Obama to Clinton: About That $5 Million Loan...

[flpoljunkie]

Obama to Clinton: About That Loan …

By Jeff Zeleny
New York Times Caucus blog

OMAHA –- Senator Barack Obama said today that Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton’s decision to not disclose her income tax returns raises questions about the decision to loan $5 million to her campaign.

“I’ll just say that I’ve released my tax returns –- that’s been a policy I’ve maintained consistently,” Mr. Obama said, speaking to reporters as he flew from Louisiana to Nebraska for a campaign rally. “I think the American people deserve to know where you get your income from.”

Mr. Obama stopped short of issuing a call for Mrs. Clinton and former President Bill Clinton to release their tax returns. His statement came in answering a question from a reporter about whether voters have a right to know where Mrs. Clinton’s $5 million loan came from.

“As I’ve said, I’ve disclosed my income tax returns,” Mr. Obama said, when asked again about the matter. “I think we’ve set the bar in terms of transparency and disclosure. That’s been a consistent theme of my campaign and my career in politics.”

Later, he added: “I’m not going to get into the intricacies of their finances. That’s something that you’ll have to ask them.”

Clinton campaign officials said on Thursday that she would release her tax returns if she won the Democratic nomination, but argued that there was sufficient information in her publicly available Senate financial disclosure forms for voters and reporters to assess her personal finances.

[jlake]

1. Why doesn't Obama get out of the fucking gutter and talk policy.

I can't believe that anyone thinks that slimeball is any kind of victim.

[woolldog]

4. he

was responding to a reporters question.

[jlake]

6. He is insinuating BS and you know it.

[John Q. Citizen]

20. Are those pearl earings in your photo a gift from big oil? Big Pharma? One way to find out..

What does she have to hide?

Why not release her returns?

[jlake]

23. They will be released. No, they were a gift from Oprah before she became a turncoat

to women everywhere.

[jefferson_dem]

42. Oprah told you she is a "free woman." Get over it.

You really aren't much into women's rights, are you?

[John Q. Citizen]

62. Everyone the Clintons know end up being turncoats. What's up with that?

Anyway. I sure do wonder what Hill doesn't want the public to know about her tax returns. I bet it's juicy, or she'd just put them out there eh?

[Straight Shooter]

100. Yes. Just like the Repubs demanded Kerry release all his military records.

Which he refused, as I recall, until the time of his own good choosing. Nothing to see there.

Barack is manufacturing a scandal. Don't look at Rezko .... look at the pretty shiny thing I'm pointing to.

[Whisp]

105. good bet.

and ya know how straightforward the Clintons are.
sure she will release upon her nomination.

and even is she did.
sorry, suckers!!!! whatcha gonna do about it?

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[Jed Dilligan]

24. I don't know, but the shirt appears to be a hand-me-down from Liberace.

[jlake]

35. It was a gift from Anna Wintours.

[dionysus]

72. to me it looks like she's wearing a wedding cake...

[MyNameGoesHere]

79. maybe but at laest a 10 mile an hour wind does not

lift her in the air like Dumbo and Obama have trouble with. Wow see i can be a child too.

[dionysus]

80. but.. it *does* look like a wedding cake, or a doilie, just sayin...

:shrug:

[Binka]

73. Ouch! LOL

It is quite simply fucking hideous, as is her orange makeup and awful lipstick. I can not believe a supporter would put THAT in their post. That is the worst picture I have ever seen of Hillary since her campaign started.

Now back to her Liberace shirt.....:applause:

[niceypoo]

91. When you cant talk policy you dig for dirt

Typical republican campaign tactic

[John Q. Citizen]

96. Her policy of concealing her finances from primary voters is just wrong. She says if

she gets the nomination she will release her tax returns.

By then it will be too late, because what are Dems going to do about it if she's getting big money from dubious sources.

If she's for open and honest govenment then why is she acting all secretive with the voters in her own party?
That is in fact a typical Repo campaign tactic. Think about it. I would guess you approved of bush not releasing his military records. I mean why should he, right?

I know that the true beleievers will never vet Hill, any more than the true bush believers will ever vet bush. But the rest of us should have the opportunity to know who exactly we are being asked to vote for.

[Scriptor Ignotus]

36. if the Clintons released their tax returns

he wouldn't have to insinuate anything because we would already know the truth.

[jlake]

41. How did he report the $300,000 in kind windfall gift from Rezko?

Didn't see that on his retrurn.... can you say "tax fraud".

[Barack_America]

55. Please describe? n/t

[jlake]

59. You know - the Rezko land deal where Obama and Rezko's wife bought adjoining

properties on the same day. Obama bought the mansion for 300K less than asking price and Rezko's wife bought the adjoining lot for over market value......after Obama had asked Rezko for advice on purchasing a house...

[Barack_America]

69. That is incorrect.

Obama did buy the house for less, but Rezko's wife bought the lot at asking price, not for more money than was asked.

Why don't you locate the seller of the house and ask them why they accepted less than asking price for the house?

[jlake]

74. It is correct. I did *not* say she paid more than asking price. I said she paid more than *market

value* which she did. The seller only wanted to sell as a package deal.... and it looks like they did.

[Barack_America]

81. If campaign contributions and corruption are a concern of yours...

Why aren't you demanding to know where Hillary has gotten her money from? Who her associations are?

Or does corruption not matter if it is from your candidate of choice?

[jlake]

85. I would like everything to be transparent. I am calling Obama on HIS hypocrisy.

Hillary needs to do everything you say.
And Obama needs to be honest about his dealings as well.

[Capn Sunshine]

102. It was a straight up land purchase. Quit grasping at straws.

Gawd. You guys are just heavy beathing over anything. Whitewater was nothing also.

[jlake]

103. What has Ms. Rezko done with the adjacent lot since?

Why did she purchase it?

[Scriptor Ignotus]

111. apparently the IRS can't because they haven't charged him

with a single thing. So maybe it's not tax fraud at all.

But then again, you probably know better than they do. And the IRS wants Obama to win, just like the corporate media. I see you've checkmated me again.

Well played sir/madam(?), well played.

[Little Star]

93. He wants to see Bill's? I want to see Michelle's?

[UALRBSofL]

7. The cmmentators really had a negative tone when Obama spoke to the reporters

Did anyone catch what they were saying on MSNBC?

[HCE SuiGeneris]

8. DLC... hmm.

GLWT.

[jlake]

12. It seems to work out pretty well.

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[H2O Man]

9. That is policy.

[jlake]

13. Sorry. I don't think that him yammering about tax returns and insinuating that

Hillary is hiding something is policy. Doesn't put food on anyone's table or a roof over anyone's head.

[H2O Man]

22. You might not

think so. But it is. It is part of a policy of keeping information from the public. It's a policy some politicians practice, and that others do not. And some people are comfortable with politicians who have a policy of keeping information private, and other people are uncomfortable with it.

[jlake]

26. You do know that her tax return will be released - right?

[Barack_America]

25. Corrupt politicians take food out of mouths and roofs from over heads...

...all over this country. They're called "Republicans".

Considering she has donated her own money to the campaign, we have a right to know where that money came from...and a responsibility to ask.

[jlake]

32. Yet no interest in Rezko? Interesting.... how did Obama buy a 2 million dollar mansion

when all he had done was "community organizing" been a "state senator" and written one book. .... Seems a little out of his price range.

Hillary will release her tax returns.

[Barack_America]

52. Well, I would imagine that he has a mortgage...

Like most Americans.

He's also written two books, both best-sellers. I would imagine that netted him enough for the downpayment on his house.

He has been open about Rezko. He released the financial terms of the transaction for his house.

When will we see that level of transparency from the Clintons? Only after they win the election? Why?

[H2O Man]

34. We've had quite enough

of politicians who want to keep things secret from the public. No matter if it is VP Cheney holding secret meetings with the heads of energy corporations, or a democrat who is running for office and wants to keep financial information secret, it is damaging to the practice of democracy.

[John Q. Citizen]

10. What's she hiding from the voters?

[H2O Man]

38. Valid question.

Let's just have an honest campaign. We shouldn't be aping republican tactics.

[David Zephyr]

77. Great question. An important question. What on earth are they hiding?

This will not wash in the Generarl Election.

When are we all going to wake up to the fact that this couple's ambitions are not in sync with our Party's interests.

What are they hiding indeed?

[Yael]

95. If not us, you can rest assured that the TRUST issue will be blared 24/7 by the (R)s

[David Zephyr]

99. Exactly.

As Dolly sings: Here we go again, Yael.

[Barack_America]

15. Obama's in the gutter? Not the reporter who asked him the question?

And, FWIW, disclosure of where politicians get the money for their campaigns is hardly "gutter talk". Unless, of course, you're in favor of corrupt government.

[jlake]

21. It is a valid question. Obama insinuates there is something Hillary is hiding..

when of course she will be releasing her tax returns.

[Barack_America]

30. Why doesn't she release them now?

That would end all insinuations.

[grantcart]

17. I agree 100%

whenever you start talking about Clinton financial arrangements you are going to be in the gutter.


Oh yeah and the republicans will never think of asking about all the money that they have received and the favors done sine 2000.

[jlake]

37. How did Obama get that mansion? GUTTER TALK!

[Barack_America]

Well, you keep insisting we talk about that, so let's talk about the Clintons' tax returns! n/t

[jlake]

48. I am consistently told that Rezko is a non issue and to shut up.

So, not sure what your point is..... same story from both sides.

[Barack_America]

60. I think that you've been told that we know all there is to know about Rezko...

The Chicago media has searched and searched and not come up with much.

Where the Clintons get their money from, however, that has not yet been disclosed. Why not? What are they hiding?

[grantcart]

53. He pardoned Mark Rich after his ex wife made a large . . . oh wait

do you really want to compare the personal finances of the two candidates?? (He is a US Senator and she makes $ 250k as an attorney and they made a lot of money from the two best selling books they sold.)

Really?

Fine Obama has released his and Clinton has not. So when both have released their finances plus a list of the money received at the Library then we can sit down and have an intelligent conversation. Please go ahead and call on Clinton to release this so we can talk about it.

Oh and the Republicans will never think to ask questions about all of the financial transactions that the Clintons have been involved in.

[H2O Man]

40. Right.

We do not need "gutter tactics" in the democratic primary. Senator Clinton should be honest and do the right thing.

[blm]

27. Reporter asked him about it - and he was too darn RESPECTFUL of Clintons in his answer, imo.

If you think Obama's answer to the reporter was gutter then you must be one very delicate person - far too precious for a campaign.

Some of us KNOW Dubai dollars are filthy and ended up in Bill's bank account. When will the press track that dough to Dubai and Bill's generous behavior throughout the 90s towards Dubai and Saudi royals who were behind BCCI?

[jlake]

50. What's really precious is that you think Obama doesn't get the kind of money

you are talking about.

[blm]

67. Obama deep-sixed BCCI matters and has recently received 20MILLION dollars from Dubai

royals who started BCCI?

Really?

[cali]

29. why don't you crawl out of your slimy gutter

and actually inform yourself? Obama gave a substantive policy speech today in NOLA. You're just parroting a mindless meme, hillybot. you want to look at a slimeball? Turn toward the nearest mirror.

[H2O Man]

47. It is things like this

that are the reason that young people admire Obama. They know they can trust him. And when there are people who try to keep their finances secret, it is why the young people are not going to support them.

[jlake]

57. Koolaid Drinking Obamabot, I am informed. I have NEVER heard Obama attack

Republicans - only Hillary. I am fed up with it.
He is really not acting like a Democrat - but like his own party and belief system.

[cali]

86. sorry little hillydroid

Obama has attacked McCain repeatedly over the past few days. And hillypoo has attacked Obama at least as much as he's attacked her. If you weren't such a total brainwashed little footsoldier, you'd know that. I actually have plenty of criticisms of my candidate which I've expounded on here. You? You're in full toe kissing suck up adulation mode, dumpling. It's quite amusing- particularly with that photo of Queen Hillerbee.

[jlake]

87. Cupcake, You are actually fair - I give you props for that.

I have criticized Hillary as well - She does need to release her tax returns - and I would like to see the donor list for the Library. But Ray Ray - don't dis Queen Hillary.
And I really can't wait 'til we're on the same side!
:hi:

[cali]

88. truth be told-

I can't either.

Unfortunately it looks to be a while.

[H2O Man]

89. Reincarnation?

[Bread and Circus]

Tell me jlake, who funds the DLC? Enquiring minds want to know.

[jlake]

I help.

[Bread and Circus]

65. Obama disses the DLC.... (this one is funny)

Read both paragraphs, the punchline is funny... (Obama tells the DLC to fuck off)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=4464637&mesg_id=4464637

Going Nowhere: The DLC Sputters to a Halt

In May 2003 the centrist Democratic Leadership Council published its yearly list of "100 New Democrats to Watch." The DLC frequently puts out these lists as a way to publicly solidify its identification with the New Democratic movement within the Democratic Party. The 2003 list, however, contained a number of questionable additions, including then-Illinois State Senator Barack Obama. As a state senator, Obama had continually passed progressive legislation--a record that he vowed to add to when he began his run for the US Senate on a platform of clear opposition to the Patriot Act, the Iraq War and NAFTA, all positions anathema to the DLC. The puzzling addition caused The Black Commentator magazine to wonder, a month after the DLC list came out, whether Obama had been "corrupted" by the centrist group. Obama's reply to the Commentator was indicative of how the DLC plays the "New Democrat" card.

"Neither my staff nor I have had any direct contact with anybody at the DLC since I began this campaign a year ago," Obama wrote. "I don't know who nominated me for the DLC list of 100 rising stars, nor did I expend any effort to be included on the list.... I certainly did not view such inclusion as an endorsement on my part of the DLC platform." After realizing that his name appeared in the DLC's database, Obama asked to have it removed. The message was clear: The DLC needed Obama a lot more than Obama needed the DLC.

more at the link....if you dislike the DLC please keep this kicked :kick:

[jlake]

76. Yeah, real funny.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

46. Wait, suddenly you're interested in policy?

That's a laugh.

[in_cog_ni_to]

49. Because he can't. He doesn't have any worth talking about. He has to do the attack route because he

knows he's going to lose. Hillary takes the high road, Obama slings the shit. The American people will catch on to him soon.

[jlake]

70. I think you're right.

[milkyway]

64. You're exactly right--Obama is in the gutter when talking about Clinton finances.

Can't get much filthier than the Clinton money train.

[QC]

66. What policies? n/t

[jlake]

71. Healthcare for one..... maybe he should explain why he thinks his plan is worth implementing.

[mod mom]

84. Knowing who is funding our candidates is an important consideration. Read this:

After Mining Deal, Financier Donated to Clinton



By JO BECKER and DON VAN NATTA Jr.
Published: January 31, 2008
Late on Sept. 6, 2005, a private plane carrying the Canadian mining financier Frank Giustra touched down in Almaty, a ruggedly picturesque city in southeast Kazakhstan. Several hundred miles to the west a fortune awaited: highly coveted deposits of uranium that could fuel nuclear reactors around the world. And Mr. Giustra was in hot pursuit of an exclusive deal to tap them.

Unlike more established competitors, Mr. Giustra was a newcomer to uranium mining in Kazakhstan, a former Soviet republic. But what his fledgling company lacked in experience, it made up for in connections. Accompanying Mr. Giustra on his luxuriously appointed MD-87 jet that day was a former president of the United States, Bill Clinton.

-snip



"Kazakhstan’s president, Nursultan A. Nazarbayev, whose 19-year stranglehold on the country has all but quashed political dissent."

"Mr. Nazarbayev walked away from the table with a propaganda coup, after Mr. Clinton expressed enthusiastic support for the Kazakh leader’s bid to head an international organization that monitors elections and supports democracy."

-snip
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/31/us/politics/31donor.html


WHY WOULD CLINTON SUPPORT A NOTED TYRANT TO HEAD AN ORGANIZATION THAT MONITORS ELECTIONS & SUPPORTS DEMOCRACY? ONE WORD $

[zonkers]

92. Gloves have been off ever since Hillary distorted Rezko, 2 debates ago.

[Life Long Dem]

94. LOL! Let's talk money!!!!

MONEY PROBLEMS!!!

You know like the billions of dollars gone missing in Iraq?

I don't know about you but I don't like all this secretive shit!

[Capn Sunshine]

97. He's just answering questions from the press, not framing them.

I know it's hard to tell the difference from your vantage point

[KittyWampus]

98. talking about Open Govt. isn't the 'gutter' and he spoke about rebuilding NOLA today

at great length.

[KittyWampus]

104. can't let this gem sink, can we

[faithfulcitizen]

101. "that slimeball"? Nice...

[Rosa Luxemburg]

2. why would someone NOT disclose their income tax returns?

you would think it would be the right thing to do for a candidate otherwise people are going to worry what is in there?

[jlake]

16. You do know that she will be disclosing them - as per law- right?

[Barack_America]

31. When? Tomorrow?

Let's have it out and end all of these speculations.

[Mass]

I have no pb with the loan as long as it follows the FEC rules. Not releasing her income tax returns

raises questions though!

[sandnsea]

43. She raised $118 Million

I have huge problems with her spending that kind of money and being broke at this point in the race. She tried to buy the election.

[Thrill]

3. Just follow the Hillary money trail

It will lead to the Health Insurance companies and Lobbyist

[TexasObserver]

5. she doesn't want to produce her tax returns because it's bad

really bad

They've been making money like Halliburton the past few years, and they don't want DEMOCRATS to know until she gets the nomination. Isn't that great? We have to wait and find out the bad news two months before the Republicans use it.

[flpoljunkie]

28. Like that recently severed relationship of Bill's with billionaire pal Ron Burkle...

Bill Clinton Severs Ties With Burkle, May Reap $20 Million

January 22, 2008 09:29 AM

Former President Clinton stands to reap around $20 million -- and will sever a politically sensitive partnership tie to Dubai -- by ending his high-profile business relationship with the investment firm of billionaire friend Ron Burkle.

Mr. Clinton is negotiating to end his relationship with Mr. Burkle's Yucaipa Cos. as part of a broader effort to protect the presidential campaign of his wife, Sen. Hillary Clinton, from potential conflicts of interest. Details of Mr. Clinton's involvement in Yucaipa and his efforts to unwind it come from documents and interviews with people familiar with the matter.

[TexasObserver]

68. They have been wallowing in wealth and don't want to disclose

[flpoljunkie]

75. Yep!

[jackstraw45]

11. Wow....Must be some bad stuff to hide....

If that $5 million is funding her campaign, the source of those funds should be revealed BEFORE we're chained to a nominee (as they obviously hope). PERIOD.

[K Gardner]

14. She will disclose if she WINS?? What kind of sleazy b/s is that??

[Rosa Luxemburg]

45. I don't understand - does she mean winning the presidency or the primary?

will the president have to disclose income tax returns once inaugurated?

[K Gardner]

83. She said "win the nomination"... then she'll disclose

[Abacus]

18. He's clearly not ready to be president...

What kind of signal would we be sending by electing someone who ends a sentence with a preposition?

[BluegrassDem]

19. Why doesn't she release them now? What's she hiding?

[IndianaGreen]

33. I don't know about her, but Bill got Saudi money for his Library

and who knows what else.

[anamandujano]

39. Can't wait for all the whining and race baiting when she tries to

call him on something.

He is even thicker than I thought.

[HeraldSquare212]

44. Releasing tax returns is SOP these days, has been for years. nt

[IndianaGreen]

56. The royal families, Bushes and Clintons, are above the law!

We are just little, insignificant people, that should just bow down in gratitude.

[cottonseed]

51. - it ain't gonna be pretty.

Probably why they're waiting for after a nomination.

[debatepro]

54. Obama wins hands down on transparency.

Here are the differences between Obama and Clinton on transparency and ethics reform.

Takes campaign money from federal Washington Lobbyists Obama:No Clinton:Yes Winner:Obama
Disclosed 2006 earmarks Obama:Yes Clinton:No Winner: Obama




More after jump:

http://thinkonthesethings.wordpress.com/2007/11/05/barack-obama-vs-hillary-clinton-records-on-transparency-lobbyists-and-ethics/

[Catherine Vincent]

58. Why did Obama fall for the bait? nt

[TheDeathadder]

61. You know it's funny

because everytime people ask Obama to release info on his past business dealings, records, and such - PEOPLE FREAK THE FUCK OUT.

[geiger]

63. this truly bothers me; I cant imagine that the Clintons would have anything to hide

let the debates about issues go on; don't start the speculation wars about something that's undoubtedly a non-issue. Where is she getting this fucking advice. I'm a recent Obama "convert" and I think she should have me advising her. This is fucking retarded.

Wait a minute; I dont know how I ended up adding to this post; I meant to respond to the one about the Sixty Minutes interview.
Sorry about that.

[jackstraw45]

78. Clinton has taken (the most and) double the amount of $$$ from lobbyists than McCain...

We can only imagine what they are hiding in their taxes.

[geiger]

108. OK, I've been doing campaigns for 30 years, and this didn't even cross my mind

truly, I believe that The Constitution guarantees us certain rights of affiliation, and that the lobbyist thing has to be a matter of conscience btwn the legislator; if (s)he has to deal with it with constituents, that's another matter altogether. I know all the pitfalls; I've heard it from former and active lobbyists themselves, but one of the duties of leadership is also to explain how government works.

So, now, I am talking to myself. I still want to believe in the system, and, as Abraham Lincoln once put it, , the smarts of the electorate (to figure things out). I guess that's why I'm an Obama supporter now.

[mod mom]

82. We want the tax returns for The Clintons prior to the election! It speaks volumes

that they want to wait until after!

[and-justice-for-all]

90. well who the hell is he to pose such a question...

when both, HRC and BO, get the most funds for their campaign from GOLDMAN SACHTS. Also making massive contributions to both, is the Nuclear Power Industry.

[geiger]

109. Who the "hell" is HE?

Who the hell is he?

The next President of The United States.

[Colobo]

112. President Barack Obama. That's it.

[Infinite Hope]

106. Secretive Witch. Yet another reason I won't vote for her. n/t

[LVjinx]

107. Yawn

[geiger]

110. thanks for being here, anyway.