WASHINGTON, Sept. 18, 2007

Edwards Camp Slams Clinton Over Fundraiser

Lunch With Members Of Congress Draws Accusations Of Trading Money For Access

  • A fundraising lunch held by Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, left, has drawn criticism from John Edwards' campaign.

    A fundraising lunch held by Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, left, has drawn criticism from John Edwards' campaign.  (CBS/AP)

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(AP)  In its most direct attack on Hillary Rodham Clinton, the campaign of Democratic presidential contender John Edwards on Tuesday denounced a fundraising luncheon that included sessions for Clinton donors with members of Congress who have expertise in homeland security.

“Today's Clinton fundraising event is a 'poster child' for what is wrong with Washington and what should never happen again with a candidate running for the highest office in the land,” Edwards' senior adviser Joe Trippi said in a letter to supporters.

Edwards and Barack Obama have declined money from individuals who lobby the federal government and have tried to portray Clinton, who does accept lobbyists' money, as beholden to special interests. Obama and Edwards do accept money from corporate executives whose industries have interests in government policies.

In response, Clinton campaign spokesman Phil Singer said, “Increasingly negative attacks against other Democrats aren't going to end the war, deliver universal health care or turn John Edwards' flagging campaign around.”

The Clinton fundraiser was held Tuesday in the Washington offices of Jones Day, a global law firm with more than 2,200 lawyers in 30 offices worldwide.

Among those scheduled to attend were House members who are backing Clinton and sit on the House Homeland Security Committee, including Reps. Henry Cuellar of Texas, Jane Harman of California, Sheila Jackson-Lee of Texas, James Langevin of Rhode Island and Nita Lowey of New York.

Some of the luncheon chairs and members of the host committee have been lobbyists for a wide range of business interests.

According to the invitation, the luncheon would be followed by “issues breakout sessions.” Donors attending the luncheon had to pay $1,000 or $2,300.

Trippi's broadside came a day after Edwards argued that while Clinton's new health care plan is similar to his, she would be unable to reform the health system because she accepts lobbyists' contributions.

“I don't believe you can sit down with lobbyists, take their money and cut a deal,” Edwards said Monday in a speech to a union conference in Chicago. “The only way to bring real health care reform is to end the Washington influence game and end it once and for all.”


© MMVII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Add a Comment See all 12 Comments
by standlee5 September 19, 2007 12:51 AM EDT
I would be curious as to what Hillary''s plan would REALLY look like if she wasn''t trying to appease everyone. Party, left wing, corporations. You can''t please them all but I guess when it''s the presidency that hangs in the balance, you can try. I wish her well she''s a nice lady but I''m going Republican this time.
Reply to this comment
by formrusmcsgt September 19, 2007 12:21 AM EDT
word of advice "Americans Grow A Mind Of Your Own"

Posted by TheTruth073 at 08:55 PM : Sep 18, 2007

Well said. I often contend that intellectual laziness makes one politically impotent.
Reply to this comment
by thetruth073 September 18, 2007 11:55 PM EDT
BTW voting Democrat or Replucian is like a Chicken voting for KFC. So me someone besides Ron Paul who is not bought of Politically with special interest or lobbyist monies! Americans are really dumb the Europeans have aid thi for years. They need a leader to follow and this is why we have such a corrupt system, word of advice "Americans Grow A Mind Of Your Own" This is your country not the Governments or The Corporations.... Take it back and put heart and backbone back into America!
Reply to this comment
by thetruth073 September 18, 2007 11:52 PM EDT
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by ringading3 September 18, 2007 11:18 PM EDT
I smell fear in the John Edwards camp. He can see the future! Watch for more desperate statements from his campaign. So sad.
Reply to this comment
by standlee5 September 18, 2007 11:04 PM EDT
John Edwards is right on this point. Why should high rollers have more govt. access. John Edwards has impressed me as a tenacious freedom fighter and if I were voting Democrat he''d have my vote.
Reply to this comment
by lastdance2 September 18, 2007 10:32 PM EDT
Edwards has ties to Lenders - Foreclosing on Katrina victims

Presidential Candidate - Democrat John Edwards has regularly attacked
subprime lenders - Particularly those that have filed Foreclosure Suits against
victims of Hurricane Katrina.

But as an investor - Edwards has ties to Lenders Foreclosing on Katrina victims.

The Wall Street Journal has identified 34 New Orleans homes whose owners have faced Foreclosure from subprime-Lending units of - Fortress Investment Group LLC.

Edwards has about $16 million invested in - Fortress Funds - According to a campaign aide
Edwards worked for Fortress Funds, A publicly held private-equity fund, from late 2005

Source :
The Wall Street Journal (on line)
Friday, August 17, 2007

Lastdance
Reply to this comment
by talk2chief September 18, 2007 10:28 PM EDT
Is it me, or is Hilary starting to look and act like a dude? Look at the picture, she looks like she has a cheek full of "chaw" and she''s about to spit...

Cut her hair high and tight, and she almost looks like Norman Schwartzkopf. Maybe she could just be president!

I wonder if Bill will be allowed in the Oval Office alone with interns?
Reply to this comment
by gkc99 September 18, 2007 10:16 PM EDT
The Clintons are no prizes, but look at the trash the Repugs are putting up this election--a merry band of hos, pimps, and panderers. And chickenhawks like Bushit have tarred Repug credibility for a generation to come.
Reply to this comment
by kansas1946 September 18, 2007 10:08 PM EDT
I agree with John on this one. Get rid of the lobbyists or at least avoid them.
Reply to this comment
by pwrslm September 18, 2007 9:33 PM EDT
Sure...like accepting a million dollars from people like Hsu has any moral indicators...Hillary is nothing more than a liar and thief...Billy boy got elected because they hid his history of sexual harrassment...Why did they refuse to let the American Public know what was in Hillarys White House records???

The same game...different day....Down with the Hill!!
Reply to this comment
by likeitis5050 September 18, 2007 9:20 PM EDT
Then he doesn''t know Hillary all that well. Hillary will gladly take money to win an election and not feel the least bit obligated to oblige or reciprocate in any way, shape or form. Let the lobbyists give, and give freely. If Edwards can''t run with the big dog then he needs to stay his a..ss on the porch. Hillary has the game down, but unlike the good ol'' boys, she doesn''t intend to play by their rules. These little men with big fat egos need to wise up and wise up fast! Changing the way money is given needs to be written into law, not whined about during a campaign. He''s too stupid too understand this? Smoke him.
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