Clinton Steps Up Attack On Obama

In Ohio, Former First Lady Says Rival Is More Beholden To Special Interests

(CBS/AP)  Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton, criticized for taking corporate special interest contributions, proposed restrictions on a wide array of industries Thursday and stepped up her assault on rival Barack Obama, casting him as the candidate more beholden to corporations.

In a speech to General Motors workers and executives, Clinton trumped Obama's own economic plan from a day before and appeared to be channeling former rival John Edwards' populist anti-corporate message.

"For seven long years, we've had a government of, by, and for the special interests, and we've had enough," the New York senator told an audience at a General Motors plant that she toured here. "It's time to level the playing field against the special interests and deliver 21st century solutions to rebuild the middle class."

She said she would rein in oil, insurance, credit card, student loan and Wall Street investment companies and generate $55 billion a year that would be used for middle class tax cuts, create jobs and pay for an array of domestic programs.

Obama on Wednesday visited a GM plant in Janesville, Wis., to unveil a 10-year, $210 billion economic plan to create jobs in construction and environmental industries.

The former first lady was in Ohio to press her strategy of jumping ahead to the biggest March 4 primary states - Texas and Ohio - where she still holds the lead in polls. She is counting on those states to stop a tide that has given Obama eight straight victories since Super Tuesday. According to CBS News estimates, of the 2,025 delegates needed for nomination, Obama now has 1,281; Clinton, 1,197.

Waving a pair of blue boxing gloves, Clinton was in a combative mood Thursday.

"We need a champion and a fighter in the White House," she declared. The gloves were in honor of middleweight boxing champion Kelly Pavlik of Youngstown, Ohio.

Clinton went after Obama, tying him to nuclear interests and blaming him for doing little to stave off job losses in Illinois.

"My opponent says that he'll take on the special interests," she said. "Well, he told people he stood up to the nuclear industry and passed a bill against them. But he actually let the nuclear industry water down his bill and the bill never actually passed." (Read more about Clinton's speech in the From The Road blog.)

Clinton was referring to Exelon Corp., a Chicago-based energy giant and nuclear plant operator, whose executives and employees have contributed more than $200,000 to Obama's campaigns since 2004. This month, The New York Times examined whether Obama, at the behest of Exelon lobbyists, had weakened legislation aimed at tightening regulations on the nuclear industry.

"Barack Obama doesn't need any lectures on special interests from the candidate who's taken more money from Washington lobbyists than any Republican running for President," Obama spokesman Bill Burton responded. He said Clinton had co-sponsored the nuclear regulatory legislation she now criticizes.

On Thursday, Obama won the backing of the United Food and Commercial Workers, a politically active union with significant membership in the upcoming Democratic battlegrounds.

The 1.3-million member UFCW gives Obama an organizational boost in vital upcoming contests, with 69,000 members in the Buckeye state and another 26,000 in Texas. The food workers also have 19,000 members in Wisconsin, which holds a primary Tuesday.

Separately, the Service Employees International Union executive board planned a conference call Thursday night to consider an Obama endorsement, according to a person familiar with the plans. This person was not authorized to speak publicly and so requested anonymity.

The international union had stayed out of the primary race until now, because its leaders were divided over who to endorse after an especially strong courting by Edwards. The 1.8-million member union allowed its state affiliates to make endorsements, and most of them backed Edwards.

Clinton's new plan appeared designed to respond to some of the sharpest criticism she has received on the campaign trail from fellow Democrats Obama and Edwards, who dropped out just before Super Tuesday. Both Obama and Clinton have been courting Edwards in hopes of obtaining his endorsement.

Before the South Carolina primary in which Clinton finished second, Edwards aired pointed TV ads contrasting her political donors with his refusal to take contributions from lobbyists and political action committees. Without naming Clinton, one Edwards' ad noted that one of his opponents "takes more money than anyone from Washington lobbyists."

The independent and nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics reported that during the first nine months of 2007 Clinton received $567,950 from donors identified as lobbyists, the most of any of the presidential candidates.

Her visit Thursday was Clinton's second to a GM plant this week. She toured a company facility in Maryland on Monday. In Lordstown, she was accompanied by Ohio's Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland and U.S. Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones, both of whom have endorsed her.

One of Clinton fundraisers is Steve Ricchetti, whose firm has lobbied for General Motors, which has plants in New York state. As a senator from New York, Clinton helped direct $8 million in federal money to General Motors through earmarks in legislation between 2005 and 2007.

Clinton told the GM workers, "I'm announcing an agenda to rein in the special interests and save the American people at least $55 billion a year. Money that can go back into your pockets. Money we can use to create new jobs, rebuild our infrastructure, make college affordable and so much more."

She said she would force oil companies to invest some of their record profits in high-wage, clean-energy jobs. "I'll end their special tax breaks and given them a choice: Invest some of your profits in alternative energy or we'll do it for you," she said. "People have been paying through the roof at the pump and it's time the companies paid their fair share."

In addition to earlier proposals to cap interest rates at 30 percent, Clinton said she would prohibit credit card companies from imposing hidden fees and sudden rate hikes.

She promised to stop insurance companies from refusing to cover the pre-existing conditions of their clients.

"They spend more than $50 billion a year trying to figure out how not to cover people," Clinton said. "I'm going to save them a fortune and a whole lot of time, because here's the new policy: No more discrimination period. So even if you have a pre-existing condition, you can get the health insurance you need no questions asked."

And she backed tax revisions to force Wall Street "to finally pay your fair share in taxes. Because it's outrageous that a teacher making $50,000 pays a higher tax rate than some Wall Street investment managers making $50 million."

[Peter Degenhardt]

I will never see the point in people calling others who don''t agree with their opinions, names. Does that really bring someone over to your way of thinking?

[sierra20071]

And who doesn''t think that the Black voters won''t want pay-back, they are the biggest and LOUDEST lobbyists ever....O, will owe them big because unlike Hillary, the blacks can bring him down to the ground and will if he doesn''t toe-the-racially divided line!

[kstar42]

ANYONE VOTING FOR OBAMA NEEDS TO READ THIS SITE!

www.ibdeditorials.com/IBDArticles.aspx?i
d=285292746454291

[l00ker]

%u201COnly Thing We Have to Fear Is Fear Itself%u201D: FDR%u2019s First Inaugural Address

Franklin D. Roosevelt had campaigned against Herbert Hoover in the 1932 presidential election by saying as little as possible about what he might do if elected. Through even the closest working relationships, none of the president-elect%u2019s most intimate associates felt they knew him well, with the exception perhaps of his wife, Eleanor. The affable, witty Roosevelt used his great personal charm to keep most people at a distance. In campaign speeches, he favored a buoyant, optimistic, gently paternal tone spiced with humor. But his first inaugural address took on an unusually solemn, religious quality. And for good reason%u2014by 1933 the depression had reached its depth. Roosevelt%u2019s first inaugural address outlined in broad terms how he hoped to govern and reminded Americans that the nation%u2019s %u201Ccommon difficulties%u201D concerned %u201Conly material things.%u201D

http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/5057/


His oratory and inspirational skills remind many more of FDR, than it does to Hitler for some jews. Similar time in history for the two though.

[pensacola88]

Clinton''s attacks against her rival, Barack Obama, have been honed and polished. She has a husband with master debator skills to assist her. It is all she can do, if Obama will not debate her more often.

There is still something Barack Obama does better: He woos the listeners with hope and expresses his disagreement with a charm. Without charm, authenticity, or soulful expression, the words just come out sounding like a trumpet that needs tuning.

Obama offers his charm and glows with grace. This is something seen here and overseas by heads of state seeking a better leader to do business with in the USA.

Our country will continue to the target of attacks in the future, but Obama will never let us feel bad about who we are.

The Prime Minister of Australia and England have lost their power and were dethroned over the war in Iraq. Barack Obama won''t strain relations with foreign heads of state because he doesn''t have influences of lobbyists and PAC financing his election or any political favors to return. This includes foreign lobbyists.

Hillary Clinton accepts foreign lobby money and PAC contributions and some foreign heads of state are expecting political favors when they are needed.

Honed and polished attacks won''t give Hillary Clinton much mileage in the political arena.

[remco82]

Hillary has built a coalition of Mexicans, knee-jerk feminists and the uneducated. Is that the force that should determine our next President? Heaven help us!

[remco82]

Hillary just wants to be President. She promises the moon and won''t deliver anything. The movie "Sicko" shows how she was bought off and scrapped her health plan. If Americans have to look at that face and listen to that voice for the next four years, they''re sure to start a revolution.

[Peter Degenhardt]

For supporters of a candidate who wants to unite the country, the Obama-ites certainly can sling the mud in here! I live in Illinois, I know what little Obama has done for the state. He''s in the pockets of the Chicago Democratic machine, and in his campaign for U.S. Senator, didn''t even campaign outside of the Chicago area! Now tell me how this man full of great rhetoric is going to bring this country together. Promises and great speeches accomplish little if anything.

[craigh9]

Here we go again, Hillary indicates she can make things happen. Once again I ask, can anyone - ANYONE - provide a single accomlishment Hillary has obtained in her self proclaimed 35 years of experience?

[realpatriot1]

Watcher269,

great scoop! Wouldn''t it be nice if the MSM raised questions like that to the candidates!

[realpatriot1]

Tis apeech by Clinton demonstrates clearly who is really all talk and no action. She refuses to support any brand of lobby reform, any brand of earmark reform, any brand of campaign finance reform, she is more dependent on special interest cash than any candidate in either party, she has been recognized by independent watchdogs as the most corrupt member of Congress and she has the gall to say that the canddate most heavily funded by small donors, in the bottom 10% of Congress for utilizing earmarks, and the co-sponser of the only significant lobby reform to pass Congress is the one beholden to special interests.

She''s got hutzpah but that''s not leadership!

[tigerjcs]

Obama is better talking about change. Hillary is more likely to get it done. Hillary goes for the practicalities. Obama is full of empty talk with his ''tiny'' voting record. We need someone in the white house who will produce results, not just promisses and empty talk. Hillary 08.

[theantmanf]

Obama?!?...

- Only a short time as Senator from Illinois.
- Only previous experience was as a lawyer.
- Thinks he can change the country to make things better for those who are not getting a fair part of the American dream.
- Gives speeches that are full of promises for a better future and unity.
- Trying to move our government in a new direction?!?

Does all this hope, inspiration and promise stuff sound familiar? Check this out!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%41%62%72%61%68%61%6D_%4C%69%6E%63%6F%6C%6E

Think about it and vote!!!

[watcher269-2009]

This is what Hillary should be campaigning on! If she really cares!

Last week, the New York Times reported that the Bush Pentagon had agreed to a contract for more Kevlar helmets for our troops from the very company that was being sued for cheating troops out of helmets that met military standards. Especially at a time when so many troops are in harm%u2019s way, no such company should ever receive a new contract. Demand that Congress investigate how this could have happened,

[watcher269-2009]

This is a mistake for Hillary! She should STAND on her Republican Attacks and leave Obama alone.

[alphaa10-2009]

ontheleft said, "The big problem I have with Hillary is that she does not come across as being sincere..."
---
If Clinton champions democracy through the system of party primaries, why does she count heavily on pre-selected "Super Delegates" at the convention to secure her victory?

These special delegates are not obligated to vote for the winner of the Democratic primaries, and were characterized by one Democratic party regular, cryptically enough, as a party "safety valve"-- for whose interest?

Apparently, Clinton is prepared to use such undemocratic, power tactics to buy her way at the convention.

[eddynewhope]

Hillary didn''t show up to vote against Telecom immunity today in the FISA bill. Senator Obama voted against giving the Telecoms who spied on us illegally for Bush immunity. Thank you Senator Obama. Thanks for nothing Senator Clinton who also voted with Bush for war in Iraq, Iran, further outsourcing of American jobs, etc. etc. etc.

[jamurphy4]

This was copied from the CNN website .. By Roland S. Martin .. CNN Contributor
(CNN) -- NAACP Chairman Julian Bond''s decision to weigh in on the Democratic Party''s conundrum when it comes to seating delegates from Michigan and Florida has created a firestorm of discussion on blogs and talk shows, and frankly, I''m still unclear as to what his intent was.

Gee Roland, I think his intent is to see that all the people of the USA have their votes counted.. Just because your a very vocal supporter of Obama, doesn''t mean that all Black''s have to follow your lead.. Some have supported Hillary Clinton all along, and will help put her in the White House.. The DNC must seat both States, or pay to hold another Election.

[eddynewhope]

McCain vs Clinton - McCain wins. McCain vs. Obama - Obama wins. Seems pretty straight forward.

[alphaa10-2009]

ontheleft said, "The big problem I have with Hillary is that she does not come across as being sincere..."
---
Rather than intuition, why not use the public record? Clinton is a massive collector of IOUs to some of the very people she claims to oppose-- all on a supposed platform of economic justice. Embarrassingly enough, money still rolls into her campaign from those who hated her healthcare plan of 1994, and did their best to stall it. Perhaps Clinton has reached a truce, if certain interests will place their money on it.

Clinton still champions the Bush Sr. notion of NAFTA, and Bush Jr''s CAFTA, a globalist doctrine that makes the world safe for multinationals, but leaves Mexican workers at American factories as impoverished as before-- or moving northward.

Clinton voted for Iraq funding even after accusing Bush of misleading her. She has no apparent plan for Iraq other than more of the same, while American troops are killed and wounded daily in a war lasting longer than World War 2.

You may hate or love Clinton for her person, but it''s her own public record that damns with faint praise. Obama finds his difference from Clinton''s questionable record a decided advantage.

While race and gender bigotry loom large in this campaign, it is as bigoted for vote for Clinton on her gender as against her. The Clinton campaign adds nothing to the politics of her husband. Our country clearly needs leaders with better promise.