the context of personal morality? Energy policies that include a reconsideration of nuclear power and cleaner forms of coal? Etc., etc.

[SaveElmer]

11. Was talkng about this issue my man...nt

[jefferson_dem]

22. Don't forget two words that are sure to drive any orthodox net rootster to uncontrollable conniption...

Colin Powell.

[AtomicKitten]

7. she's right -- some lobbyists in fact do work for the common good

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=3426659&mesg_id=3426698

[Moderate Dem]

10. That's one reason that I like Hillary

She's not kissing the ass of the far left, the only Democratic candidate (besides Biden) who can say that. She's already running to the independents and moderates, as if she's already won the nomination. It's a brilliant strategy.

If she can break out early, it will be a tremendous advantage if the Republicans are still having to play to their base while Hillary can play to the middle.

[SaveElmer]

12. I know there are registered lobbyists who are loyal DU members...wonder what they think?

eom

[Forkboy]

14. You already posted what they think.

;)

[SaveElmer]

15. Oh I wish...

Would be makin more money than I am now...course if I was a bag boy at Giant I would be makin more money than I am now....

[Forkboy]

17. My apologies then.

I thought you had said you were a lobbyist yourself.Sorry about that.

[SaveElmer]

18. No problem...

Think nothing of it!

[brentspeak]

13. Oh, yeah, sure. Lobbyists for outsourcing firms are really "representing nurses, social workers"

:thumbsdown:

[Forkboy]

16. Lobbyists are like lawyers.

They suck until they're on your side.

[calteacherguy]

19. She's not afraid to stand up to Obama, Edwards, and the far left.

She knows she all but has it in the bag.

[Forkboy]

25. Yep...she knows her enemies alright.

Fellow Dems and left-wingers. :silly:

[calteacherguy]

26. She doesn't back down.

Putting aside whether I agree or disagree with her, I'll give her that.

This reminds me of her refusal to capitulate when Edwards apologized for his war vote.

[jefferson_dem]

21. VIDEO of the exchange HERE -->

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x45376

[goodgd_yall]

24. Good question from Kucinich

Just to show Edwards is not squeaky clean. Neither is Obama or Dodds. Their contributors are not exactly the hall of fame of public good.

[TeamJordan23]

28. HUGE applause for Obama

Comes in about 2:30 in the video, when he refutes Hillary's notion that Lobbyists don't have an influence.

[TeamJordan23]

27. Anyone have a list of her lobbyists? I wanna see if a lot of them really really do represent

'real Americans'