ANOTHER CLINTON TARGET: Democrat John Edwards blamed Bill Clinton’s administration Saturday for trade agreements unpopular with labor unions and warned against electing “corporate Democrats.” The Democratic presidential hopeful, speaking to union carpenters in Las Vegas, tied rival Hillary Clinton to the business interests that unions claim were served by her husband’s trade liberalization, to the detriment of workers. Edwards described the North American Free Trade Agreement as a blow to the middle class.
CLINTON DEFENDS FUNDRAISING: Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton defended her fundraising practices among New York’s Chinese community Saturday and said those questioning her ability to reform Washington, including attacks from her rivals, should look at her record. “I represent New York, and New York is a symbol of the success of immigrants coming to America,” the New York senator said after addressing supporters in Des Moines. The Los Angeles Times recently reported on donations Clinton has received from New York’s Chinese community, including contributions of between $500 and the federal $2,300 maximum per election, coming from people identified as dishwashers and other laborers. Of 150 contributions examined, one-third of the donors could not be found.
BIDEN ON THE ATTACK: Democratic Sen. Joseph Biden criticized his rivals Saturday, contending they are telling voters what they want to hear instead of delivering the truth. Speaking in Corning, Iowa, Biden said the refusal of Democratic Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama to support a supplemental spending bill for the U.S. military in Iraq in May ran counter to their later comments on how they would bring troops home. Biden, of Delaware, said he voted for the measure, in part, because it contained additional funding to shield military vehicles from attacks.
———-
For the latest political news, visit chicagotribune.com/theswamp
