Obama Criticizes Clinton over Lobbyists

[illinoisprogressive]

Obama pointed to Saturday's bloggers forum in Chicago where he touted his promise not to take money from lobbyists. Clinton argued at the event that taking money from lobbyists was acceptable because they represented real people and real interests.

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.

Obama said he accepts that lobbyists have a legitimate role in Washington, but he said they now hold too much power.

"When they've come to so dominate the debate that ordinary citizens' interests and viewpoints and concerns are drowned out then I think we've got a problem," Obama said. "This campaign is going to come down to whether you believe that it's enough just to get somebody other than George Bush in the White House to fix what ails Washington, or do you think we need to set a fundamentally new course."

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/fn/5030628.html

[Bitwit1234]

1. Wonder if Obama will critize Hillary Clinton if she walks like he doesn't want her to.

[durrrty libby]

2. His desperation is starting to show, so the answer is YES