Obama Pledges to Clean Up Washington

[Terri]

By RON FOURNIER and MIKE GLOVER
Associated Press
August 17, 2007

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- Democrat Barack Obama, who accepts special interest money and played poker with lobbyist pals as an Illinois lawmaker, acknowledged Thursday that he swims in ''the same muddy water'' that corrupts Washington, but he pledged to reform the system if elected president.

Presidential rival Hillary Rodham Clinton ''doesn't recognize the problem,'' Obama told The Associated Press.

''I have a bunch of friends who were state lobbyists. The fact of the matter is ... I played poker with them, so I don't think that lobbyists are evil,'' said the first-term Illinois senator. ''I just think they've got an agenda and you got to be clear about that, and not pretend that they don't.''

More (http://www.gopusa.com/news/2007/august/0817_obama_lobbyists .shtml)

[rangerrebew]

Madam Clinton is correct, MANY lobbyists do represent the people but THE VAST MAJORITY DON'T! This is the campaign finance equivalent of the fairness doctrine; who is going to determine who does or doesn't represent the people and how much time and money should each give a politburo member?:hair:

[paulmarkar]

Hey Obama I have a shovel for ya Where are you planning to put all that crap. Please keep it on your property. We don't need anymore down here. :chdance

[Amawalk John]

Interesting choice of words, Barak. "Cleaning up", indeed!

They call themselves public servants, but it seems these careerist bureaucrats and politicians, living well beyond their paygrades, are in it for the money.

[STEELMAN]

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- Democrat Barack Obama, who accepts special interest money and played poker with lobbyist pals as an Illinois lawmaker, acknowledged Thursday that he swims in ''the same muddy water'' that corrupts Washington, but he pledged to reform the system if elected president.
Kick out the corruptors that slip you a c-note now and then? Right! Or as one of my favorite remarks from John Wayne goes: "That'll be the day!"

[rangerrebew]

It would be kind of like the mob asking Frank Nitty to clean up the corruption.:eek: