Bill Clinton's desire not to reveal financial dealings fatal to Hillary's veep aspirations

[HeraldSquare212]

You knew it would do her in sooner or later. Thank god she won't be the nominee.

(This is per MSNBC, quoting Clinton and Obama people)

[polichick]

1. A face-saving tactic most likely - rather than saying they don't want Hillary.

[saracat]

2. What a frigging hypocrite Obama is. After Blackwell and the day Rezko is found guilty of 16 counts

of corruption he has the "nerve" to question Bill's business dealings? Hey what ever happened to his great "judgement" How come Obama has crappy "friends" ?

[muryan]

3. Yes how he dare he find out if there are any shady dealings going on

We know that the VP's spouse is totally off-limits to the republicans during the general election.

[saracat]

4. But his own don't count! ??????And on the day Rezko was convicted?

oooh, thats right Obama says" Rezko wasn't like that when he knew him"

And what about this? Feh.


http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-killerspin27apr27,0,6789688.story

[rateyes]

5. Give it up.

Hillary lost, and there's not one iota of evidence linking Obama to the charges of which Rezko was convicted.

Take a chill pill, and begin working for Obama. He will make the country proud.

[saracat]

6. And Blackwell, the link provided is nothing to you?

[muryan]

10. Table Tennisgate isnt going to happen

The connections drawn in that article are flimsy at best

[RichardRay]

OK, I read the article...

Can you roll out how you see it should have gone?

The article contains quotes from the state tourism people expressing satisfaction with the program Obama supported. There's a quote form an ethics advocate stating that he provided more disclosure than 80% of Illinois politicians ever do, and another one noting that what he did was support a project from a constituent - hardly a hanging offense for a state legislator. The is, indeed, one quote from a political ethics source saying that he would have done better to more thoroughly highlighted the business Blackwell provided to the law firm where Obama worked, but that he had done nothing out of line.

So, given the benefits derived and the actions taken, how would you prefer he have behaved?

You've said that you see Obama as a tool of old fashioned Chicago machine politics. If he was in Chicago politics, how could he have gotten anything done for his constituency without working with the machinists? Is it possible that he was just doing his job? You don't have to agree that he's a great guy or that you love him - but is it possible that he was actually doing a good job?

[Exilednight]

19. What was the article suppose to prove that the courts didn't? Rezko is convicted, Obama not .......

linked. end of story.

[cliffordu]

16. BWAAAAHAHAHAHHAHAH Do you have a relevance issue??

[rateyes]

23. No, I have no problem with Blackwell:

Obama's staff said the senator advocated only for the first year's grant -- which ended up being $20,000, not $50,000. The day after Obama wrote his letter urging the awarding of the state funds, Obama's U.S. Senate campaign received a $1,000 donation from Blackwell.

Obama's presidential campaign rejects any suggestion that there was a connection between the legal work, the campaign contribution and the help with the grant. "Any implication that Sen. Obama would risk an ethical breach in order to secure a small grant for a pingpong tournament is nuts," said David Axelrod, Obama's chief political advisor.

[AnnieBW]

18. Just ask Geraldine Ferraro about that one

Wasn't her husband involved in some shady NY dealings?

[blm]

7. You think Rezko comes even close to Jackson Stephens and GHWBush and their cronies

protected for years by Clinton and he is now collecting tens of millions from them since he left office?

You think the money Bill's taken in from Jackson Stephens, Marc Rich, Dubai and Saudi royals and other Bush cronies named in BCCI's illegal operations is CLEAN MONEY and none of those BCCI matters ever HURT this nation, saracat?

Proportion matters.

Protecting BushInc led directly to the turnover of Congress in 1995. Led to the strengthening of BushInc's cabal in the 90s. Led directly to Bush2 presidency. Unresolved BCCI matters led directly to 9-11 and this Iraq war.

[saracat]

9. What about Blackwell? Link below

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-n

[blm]

11. What about a sense of proportion, saracat? CIA drugrunning matters didn't cover up themselves

and had horrendous consequences for this nation. And one of the few real investigative reporters this nation had left was targeted for a takedown for daring to report his findings - by official DC circa 1996-1998.

BCCI matters didn't deep-six themselves and had horrendous consequences we live with in our every day lives.

IranContra had outstanding matters that didn't deep-six themselves in the 90s - and we are now facing the very real probablity of war with Iran soon.

If Blackwell is worse to you....

[saracat]

13. Not worse .Just bad.And ignored.

[KittyWampus]

20. BLM, part of the problem is there's been quite a bit of mythmaking around Bill Clinton

almost as much as Reagan.

Joe Conason, for instance.

[blm]

21. Well, looks like that might be changing. This nation needs ACCURATE recounting of history

and those who pretend otherwise are NOT HELPING. In fact, they contribute to the negative consequences we endure BECAUSE of the lies of the closed government privileged.

[Carolina]

12. hey blm,

saracat is a total sour puss, deranged, deluded...

Claims she was for Edwards but calls the Obamas nasty people and never misses a chance to chime in with bullshit for Clinton and against Obama. Don't waste your time, intelligence and well-researched history trying to present the facts or the truth. Some people can't handle either, so they spew lies and vitriol :hi:

[blm]

15. Actually, saracat has a long record here at DU. I believe she cares mightily for Dem party and

even me. She isn't the only one taking their time to let Clintons go. It took me years of rationalizing the problems he left us, myself, until he read his book in 04 and could no longer do it.

The fight in her I understand. I don't shirk from fights, myself. But, I will always be there with open arms when the time comes. She is a solid Dem going through some bad months because she decided to stick with her faith. That's all.

Y'know Carolina - so will you. Some of my closest allies here were frequent battles for me in 2003.

;)

[saracat]

22. Thank you blm. That was very gracious of you. But I will say, my fight isn't about the Clinton's .

It never was. It is about the "soul" of the party and how wretched and lacking in respect it is". I was not a Hillary fan by any stretch of the imagination and I started this primary pretty anti Clinton but I learned to respect her when she was the last candidate standing against one I do not trust.
But thank you for your lovely post. You will always have a warm place in my heart.

[blm]

25. And I am deadset against those who did the most damage to the party's soul over the years.

I trust open government and I trust Kerry and I trust Kennedy.

And I trust the BCCI report. And I trust the CIA Drugrunning report.

Anyone collecting tens of millions from those involved with Poppy Bush's illegal operations deep-sixed throughout the 90s is hardly worthy of the trust of any American citizen.

Bill had no business making a decision that would alter drastically the historic record of this nation which have had horrific consequences.

Some of those who have donated to Bill's 'foundation' or paid him huge paychecks recently, were named figures in Poppy Bush's illegal operations with BCCI - Jackson Stephens, Marc Rich, Dubai and Saudi royals. The same Dubai money that staked the largest portion of BCCI bank, was the same Dubai money that Bill was helping to get that ports deal the Bushboy was ready to arrange a few years ago. And we know how Marc Rich received favors, though most Dems are still unaware that Rich was a named figure in GHWBush's BCCI and IranContra.

THAT is what you would trust over the chance at an open government Democrat?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/01/22/bill-clinton-severs-ties-_n_82616.html

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

Wall Street Journal | John Emshwiller | 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.
>>>>>

[Lucky 13]

8. Fine. Let's assume Obama is a shady as you say.

Why would he want MORE shady dealings associated with his ticket? Why would he say, "Damn, I've got a lot of shady business I don't want to come out in the general. But let's put Hillary on the ticket so that we also have to defend BILL's shady business dealings! That will keep us focused on the issues!"

That would be just foolish.

Sorry, we want a VP candidate that is squeaky clean and whose spouse is not prone to angry outbursts. We want someone steady and reliable. We want someone galvanizing not polarizing. We want something new and better, not the politics of old.

My choices: Edwards, Wexler, Webb

[Thrill]

14. I think the Repukes already know whats there. Thats why they wanted Hillary so badly

[OzarkDem]

17. ...

:rofl:

Not likely. It was Obama's corporate donors promising to give money to re-election campaigns of SuperD's.

[TexasObserver]

24. This is the Obama camp raining on the current "will Hillary be VP?" push

You're Camp Obama.

You just snagged the majority in the delegate fight.

Hillary is making noise and pushing for VP.

You don't want to body slam her with a quick OH HELL NO! You don't want to let her force you to change your plan for picking a VP. You do want to attach to her push for VP a very good reason why that will never happen. So you put out this story, which is accurate, of course, if incomplete. If Bill were clean as a hound's tooth, Hillary would still not be acceptable as VP.