THE DAILY BLADE: Edwards Hedges On Campaign Donations
The YearlyKos convention would have been beneath The Stiletto’s notice, but for this exchange on campaign contributions between several of the candidates during a 90-minute debate that was moderated by New York Times Magazine political writer Matt Bai:
Clinton came under attack for declining to join former senator John Edwards … and Sen. Barack Obama … in pledging to not take campaign contributions from Washington lobbyists.
"I think my party, the Democratic Party, the party of the people, ought to say from this day forward we will never take a dime from a Washington lobbyist," Edwards said to rising applause from the audience of more than 1,000.
Asked whether she would agree with that, Clinton said, "I don't think, based on my 35 years of fighting for what I believe in, anybody seriously believes I'm going to be influenced by a lobbyist or a particular interest."
With that there were groans and hisses, and Clinton … responded: "I've been waiting for this. … A lot of those lobbyists, whether you like it or not, represent real Americans." …
Kucinich turned the issue of campaign contributions back on Edwards, asking whether he would be willing to stop taking money from hedge fund executives.
Edwards declined, saying he will continue to accept donations from people who are not Washington lobbyists. [Emphasis, The Stiletto’s. FYI: Edwards’ has gotten more contributions from lawyers than any other candidate, though Hillary isn’t that far behind.]
Editorial Note: The WaPo notes that the moonbats attending the Kosapalooza (held in Chicago) booed Hillary during a 30-minute Q&A session with bloggers when she claimed to be a Cubs - not White Sox - fan. The Stiletto is so confused. She somehow got the impression that Hillary is a Yankee fan (second item). In other baseball news, The Stiletto hears that an asterisk has tied Hank Aaron’s home run record. If the asterisk hadn’t used steroids, the exclamation point – which closely resembles a baseball bat! – would have earned the honor fair and square.
Chutzpah In The House
Remember when Dems promised to "shine light" on how and why money got earmarked for projects in lawmakers’ home districts? The New York Times reports that the gleam from Diogenes’ lamp has morphed into the glow of the limelight, as "the new transparency has raised the value of earmarks as a measure of House members’ clout":
So far this year, House lawmakers have put together spending bills that include almost 6,500 earmarks for almost $11 billion in local projects, only half of which the Bush administration supported. …
[L]awmakers have often competed to have their names attached to individual earmarks and rushed to put out press releases claiming credit for the money they bring home. …
The House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, has obtained about $63 million worth of projects, most of them in or near her district in San Francisco. … Representative John P. Murtha of Pennsylvania, chairman of the House Appropriations subcommittee on defense … obtained $163 million in pet projects - more than anyone else in Congress and more than his own previous record of about $100 million. …
Continuing another longtime practice of Republicans and Democrats alike, a disproportionate share of projects went to the so-called cardinals who chair each of the appropriation subcommittees. …
Because everyone can see who is receiving what, rank-and-file members are clamoring for their districts to obtain a bigger share of the goodies.
Similarly, constituents in home districts are becoming bolder as the earmarking process becomes less mysterious. …
Representative David R. Obey of Wisconsin … complained that lawmakers increasingly saw themselves as "A.T.M. machines for our districts" and spent less time on genuine policy issues.
Plus ça change, plus c’est la mệme chose.
Giant Purple Heart Mowed In NY Field
Inspired by a trip to the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, Ellenville, NY antique store owner Roger Baker, 53, used his trusty Craftsman Hi-Wheel gas-powered push mower to carve "an 850,000-square-foot Purple Heart medal, more than 1,000 feet long, each detail precise down to the seven 36-foot laurel leaves on each side of the three gold stars above the portrait of George Washington," into a field of grass and clover, The New York Times reports. Baker has been creating such "field portraits" since 2000, and his oeuvre includes the Statue of Liberty, Elvis Presley, Albert Einstein and Jimi Hendrix. His latest work, which commemorates the 75th anniversary of the Purple Heart medal, can be found 16 miles from the Purple Heart Hall of Honor, at the edge of Thomas Bull Memorial Park (just off State Road 416).
Comments