Clinton Opens Up an Entry Point
06 August 2007 1:36 pm by Taylor Marsh
Edwards and Obama have pounced. Clinton opened up an avenue and they’ve both
taken it. But it’s not about just about lobbyists. It’s about the insider-itis
of Washington, which many feel Clinton represents. The points of attack are
broad.
Edwards went after trade, specifically targeting Bill Clinton’s support of
NAFTA.
Edwards’ complaints about the former president beloved by voters in his own
party was a defiant move meant to highlight rival Hillary Clinton’s relationship
with special interests.It comes two days after Clinton refused Edwards’ challenge to stop taking
campaign donations from lobbyists, saying many represent good causes."It’s time that the president stood up and fought for American workers,"
Edwards told a crowd of about 300 people at a union hall in Cedar Rapids.
"It’s time to have a president that always puts the interests of the
American people first." … ..
The truth is that most voters don’t distinguish between lobbyists and Washington
insiders; they’re all the same to most of them. So Clinton’s comments about
lobbyists may have been a huge mistake in front of the YearlyKos audience, which
Edwards jumped on. However, in the public’s mind it’s a much larger issue than
lobbying. That’s what Clinton opened up this past weekend.
Obama came next.
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."Obama has taken money from lobbyists registered in his home state of Illinois,
some of whom have federal interests. When lobbyists registered in Washington
have given money to his campaign, he has returned it. … .."I think that if you don’t think lobbyists have too much influence in
Washington, then I believe you’ve probably been in Washington too long,"
said Obama.
Look for Clinton’s response to include the words "hedge fund," as
well as "state lobbyists" or even hypocrisy. However, the real issue
she should address is NAFTA. But will she?
Then there’s one question that certainly troubles me, which she evidently dodged
in her breakout session (while I was doing the hot topics panel): the Telecom Act of 1996. Media consolidation matters.
Clinton of all people should know this first hand.
The lobby answer is Clinton’s first big mistake. Her opponents are jumping on it. It’s up to Clinton to drive into the criticism and disarm it, answer it, or rebut it, especially on NAFTA and the Telecom Act, otherwise this could end up to be a moment that opens up a whole new primary race.
Truth is that nobody thinks a Washington insider can solve our problems. Clinton may be connected, but what she’s had in her corner is experience. If that’s turned into insider-itis instead, she’s going to have new challenges that could haunt her going forward.
