Hillary could still use some help with campaign debt

[eridani]

https://contribute.hillarycampaign2008.com/form-3contest.html?utm_source=xDCCC&utm_medium=x&sc=xDCCC

Prizes available also.

[Undercurrent]

1. Hillary owes

$5,943,385

$5,362,278 of that is owed to Mark Penn.




According to year-end filings with the Federal Election Commission, Clinton's campaign had outstanding debts of $5,943,385. Of that total, Penn's firm was still owed $5,362,278 as of Dec. 31.
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2009/04/09/hillary_clinton_tries_again_to.html?wprss=44

[eridani]

2. Geez. Can't Penn just tell her to fuggedaboudit then?

Not like he needs the money.

[roguevalley]

3. she should tell him to drop dead.

[AngryAmish]

44. That is a crime

It would be an in-kind contribution to her campaign in excess of the limits set in McCain-Feingold.

[karynnj]

8. Gee, that should really make people want to contribute

This might be awkward - Even if he had the grace to do so, I think Penn forgiving the debt would be considered a contribution - and that would be far over the limit.

I can see why they are going this gimmicky route - the more dignified routes of benefit concerts and normal appeals have not worked sufficiently to retire this. (The comments on the WP link are brutal.)

[AngryAmish]

45. again, Penn can't forgive because it is a crime to do so

[HamdenRice]

46. Point of info about debt to a firm like Penn's

Service firms, like law firms, advertising, consulting, and accounting firms don't just charge for the principal owner's time; they advance to the client services that they've paid for -- many of those services having been provided by third parties.

I have no idea how Penn's firm works, but I would be very surprised if the entire $5 million was Penn's billable hours. Inside the $5 million is, no doubt, hundreds of thousands if not millions, in already purchased and paid for advertising, air time, salaries of junior staff, travel and so on.

If Hillary wanted to make this look less bad, she should have Penn transfer some of the discrete costs to her campaign as campaign debt so that contributors don't think they are being asked to pay $5 million plus to Penn personally.

[MissMarple]

4. So do many Democratic candidates who tried and lost.

Get over it, sweetheart. PBHS 1967

[madaboutharry]

5. If she can't settle this with Penn, then she should

take it out of her bank account. Jesus, the Clintons have more than 100 million dollars in the bank. What is the big deal? She shouldn't even be asking ordinary people for money.

[PBS Poll-435]

11. Really? 100 MILLION DOLLARS in the bank?

Really?

:rofl:

[Beacool]

15. That's not true.

That was their reported income from 2001 to 2006. Out of that amount they paid over 35M in taxes and donated $10M to charity.

There are also campaign laws to consider.


;-)

[karynnj]

24. You are correct on the fact that the $100 million number was not money in the bank

In addition to the taxes and charitable contributions, HRC contributed over $13 million to her campaign. (It began as a loan, but it was not repaid before the convention - so it became a contribution. http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=a33YvqB4RHSM&refer=worldwide ) From your numbers, that already was a significant portion of their assets.

Hillary Clinton does have the ability to contribute as much as she wants. I don't know if Penn forgiving the debt woud be an illegal contribution.

[Baby Snooks]

63. You mean they're broke?

The Clintons are far from broke. Even if the figures are correct, they still have 10,20,30 million lying around. Although it is doubtful it is just lying around. Which is why the 10 million is probably 30 million. Which is why the 30 million is probably 50 million. Or more.

But why pay your debts when you can have someone else pay them for you?

[karynnj]

64. I certainly did not say they were broke

using Beacool's numbers and mine - you don't get to zero. I don't think they are totally accurate - I remember $108 million, not $100, but using them as ballpark numbers - $100 - $45 and $13 is $42 million. Now they do have too expensive homes and an expensive lifestyle, but I doubt they spent $42 million.

They have the right to appeal for donations - just as you have the right to say no.

[Hieronymus]

67. $10million to charity? Doesn't charity begin at home? Pay your debt, Hillary.

[salguine]

27. No shit. That someone with $100 million in the bank could be asking

other people to pay their debts for them, especially when millions are out of work and millions more are terrified of losing their jobs, tens of millions more don't have healthcare and are wondering how they're going to put food on the table, is the ballsiest thing I've ever seen. And I don't mean that in a good way.

I can already smell the accusations of "Hillary hate" coming...

[polichick]

6. Good grief, go to the bank already Hill.

[CreekDog]

7. Let Penn sue her, she can countersue him for malpractice

as i understand it, most of her debt is to him. :eyes:

[960]

9. I was and am a huge Hillary supporter. 99% of the debt is owed to Mark Penn.

He really should forgive the debt. Not likely, but let him sue. She can counter-sue for malpractice and win back her $12+ million, plus his "fees".

[eridani]

41. Hadn't thought of a countersuit.

A very good idea--he was an overpaid and completely useless idiot.

[Beacool]

10. Thank you for posting this.

Some of us have contributed all we can legally.

Bill Clinton is a fascinating man and well worth the $5 minimum contribution. Who wouldn't love to spend a day with the BigDawg? There are so many things I can think of to ask him.

:-)

[960]

12. You talked me into it. Despite my anger at Penn, I donated to help

Hillary and perhaps get to meet Bill.
Also talked my mom into donating a little.

;)

[Beacool]

14. Thank you so much!!!!

Hillary is a good person, I wish everybody got to know her personally before being so harsh to her. She has spent most of her adult life trying to help others in some capacity or another.

Thanks again to you and your mom!!!!

:pals:

[mkultra]

13. i dont like hillary

but hey, add in a chance to meet bill and you have a winner. Plus it makes me feel gracious :)

[Hanse]

16. Well, I'd send a check...

unfortunately there are a number of snipers between me and the mailbox.

[DevonRex]

17. I donated once already but I will again when we've recovered

from paying our taxes. One or two more paychecks and we'll be in better shape to donate.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

18. Thank you for posting, I will make a donation on Thursday (Pay day!)

[Beacool]

21. Thank you for helping out!!!

:hug:

[Political Heretic]

19. And I would love to help, but I can't take care of myself as it is :(

[SemiCharmedQuark]

20. Thank you for posting, I will make a donation on Thursday (Pay day!)

[Araxen]

22. Not my fault..

that she ran the campaign longer than she should have. I'm not going to bail her out.

[karynnj]

25. exactly - May and June were just for her ego

[Beacool]

26. No they were not.

They were for US, the millions who supported her and wanted her to go to the end. If nothing else, to prove that a woman could do it and win votes too. Besides, she won most of the primaries from March - June and won them all (with the exception of IN) by wide margins. Once February was done, she was rolling along. She may not have been able to surpass the amount of PDs that Obama accumulated, mainly through the caucuses, but she was certainly not that far behind. I know that Obama supporters didn't want her to finish, but millions of people did and we are proud that she went all the way to the finish line.

;)

[dsc]

28. No they were to give those of us in such worthless states as NC a real choice

You might recall NC the state Obama won by a veritable handful of votes. It kept our interest up and allowed him to build an organization here. If she had dropped out before our Primary not only would have Obama loast this state, Purdue likely would have as well. But go ahead and be a bitter winner.

[AtomicKitten]

29. It cost us a lot of money too. Lots of people ponied up til it hurt.

I actually donated to Clinton once right after Obama finally secured the nomination because Obama asked his supporters to do it.

I have to say knowing the balance going in large part to Penn doesn't make this an attractive offer. Lunch with Bill better be fabulous.

[karynnj]

43. That is all conjecture

Not to mention, if her goal was just to extend the primary season to help Obama, she would have been far less divisive. She would not have made the claim of sexism even as she conceded. That and the outrageous references to the non-existent popular vote and the attempts to call it a tie made her one of the more unappealing losers.

[Life Long Dem]

23. Very Presidential indeed.

[blonndee]

30. Aw. I'm sorry to hear that.

I could use some help with my massive student loan debt, too, though, so I'm afraid I can't help her out just now.

[Forkboy]

31. Maybe Uribe can pony up the dough for Penn.

[tomp]

32. let her hold her breath til she gets money from me. nt

[emilyg]

34. Please show us how - hold your breath. Please.

[Beacool]

35. Nothing ever changes, Emily.

The same freaking haters as always, might as well go see what the Freepers have to say on the subject. Same difference.....

x(

[emilyg]

36. You are so right. Disgusting, small minds.

[Beacool]

37. I don't care if they don't contribute, that's their prerogative.

But the snide remarks just prove that nothing has changed since the primaries. Unity? Yeah, right.........

:eyes:

[tomp]

42. and this has what to do with the primaries? nt

[Beacool]

49. It has everything to do with the primaries.

The snide remarks come from those who never supported her in the first place. The left was as vicious as the right in their Clinton hatred.

[mkultra]

52. nah, we have had plenty of time to heal the divide.

[Danger Mouse]

33. I'm not sending a dime to line that slimeball Penn's pockets.

[Beacool]

38. Hillary took in $5.6M in 1st quarter

By KENNETH P. VOGEL | 4/15/09

In the first three months of the year, Hillary Clinton paid off $3.7 million in bills left over from her failed presidential campaign, according to a report her campaign filed Wednesday afternoon with the Federal Election Commission.

The report shows that Clinton has only one vendor left to pay off: pollster Mark Penn. Her campaign paid his firm $3 million in the first quarter, but still owes it $2.3 million.

The filing also reveals that the campaign brought in $5.6 million between January 1 and March 31, an impressive sum given that Clinton has relied on surrogates to raise money to pay off her debts since January, when she was confirmed as secretary of state for her Democratic primary rival, President Barack Obama.

Ethics rules and tradition restrict diplomats from engaging in partisan political activity, including raising cash to pay off the debt.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0409/21298.html

A litle bit more and her debt will be retired.

:woohoo:

[Arugula Latte]

39. Sorry, but I can think of a brazillion other causes I'd rather donate to.

She shouldn't have run up such an enormous debt when it was more than clear for weeks and weeks that she would not win the primary.

Bad judgment on her part.

[Beacool]

48. Not bad judgment.

She completed what she started and proved that a woman can run in every state. Millions of people wanted her to continue running. Proof of that is that she won most of the primaries after February. Only the Obama supporters and the vultures in the media kept yelling at her to quit.

[Arugula Latte]

51. The delegate count was clear, and that, in the end, is what matters. nt

[Beacool]

57. So what????

She's is not a quitter and neither were her supporters. She received thousands of emails from people asking her not to quit until every state had voted.

[AtomicKitten]

60. Okay, then you and others that encouraged her to continue are responsible for her debt.

I don't really understand why you get pissy about people balking at being approached to pay off this debt. The rest of us realized it was throwing money down a rat hole.

[Beacool]

61. I have contributed all I'm legally allowed to give.

:shrug:

[mkultra]

53. no offense, but people are going to disagree on that topic

as such is the case, perhaps those supporters should bare the burden of this debt. Is that wrong to say?



Just to shore up my street cred, I voted Obama in the primary and i donated $10 yesterday. Bill sweetened the deal.

[Beacool]

58. Thank you!!!

:hug:

[flpoljunkie]

50. Mark Penn's Firm, Burson Marsteller just hired Dana Perino. Bipartisan PR firm working for AIG

being paid with our tax dollars. If Hillary's Clinton's campaign has $2.6 million left and owes Penn $2.3 million, I suggest she use it to pay Penn, rather than ask us Democrats to pay the slimy, ineffectual PR flack.

[flpoljunkie]

69. Hillary Clinton for President latest FEC quarterly campaign report

http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/dcdev/forms/C00431569/413317/

6. Cash on Hand at BEGINNING of the Reporting Period 1574762.10
7. Total Receipts This Period 5587606.51
8. Subtotal (6 + 7) 7162368.61
9. Total Disbursements This Period 4546651.22
10. Cash on Hand at CLOSE of the Reporting Period 2615717.39
11. Debts and Obligations Owed TO the Committee 0.00
Itemize all on SCHEDULE C or SCHEDULE D
12. Debts and Obligations Owed BY the Committee 2307740.82
Itemize all on SCHEDULE C or SCHEDULE D
13. Expenditures Subject To Limitation 0.00
14. NET Contributions (Other than Loans) 199107497.24
15. NET Operating Expenditures 217588708.23

[BlooInBloo]

40. This thread is precious.

[Jennicut]

47. Campaigns should be made legally free and every network should give the

candidates free time. Many candidates go into debt to run. This money game stops good people from running for the House and Senate and for the Presidency. Mark Penn is also a total ahole. Hillary, why? Why did you ever pick him.

[mkultra]

54. There are alot of thiings campaigns consume that cannot just "be free"

[dionysus]

55. i'll take a pass on that...

[Honu one]

56. Donate to your local food bank

There are people out there who truly need help. The Clintons do not.

[walldude]

59. Welcome to DU

and I agree fully. I'm sure the Clintons aren't worried about whether to pay the electric bill or buy food this month.

[Lucky 13]

62. I'm sick of bailing out millionaires.

Hillary's campaign was managed HORRIBLY and they made the exceedingly poor decision to keep spending themselves deeper and deeper into debt. Their donations weren't matching their expenditures pretty early on, but they just kept going and spending and spending and spending.

Why should that be rewarded? Why should the working stiff have to pay for a millionaire's debt to go away?

Fuck that. I'm sick of millionaires begging for my money when I can't buy groceries.

[karynnj]

65. Has HRC donated the money that was transfered to her Senate account to the DNC?

I assume that she had to liquidate it as it is a Senate account for running for the Senate in 4 years. That was money that was given to her for the GE that she coud not use to pay off primary debts - though this article seems to think she can - http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/2008-12-02-clinton-funds_N.htm

[TheKentuckian]

66. Meh...I gave after the primaries and after the Convention but it might be worth a chance to meet

The Big Dawg. I dunno though, knowing nearly for certain that my money is be laundered right into Penn's pockets makes pretty much a sin to donate. I don't think it is nasty to have misgivings about fattening Penn's account or even to be less than eager to clear up debt accumulated after the outcome was decided, I think we're all on the same team to varying degrees and do what I can, when I can but its not right to be upset when others feel a multi-millionaire will get by without their assistance.

[greguganus]

68. Nah, my money goes to SPCA and local animal shelters to help animals that can't help themselves. n/t