Edwards: DNC should not accept money from lobbyists

<i>Is this an attempt to make Demos not money greedy Right Wingers?</i>
http://www.yahoo.com/s/653072
Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards, who has a policy of not accepting money from federal lobbyists, wants the Democratic Party's top fundraising organizations to adhere to a similar ban.

The Edwards campaign on Thursday called on Democratic presidential rival Barack Obama to co-sign a letter to party leaders decrying the connection between political donations and Washington's lobbying industry.

"There are now more than 60 lobbyists for every member of Congress. The system is clearly rigged against the people who make our country great," Edwards wrote to Obama is seeking his support.

Edwards' maneuver is designed to reinforce the populist role he has embraced in this campaign and is an attempt to get a leg up on Obama, who also has a rule of not accepting money from federal lobbyists.

By putting the challenge to the Democratic Party committees, Edwards is effectively distancing himself from the party establishment. But the party's Washington leadership does not represent Edwards core support.

A spokeswoman for the Democratic National Committee, citing the party's neutrality in the presidential contest, declined to comment.

Obama aides would not say whether he would sign onto Edwards' effort. But campaign spokesman Bill Burton called on Edwards and other candidates to join Obama in seeking to limit the role of lobbyists in Washington.

"It's not enough just to refuse their money, we have to curb their influence," Burton said in a statement.

Edwards and Obama have received some money from federal lobbyists, but the campaigns have returned those donations. They also accept money from lobbyists working at the state government level or from former lobbyists. Some Obama advisers are also lobbyists.

Both candidates also reject money from political action committees. But both have been successful fundraisers. Obama leads the presidential field in fundraising. He and Hillary Clinton have raised more than $50 million in the first six months of the year.

Edwards has raised $23 million. While eschewing lobbyists and PAC money, Edwards, a former trial lawyer, has benefited more than any other candidate from money from attorneys.

His campaign on Thursday, however, drew a distinction between money from lobbyists and that of other donors with possible special interests.

"There is one group of people whose job it is to influence government and that is lobbyists," deputy campaign manager Jonathan Prince said. "The lobbyist are at the core of the way the system is rigged against regular folks. What we're saying is let's take the money out of the equation."

Obama aides noted that Obama was one of the main contributors to ethics legislation currently awaiting President Bush's signature. It would require lawmakers and political committees to disclose the names of lobbyists who raise $15,000 or more for them within a six-month period by bundling donations from many people.

The bill also would prevent lawmakers from accepting gifts from lobbyists or their clients. Former senators and top executive branch officials would have to wait two years before lobbying Congress; former House members would have to wait one year.
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