Once a presidential candidate himself, consumer advocate Ralph Nader unleashed on "Corporate Democrat" Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton Monday and slammed her for being soft on defense spending and a pal of big business.
Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards speaks to potential supporters at a rally in Ames, Iowa, USA, 01 January 2008. With the first political test of 2008, the Iowa caucuses, just days away on 03 January 2008, campaigns from both parties are in full swing across the state. EPA/STEVE POPE
Nader expressed his strong support for John Edwards.
CNN reports that in an effort to encourage liberal Iowans to "recognize" the former North Carolina senator by "giving him a victory," the activist and former presidential contender said in an interview that Clinton will "pander to corporate interest groups" if elected.
Nader specifically accused Clinton of failing to challenge military spending because "she is a woman who doesn't want to be labeled as soft on defense, and she doesn't want to be shown as taking on big business."
As Clinton campaigned through a snowstorm in southeast Iowa, pledging to "bring about the changes we need," Nader accused the Democratic senator from New York of hollow promises.
"[Clinton] has not led the way against the avalanche of military contracting, corporate crime, fraud and abuse," he said. "We want to inform the people of Iowa about Hillary Clinton because all the focus is on, do they have the experience and do they have the personal charisma, and can they cross the aisle" Nader said.
"The issue is corporate power and who controls our political system and it's not who has experience for six years or two years," he said, alluding to an ongoing debate over experience between Clinton and freshman Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois.
"She has experience in the Senate, and what that experience has meant is going soft on cracking down on corporate crime, fraud, and abuse, soft on cutting tens of millions in corporate subsidies," he continued.
The Clinton campaign declined to comment on Nader's criticism.
Nader called Edwards a Democratic "glimmer of hope."
He has long claimed Democrats are not a dime's worth of difference than Republicans, noting both parties are beholden to corporate financing and interests.
Clinton is currently locked in a heated three-way race with Obama and Edwards in Iowa, the first contest of the presidential primaries.
"Iowa should decide which candidate stands for us," Nader added. "Edwards is at least highlighting day after day that the issue is who controls our country: big business or the people?"
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