DEBATE: Unions, Lobbying and an Orchestra updated
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MSNBC VIDEO OF OPENING STATEMENTS
VIDEO: Lobbyists, Bundlers and Lawyers
(NOTE: Featuring Clinton, Obama and Edwards.)
VIDEO: Edwards on health care & pension and Edwards responds to Biden on unions
(NOTE: First link, the question came from a man with a healthcare tragedy & brought the audience to their feet.
Edwards is making his move and he’s succeeding.)
VIDEO: Obama Pakistan Speech Smackdown Part I and Part II
(NOTE: Obama gets hit hard on this one.)
VIDEO: Debate segment on NAFTA
(NOTE: Clinton responds to Edwards on lobbying at end of video above. It’s good.)
During the union debate tonight in Chicago, the jackass in the room will be
Rudy
Giuliani. AFSCME and SEIU haven’t offered an endorsement to date and there’s
a reason.
Both unions are engaged in lengthy evaluations of the candidates that may
— or may not — lead to endorsements. At this point, based on Burger’s comments,
Edwards has some advantage with the 1.3 million member SEIU. But Clinton has
strong support from SEIU members in New York, and Obama has support from Illinois
SEIU locals. That could stymie the union in the end.
The other topic on everyone’s minds will be the latest lobbying dust up, which
Edwards, especially, but also Obama are likely to exploit. They’ll need to come up with something besides an event for
a group that lobbies for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, which Clinton is due to attend. Orchestras represent people, too. Yes, I’m being snide.
Clinton, D-N.Y., plans to attend a dessert reception in Wilmette, Ill. —
minimum contribution: $1,000 per person — at the home of Kevin Conlon, the
founder and president of Conlon Public Strategies. Conlon is registered with
the federal government to lobby for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra to receive
federal subsidies.(snip)
Clinton has raised more than $413,000 directly from registered lobbyists
and their immediate family members — by far the most of any presidential
candidate, according to the non-partisan Center for Responsive Politics. She
also has 10 federal lobbyists serving as “Hillraisers” — supporters
who are committed to raising at least $100,000 apiece for her campaign.The center’s figures show Obama having raised $60,000 from lobbyists’ families,
and Edwards bringing in about $10,000. Both campaigns say they return all
contributions they learn come directly from federally registered lobbyists,
though Obama has faced scrutiny for accepting contributions from lobbyists
registered to lobby the state of Illinois.The Edwards and Obama campaigns have said they plan to use the labor forum
in Chicago to continue to argue that Democratic candidates should reject money
from lobbyists.
My advice to Clinton on all this: let ‘em have at it. Ignore it. Don’t punch
downwards. As for everyone else, they have no choice but to let rip, however,
the punches (so to speak) better land.
Kick off time is 7:00 p.m. eastern time. It will also be streamed live. Afterwards,
Wolfson, Axelrod and Bonior will be on MSNBC’s wrap up, with Olbermann and Matthews.
Oh, and by the way, to add drama to the event, have you seen Clinton’s numbers
lately? Her favorables are climbing.
Hillary Clinton’s lead in the NBC/Wall Street Journal Poll – which had been
as close as 5 points in the national primary vote a few months ago – has opened
up to 21 points (July 27-30). Hillary also leads Rudy Giuliani by 6 points,
more than any other Democrat tested. This is a reversal from March when she
trailed Giuliani by 5 points.(snip)
In the latest Diageo Hotline poll (July 19-22), Hillary’s national favorability
went up from 48 percent to 57 percent, and is now higher than any other candidate,
Democrat or Republican. … ..
Obama’s terrorism speech only served to help Clinton, in my opinion. Edwards,
as one talking head put it, needs to illustrate that he’s the alternative to Clinton, but also that he can win. He needs to up his numbers. As for the lobbying slam,
regardless of relevance, so far, it isn’t touching her. In fact, Clinton just keeps rising.
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