Clinton, Democratic rivals share a stage in Iowa for 1st time

Democratic presidential candidates shared the stage at a party event in Iowa on Friday night, but rather than take aim at each other, they took turns attacking Republicans.

 

The Iowa Democratic Party Hall of Fame dinner was a shared platform for five 2016 contenders — Hillary Clinton, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, former Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee and former Sen. Jim Webb, according to the Associated Press.

 

Clinton, the outfront  leader in the polls, also led the way in GOP attacks, accusing Republicans of trying to “rip away the progress we have made” and bring back Reagan-era policies.

 

"Trickle-down economics has to be one of the worst ideas of the 1980s," she said. "It is right up there with New Coke, shoulder pads and big hair."

 

Clinton took particular aim at businessman Donald Trump, who has rocketed to the top of many Republican presidential polls.

 

“Finally, a candidate whose hair gets more attention than mine,” she joked. 

 

“But there’s nothing funny about the hate he is spewing about immigrants and their families,” Clinton added. “It really is shameful.”

 

She also called out by name Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker for his battles to declaw labor unions, as well as former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush for his economic policy.

 

Sanders used his speech to evoke populist messages, saying “the greed of the billionaire class has got to end — and we are going to end it for them.”

 

He called for a “political revolution” to end big money in politics, and a renewed focus on helping the little guy.

 

“The issue of wealth and income inequality is the great moral issue of the time, the great economic issue of our time the great political issue of our time,” he said.

 

O’Malley touted his liberal record in Maryland on immigration, education, gay marriage and the minimum wage.

 

“We didn’t just talk about it,” he said. “We got it done.”

 

He also joined the other candidates in attacking Wall Street.

 

"If a bank is too big to fail, too big to jail and too big to manage, then it's too damn big,” O’Malley said.