Clinton's campaign loans raise concerns about Bill's income

[babylonsister]

Clinton's campaign loans raise concerns about Bill's income
By Greg Gordon | McClatchy Newspapers

* Posted on Thursday, May 8, 2008



WASHINGTON — Hillary Clinton's decision to lend her presidential campaign $6.4 million from assets she holds jointly with her husband is rekindling questions about millions of dollars that special interests have paid Bill Clinton for speeches and other work since he left the White House.

In tapping some of that cash, "the Clintons have effectively bypassed campaign finance reform in a manner that's ingenious — using Bill Clinton effectively as a front for the fundraising," said Lawrence Jacobs, a University of Minnesota political science professor.

Beginning days after he left the White House in 2001, the ex-president has been crisscrossing the globe, speaking roughly 250 times on tours that brought him more than $40 million in six years.

The sponsors have included investment banks that later suffered billions of dollars in losses in the sub-prime mortgage debacle and now have a big stake in any regulatory changes; an insurance group with an interest in any overhaul of the nation's health care system; a group that favors the reunification of Taiwan with mainland China; a Colombian business development group that backs a free-trade agreement and more than two dozen Jewish groups, synagogues and museums.

Clinton campaign spokesman Jay Carson dismissed such concerns, saying: "There are no conflicts of interest, and every dollar either of them (the Clintons) have made is all publicly available."

However, said Jacobs, the director of the university's Center for the Study of Politics and Governance: "There appear to be a number of prominent, wealthy corporations in the financial services sector, the health care sector and others that stand to gain considerably from the election of Hillary Clinton as president," said Jacobs. "If all of these groups were giving to her directly, there would be all sorts of questions raised . . . ."

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http://www.mcclatchydc.com/251/story/36441.html

[Kittycat]

1. It disgusts me that some democrats so easily dismiss this concern

Hillary is supposedly against many of the things Bill is for, but of course only now that it's politically advantageous for her. This all just stinks to high heaven :puke:

[babylonsister]

2. It looks like this is becoming an issue now; high time imo.

No one should doubt the rethugs will be bringing it all up if they get the chance.

[Kittycat]

3. Did you catch Jon Stewart tongith?

He played the clip of her speaking (same on KO played) - that crowd was in shock.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

5. As a friend of mine said,

"That comment is gonna bite her on the ass."

I choked when I heard it. Could not believe it.

[babylonsister]

6. Yep. I'd read about it, but boy, for those that aren't that aware, it seemed

really blatant.

I 'loved' the skit on Cheney's house, especially that last 'spring' pic Lynne Cheney loves. :rofl: What did Viera say? Something about how appropriate it was for the season?

It just wasn't my taste. :D

[Tangerine LaBamba]

4. I am still incredulous

How on earth can it be legal for anyone - the candidate or anyone else - lend money to a campaign? There are limits on campaign donations, but, apparently, wealthy people can do what ordinary donors cannot, and that is to bypass the limits.

Yeah, and Clinton calls Obama "elite."

Bite me, Clinton.