The Audacity of Pledge Omission: "Obama Ad Omits Lobbyist Reference"

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Obama Ad Omits Lobbyist Reference
Edwards Pounces on the Opportunity to Differentiate Himself From Rival

http://www.abcnews.go.com/Politics/Vote2008/story?id=4064444&page=1



By JAKE TAPPER
Dec. 29, 2007

A new television ad released Friday by the campaign of Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., uses excerpts from a well-received November speech by the candidate in which he attacked corporate lobbyists.

But the campaign notably excised from the excerpt one mid-sentence clause in which Obama promised to ban lobbyists from working in his White House -- a pledge the Illinois Democrat seemed to have backed off from earlier this month.

The ommission, first reported by ABC News Saturday morning, provided an opportunity for Obama's rival, former Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., to make that very pledge to ban lobbyists from working in his White House on Saturday afternoon.

The Obama campaign insisted the cut was made purely for time, and not because the senator had been called out on over-reaching rhetoric. "It was a 30-minute speech and a 60-second ad, so of course we had to make cuts," Obama spokesman Bill Burton said. "Sen. Obama has the strongest record and the furthest reaching proposals when it comes to curbing the influence of special interests and lobbyists of any candidate in this race."

[JackORoses]

1. He said it but it's not in the commercial. How does this change the fact that he said it?

How does this change the fact that Hillary would never ever ever make the same pledge?

[Amerigo Vespucci]

2. When it's Hillary's turn, we'll find out.

"How does this change the fact that Hillary would never ever ever make the same pledge?"

Are you KIDDING me? You want to trade documented facts for "what ifs?"

[JackORoses]

4. what are you talking about, Amerigo?

what is your documented fact?

Obama said it. Just because it's not in the commercial doesn't mean anything.

Has anyone else made the same pledge?

[msongs]

3. thank gosh oprah is not a special interest lobbyist nt