Edwards criticizes Clinton at presidential forum

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – Former Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.), at a forum on cancer and other health issues, on Monday criticized Democratic presidential frontrunner Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) for accepting campaign donations from lobbyists, saying the practice would make it tougher for Clinton to implement a universal healthcare plan as president.

Clinton and Edwards were two of four Democratic candidates who spoke at the first-ever cancer forum sponsored by the Livestrong Foundation, a group founded by seven-time Tour de France winner and cancer survivor Lance Armstrong.

{mosads}Clinton, who has drawn even with Edwards in Iowa, reserved her criticism for the Bush administration, which she said was holding in effect a “war on science,” by cutting research budgets, muzzling scientists and vetoing legislation that would expand stem cell research.

To defend herself against criticism over lobbyists’ donations, Clinton noted her efforts as first lady to push a universal health insurance bill through Congress during her husband’s administration. Insurance and drug companies fought the measure and helped block it.

But Clinton indicated a willingness to listen to all sides, arguing that it was better to control and manage special interests than to shut them out.

Edwards and Clinton spoke separately at the event. But Edwards used the forum to return to a theme that played well at the Yearly Kos event in Chicago several weeks ago in which he challenged candidates to refuse lobbyists’ donations.

He said “entrenched interests in Washington” killed the Clinton healthcare plan the first go-around.

“If you give these drug companies and these insurance companies a seat at the table, they’ll eat all the food,” he said, drawing loud applause from the audience. Later in a news conference, Edwards called accepting donations from lobbyists a “fundamental difference” between Clinton and himself.

Both he and Clinton said they supported universal healthcare and a big boost to the budgets for the National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute.

Clinton, Edwards and the other two Democratic candidates at the forum — Rep. Dennis Kucinich (Ohio) and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson — promised a reinvigorated “war on cancer,” which was first declared by President Nixon in 1971.