John Podesta, who chairs Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign, defended his boss after she justified the millions in donations she has received from Wall Street by talking about 9/11.
While wearing a sweatshirt with the logo of a major financial group, Podesta said that it was "unfair" for opponent Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) to question Clinton’s will to regulate the financial industry given her monetary ties to Wall Street.
Yahoo reported:
"I think she’s got a strong record on Wall Street reform. She’s put forward the strongest policies on Wall Street reform," Podesta said. Podesta, who was wearing a fleece jacket that bore the logo of Equilibrium Capital, a $1 billion financial and investment company, also pointed out that Clinton met with union leaders who represented Wall Street-area workers in the aftermath of 9/11. "It’s just an unfair attack," Podesta said.
Equilibrium Capital, which invests in green businesses, has hosted events featuring billionaire environmentalist and Clinton supporter Tom Steyer. Podesta wore the financial group’s logo at the Central Iowa Democrats’ fall barbecue Sunday. He also indicated that Clinton’s statement about the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks was not practiced.
Clinton has received criticism since citing her work as a U.S. senator from New York in the aftermath of 9/11 as justification for the money she has accepted from Wall Street donors.
"I represented New York, and I represented New York on 9/11, when we were attacked," Clinton responded to Sanders during the second Democratic primary debate Saturday night in Iowa.
"Where were we attacked? We were attacked in downtown Manhattan, where Wall Street is. … I did spend a whole lot of time and effort helping them rebuild. That was good for New York. It was good for the economy, and it was a way to rebuke the terrorists who had attacked our country."
Podesta said Sunday that Clinton was "reacting to what was being thrown." Bill Clinton also came to his wife’s defense at the barbecue in Iowa, calling Sanders’ attack on the former secretary of state’s relationship to Wall Street a "stretch."
Hillary Clinton has received almost $13 million in campaign donations from the securities and investment sector, according to OpenSecrets.