Clinton Defends Wall Street Speeches: I Also Tried To Prevent 2008 Crash

Democratic presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton walks back on stage after a break during a Democratic presidential primary debate with Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt, hosted by MSNBC ... Democratic presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton walks back on stage after a break during a Democratic presidential primary debate with Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt, hosted by MSNBC at the University of New Hampshire Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016, in Durham, N.H. (AP Photo/David Goldman) MORE LESS

Hillary Clinton defended herself during Thursday night’s MSNBC Democratic debate against criticism of the speaking fees she took from Wall Street firms after leaving the State Department.

“What I want people to know is, I went to Wall Street before the crash,” Clinton said. “I was the one saying you’re going to wreck the economy because of these shenanigans with mortgages. I called to end the loopholes that hedge fund managers enjoy. I called for a consumer protection financial bureau before it was created. I think the best evidence that the Wall Street people at least know where I stand and where I have always stood is because they are trying to beat me in this primary.”

Clinton’s defense came a day after she was asked about the same speaking fees, which Sanders had been using as a line of attack, during a CNN town hall. Asked by host Anderson Cooper why she took home more than $600,000 in speaking fees in a single year from financial firm Goldman Sachs, Clinton responded: “Well, I don’t know. That’s what they offered.”

On Thursday night, she seemed determined to offer a more robust counter.

“I think it’s important for everybody to understand I have a record,” Clinton said. “I have stood firm, and I will be the person who prevents them from ever wrecking the economy again.”

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  1. By the way, check out her history when she was on the Board of Directors of Walmart. She was on the Board of Directors at least 6 years. Read the May 7, 2007 New York times article on her term on said Board. She did NOTHING when Walmart’s was going after forming unions and getting wage increases. Remember she and Bill were part of the New Democrats that are basically Republican light.

  2. Avatar for chammy chammy says:

    Just give it up While you’re looking at her record, look at the entirety of it. She was the first person to fight for Universal Health Care and to get children’s health insurance so spare me her time at Walmart. Ihave changed over the years - have you not? And if mot, then you are special

  3. "I think the best evidence that the Wall Street people at least know where I stand and where I have always stood is because they are trying to beat me in this primary.”

    Where is the evidence that Wall Street people are trying to beat you, Hillary? George Soros just contributed $8 million to your campaign. Your “good friend”, Michael Bloomberg promised to spend up to $$1 billion of his own money to run a third party campaign if you were not the Democratic nominee.

    Are you simply misspeaking or intentionally lying (but not in an illegal way)?

  4. It’s funny you joined just one day ago to lecture us on her record as if we were ignorant. Some of us support Bernie, some of us support Hillary, some are still on the fence, but regardless most of us here are far more informed than you seem to assume.

  5. The last four livewire stories:

    Clinton Defends
    Clinton Hits Back
    Clinton Rejects
    Clinton Slams

    TPM is just tying itself in knots these days.

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