2016 Postmortem
In reply to the discussion: 48 hours later:Has Hillary Released the Goldman Sacs Transcripts Yet? [View all]MADem
(135,425 posts)hired a transcriber. There might be snippets if guests did any recording, but at those Bigwig events, no one wants to appear unsophisticated, so there might not be many video clips out there that help clarify matters.
Here's what I suspect is the case. This is just speculation, so take it as that and nothing more:
She had (had, because once she declared, she stopped doing those speeches) a "stump speech" that she used as a template at those things. It probably has marginal utility in terms of knowing what was actually said at these events. She likely added/subtracted elements of that speech based on news events, and --most significantly--she probably took a load of questions at these things and THAT made up the bulk of her "speech"--because that is a common feature of them, that people want a two-way conversation. That's the "value" of these things.
Without a video, or an audio recording, or someone sitting there actively transcribing, there's probably not any "transcripts" in existence.
I'll bet there aren't any transcripts of any of the conversations Bernie Sanders had at those retreats attended by people from Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, and other banking and corporate interests, either. These little gatherings--just like the ones Clinton attended-- are private events.
At the time Clinton was giving those speeches, she was a private citizen. She's under no obligation to cough that material up, so some of those who are salivating for it might get a bit dry-mouthed in time.
In fact, if people wanted to be shirty, it would quite probably be more "fair" to demand to know who Sanders talked to and what they talked about at all those Big Donor Fundraisers he has attended (so quietly, too) down the years! Palm Beach...the Vineyard! These weren't pot luck suppers with $27 donors! After all, he was--and still is--receiving a government paycheck, and ostensibly answers to We, The People.
But hey, if we're not going to demand that sitting Senators from our party "cough up" transcripts of their conversations with Big Money donors from the banking industry and the military industrial complex at fancy fundraising "retreats" in exclusive enclaves, it seems a bit disingenuous to demand that a PRIVATE CITIZEN, not currently in the employ of the United States of America, do likewise.
I mean, if we're going to be FAIR, and all....