By Jim Tankersley
WASHINGTON – Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) called a news conference this morning to pitch her economic stimulus plans in light of another dizzying day of losses in global stock exchanges. But the reporters who turned out were more interested in rehashing last night’s sharp-toned Democratic presidential debate, and Clinton was happy to oblige.
Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama fenced for much of that debate over policy and personal backgrounds. While rival John Edwards largely stood on the sidelines, Obama accused Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, of lying about his record – and slammed Hillary Clinton for once sitting on the Wal-Mart board of directors.
Hillary Clinton responded by questioning whether Obama’s actions match his words – a criticism she repeated throughout this morning’s press conference – and accusing him of having done legal work for a “slumlord,” Tony Rezko.
This morning, Clinton said Obama “clearly came (to the debate) last night looking for a fight.”
“What we saw last night was that he’s very frustrated – Sen. Obama’s very frustrated,” she said. “The events of the last 10 days, particularly the outcomes in New Hampshire and Nevada, have apparently convinced him to adopt a new strategy.”
A moment later, she continued: “I believe that words matter, but I think actions matter more. And time and time again (with Obama), we see where words and actions don’t match… He has a hard time responding to questions about his record.”
Asked if she was somehow belittling Obama with “code words” meant to degrade his race, Clinton was emphatic: “I just don’t believe that,” she said. “I’ve been very complimentary of him … We are two people vying for the most important job in the world. And it’s important that we air whatever differences we have in a respectful, civil way.”
Clinton repeatedly brushed off reporters who asked if her husband – in his position as a former president – was somehow crossing a party line with his recent critiques of Obama.
Asked about the fairness of her own “slumlord” criticism of Obama last night, she answered “you’ll have to ask (Obama) about that,” though she allowed that the “record supports” her characterization of Rezko as a “slumlord.”
Obama has or plans to return more than $80,000 in political contributions linked to Rezko, a politically connected Chicago businessman who has pleaded not guilty to federal influence-peddling and bank fraud charges. He said at last night’s debate that his legal work for Rezko firm was limited and tangential.
Clinton is now headed to California. Obama campaigns today in South Carolina.
For the record, Clinton warned that a recession was “inevitable” and said she worried it could be deep and long. Her economic proposals included:
* Asking the president to convene a working group on financial markets.
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* Urging Washington leaders meeting today on a stimulus package to settle on something that Congress will pass quickly.
* Reiterating her calls for a 30-day moratorium on home foreclosures and a five-year lending rate freeze.