AP: Clinton Acted on Concerns of Husband's Donors

[MannyGoldstein]

Source: The NY Times

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Secretary of State nominee Hillary Rodham Clinton intervened at least six times in government issues directly affecting companies and others that later contributed to her husband's foundation, an Associated Press review of her official correspondence found.

The overlap of names on former President Bill Clinton's foundation donor list and business interests whose issues she championed raise new questions about potential ethics conflicts between her official actions and her husband's fundraising. The AP obtained three of the senator's government letters under the Freedom of Information Act.

During Clinton's confirmation hearing Tuesday, Sen. Richard Lugar of Indiana, the Foreign Relations Committee's senior Republican, said the foundation's charitable efforts ''should not be a barrier to Senator Clinton's service,'' but he acknowledged the potential that conflicts of interest might arise: ''Work of the Clinton foundation is a unique complication that will have to be managed with great care and transparency.''

------------------------------

The letters and donations involve pharmaceutical companies and telecommunications and energy interests. An aide to the senator said she made no secret of her involvement in many of the issues. Bill Clinton's foundation declined to say when it received the donations or precisely how much was contributed.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/01/13/washington/AP-Clinton-Letters-Dollars.html?_r=1

---

"Bill Clinton's foundation declined to say when it received the donations or precisely how much was contributed.", eh? As I've written before - DU should add a "No Shit, Sherlock" forum for stories like this.

[Baby Snooks]

1. Bubba of Arabia...

It isn't so much his foundation, although it certainly is of concern since to my knowledge no disclosure has been made with regard to who and what it funds, but his "wheeling and dealing" and with whom he "wheels and deals." But then we're supposed to be loyal to the Clintons. The question is who the Clintons are loyal to.

[Kahuna]

2. The silence here is deafening. If it was a bushie in the hotseat, this place

would be flowing with outrage. But now...crickets.

[MannyGoldstein]

3. It's Partly The Lack Of Surprise

I don't think that too many on DU would expect otherwise from The Clintons - I'd have been amazed if this *did not* happen. Outrage seems to have been excised in the US, the only remnant remains with the furthest right fringe.

[marshall]

17. People's expectations of the Clintons has dropped dramatically

If nothing untoward had been uncovered, then we might all be shocked. But this is nothing that wasn't expected.

[JeanGrey]

4. yup

[TheWraith]

7. Everyone's too busy trashing Obama for not already having fixed the Bush years. nt

[FiveGoodMen]

14. No, they're on him for showing signs that maybe he WON'T fix them

Appointments are a big deal.

[roguevalley]

16. It hurts my head to even think about them anymore. I would hate to

be them when they pass and have to look at this objectively. I'm just too tired to do more than this.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

5. Thisi could spell big trouble for her.

I don't like it when GOPers do this sort of thing, I like it even less when it is a Dem.

[Ichingcarpenter]

8. I doubt it will come up in the hearings

Its always been a concern of mine with Bill's dealings.

[Kahuna]

12. It won't. Who's going to make it an issue? The Dems won't and I

don't see the repukes doing so either.

[blm]

6. Media WON'T say that Clinton's dealings mirror Poppy's dealings. Foundation $$ are the LEAST of it.

.

[aquart]

18. Link to a fact?

[blm]

21. Hahah...you mean you never heard of Yucaipa and Bill's Dubai $ all last year? Head in sand syndrome?

http://rawstory.com/news/2007/A_20_million_payday_for_Bill_0122.html

Links to various articles at this one.

BTW - are you seriously assuming that Clinton's links to Dubai and Saudi royals are UNLIKE Poppy Bush's? Can you show me where Clinton EVER chose YOUR RIGHT to open government accountable to the people over protecting the secrecy and privilege of Poppy Bush, Jackson Stephens, and the Dubai and Saudi royals?


>>>>>>>>
An effort to sever ties with a politically precarious relationship with an investment firm could prove quite lucrative for Bill Clinton as he seeks to shield his wife's campaign from attacks that her family's financial interests conflict with the needs of the country.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Clinton is planning to end his business relationship with billionaire Ron Burkle, a close friend and prominent Democratic donor. Ending his relationship with Burkle's Yucaipa Cos. could result in a $20 million payday for the former president.

≥≥≥≥
Questions arose over Bill Clinton's relationship with Burkle's firm because of Yucaipa's connections in foreign countries such as China and Dubai.

Excerpts from the Journal:

>>>>>>
Mr. Clinton is also looking to close out partnership interests in a Yucaipa fund that focuses on investing in foreign companies. This fund -- called Yucaipa Global Partnership Fund LP -- has raised several hundred million dollars from a range of investors. Unlike his deal to advise the two Yucaipa domestic funds, Mr. Clinton invested an undisclosed sum of his own money in the global fund and has a limited partnership interest.

Mr. Clinton is also one of three owners of the global fund's general partner. The others are Mr. Burkle, who is the managing member, and an entity connected to the ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum.

Severing the tie to Dubai, a U.S. ally, will remove a potentially tricky problem for Mrs. Clinton. Questions raised about the activities of sovereign wealth funds -- giant pools of money controlled by foreign governments -- have become a campaign issue, as the funds have made a spate of multibillion-dollar investments in such corporate giants as Citigroup Inc. and Merrill Lynch & Co. In a recent interview with The Wall Street Journal, Mrs. Clinton said such purchases are "a source of concern," partly because the foreign funds "lack transparency" and could be used by foreign governments as "instruments of foreign policy."

<...>

Asked about the unwinding of the Yucaipa relationship, a spokesman for Mr. Clinton said the former president "is taking steps to ensure" that there will be "an appropriate transition" for the business relationship should Mrs. Clinton win the Democratic presidential nomination

>>>>

Wake up, aquart.....Bill is the son Poppy Bush wanted.

[nashville_brook]

9. ugh -- no silence here.

[lumberjack_jeff]

10. Hold on. I need more than that before I grab my pitchfork.

The senator intervened to help those who asked for it.
- okay, I'm not outraged yet.
Those businesses later donated to the Clinton foundation.
- still not feeling the burn.

If I were impressed by my senator's help, I'd probably be tempted to look more favorably upon the causes she supports, when my tax-man said I needed to make some charitable donations.

Nice try, but there are others out there who are better equipped to impugn the motives of all things Bill.

[Barack_America]

11. This is what I feared would be revealed.

And why I did not support Hillary for SOS.

Ugh. This looks bad.

[aquart]

13. Which of these "interventions" were against American interests?

Specifically, which would be against New York interests as Senator Clinton was representing New York?

[Barack_America]

15. If she participated in quid pro quo that is an ethics violation...

And most assuredly against American interests. Notice I said "if". And I mean exactly that. So far I don't see such evidence.

Nevertheless, this is just going to further the suspicion that Hillary, as SOS, *might* be influenced by Clinton Foundation donations. And I'd rather not have that suspicion hanging over the State Department. Lord knows it's got enough troubles as is.

[Doctor_J]

19. Youre kidding! A politician acted on behalf of her benefactors?

As long as they let everyone look, I don't see this as a deal breaker.

[ldf]

20. you know...?

if i were a politician i would help absolutley no one.

they could turn right around and donate to some cause i may support.

then where would i be? just like a KKKlintoonnn!!!

you people are a hoot.

hillary should tell them all to kiss her ass.

when all the rest of the politicians (and you who are so quick to smear) stop ALL fund raising for ALL causes, just in case one of those causes may tangentially intersect with their (or your) own interests, THEN i will expect bill to stop doing good for those who need help.

hate causes wrinkles, and i have a good hate on for w. but the clintons don't deserve all this shit being thrown their way. they weren't perfect, but they were certainly better than the alternatives.

we all live and learn.

and if i were bill, and put up with all the persecution that he had to put up with, and legal bills that resulted from eight years of being hounded, i would take delight in becoming incredibly rich because people the world over wanted to hear me speak.

more power to him.

and hillary.

:grr: