Obama and Edwards Bring Clinton Heat Over Lobbyists

Aug. 07, 2008 — -- The leading Democratic presidential candidates exchanged sharp words Tuesday night at a forum focusing on issues important to American workers sponsored by the AFL-CIO at Chicago's Soldier Field.

Sen. Barack Obama D-Ill., and former Sen. John Edwards D-N.C., had their sights on the Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton, who matched her rivals' attacks with wit and forcefulness.

Obama and Edwards were much more fiery than they have been in past debates, with Edwards leveling perhaps the 90-minute forum's sharpest attack.

Answering a question about NAFTA, the 1993 trade agreement signed by Clinton's husband former President Bill Clinton, Edwards said NAFTA was negotiated by Washington insiders and that "you will never see a picture of me on the front of Fortune magazine saying "I am the candidate that big corporate America is betting on'" -- a blunt jab at Clinton who recently donned the cover of Fortune.

In another shot at Clinton, hometown candidate Obama said "you've got to have a president in the White House who is not simply subject to the whims of corporate lobbyists," a reference to remarks Clinton made over the weekend in which she defended taking money from Washington lobbyists. "I do not have federal registered lobbyists bundling for me, just like I don't take PAC money," the Illinois legislator later added. "And the reason that's important is because the people in this stadium need to know who we're going to fight for."

Clinton's response to her rivals' jabs was carefully constructed and very strong. "The other campaigns have been using my name a lot, " said the former first lady. "For 15 years, I've stood up against the right-wing machine. And I've come out stronger. So if you want a winner who knows how to take them on, I'm your girl," she said to applause from some of the 17,000 union members and family on hand.

Obama came under harsh assault from Clinton and Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd for saying last week that he would go after al Qaeda targets in Pakistan if the country would not act against the terrorists. "You can think big but remember you shouldn't always say everything you think when you're running for president because it could have consequences across the world and we don't need that right now," Clinton said. Dodd echoed Clinton's criticism.