Clinton Defends Taking Money From Oil Execs: "They're Americans" Too
BETHLEHEM, PA. -- During a campaign rally here today, Hillary Clinton defended taking money from people who work at oil companies saying "they're Americans" and adding that she's not alone in taking those contributions.
"There has been a lot of back and forth about oil companies in this campaign, and I've got to admit that when I first saw that ad that my opponent ran saying that he didn't take money from oil companies, I thought nobody takes money from oil companies. It's been illegal for a hundred years," Clinton said, pointing out that federal candidates aren't allowed to take corporate donations.
"Well the fact is he didn't take money from oil companies, but you can, and we do, take money from people who work for oil companies, they're Americans, they can contribute, so we both do that," Clinton admitted.
Clinton has been under fire by her opponent in this campaign as being too closely linked to special interest groups and he has attacked Clinton for taking money from lobbyists. But it took Clinton no time at all to fire back at Obama over some television advertisements that she claims misrepresent her health care plan.
"This is one of the big differences in this campaign between my opponent and me and he has consistently, and he is doing it again in Pennsylvania, he sent out mailers, he's running ads misrepresenting what I have proposed. We have called him on it, editorials said it was misleading but he persisted and I really regret that because the last thing we need is have someone who is spending as much money as he has to downgrade universal health care."
Clinton also told the crowd the decision facing voters is "really a choice of leadership." Clinton accused her opponent of going negative because of his performance in last week's debate. "You know, this week we had a debate and it showed you the choice you have. And it's no wonder that my opponent has been so negative these last few days in the campaign. Because I think you saw a big difference between us."
"We're getting to the decision day. Tuesday is the day that each and every one of you gets to decide who you want to be your next president," added Clinton, "You know where I stand, you know what I've done and you know what I'm gonna do."