Was anyone really wondering why Hillary was dragging her feet on releasing the amount of money requested for 2009, earmarked for pet projects? The question about how much pork would Hillary try and dump into her trough for 2009 has been answered by Manu Raju and Kevin Bogardus in their article for The Hill, Clinton: $2.3B in Earmarks:
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) has requested nearly $2.3 billion in federal earmarks for 2009, almost three times the largest amount received by a single senator this year. The Democratic presidential candidate’s staggering request comes at a time when Congress remains engaged in a heated debate over spending federal dollars on parochial projects.
2.3 Billion? Three time as much as requested by any other Senator? Let's hear from the Hillary campaign how this makes her more electable against McCain who has not requested a dime. And while they're at it, make sure to point out that Obama has refused to make any earmark requests for the coming year; Think this has no politcal consequences?
It also has gained traction on the campaign trail. Presumptive GOP nominee Sen. John McCain (Ariz.), a longtime foe of earmarks, has called for eliminating what he dubs “wasteful Washington spending.” Democratic front-runner Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.) has spurned earmarks, seeking no funds for pet projects in the upcoming fiscal year.
Hillary cannot challenge McCain on experience, she cannot challenge his vote for the war in Iraq, she cannot challenge his credentials for Commander in Chief, and now she cannot even challenge him on financial responsibility. Exactly how over the top is Hillary's 2.3 billion buck porker?
The total amount Clinton requested greatly surpasses the $837 million secured last year by Sen. Thad Cochran of Mississippi, the ranking Republican on the Appropriations Committee who took home the largest dollar amount of earmarks in the current fiscal year’s spending bills.
Small wonder that Hillary was less than forthcoming about her pork habits this year. While other lawmakers are seeking ways to cut back on earmarks, particularly those seeking the highest office in the nation, Hillary dives into the barrel head first. However we hear an entirely different story on the campaign trail as Hillary apparently suffers from selective amnesia and misremembers much as she claims to be fiscally responsible:
Each of the three presidential candidates has claimed to be the candidate of fiscal responsibility. Clinton, Obama and McCain voted for an amendment, sponsored by Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.), that would establish a one-year earmark moratorium. That amendment failed to pass, however, when it came to a vote in March.
There is the tell: Obama, in refusing to make any earmark requests, is acting independently in support of the defeated one year moratorium sponsored by Senator DeMint. This is the true nature of Barack Obama in acting on the principles he believes in and advocates. Hillary also voted for the moratorium, but true to her nature the vote was nothing more than posturing with the right hand while the left hand was reaching for record amounts of our money. This is vintage Hillary and the tired politics of business as usual. Status quo, same old same old. Is it any wonder that Hillary and her Republican allies are using Wright smoke and Flag Pin mirrors to keep any real news about Clinton out of the public eye?
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