The following was issued by Obama for America:
Senator Clinton gave a speech today outlining her plans to address the
mortgage crisis— but her history of accepting
campaign contributions from PACs and lobbyists representing that same
industry shows that she’s enmeshed in the very
system that needs to change. Barack Obama has an unparalleled record of
standing up to the special interests that stand in the way of meaningful
relief for working people.
Senator Obama does not accept PAC or federal lobbyist money, and has
pledged to sign the most sweeping ethics reform in history, finally
getting tough on the special interests.
“If we’re really
going to crack down on the practices that caused the credit and housing
crises, we’re going to need a leader who doesn’t
owe those industries any favors,” said Obama
for America campaign manager David Plouffe. “Barack
Obama knows that with so many hardworking Americans struggling to keep
their homes and stay out of debt, we need a President who will put our
interests before the special interests.”
Senator Clinton has taken more special interest money than any candidate
in the race of either party, including:
$56,250 to date from finance industry PACs
Nearly $750,000 total to date from PACs
$72,747.91 to date from insurance industry lobbyists
$919,000 total to date from lobbyists
And Clinton has taken nearly $22,000 this cycle from lobbyists for the
sub-prime lending industry [Center for
Responsive Politics, accessed: 8/6/07]:
Clinton took $2,300 from Countrywide Financial lobbyist Jennifer
Bendall
Clinton took $3,600 from Countrywide Financial lobbyist Stephanie
Markiewicz
Clinton took $1,250 from Countrywide Financial lobbyist Maria Cardona
Clinton took $4,600 from Countrywide Financial lobbyist Charles Campion
Clinton took $4,600 from Washington Mutual lobbyist James Free
Clinton took $1,000 from Washington Mutual lobbyist Robert Hickmott.
Clinton took $4,600 from Washington Mutual lobbyist Cantwell F.
Muckenfuss
In addition, her campaign activities show close ties to special interests:
12 Of Clinton’s $100,000+ Bundlers Are
Federal Lobbyists. 12 of the “HillRaisers”
listed on Clinton’s web site were federally
registered lobbyists in 2007 or 2008. “HillRaisers”
are defined as anyone who raises more than $100,000 for Clinton’s
campaign. [http://www.hillaryclinton.com/Q1/HillRaisers/;
Senate Office of Public Records]
Clinton Held an “Issues Breakout”
Fundraiser With Lobbyists. Clinton's campaign is hosting lobbyist
donors for an “issues breakout session”
on the morning of June 6. For $500, attendees can choose briefings on
education, energy and the environment, health care, and
telecommunications and technology, among others, according to a copy of
the invite. An extra $500 allows donors to stick around for breakfast
with the candidate. “It's somewhat unusual,
but it's appreciated,” one lobbyist, a
Clinton supporter, said of the fundraiser. Roll Call described the event
as being for “Democratic lobbyists eager to
hear the particulars of Hillary Rodham Clinton's policy positions.”
[Roll Call,
5/9/07; Hillary Clinton for President Event Invitation]
Clinton Planned To Hold A “Rural Americans
For Hillary” Lunch At Monsanto Lobbying Firm. Clinton
planned to hold a “Rural Americans for Hillary”
lunch and campaign briefing at the end of this month at lobbying firm
Troutman Sanders Public Affairs which lobbies for the “controversial
multinational agri-biotech Monsanto. You read that right: Monsanto,
about which there are serious questions about its culpability regarding
56 Superfund Sites, wanton and ‘outrageous’
pollution, and the decidedly unkosher (and quite metaphoric)
genetically-bred ‘Superpig.’
A company that the website ‘Ethical Investing’
labels ‘the world's most unethical and
harmful investment.’”
[ABC,
10/18/07]
Clinton Went Directly From The AFL-CIO Labor Forum To A Lobbyists’
Fundraiser. Clinton, under fire from her rivals for accepting
campaign contributions from lobbyists, will head directly from a labor
forum in Chicago to a fundraiser at a lobbyist's home Tuesday evening.
Clinton, D-N.Y., plans to attend a dessert reception in Wilmette, Ill.
-- minimum contribution: $1,000 per person -- at the home of Kevin
Conlon, the founder and president of Conlon Public Strategies. Conlon is
registered with the federal government to lobby for the Chicago Symphony
Orchestra to receive federal subsidies. …
Clinton has raised more than $413,000 directly from registered lobbyists
and their immediate family members -- by far the most of any
presidential candidate, according to the non-partisan Center for
Responsive Politics. She also has 10 federal lobbyists serving as ‘Hillraisers’
-- supporters who are committed to raising at least $100,000 apiece for
her campaign. [ABC,
8/7/07]
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