Hillary Clinton disavows her super PAC, dares Bernie Sanders to call Obama a Wall Street puppet


Judy Woodruff asked Hillary Clinton at Thursday's Democratic debate whether, given that two big financier donors have contributed millions to her super PAC, she can really complain about the Koch brothers and other mega-donors to the Republican candidates? Clinton said you'd have to ask the Republicans about their donations but that the super PAC aiding her is "not my PAC," saying that it was set up to support President Obama then decided to back her presidential campaign. Then she challenged Bernie Sanders' premise that a candidate can't buck Wall Street if his or her super PAC takes Wall Street donations.
In 2008, Obama "was the recipient of the largest number of Wall Street donations of anybody running on the Democratic side ever," Clinton said, but "when it mattered, he stood up and took on Wall Street," pushing through the Dodd-Frank financial reform bill. "So let's not imply in any way here that President Obama or myself would in any way not take on any vested interest," including Wall Street, drug companies, "or frankly, the gun lobby."
Sanders scoffed that Wall Street doesn't give huge sums to candidates out of civic duty. "Let's not insult the intelligence of the American people," he said. "They're not dumb." Big Business gives money to politicians because they want things in return. He again touted his million-plus donors who have given him 3.5 million donations averaging $27, versus Clinton's million-dollar super PAC contributions.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Clinton said that she has 750,000 individual donors, most of whom have given small donations, though she didn't give a number.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Scottish hospitality shines at these 7 hotels
The Week Recommends Sleep well at these lovely inns across Scotland
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
Scientists invent a solid carbon-negative building material
Under the radar Building CO2 into the buildings
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Crossword: April 1, 2025
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff Published
-
Trump 'not joking' about unconstitutional 3rd term
Speed Read The president seems to be serious about seeking a third term in 2028
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The JFK files: the truth at last?
In The Spotlight More than 64,000 previously classified documents relating the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy have been released by the Trump administration
By The Week Staff Published
-
Supreme Court upholds 'ghost gun' restrictions
Speed Read Ghost guns can be regulated like other firearms
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump sets 25% tariffs on auto imports
Speed Read The White House says the move will increase domestic manufacturing. But the steep import taxes could also harm the US auto industry.
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump allies urge White House to admit chat blunder
Speed Read Even pro-Trump figures are criticizing The White House's handling of the Signal scandal
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Waltz takes blame for texts amid calls for Hegseth ouster
Speed Read Democrats are calling for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and national security adviser Michael Waltz to step down
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Judge: Nazis treated better than Trump deportees
speed read U.S. District Judge James Boasberg reaffirmed his order barring President Donald Trump from deporting alleged Venezuelan gang members
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US officials share war plans with journalist in group chat
Speed Read Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg was accidentally added to a Signal conversation about striking Yemen
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published