Green Party candidate rips Obama, Clinton

Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein on Friday lambasted President Obama and Hillary Clinton and called on voters to seek “a new way forward.”

Stein’s criticisms are aimed at attracting backers of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who finished second to Clinton in the Democratic presidential primary. After Sanders conceded to Clinton, Stein urged Sanders to join forces with her on the Green Party ticket, but the Vermont senator declined to do so and has endorsed Clinton.

{mosads}In an interview for C-SPAN’s “Newsmakers” program, airing Sunday, Stein said Obama’s climate change policies are “a disaster” and lambasted his foreign policies, claiming he has not deviated from President George W. Bush’s war on terrorism.

Stein, who is polling in the single digits, bashed Clinton on a number of fronts, including her record on trade and ties to Wall Street. “Hillary Clinton has been part of the problem,” she said. “The problems that have created the rise of Donald Trump will be continued by Hillary Clinton.”

Other highlights of the interview include: 

70 percent tax rate. The “super rich” should pay “in the range” of a 70 percent tax rate, Stein said. While declining to define the super rich, Stein said she’s talking about people making “millions and billions” — not $300,000 to $400,000 annually.

Top of the ticket. Had he accepted Stein’s offer, Sanders could have been at the top of the Green Party ticket. Stein said all options were on the table.

On the ballot. Stein, who is currently on less than half of the states’ ballots, said she hopes to be on 48-50 state ballots by Election Day.

Doubles down on controversial Wi-Fi comments. Earlier this year, Stein made controversial comments suggesting Wi-Fi is harming students. Pressed on the matter, Stein cited a recent National Institutes of Health study and said more research is needed. 

Presidential debates. Stein and Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson need to reach a 15-percent threshold in the polls to make it into this fall’s presidential debates. Johnson is in within reach, but Stein would have to more than double her support in the coming weeks. She maintains that is possible, especially now that the mainstream media is paying her more attention. Along those lines, CNN will conduct a town hall meeting with Stein on Aug. 17.

C-SPAN will air its “Newsmakers” program Sunday at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET.