Obama criticizes Clinton over lobbyists by Ioana Madalina Tantareanu

Barack Obama, a hopeful democratic presidential criticises the fact that lobbyists have been in Washington for too long, aiming directly at his main rival, Hillary Rodham Clinton. Obama rushed to point on Saturday's bloggers forum in Chicago that he will never take money from lobbyists to support his campaign, while Clinton argued, stating that takeing money from lobbyists who are real people with real interest is acceptable. Obama refused to even pronounce Clinton's name, stateing only : "I profoundly disagree with her statements". 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. He said he accepts that lobbyists have a legitimate role in Washington, but he said they now hold too much power. Mark Daley, a spokesman for the Clinton campaign in Iowa, called Obama's comments "disappointing" and noted the money he's taken from lobbyists in Illinois and elsewhere. "I think that if you don't think lobbyists have too much influence in Washington, then I believe you've probably been in Washington too long," said Obama. He also stated that without a change of culture in Washington such things as the health care reform will not be possible.

by Ioana Madalina Tantareanu for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

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