Accounting 101: The Clintons

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  • Posted By: emmarcee @ 02/15/2008 12:58:42 PM

    In a fresh sign of trouble for Hillary Rodham Clinton, one of the former first lady's congressional black supporters intends to vote for Barack Obama at the Democratic National Convention, and a second, more prominent lawmaker is openly discussing a possible switch

  • Posted By: MoneyRoxx @ 02/15/2008 2:08:08 AM

    Who cares where she got the money. Hillary gets elected Bill has the biggest intern 'pajama"party of his life while Hillary is out of town dealing with the crap she inherited fromBush,. Obama wins he has to deal with some crazy redneck from Arkansas or someone else trying to end his life because they don't believe in ???change". How could that ni**er think that he can tell me what to do or what is best for my family? The truth is yet to be told in heavily white supremecist power bases in these coming weeks. We can even add a few blacks into the fray who would love to lynch Obama. Don???t believe the hype of all this unity and niceness. The Clintons are not nice people. Obama is a nice man. Herein lies the difference. Hillary told Bill after the fiasco with his friend the intern you will make this up to me. Bill is tired of hearing the bitching. It???s a deal made with the devil. The only problem is that both of them want their own name at the top of the Marquee. This race for Hillary is about vindication, of a husband who did her wrong, of so many swept under the carpet lies that make her stay awake at night. The days of old are not gone they are still here???Hillary represents the fact that white entitlement lives...while she remains completed reeled by the absolute indignation of a black man to actually want to heal our country that brings all of our true beliefs to the surface. This isn't about experience, it's not about class--its about power. If the voices of the American people are truly heard perhaps we will move forward toward regaining the pride in being an American. Right now it???s downright embarrassing. It's unfortunate that the lies continually perpetuated by the Clintons may translate into the same old S**T just another day syndrome that America needs to free itself from. Since when does throwing a party at the White House while your husband is being serviced by an intern qualify you to be President. A woman scorned is a very dangerous one. She is bitter and pretending to be nice and America is waking up to the continued fake rhetoric. I don't know who has experience being the President until they take the oath of office. Certainly experience is not the issue--power, money, prestige and entitlement with the Clintons stands prominent. Senator Obama is the real deal --and I hope and pray that he had no Judas to be found.

  • Posted By: MoneyRoxx @ 02/15/2008 2:05:22 AM

    Who cares where she got the money. Hillary gets elected Bill has the biggest intern 'pajama"party of his life while Hillary is out of town dealing with the crap she inherited fromBush,. Obama wins he has to deal with some crazy redneck from Arkansas or someone else trying to end his life because they don't believe in ???change". How could that ni**er think that he can tell me what to do or what is best for my family? The truth is yet to be told in heavily white supremecist power bases in these coming weeks. We can even add a few blacks into the fray who would love to lynch Obama. Don???t believe the hype of all this unity and niceness. The Clintons are not nice people. Obama is a nice man. Herein lies the difference. Hillary told Bill after the fiasco with his friend the intern you will make this up to me. Bill is tired of hearing the bitching. It???s a deal made with the devil. The only problem is that both of them want their own name at the top of the Marquee. This race for Hillary is about vindication, of a husband who did her wrong, of so many swept under the carpet lies that make her stay awake at night. The days of old are not gone they are still here???Hillary represents the fact that white entitlement lives...while she remains completed reeled by the absolute indignation of a black man to actually want to heal our country that brings all of our true beliefs to the surface. This isn't about experience, it's not about class--its about power. If the voices of the American people are truly heard perhaps we will move forward toward regaining the pride in being an American. Right now it???s downright embarrassing. It's unfortunate that the lies continually perpetuated by the Clintons may translate into the same old S**T just another day syndrome that America needs to free itself from. Since when does throwing a party at the White House while your husband is being service by an intern qualify you to be President. A woman scorned is a very dangerous one. She is bitter and pretending to be nice and America is waking up to the continued fake rhetoric. I don't know who has experience being the President until they take the oath of office. Certainly experience is not the issue--power, money, prestige and entitlement with the Clintons stands prominent. Senator Obama is the real deal --and I hope and pray that he has no Judas to be found.

  • Posted By: MrPolitic @ 02/15/2008 12:48:02 AM

    Investigate Obama, Investigate Clinton, Investigate McCain, investigate yourself. If you dig deep enough, dirt will show up on anyone and everyone. It's not relevant. What does matter is who can get our economy back on track and our men and women back home, and repair and restore our social and economic ties with the rest of the world.

    All candidates have good and bad points. Clinton has estabished resources, name recoginition, experience in The White House. Drawbacks, Old Politics, White Water. She also authorized a war which cost this country billions of dollars which should be going toward education, transportation, and health care and other important national issues in OUR country. The decision also contributes to the recessions that most of the country is currently experiencing. Obama, inexperienced period. Pros.. The guy out raised a 20 year established political machine by twice the rated (Anyone who can raise that kind of money from a grass roots movement is probably more than capable of devising a plan to jump start the american economy).
    He also has better odds at converting Red States, and Moderate Republican and Independants.
    So, America needs to make a choice based on issues that matter not irrelevant distractions and inconsistancies that all politicians and humans beings all share. Lets vote on "The Real Issues."
    Who are we going to benefit more from, and suffer less with. Who can provide the best win win situation
    for everyone or at least come closest to the idea.

  • Posted By: MrPolitic @ 02/15/2008 12:45:28 AM

    Investigate Obama, Investigate Clinton, Investigate McCain, investigate yourself. If you dig deep enough, dirt will show up on anyone and everyone. It's not relevant. What does matter is who can get our economy back on track and our men and women back home, and repair and restore our social and economic ties with the rest of the world.

    All candidates have good and bad points. Clinton has estabished resources, name recoginition, experience in The White House. Drawbacks, Old Politics, White Water. She also authorized a war which cost this country billions of dollars which should be going toward education, transportation, and health care and other important national issues in OUR country. The decision also contributes to the recessions that most of the country is currently experiencing. Obama, inexperienced period. Pros.. The guy out raised a 20 year established political machine by twice the rated (Anyone who can raise that kind of money from a grass roots movement is probably more than capable of devising a plan to jump start the american economy).
    He also has better odds at converting Red States, and Moderate Republican and Independants.
    So, America needs to make a choice based on issues that matter not irrelevant distractions and inconsistancies that all politicians and humans beings all share. Lets vote on "The Real Issues."
    Who are we going to benefit more from, and suffer less with. Who can provide the best win win situation
    for everyone or at least come closest to the idea.

  • Posted By: sean2002 @ 02/14/2008 8:26:40 PM

    Why Newsweek only investigated Clinton's finance? Why Newsweek doesn't investigate Obama's link to Nuclear Power Company.

    As syndicated columnist BONNIE ERBE???s article ???Chameleon Obama changes hue to match color of state he's in??? indicates:

    ???...But up to this point, Obama has had the distinct advantage (and disadvantage) of being less well known. That era will soon be behind him.
    Most damaging to Obama so far is a New York Times article published several days ago showing that while in Iowa during a stump speech Obama claimed to have "passed" a bill regulating nuclear power plants.
    Trouble is, that measure never was approved by the Senate. The bill was to have required nuclear power plants to alert citizens if even minor leaks of radioactive waste were discovered. Under current law, only significant leaks must be made public.
    While Obama claimed to have "passed" a bill that never did pass, he also participated in negotiations that watered down the measure to the point of meaninglessness. That, however, didn't stop him from claiming the mantle of being pro-environment and anti-nuclear pollution while campaigning. Is this another case of "I invented the Internet"?
    What's worse, he took campaign contributions worth hundreds of thousands of dollars from Exelon executives and employees. Exelon is the company that owned a plant that kept smaller leaks quiet. According to its own Web site, it is also the largest nuclear power provider in the nation.
    We can all expect to see more of the same as reporters dig deeper into Obama's record. For example, are the young and/or upscale ultra-liberals who form the core of his voter base going to be thrilled by comments he made while in Idaho, trying to portray himself as pro-gun rights?
    According to The Washington Post's Web site, the following happened while he made a visit to Boise State University's Taco Bell Arena before a roaring crowd of thousands:
    "Obama was not shy about tailoring his stump speech for the setting, adding a line to rebut any fears that he is aggressively pro-gun control, an issue he almost never mentions on the trail. He urged the crowd not to listen to 'people who say, "He doesn't believe in the Second Amendment." We've got a lot of hunters in Southern Illinois and I've got no intention of taking away people's guns.' "
    How are the ultra-liberals going to feel when they learn their shining star is hunter- and gun-friendly? Is this guy a friend of Mitt Romney -- liberal while campaigning in blue states and conservative while in red states?
    Clinton certainly has major issues of her own: Whitewater, Lewinsky, the list goes on. But she has been about as fully vetted as any candidate for any office has ever been. The chance of a major surprise is slim. But Obama's record and list of positions are full of surprises, which is why it's dangerous for any voter to fall in love with any candidate before really getting to know him or her.???

  • Posted By: tired and old @ 02/14/2008 11:09:04 AM

    clinton will do anything to become president (lie,cheat, steal,drop off body in park,etc).
    remember vince forster.

    • Posted By: RetiredMarine @ 02/14/2008 12:41:45 PM

      correct. It isn't about the good of the country, it is about Clintons gaining power

      • Posted By: vince.stewart @ 02/14/2008 12:53:03 PM

        Money and Power, that's what the Clinton's are about. If elected there will be no change; Washington will still be run by big money corporate lobbyists. I am a registered republican, born and raised, but this election I am voting for Obama. This country needs a complete overhaul, especially in Washington. Hillary will only serve as a puppet to the big oil, big pharm, et al corportations, and I for one think we need a change.

        • Posted By: smithjeffr @ 02/14/2008 5:12:31 PM

          So I guess you would rather have a puppet of Oprah Winfree's as President. Please do not be so naive as to think that Obama isn't having his strings pulled by big money types. Obama would be the worst kind of President, one that is just an image for the media with the real governing going on behind closed doors by those running him. Obama lacks the experience to be President.

          • Posted By: VOTING4OBAMA @ 02/14/2008 7:31:41 PM

            Question? Have anyone who's ever been President had the "real" experience of being president before they were elected?? I dare not say, that if there is a position that needs to be filled, Obama will hire the best of the best. Heck, look what's he's done for his campaign. People need to see Hillary as she is, "GREEDY" for power. Wake up People. Did you hear Bill Clinton in a recent interview on is wife's behalf asking the people to vote for HIM!!!!!! VOTE for HIM, this is unconstitutional that he should be back in the White House.

            • Posted By: smithjeffr @ 02/14/2008 8:16:15 PM

              I am not voting for either one of the democrats; my vote is going to McCain. As far as having, as you put it, "'real' experience"; obviously no one is going to have experience being president except an encumbent or a VP who has stood in for a brief period. I would, however, say that being the Governor of a large state would be valuable experience for a person seeking the presidency. The CA governor, for example, has experience in foreign policy and negotiating trade.

              I agree that Hillary as President would be an absolute disaster for the country. It would almost make someone consider leaving for Canada, Europe, or wherever else you might wish to try for a while.

  • Posted By: carnabylane @ 02/13/2008 7:47:45 AM

    The Clintons are liars, cheats and frauds. How anyone can pay that kind of money to a disgraced impeached president is beyond me. It's a sad commentary on American values.

    • Posted By: checkmate @ 02/13/2008 11:22:08 AM

      Where were you last eight years. You're still being biggot headed, leading this once grat country the way Rome went. Down in flames. Is that what you want???

      • Posted By: RetiredMarine @ 02/14/2008 7:48:43 PM

        Rome didn't go down when they were conquering the world. They went down in flames after embracing complacency and liberal thinking

    • Posted By: debra1953 @ 02/13/2008 10:11:09 PM

      how are they cheats and liars and frauds who has she lied to and what about who has she cheated and how has she commited fraud

      • Posted By: RetiredMarine @ 02/14/2008 7:47:31 PM

        the easier question to answer would be who haven't they cheated, lied and committed fraud against

  • Posted By: nawawimohamad @ 02/10/2008 12:20:48 AM

    If she bocomes president, she will not be be inplementing what the voters want, but what the campaign contributors, lobbyists and policy makers want! It is all about money, politics and power - not the voters!

    • Posted By: vince.stewart @ 02/11/2008 4:08:48 PM

      Exactly, and I will be Canadian!

      • Posted By: makulit @ 02/12/2008 1:49:39 PM

        go be a canadian. don't comeback to america, ok

        • Posted By: vince.stewart @ 02/13/2008 2:06:02 PM

          I will, and good luck...I think you are going to need it!

          • Posted By: RetiredMarine @ 02/14/2008 12:04:14 PM

            really doesn't matter, we are at war and will be for a while. Either McCain wins and we fight on our terms, or Hillary or Obama wins and we cut and run... then we fight on the enemy's terms. These terrorists we are fighting do not respect weakness. Once we demonstrate weakness by retreating, they will be more aggressive and bold with their assaults. Except then, instead of fighting in Iraq, we will bring the war to our own home front. Then we can be worried all of the time about bombs, gunfights, etc similar to the type plaguing Israel all of the time. I sure hope it doesn't happen that way, because I for one like having a knowledge that my family is safe even when I am out fighting. But it may be the only way for bleeding heart liberals to open their eyes to reality.

            • Posted By: jeffreylebowskijr @ 02/14/2008 5:28:06 PM

              Do you honestly expect a boatload of Sunni insurgents to show up on the streets of St. Louis and start placing IEDs?? Man, you have seriously bought Coulter & co.'s simple minded hatred of the left haven't you? I'm a liberal *and* I want (and expect) a strong America under the next president. The difference is, I have enough knowledge of history, economics, etc. to undertstand that misadventures like our one in Iraq makes us far, far weaker and only breeds more terrorists than would a rationale, humane, politically astute foreign policy. Bush has been an unmitigated disaster and McCain would only plunge us further down the hole. It's time for party & generational change. The baby boomers in the White House have had their shot and have f'd up our economy and our standing in the world in a way that you'd be hard pressed to replicate were you actually trying to be as inept...

              • Posted By: RetiredMarine @ 02/14/2008 7:43:47 PM

                Rational, humane foreign policy in some of these extremist areas will get you killed. They do not respect weakness. Why don't you go give it a try... if you make it back... I was wrong

              • Posted By: RetiredMarine @ 02/14/2008 7:42:39 PM

                How many attacks against the US will it take before you bleeding heart liberals open your eyes? If you think that these extremists can't get into your city... you are a naive fool. You do not have a knowledge of history as you claim because you insist that we repeat it! How the hell do you think the twin towers were taken our by hijacked aircraft? Did the extremists just magically beam aboard? NO they were in the cities planning and executing their missions. If they were here to do that, you don't think they could do it in your cities? Check out England and their subways, check out not so long ago bombings in Germany and other parts of the world. If you think that you are safe, you are crazy. Maybe you should travel beyond your cities borders and see the world. Or better yet, join the military, pick up a gun and DEFEND your freedoms. Then you will get a chance to visit different places and actually SEE what the world is like. Take of the rose colored glasses pal.

  • Posted By: Survivor-mi50 @ 02/13/2008 8:39:14 AM

    Picky, picky, let's get down the real problems in campaign regulations. "Sounds like" neurotic fear of a female candidate. It's truly amazing that so many Americans would fight to put a black male in office, rather than a female "anything." It comes down to just that, in fact. No preferences put forth, herein, but it's time the voters began to read, study, do their own research, and decide, on their own, before voting. The media's intrusion into our lives this campaign has gone overboard. Is anyone else sick of these paltry issues being put before us day and night?

    Once again, we'll be the victims of political games, even another "attack" being drummed up now to scare the blazes out of us. It's time we asked, instead, "Why didn't you do something about it?" Not one terrorist was from Iraq! So, relax, and study...it's time for a concrete change in us, too. Grow up - and speak up, and realize diversity is here to stay. Women? Only want equity, folks.

    • Posted By: Saltydog_0 @ 02/14/2008 6:07:14 PM

      I would love to see a woman in the white house. Let me know if you hear of one who's running.

    • Posted By: vince.stewart @ 02/13/2008 8:59:26 AM

      I'm not against a woman president, only against Hillary.

  • Posted By: mbdougan@hotmail.com @ 02/14/2008 6:03:30 PM

    Listen up all of you... We as the average Americans are the puppets. The old School politicians in this country have us all duped....I'd go so far to say much of what we perceive as an election is already planned out, the powers that be already have their agenda and you will see another supreme justice/electoral college end to this election with the status quo staying. I'd put money on it, and it scares me to death. I say if there is not a drastic change via the next election, i.e all old school out and issue in a new era, we should all rise up and say enough! Time for a revolution!

  • Posted By: checkmate @ 02/13/2008 11:09:24 AM

    She said she borrowed it from her private funds you illiterate. Yet a better question is where is all this Obama money coming from???

    • Posted By: Johnny1967 @ 02/13/2008 1:21:43 PM

      You can go to the Federal Trade Commission website to see where Obama and is getting his donations. However, you cannot track the source of money when Hillary loans money to the campaign.

      Basically, Hillary is asking us to trust her.

      • Posted By: vince.stewart @ 02/13/2008 1:38:13 PM

        The simple fact that she is unwilling to divulge that information to us seems a little fishy....
        I never trusted her or Slick Willy anyhow.

        • Posted By: lamm01 @ 02/14/2008 4:40:19 PM

          She is under no obligation to state where her funds are coming from. Do you mean to tell me that no one is concerned about Obama raising $32M in January and another $7.5M in the first week of February and nobody is asking where the funds are coming from. Certainly not from contributors like myself at $50.00 a whack. How much is Oprah ciphering into his account? After all, everyone knows she's made her fortune from the unfortune of others...... Until such time as Senator Clinton is required to divulge her personal financial information, why don't you and the press just butt out''''''

          • Posted By: Johnny1967 @ 02/14/2008 5:28:59 PM

            As of 12/31/07, Obama raised $31 million from people donating less than $200. Hillary raised $14 million from the same group. Oprah Winfrey donated $2300 to Obamas campaign.

            The candidates will continue to report who donated money, all $100 million plus. Except, we will not know where Hillary got the $5 million. Her telling us that she donated the money is begging the question.

            No one is saying Hillary is doing anything illegal. The big issue is that if a candidate is going to donate money to his or her campaign (with no guarantee she will get the money back), the public has the right to know where the money came from. Otherwise, it just creates a huge loophole in our campaign financing system.

      • Posted By: Johnny1967 @ 02/13/2008 5:44:56 PM

        Correction: Go to the Federal Election Commision website http://www.fec.gov/ (Not Federal Trade Commission).

    • Posted By: vince.stewart @ 02/13/2008 1:19:22 PM

      Go to his website, it will tell you. I donated.

      • Posted By: lamm01 @ 02/14/2008 4:43:41 PM

        Maybe we should be looking into an offshore account where all the funds he's receiving from the nuclear energy companies and slum landlords are being placed. Oh did I forget, there's probably some left over drug money there too""""

  • Posted By: Jumpingnots @ 02/10/2008 12:35:19 AM

    It realy does not matter were she got the momey from,the people of America have thier mind made up already and will go for Obama,Wite,black ,green,whatever, are tired of the same old White-house politics as usual over the last 20 years or so and the time has come for a change ,get ridd of the old man and women and give the young ones the change to turn this country back to normal ,And remember an vote for mcCain will send you'r kids and grandkids to war for the next 100 years, like he said,I am sorry I have to let him down on this as an old W W II vet,but I don't want our kids to fight for big business,because that is the case now. So think about it when you go out and vote. An old soldier.- Bless the USA

    • Posted By: observer101 @ 02/10/2008 12:56:50 PM

      WOWEEE! A hundred year war?...I'd love to see where you got that idea from.

      • Posted By: jeffreylebowskijr @ 02/14/2008 5:22:59 PM

        Yep, they've got him on tape saying exactly that. Just check YouTube. Besides, the very fact that McCain has cozied up to Bush after Bush slimed him out of his legitimate shot at the job back in 2000 shows just exactly how far he'll stoop (note too that just this morning Mr. anti-torture himself voted against a bill that would make torture illegal for the CIA). Right wingos: any chants of "flip flop" for your boy now? Sheesh.

      • Posted By: Jumpingnots @ 02/11/2008 1:36:02 AM

        You did not pay attention to what mcCain said in his speaches lately " my friend"

  • Posted By: smithjeffr @ 02/14/2008 5:20:46 PM

    I wonder how much of Obama's money comes from outside the US. As we all know, there is no restriction to prevent foreign citizens from donating to a US political campaign.

  • Posted By: mushrat79 @ 02/14/2008 5:18:31 PM

    While everyone here is complaining about where this money came in, has anyone noticed at this point that the DAY AFTER she released this news to the press, she magically recieved 7 million in contributions from god knows where? I would be apt to believe that there never was a 5 million dollar loan, just a very slick ploy to get more campaign donations that seems to have worked out well. I doubt it'll work twice though.

  • Posted By: forgetmenot3014@adelphia.net @ 02/13/2008 5:17:17 PM

    I can't believe the stuff I read. Have you ever wondered where Obama gets his money. He hasn't been in public office long enough to accumulate holdings. You better go to www.snopes.com and research his background. THEN ASK "Who is backing and funding Barack HUSSEIN Obama. Just do a little research before making such mean snide comments.

    • Posted By: jeffreylebowskijr @ 02/14/2008 5:13:59 PM

      You mean the part on snopes.com where they debunk all the right wing talk radio lies about him? And since you through the "Hussein" smear in there, just know that it's name meaning is simply "handsome," similar to the English/Scottish "Alan" ...ooh scary. I sure hope we start voting for or against everybody based on their middle names.

  • Posted By: MTR1973 @ 02/12/2008 5:16:18 PM

    It's a shame that all of you are letting the media twist you into a tizzy over this. If anyone remembers anything about the 1990's surely you remember Whitewater, the sleazy Ken Starr investigation into the Clintons' finances that never turned up a shred of evidence of any financial wrongdoing but that drove the Clintons to the verge of bankruptcy from their legal fees?

    Former presidents always make millions of dollars post-presidency in speaking fees, especially if said President is/was popular. Bill and Hillary both made millions of dollars each in their book deals. Hillary decided to make a personal loan to her campaign for one reason: she wasn't raising the kind of money Obama was raising and in order to compete with him, she had to spend at least as much as he was on advertising, travel, etc.

    The taxpayers will not pay her loan back to her, unless they elect to do so as campaign contributors. Tax money will not be used to pay it back because there are caps on how much the US Govt gives to legitimate presidential candidates, and she and Obama are both maxed out on that.

    I personally don't give a $*() how much income is shown on their tax returns, and her position that she will release those records if/when she becomes the nominee for the Democratic party is just fine by me. It's none of my business how much money she and President Clinton earn or what they do with that money, just as it's none of their business how much you and I earn or what we do with it.

    The intrusiveness and the scandal-chasing of the media has turned the American public into a voracious consumer of unnecessary gossip and believers in just about anything. That most of you have fallen for the notion that we "deserve" or "have a right" to know about many things that are absolutely none of our business - and furthermore, irrelevant an unimportant - is why we're buried in Britney Spears every move, which is bothersome enough.. that it's translating into people thinking that they 'deserve' or 'have a right' to know about any of the candidates finances is ridiculous.

    And finally - nobody was getting their panties in a twist when Kerry and Edwards and Romney were all financing their campaigns from their own considerable wealth - which even moreso makes this look like a witch hunt of the Clintons vs. something that is an actual issue worthy of investigation.

    • Posted By: Johnny1967 @ 02/12/2008 7:05:23 PM

      The point about Bill Clinton making millions of dollars in speaking engagements brings up an important issue: What is the fair market value of Bill Clintons speech? Moreover, what is factored into the price? Why do entities or attendees pay so much for his speeches?

      When corporations, governments, or other entities pay Bill Clinton to speak, they do not pay just for his superior knowledge, motivational quality, or good looks. Mostly, they pay for the networking value and his influence. Furthermore, the common citizen does not have the money or incentive to pay to attend these Bill Clinton speeches.

      Consequently, Bill Clintons relationship with the payees of the speaking engagement creates a conflict of interest. For example, a direct conflict of interest arises when Citigroup pays Bill Clinton $250,000 for a speaking engagement. This puts at least some pressure (big or small) on Hillary to push legislation such as the Bankruptcy Bill.

      Additionally, when Hillary invested $5 million into the campaign, at least indirectly, the money came from money earned in the speaking engagements. Thus, in a way, money earned in Austrailia, Saudi Arabia, Citicorp, or whatever found its way into the Presidential election.

      Granted, Bill Clinton has every legal right to make millions from his speaking engagements. However, lets be clear that it creates a conflict of interest.

      • Posted By: MTR1973 @ 02/14/2008 4:08:58 PM

        The fair market value of Bill's speeches or Bill/Hillary's book deals is, like everything else, what the market will bear. It's not fair to say that Bill making money from public speaking for, as you say, Citibank, is a conflict of interest because he was paid for a service rendered. CItibank wanted him to speak, he did, he got paid for it.. end of transaction. Will he continue doing so if Hillary becomes president? Probably not.. and as everyone can pretty much assume, the Clinton's aren't hurting financially. But the notion that they or any other presidential candidate or former president should be forbidden from making money without the public knowing how much it was is ludicrous. If she gets the nomination, it becomes more of a matter of public record, though honestly, her Senate disclosures are thorough enough that if there were any indication of impropriety or wrongdoing, it would have surfaced by now.

        Let's all try and stick to issues that really matter.. this is not one of them.

        • Posted By: Johnny1967 @ 02/14/2008 5:08:36 PM

          I disagree because it is a serious issue concerning undue influence on government officials. Bill Clintons (and other politicians, beureacrats, and governments staff) earnings must be scrutinized under the heading of the REVOLVING DOOR ISSUE. A revolving door is the common situation where a person moves from government-related jobs to lobbying jobs and vice versa, resulting in a conflict of interest for those chosen to represent the public and/or special privileges and benefits to former government officials and personnel.

          Obama has said that he will close the revolving door. Consequently, Bill Clintons earnings is the same as any other government office involved in the revolving door. To say otherwise, is to elevate form over substance to absurdity.

          Of course, the private sector pays former government officials a fair market value. Thus, the point is not whether one is being paid a fair market value. The point is to question what does the fair market include. Moreover, we should question what conflicts may arise

          An argument can be made that it is good to allow Presidents and other government officials to make enormous amounts of money after public service. After all, it allows government (who cannot pay very much) to attract talented people.

          However, there is no doubt, that there is a conflict of interest in favor of rich entities over the common citizens. The degree of conflict depends on who pays the money and how much money is paid.

  • Posted By: RetiredMarine @ 02/12/2008 10:41:28 AM

    So, these candidates can run, use their money, then get paid back by the taxpayers. What a crock..... They should either raise the money through fubdraisers, or use their own. After all, they are the ones seeking the position, once elected have Secret Service for life, have a salary for life (what a retirement plan for just 4 years of service). If they use their own money, that should be seen as an investment, not a loan. Why do we tax payers have to take care of the burdon for someone spending as much money as they can to be elected? Our money would be better served elsewhere, say like depleting the deficit. This bit about charging interest on a loan to themselves... if that isn't stealing from the us citizenry, then what is????? The money is being used for their own purposes, then being charged to the puplic. No wonder our deficit is so high.....

    • Posted By: jag0581 @ 02/12/2008 10:59:21 PM

      The candidate is payed back from the campaign which is not tax payer money because it is a donation that pays the campaign not our taxes. Before you comment on something learn the facts before you say something please.

      • Posted By: RetiredMarine @ 02/14/2008 12:40:23 PM

        Fine, donations. But here he is giving himself a loan and charging interest. In effect, the donations go toward the campaign, and he gets richer from the interest he is charging. Sounds like mishandling of donations as far as I am concerned. Other people in the country have been arrested for taking donations for themselves. Here they seem to find a legal way around the law. Seems immoral, unethical and downright criminal. Use your brain to look beyond the immediate issue before commenting

        • Posted By: MTR1973 @ 02/14/2008 4:10:23 PM

          The candidate has every right to charge interest if they want - especially seeing as though whatever account or investment that $5mil was sitting in certainly was paying interest. Your argument has no merit, much like this entire story and thread.

    • Posted By: jag0581 @ 02/12/2008 11:03:38 PM

      The campaign spends money they get out of donations, they are entitled to charge ineterest and loan money to the campaign, but they do not get the money played back from the taxpayers. The taxpayers have nothing to do with the money. If the campaigns were funded by taxpayer dollars then yes you would be right, however they are not which means they are being paid back from the taxpayer unless the individual donates to the campaign. Please read your facts before commenting.

  • Posted By: Fortruth @ 02/14/2008 1:54:18 PM

    Hillary got her five million by working for it. Unlike someof you who sit around live off the welfare and get fat. Anyone can have that kind of money if they get a good education and work long and hard for it..

    • Posted By: DaWizard @ 02/14/2008 3:37:46 PM

      Yeah, right! She worked for it. NOT! She hasn't held a job since they left Arkansas. Unless you want to mention all the under the counter pay-offs they got from Red China. The largest port on the left coast is being run by a company that is a front organization controlled by the Red Army. Bill signed off on a security waiver and now they have advance guidance technology for their missles.

  • Posted By: DaWizard @ 02/13/2008 2:11:55 AM

    The Clinton Plan To Put Bill Clinton Back In The White House.
    1. Hillary wins the Democratic Party nomination for President.
    2. She chooses a running mate, one with a lot of knowledge in government and foreign affairs, a seasoned campaigner who could bring a lot of strength to the ticket.  Who better than Bill?
    3. Hill and Bill go on to win the election in November and the Democrats maintain control of the House and the Senate.
    4. Hillary is sworn in as President.  The next day, she calls a press conference to make an announcement:  She is resigning as President! Bill, as the Vice President, immediately becomes President! This is all perfectly legal under the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, for it states that no person "may be elected as president more than twice".  Bill is has not being elected for a third term but is merely serving out the remainder of Hillary's term--all 4 years of it.
    5. But wait!  There's more!  The following day Bill calls a press conference to make an announcement.  He has chosen someone to fill the now vacant Vice President position.  Why, Hillary, of course!

    • Posted By: dnavero @ 02/13/2008 5:26:46 PM

      Doubt it but I like your plan , Great to have Bill again in office , we had peace , prosperity , respect in the world ect ect . What is incredible is the facts that people still mentioning the attempt to impeach him for things that only concerned his family , meanwhile we have a president that lied to everyone about a war , that destroyed files and manipulate the system but hey lets blame Hillary and Bill why not , Lets elect another person that is not qualify for the Job after all . We lived with Bush for 8 Years and things are bad for most Americans . The only difference is that Bush was in a better position comming into office the biggest surplus in US history , Now take Obama He is already talking of 28% taxes on gains watch Cnbc , Bloomberg , Hear what they say about his plans , People are delusional lolll too funny You want change , change a dollar lol

      • Posted By: DaWizard @ 02/14/2008 3:29:24 PM

        What peace? We were attacked by terrorists several times and all "Bill" did was shake his finger at them and call them bad boys. The only time he did anything, he ended up blowing up a baby formula factory. "Respect in the world?" You got to be kidding, "Bill" made us the laughing stock of the world. By the way, HE WAS IMPEACHED! His lack of moral fiber was a valid impeachment crime. Speaking of destroyed files...What about all the FBI files that she had for over 2 years? If you don't think she made copies of the information so she could use them later, you are a fool. Also, what about all her billing files from her law practice that just "appeared" one day in the White House? What qualifications does she have?? Where did she get the $5,000,000.00 to loan her committee? Except for her senator's salery, she hasn't held a job since Arkansas.

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