Look at the Facts, Not Innuendo

by Lanny Davis – 2/12/16

I have no problem with presidential candidates who received speaking fees disclosing transcripts of their speeches — as long as it applies to everyone in that situation.

What I do have a problem with is the insinuation by Sen. Bernie Sanders and the USA TODAY Editorial Board that when then-Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton took donations from members of Wall Street firms, that made them suspect as to their willingness to “stand up to Wall Street.”

The innuendo is that accepting such fees or donations will influence or even cause recipients to change their positions on issues to placate the donors.

During a recent debate, Sen. Sanders was not willing to make that charge directly when challenged to do so by Secretary Clinton but relied, as he always does, on innuendo.

There is a reason for that: The facts contradict it.

Hillary Clinton’s record in the Senate, and in her public positions since then, consistently opposed the interests of big Wall Street firms and the big banks, some of whose employees made large donations to her presidential campaign in 2008 and in this campaign.

For example, she supported the Dodd-Frank financial reform law; supported closing the huge tax loophole, called “carried interest,” allowing equity firm investors to be taxed at lower capital gains rates than regular income tax rates that ordinary Americans must pay; and supported the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which was adamantly lobbied against by the big banks and Wall Street.

Indeed, Pulitzer Prize-winning progressive economist Paul Krugman wrote in his New York Times column that Hillary Clinton’s proposal imposing more stringent regulations on big banks, Wall Street firms and shadow banks was “tougher” than Sen. Sanders’.

When innuendo is trumped by facts, that too should be called out by the news media — whether in an editorial or by a candidate who insinuates that his political opponent can be “bought” by fees and donations while not having the fortitude to make that charge directly — knowing it is false.

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Lanny Davis, who was special counsel to President Clinton, is a Washington lawyer, crisis manager and TV commentator.

To read the column on USA Today, click here.