Page 5 - atoday
P. 5
U.S. NEWS A5
Tuesday 17 November 2015
Clinton campaign defends Democrat’s ties to Wall Street
LISA LERER against suggestions by her Hillary Rodham Clinton reacts as she talks to supporters in Des Moines, Iowa. Clinton defended
KEN THOMAS main rival, Vermont Sen. her long-running ties to the nation’s finance industry Monday, bringing out allies to argue that she
Associated Press Bernie Sanders, that she is would take a tough approach to regulating the industry.
WASHINGTON (AP) — 2016 too cozy with Wall Street.
Democratic front-runner “We were attacked in (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Hillary Rodham Clinton de- downtown Manhattan
fended her long-running where Wall Street is. I did
ties to the nation’s finance spend a whole lot of time
industry Monday, bringing and effort helping them
out allies to argue that she rebuild. That was good for
would take a tough ap- New York. It was good for
proach to regulating the the economy and it was a
industry despite receiving way to rebuke the terror-
tens of millions in personal ists who had attacked our
and campaign cash from country,” she said.
Wall Street during her ca- Clinton’s opponents in both
reer. parties jumped on that
Former Rep. Barney Frank, comment, which provoked
a driving force behind the immediate blowback on
2010 financial overhaul law social media and a rebuke
that bears his name, said it from The New York Times
was wrong to suggest that editorial board. Clinton
lawmakers who pushed spokesman Brian Fallon
for the reforms were influ- said Monday it was “outra-
enced by campaign do- geous” to suggest she was
nations from the financial trying to politicize the 9/11
services industry. attacks and people were
Frank said the bill was ap- trying to “make political
proved over the strenuous mischief” with her remarks.
objections of Wall Street Clinton has received far
lobbyists and signed by more in contributions from
President Barack Obama, the financial industry than
whose 2008 campaign re- Sanders, whose campaign
ceived large contributions has been fueled mostly by
from the industry. small donations from across
“It’s truly stupid, because if the country. Clinton’s cam-
you look at the way things paign has raised about $7.3
have worked, if you look at million from the finance
what Obama got in 2008 and insurance industry,
and what we then did, if according to Crowdpac.
you look at those of us who com, a nonpartisan politi-
pushed through a bill over cal research company.
the greater objection of the The industry also supported
financial industry, there’s her husband, former Presi-
no argument there,” said dent Bill Clinton, during his
Frank, who was joined on a two White House cam-
conference call set up by paigns and backed her
the Clinton campaign by campaigns to serve New
Gary Gensler, the former York in the Senate.
chairman of the Commod- But the campaigns of two
ity Futures Trading Com- of Clinton’s would-be Re-
mission and now a Clinton publican challengers are
campaign adviser. taking in far more from Wall
The issue of Clinton’s ties Street than her 2016 cam-
to Wall Street are getting a paign. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz
fresh look after last week- has raised $22 million and
end’s Democratic presi- former Florida Gov. Jeb
dential debate. The former Bush $21 million from do-
New York senator invoked nors working in the finance
the 9/11 attacks during the and insurance industry, ac-
event to defend herself cording to Crowdpac.q
