Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton lost her cool on Thursday, angrily attacking the campaign of her challenger, Bernie Sanders, for claiming she accepts donations from the fossil fuel industry.
An environmental activist butted in while Clinton was shaking hands after a New York event, asking, “Will you act on your words and reject Fossil Fuel money in the future on your campaign?”
As the Rachel Platten hit “Fight Song” blared over the speakers, Clinton bellowed angrily with a “fight song” of her own:
I do not have — I have money from people who work for fossil fuel companies. I am so sick — I am so sick of the Sanders campaign lying about me. I’m sick of it.
In all fairness to Clinton, her rival’s campaign has accused her of accepting money from the fossil fuel industry many times before.
In response to the former secretary of state denying such assertions, the Sanders campaign released a statement insisting that she had received money from the industry. Spokesman Michael Briggs declared:
The truth is that Secretary Clinton has relied heavily on funds from lobbyists working for the oil, gas and coal industry. According to an analysis by Greenpeace, Hillary Clinton’s campaign and her super PAC have received more than $4.5 million from the fossil fuel industry. In fact, 57 oil, gas and coal industry lobbyists have directly contributed to Clinton’s campaign, with 43 of them contributing the maximum allowed for the primary. Eleven of those 53 lobbyists are working as bundlers and have raised over $1.1 million in bundled contributions between them.
Briggs continued to dig into Clinton, adding, “It’s no wonder that back in December Clinton refused to agree to stop accepting money from the fossil fuel industry when pressed at a town hall.”
He concluded the statement with a zinger: “If Secretary Clinton wants to discuss this and other important issues she should stop stalling and agree to a debate in New York before the April 19 primary election.”
Now, the fossil fuel industry is an important part of our economy, and climate alarmists’ regulations will do more harm than good. Clinton should accept that the industry provides good jobs and cheap energy, and allow free people in free markets to choose what kind of energy they prefer. Perhaps it’s not so bad a thing, accepting contributions from such a valuable sector of the economy.
Nevertheless, if Clinton has trouble dealing with Sanders’ comparatively mild attacks, how will she deal with the bombastic Donald Trump or the well-informed legal jabs of Ted Cruz? This exchange does not exactly endear her to Democrats, who will demand answers on all of these issues.
Watch the video on the next page.
Watch the video of Clinton’s flare-up here:
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