November 28, 2007
Posted: 12:25 PM ET

Edwards is asking voters to sign a no-lobbyist money pledge.

WASHINGTON (CNN) –Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards launched a new effort Wednesday to try to convince voters in early nominating states to avoid supporting presidential candidates who accept money from lobbyists.

The latest move – a campaign website featuring a voter pledge to withhold support from candidates that accept those funds – is a direct swipe at presidential rival Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-New York, who uses lobbyists' donations for her fundraising war chest. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, who has accepted money from political action committees in the past, has said he will not accept lobbyist money during the current campaign.

"The pledge is very straightforward, don't caucus for anyone who takes lobbyist money," Edwards spokesman Chris Kofinis said. "He's said over and over, this isn't about recriminations, this isn't about the past. John says all the time, he's not holier than thou. We're happy for anyone that's taken lobbyist money today, but it stops right now."

The campaign says it hopes to get one million voters to sign the pledge at the new web site, AmericaBelongsToUs2008.com, before the Super Tuesday primaries on February 5, 2008.

“I am proud to be the only presidential candidate who has never taken a dime from Political Action Committees or Washington lobbyists, because I’m determined to be a voice for regular families like the one I grew up in,” Edwards said in a statement. “For too long, our political leaders in Washington have looked the other way as lobbyists and irresponsible corporations have fought against efforts to achieve real change in America.”

– CNN Associate Producer Lauren Kornreich

Filed under: John Edwards


John Wallace, Chatham, New York   December 17th, 2007 10:40 am ET

There are alternatives fir all candidates that are still taking PAC and Special Interest Money.

THREE CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES LAUNCH NATIONWIDE OUTREACH WEBSITE

On July 4, 1776, fifty-six brave Americans signed the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia declaring their independence from the chains of servitude to the King. In keeping with this "Spirit of '76″ three congressional candidates, from two different states and from both major parties, have declared their independence from the chains of special interest money, political action committees, big private donors and lobbyists.

Vying for the opportunity to serve in the 111th Congress, the three candidates have launched a new nationwide website (www.Spirit1776.com) that will revolutionize politics and help grassroots candidates reach out to American voters and raise funds directly from the people.

The three candidates, two republicans and one democrat, are sending a clear message to Washington that candidates serious about making changes and wanting to restore the people's trust in the government need to put the people in their district first by refusing to take money from any special interest groups, political
action committees, big private donors and lobbyists.

Spirit1776.com is a nonpartisan website and its current members are actively seeking other congressional candidates from around the country, from any party, who will also agree not to accept contributions from influential special interest and PAC groups, as well as from power donors.

To be listed on this new national website, congressional candidates must agree to limit the amount of money they will accept from individuals to $76 (in the Spirit of '76). They must also agree to limit the solicitation of contributions to within the geographical boundaries of their respective congressional districts and to the internet.

The three candidates, Morris Guller (D) from NY-20CD, Paul Swiderski (R) from PA-10CD, and John Wallace (R) from NY-20CD, believe that the American people are tired of the influence big money has on federal elected officials and have set out to prove that federal elections can be won based solely on the support of individual American citizens, as was intended by our forefathers.

For more information, please visit http://www.spirit1776.com.

Billy J Austin, Tx   December 3rd, 2007 3:08 pm ET

Come On People!! Here is your chance to support a real populist for a change instead of another cog in the machine, or intellectual windmill.

If only we had gotten Edwards/Clark last time instead of Kerry/Edwards we would have had it in the bag. Please Please PLEASE…. Look at John Edwards for what he has done with his life and what he wants to help the disadvantaged and middle class (which are practically the same thing these days) for themselves. He is the real deal.

Olivia - San Antonio - Texas   November 28th, 2007 7:35 pm ET

I feel for Edwards. I wish I could get myself to like him. But I just can't. I do think he is a better candidate than Obama. And, it is tragic that he got lost in the mix.

AJ, IL   November 28th, 2007 6:48 pm ET

John Edwards, no one is going to take a pledge. This is silly. I liked it better when you were on the Hillary attack. Hillary and Bill are rich and famous now! Edwards in just plain rich! Obama is upper middle class. Which top tier Democratic candidate has spent more time in the middle class? I give you one guess. OBAMA!

HILLARYLOVER NY NY   November 28th, 2007 6:23 pm ET

If anyone is interested in knowing you can google these words "John Edwards Financing". It will come to a website that gives a detailed look at all the candidates and where there sources of funding comes from. You will be surprised to see how much money Obama and Edwards don't take from lobbyists. I know I was. The facts don't lie.

J. McKinney SW MO   November 28th, 2007 5:52 pm ET

Oh, my! What will that silly guy try next? He may as well give up and sit down.

Julie, Atlanta, GA   November 28th, 2007 5:35 pm ET

Wake UP, America!!! John Edwards is THE most perfect candidate and this is only one of the many reasons why that's a fact.

Don't make another mistake…Stupid voters concentrating on stupid things gave us stupid Bush…WAKE UP!!!

Dan, TX   November 28th, 2007 5:24 pm ET

This is pretty clearly a criticism of Clinton. Her view that lobbyists represent people too is a little hard to defend. Sure, there are "good" lobbyists and "bad" lobbyists, but the point is that it is not out in the open. Her own advisor Mark Penn, has a connection with Blackwater through his firm. That's enough right there to make me find someone else to vote for. Clinton can not be trusted.

erbot Davis CA   November 28th, 2007 5:21 pm ET

Hooray for the common man!You've got my vote John…go get 'em

Frank, San Diego   November 28th, 2007 5:20 pm ET

This sort of silliness is precisely why Edwards is in third place.

Very few people are naive enough to think that special interest donations can be "pledged" away. And even fewer are unsophisticated enough that they can't tell the difference between taking money from labor unions and taking it from business groups.

Edwards needs to quit the political baby-talk and give people a reason to vote FOR him. There are plenty of ways to vote AGAINST Hillary, if that's all a person wants to do.

Gorbashov, Long Beach, Ca.   November 28th, 2007 5:10 pm ET

Soon to be President-elect Edwards is right on the money. No pun intended.

Until we reform our political system and get all of the special interest money out and publically finance our campaigns little will change!

Pete, New York, New York   November 28th, 2007 5:07 pm ET

It's nice that the trial lawyer won't take money from special interests. That pledge will compliment nicely his "I Can't Get Elected President, Ever, Though I Act Otherwise" theme. Bravo…NEXT!

Kate, Aurora CO   November 28th, 2007 3:59 pm ET

Americans really need to wake up and do research. It is the lobbyists and special interest groups that are running the show now. It is because of this that we have toxic toys from China, CEO's making 100% times more than the average manager employee, over 1 million uninsured Americans, unenforced immigration laws, etc etc. I admire his stance and I look forward to the day when all Americans say enough is enough and demand our government back.

Frankie, Los Angeles, CA   November 28th, 2007 3:43 pm ET

Haha hes proud of never taking any money from Lobbylist…but thats why hes losing….! lol

Steve, Portland, OR   November 28th, 2007 3:17 pm ET

I'm happy to see someone is taking this seriously. Regardless of who did what in the past. We have got to get the lobbiest out of the government for the sake of our rights if we want change. Many of these lobbiest are ex politicians that were told to take a hike so now they work agianst you and me for corporate interests. Anyone not seeing this as a problem is blind. Hillary is blantantly disregarding this issue and that means business as usual with her and she is probably THE WORST choice for the nomination. We will be sorry if she becomes president.

Jeff Spangler, Arlington, VA   November 28th, 2007 2:55 pm ET

Of the three top-tier lawyers in this race, Edwards is the _only_ one who can try and win a case. The other two are a commercial mouthpiece and an academic law reviewer.

David, Dallas Tx   November 28th, 2007 2:26 pm ET

It's good to see a few Democrats trying to bring real change to the democratic process in Washington. I wish the front runner had shown similar independence from Big Money.

Maybe we'll end up with an Obama/Edwards ticket. That would rock.

Ron, TX   November 28th, 2007 2:16 pm ET

I would sign the pledge as long as I could designate that I was voting for Barack Obama. I highly value the pledge, but cannot sign it if it will look like an endorsement for Edwards.

I'd like to sign the pledge as a denouncement of Hillary Clinton's Washington establishment politics. We need REAL change. Lobbyists will not bring that change.

Dyinglikeflies, New York, NY   November 28th, 2007 2:16 pm ET

Edwards is shameless-now that the uber-candidate of the trial lawyer special interests is unable to get any more money from lobby-connected sources, he has sworn off taking any of the money that he can no longer get anyway. A typical sleazy Edwards move. That's like saying that you're giving up eating Dodo birds for Lent.

Rodney Dallas TX   November 28th, 2007 1:56 pm ET

The he might as well quit now cause he's not getting any money.

Eric, NY, NY   November 28th, 2007 1:49 pm ET

Awfully easy to make a pledge like that after you have done that for years. As for Obama he pledged not to take PAC money during the campaign but what does this really mean? Will he take it after? Will he allow his own PAC to take it? How much money has he raised from PACs so far?

Hoosier Values   November 28th, 2007 1:42 pm ET

AWESOME!!!

GO JOHN GO!!!

It is time for true Democrats to step up to the challenge to save America from the greed and corruption that divides our country.

Comments have been closed for this article

subscribe RSS Icon
About The Ticker

The latest political news from CNN's Best Political Team, with campaign coverage, 24-7. Sign up for our twice daily Ticker emails. Got a news tip or feedback? For complete political coverage, bookmark CNNPolitics.com.

CNN=Politics Screensaver

CNN=Politics ScreensaverTap into the power of The Situation Room. Download this powerful new tool that keeps you posted on the latest political news from the campaign trail.
Download (4.1 MB, PC only)

Follow us on Twitter

CNN on TwitterGet Ticker updates the moment they appear online via the Web, SMS, or instant messages.
Follow politicalticker

Categories
CNN Comment Policy: CNN encourages you to add a comment to this discussion. You may not post any unlawful, threatening, defamatory, obscene, pornographic or other material that would violate the law. All comments should be relevant to the topic and remain respectful of other authors and commenters. You are solely responsible for your own comments, the consequences of posting those comments, and the consequences of any reliance by you on the comments of others. By submitting your comment, you hereby give CNN the right, but not the obligation, to post, air, edit, exhibit, telecast, cablecast, webcast, re-use, publish, reproduce, use, license, print, distribute or otherwise use your comment(s) and accompanying personal identifying and other information you provide via all forms of media now known or hereafter devised, worldwide, in perpetuity. CNN Privacy Statement.
Home  |  World  |  U.S.  |  Politics  |  Entertainment  |  Health  |  Tech  |  Travel  |  Living  |  Business  |  Sports  |  Time.com
Podcasts  |  Blogs  |  CNN Mobile  |  Preferences |  Email Alerts  |  CNN Radio  |  CNN Shop  |  Site Map
© 2008 Cable News Network LP, LLLP. A Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by WordPress.com VIP