Chicago ( CNN ) -- Hillary Clinton may be creating a problem for herself . In over a year on the paid speaking circuit , Clinton has addressed recyclers , bankers , doctors , environmentalists , a fair share of Canadians and a number of other diverse groups . Her paid speeches have one thing in common : They are regularly to corporate or trade groups that disagree with Clinton -- or her former colleagues in the Obama administration -- on key issues such as health care , environmental policy or taxes . While it would be impossible for Clinton to only speak to groups that agree with her on everything , speaking to organizations that openly disagree with Democrats on certain issues has proven problematic for Clinton . The appearances open the former secretary of state up to attacks from Republicans and create situations where she appears evasive . That was the case again Wednesday when Clinton gave the keynote luncheon talk at AdvaMed 2014 , the annual conference run by the medical device industry . One of the group 's top issues is getting rid of Obamacare 's medical device tax , a cause Wanda Moebius , the group 's spokeswoman , called their `` premier issue . '' Clinton , the prohibitive favorite for her Democrats ' presidential nomination in 2016 , was less than committal about the issue on Wednesday , though . She did n't mention the tax by name during her prepared remarks and offered little indication one way or another what she would do about the issue when Stephen Ubl , the association 's president , asked her about it during a question and answer session . `` I do n't know what the right answer about the tax is , '' Clinton said , `` but I think we could , taking a look at everything and not standing there with out arms folding staring at each other across the partisan divide , begin to sort it out . '' Clinton seemed to play both sides of the issue , acknowledging the United States needs to look at `` the pluses and the minuses '' of the law , but also stating that she thinks medical device companies `` have an argument to make '' against the tax . The medical device tax is a 2.3 % excise tax created in part to fund Obamacare ; it went into effect at the beginning of 2013 . The tax , which is a large component in funding Obamacare , is unpopular with Democrats and Republicans alike , especially those with ties to the medical devices industry . Sizing up a Clinton-Romney race . Clinton heralded a number of Obamacare accomplishments during her speech -- something she regularly does -- but acknowledged that the law is adversely impacting some groups and needs to be altered . `` I am well aware there are still a lot of questions that need to be answered and changes that are going to be proposed and evaluated because clearly there is more work to be done , '' Clinton said . `` And your industry is bearing some of the burden alongside other stake holders . '' She later added , though , `` But you are also , in my view , positioned to reap the benefits of those millions of newly insured consumers using ... medical devices . '' Warren Buffett will bet you that Hillary Clinton wins in 2016 . The response to Clinton 's speech was polite , but far from excited . There were no applause lines during the speech and some attendees left the room before she was finished . Republicans quickly jumped on Clinton for her answer on Wednesday . They blasted the video out to reporters shortly after the event and issued a statement earlier in the day that questioned whether Clinton 's speaking at the conference puts her at odds with the Obama administration . Hillary Clinton 's midterm campaign schedule . This is not the first time , either , Clinton has put herself in this position . Clinton appeared before a group opposed to Obamacare in 2013 and has regularly appeared before Canadian audiences that very much support the Keystone XL pipeline . During a handful of visits to Canada this year , the former secretary of state has refused to definitively answer questions about the 1,179-mile-long project that would move oil from Canada to refineries in the United States . `` Well , you know , I cant really talk about it because I was in the office that has primary responsibility for making the decision , '' Clinton said earlier in the week during an appearance in Ottawa . `` I do n't want to inject myself into what is a continuing process . '' This answer is similar to what she said during a June even in Toronto , when Clinton planted herself squarely in the middle of the issue , telling an audience that `` these are people making arguments in good faith , '' despite the fact that both sides `` may have some facts and not others . ''
Clinton speaks to medical device industry leaders . They want an end to tax that helps fund Obamacare . Clinton does n't give definitive stance on issue .