Clinton laughs off activist’s fracking fundraising request

Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton on Wednesday laughed off concerns from an anti-fracking activist who asked her to reject future donations from the hydraulic fracturing industry.

While shaking hands with supporters at a campaign rally, a University of Pittsburgh student asked Clinton, “Will you reject money from registered fracking lobbyists?” according to a video released by climate group 350 Action.

{mosads}Clinton laughed and told the student, “Go read the articles. I’ve debunked all of that.”

Clinton’s donations from the fracking industry have become a campaign issue in the Democratic race, with rival Bernie Sanders saying she has “taken significant money from the fossil fuel industry,” and green groups such as Greenpeace tying her to more than $1.6 million in donations from industry employees or lobbyists and bundlers. 

In response, Clinton has pointed to fact-checking groups that have largely dismissed those complaints, noting donations from fossil fuel interests represent a minor percentage of her overall fundraising this cycle. 

“I feel sorry sometimes for the young people who believe this. They don’t do their own research,” Clinton said Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”  

“And I’m glad we now can point to reliable independent analysis to say no, it’s just not true.”

Even so, 350 Action said Clinton should swear off fossil fuel donations in the future. 

“While Clinton laughs this off, voters who care about our climate and the influence of money in politics are still really disturbed by her continued acceptance of these industry donations,” Yong Jung Cho, a spokeswoman for the group, said in a statement.