The Clinton Success Exception
28 January 2009 10:30 am by Taylor Marsh
Cute that serious women in foreign policy, to include Clinton, Dr. Rice and Janet Napolitano, are being compared to “Charlie’s Angels,” isn’t it? The money and the misogyny all mixed up into one big pile on.
I didn’t cover WJC’s financial disclosures yesterday, because it simply wasn’t news, at least not around here. That former President Bill Clinton is making substantial money on speaking engagements around the world shouldn’t shock anyone. He’s the most popular world leader the U.S. has had in a very long time, until Obama broke through in such a spectacular way. But for the Clintons, success is not just scrutinized, it’s made to seem as something dark. Clinton capitalism is never appreciated, it’s mocked.
As you can see from the picture, via Spencer Ackerman, that goes double for Hillary, with Politico describing her position as “tricky” if WJC keeps making certain types of honorarium. That President Obama and the Clintons have hashed this out completely is lost on the traditional media peanut gallery.
Hey, but feel free to jump in and talk about it. What’s the big deal about Bill Clinton making money on speeches, as long as it’s disclosed fully and completely? Transparency and openness must be vigilantly maintained by all. Anyone think Greg Craig isn’t on this?
In the last nine months of 2008, Bill Clinton made at least $150,000-a-pop speaking to groups in some of the very places where his wife now will now represent American diplomacy, from India to Kuwait to China to Malaysia. In fact, the latter three speaking stops came in the last month-and-a-half of the year, as the Clinton and Obama camps were hammering out the agreement under which President Obama ultimately offered Hillary Clinton the job as top diplomat. – Politico
The WSJ opined that “talk isn’t cheap.” Neither is the price for the Clintons, as Secretary Clinton maneuvers through the playing field your average Clinton hater has already set up, with “we told you so” statements prepared just to be safe. As long as the agreement the Clintons made with President Obama is followed to the letter, they shouldn’t get the time of day.
Seems to me I recall Reagan hauling in $2,000,000 for a speech or two in Japan.
And that was 20 years ago.
Just popped on for a short time since we are busy redoing our kitchen.
I absolutely think they need to get off this kick. Obama and Clinton have come to an agreement and that should be it. I’m sick of the “hungry sharks” that circle around waiting for something to happen. There are more important matters for the administration. Let Obama do his business and Hillary do hers.
Hi djjl. Hope you didn’t get any of the ice storm.
We just barely missed the ice Betsy.
That’s good. After having relatives that got the ice storm back east in December and watching the pictures from this one, I think I would rather have a blizzard then an ice storm.
I live between Baltimore and DC, and we woke up to about 3/4″ of solid ice on the roads. My wife is a teacher and they will close schools on a dusting of snow, which can be idiotic, but nobody in their right mind would even attempt to drive today. You might make it with a hummer but it also could still slide off the road.
Yikes!
I remember that type of weather, but it’s going to take some getting used to.
We had a terrible ice storm in 2000. The entire state was a mess for months. We had two storms back to back. Some people didn’t have water and over 300,000 homes lost power for days. The ice was so bad you couldn’t even walk very far. It just wasn’t worth the chance of getting hurt.
I know I’ll bug people with this, but so what. I do when I think I’m posting innocuously.
My own perspective is that the Democratic party died. The label continued, but not the real party.
This “Democratic” party isn’t really Democrat. They don’t support Clinton. Easy clue.
They attacked Hillary. Another easy clue.
There are many example of this being some odd-ball party.
What I see?
They took the name.
but they aren’t real Democrats.
I usually don’t agree with Ann on many things. I find her oddly without empathy.Her emotional tone always stikes me as male for some reason.Please don’t be offended Ann I find you very funny sometimes,I just don’t agree with your conclusions. But on your last comment I have a great fear that you are on to something.
Lake Lady
I’m afraid I agree with you too.
When I was very young
, meaning early teens I remember my family saying that the dems were for big business and the repubs were for the people. It seems to now have flipped after I would say Eisenhower. I may be wrong, but if that IS the new Democratic party, I’m all for it. The Dems in my book are really more progressive then the Repubs. I see nothing wrong with that.
I think we need to be patient with the new Admin and see what happens. I just heard a Dem Congressman from VA and he said that the cities are very excited because they will be getting some money from this package.
I am choosing to wait and see how this works before I become critical.
The Democratic Party has long been the party of the people – not big business. But the Party showed something undemocratic of late. They must follow the rules except when they want to suspend the rules. I don’t trust the DNC.
Sorry but the stimulus package is a joke pure and simple. Where’s the real money for energy and infrastructure? Where’s the Apollo like effort we were promised during the primary and general election for energy? Where’s HOLC? LL, DJJ I agree.
Iceblinkjm
What is HOLC?
Sorry typo meant to type UHC.
LOL
Long been, but I’m talking 60 years djjl. This b.s. that the Republicans are pulling wanting to cut taxes, is just that, b.s. They want a cut on the rich not the regular joe blow. Well, I think that Obama is just letting them hang themselves.
By the way Andrea Mitchell was interviewing Cantor (the neocon from VA), and asked him what he thought of what Rush said. he danced around and then at the end she said, I understand that you are going to be on Rush’s show today. He got a little uncomfortable and said “yes”. She smiled and said “we’ll be listening.” I loved it.
Sorry typo meant to type UHC.
Iceblinkjm
Why would UHC be in an economic stimulus package? Except to make sure it happens in 2012.
Betsy,
60 plus years ago Franklin Roosevelt was the President and he was a Democrat. I’d say that he represented the party for the little man – not business.
I agree, they are hanging themselves. Selfishness is not currently in />
I loved your story about Cantor.
I hope we’re not still engaged in a fight over who the Democratic Party belongs to. I know that some of you don’t believe Obama’s bipartisan approach is principled, or even likely to succeed. But what is the alternative? Pull the country hard left, only to watch Republicans pull it hard right? Folks voted for Obama because they are seasick from all the lurching back and forth. It’s hard to change Washington, but the task is made easier if we help Obama push. And that means putting pressure on our elected representatives to get the stimulus package passed.
Re: stimulus, I think Democrats do themselves a disservice by viewing this as a spending bill. It’s supposed to kick start the economy. That means infrastructure, but not contraception. It means tax cuts where they will stimulate demand (middle class), not for fat cats. If the Democrats let go of their pet spending projects, and the Republicans let go of the across-board tax cuts, we have a bill that would prime the pump. Then when the economy recovers, we can start doing the longer-term things that Obama promised. But the stimulus bill is not the proper place for many of them.
Ugh – I really do hate to re-open old wounds, but I totally agree that the way many pro-Obama democrats treated Hillary during 2008 was unfair, unjust, nasty, undeserved, etc. Nobody has contributed more or fought harder for the democrats than Hillary and she got kicked in the face as a reward.
But we have to remember that as democrats we share most of the same beliefs and goals and I am certainly sleeping better knowing that the next SC justices will be appointed by president Obama and not President McCain.
So lets try to put the past aside and work together as democrats to show what a united party can accomplish under President Obama.
Then when the economy
recovers, we can start doing the longer-term things that Obama promised. But the stimulus bill
is not the proper place for many of them.
ogenec
I agree with you so much! Obama’s been president 9 days and he’s betrayed those who voted for him? I truly did want change. I am certainly more to the left than Obama has been as president so far, but it doesn’t mean I don’t understand why he took out family planning money from an economic stimulus bill. People also have to realize the bill itself is part kickstart, part symbolic. It shows the gov’t. doesn’t want to see 12% unemployment. This country is in deep trouble, primarily due to Bushco, but the Democrats have certainly contributed.
Pass something, and try to push the levers so things don’t get too bad and we can ride this out for the next 18 months until things start to turn around. Some things will have to wait, and many things will have to wait their turn.
I suspect many things are happening behind the scenes. All I know is that 5 years ago this guy was state senator, and now he’s president because he a few very trusted and smart advisors.
If he has to lower himself to talk to the Republicans, so be it. Its one hell of a lot more than Bush ever did, and he builds some capital for later.
Then when the economy
recovers, we can start doing the longer-term things that Obama promised. But the stimulus bill
is not the proper place for many of them.
ogenec
I agree with you so much! Obama’s been president 9 days and he’s betrayed those who voted for him? I truly did want change. I am certainly more to the left than Obama has been as president so far, but it doesn’t mean I don’t understand why he took out family planning money from an economic stimulus bill. People also have to realize the bill itself is part kickstart, part symbolic. It shows the gov’t. doesn’t want to see 12% unemployment. This country is in deep trouble, primarily due to Bushco, but the Democrats have certainly contributed.
Pass something, and try to push the levers so things don’t get too bad and we can ride this out for the next 18 months until things start to turn around. Some things will have to wait, and many things will have to wait their turn.
I suspect many things are happening behind the scenes. All I know is that 5 years ago this guy was state senator, and now he’s president because he a few very trusted and smart advisors.
If he has to lower himself to talk to the Republicans, so be it. Its one hell of a lot more than Bush ever did, and he builds some capital for later.
Oops, the dreaded double post.
Being critical of the actions of the DNC and the party in general should not be viewed as being critical of President Obama. I think he has done fine in the 9 days he’s been President and I expect he will continue to do a good job.
But, I don’t expect to forget the way Hillary Clinton was treated and the silence from the DNC and virtually all prominent Democrats. The sexist behavior was and is appalling.
I do note that one of the areas the Democrats and Obama have chosen to appease some conservatives by dropping a measure providing contraception for poor women from the stimulus bill. Now that they’ve decided to drop it, I’m curious to see who now is going to support the bill because of that dropped provision. http://yglesias.thinkprogress.org/archives/2009/01/show_me_the_votes.php
Speaking of Cantor, why doesn’t Pelosi, Reid or some other member of the Democratic Party, inform him that the name of the party is Democratic Party – not Democrat Party.
John H | 01.28.2009 – 3:33 pm | #
Thanks. I agree with you as well (and c chicago). Not to sound sanctimonious, but I am fed up with the politics of faction. Not just w/r/t the primary, but also Republicans. If we are being honest, the stimulus bill is larded with pork from both sides. Let’s cut as much of that stuff out as possible, pass a mean and lean stimulus bill that jumpstarts the economy, and then move on to our longer-term goals. Including health care, entitlement reform, reduced teen pregnancy etc.
My two cents.