Clearwater, FL
Obama shouldn’t be expected to raise any money for Hillary. She should be satisfied with whatever money she gets without any expectations.

Nichts. Nada. Zero. None. She wants to run a country but can’t manage her campaign finances. HA!

Nothing should be expected of Obama. If he decides to assist her in taking care of her debt, she should consider it a gift. Hillary ran her campaign for months on end after it was common knowledge her only hope of overtaking him was if “something happened.” All that time she was spending, spending, spending. Time to dip into the Clinton fortune again.

None. Not a penny. She wanted to run this country but couldn’t manage her campaign finances. What did she do, take a post graduate course in accounting from the current administration?

Zippitydoodah!

Politics is a rough non contact sport requiring a lot of imagination and when the time is right accommodation. Obama should raise as much money as possible to assist with the debt retirement and then get on with the job of freeing America from the extremists that currently have it under siege.

Zero. Although she continued to campaign even though it was mathematically impossible to win the primary, we’ll help her on Nov. 5 after Obama wins.

He should not help.He should stay with his campaign theme that she represents failed everything in Washington and have nothing to do with her.If he changes this theme and essentially is sucking-up to her and her supporters to get their votes,then he has lost my support along with many others.

If he had taken public financing, none. Since he isn’t, he should pay for it all.

I go back and forth with this question.
While I think it is a nice show of unity, generosity and “water under the bridge”-ism, Obama’s campaign owes the Clinton campaign nothing. But if Obama’s donors are okay with helping out, I’m cool with it. But Hillary’s supporters should be the ones to pony up the lion’s share of the debt.
Then there’s the side of me that says, “She knew what she was getting into when she started.” I could see the cheshire cat smile when she gets it paid back courtesy of Obama’s campaign. Then she and Bill would be laughing their butts off at the wonder of the system!

The whole amount. But first he should pay off my debt, and perhaps my sister’s too.

None at all, but that wouldn’t be politically correct in the most corrupt city in the world. She made her bed and now she needs to sleep in it with or without Bill.

The truth is that Hillary Clinton couldn’t manage her money OR her campaign staff OR Bill and now, her so-called supporters. She continued to spend without having actual funds. Hmmm… who does that remind us of?

D. Casey | Sebastopol, CA.

Besides running a poor campaign, she mismanaged her debt while Obama ran his and managed his brilliantly. Why should he pay off her debt when it was all her fault. Let her PUMA/PAC people pay it off since they love her so darn much!

I don’t know Jack, I thought Hillary had all the experience to manage the country, She couldn’t even manage her own campaign. First, she quickly is spent herself into debt and now she wants the inexperienced Obama to bail her out. How ironic !

Hi Jack,
Welcome back, we missed you.
Really have mixed emotions about Hillary’s debt.
She built the debt up by mismanagement and refusal
to admit she was losing.
And the so called radical Hillary supporters makes one
turn away from wanting to help in any way. If Hillary is
holding this over his head as a condition to sincerely
campaign for Barack, then he should not help at all.
In fact, if she is holding any condition he should not.
Otherwise, limited support would be acceptable.
It is going to be very costly for Barack to campaign
against McCain and the swiftboaters. Support for
that comes first.

This is really twisted… Why should Obama help to retire Clinton’s debt which was spent trying to beat him? She spent the money, let her raise her own money to cover the debt.

Not even a nickel…..

The money he would use wouldn’t be coming out of his own pockets, but from those who donated to his campaign, be it individuals or special interests, whose intentions weren’t for it to go to Hillary’s campaign.

Hillary’s effort is no different than a failed business attempt and should expect no bailout.

kerry diehl
grosse ile, mi

Obama should not help Hillary at all. Why is it all politicians can create debt, but have no clue how to pay for it? Hillary needs to get a loan from the government and pay it back herself. Nobody feels sorry for a woman who made over one hundred million jointly with her husband over the last eight years.
Please do not give Hillary a cabinet post in the treasury department, it would be better to give the job to someone who knows how to balance a budget and stay within budget goals.

He should buy all of her goofy looking pantsuits then donate them
to the salvation army.

I would certainly want to make sure that Hillary’s donated millions are not repaid to her as she orginally stated. If peace between the two candidates is helped and it brings some Clinton supporters over to Obama I would not be angry. However, I would stop donating to Obama if my money was going into the millionaire Clinton bank account while I struggle to pay for gas and food.

Jack, not at all. If you want to have a negative, kitchen-sink strategy, you have to pay the price.

He should wait and see how she is going to campaign for him and ‘get-out-the-votes’ and only after she and Bill have retracted and apologised for all the nasty stuff they said about him !~!!!

Jack,

He has done enough already. She was stupid enough to run her campaign into the red, she should pay for it. What would we have done if she got the nomination? She would have run the country farther in the red too.

Because Obama has declined public financing and the DNC has substandard financing, I just don’t think that it’s fair to expect Obama to tackle Clinton’s financial woes as well. His focus should be on winning the election.

After the Election he could help her but right now he needs money for the Fall Campaign!

I received an email from the Obama campaign asking me to help retire the Clinton debt. In spite of the fact that I had sworn I would never donate to her again, I gave her $25 since Barack ask me. He’s already keeping his end of the bargain as far as I am concerned.

Ray Kinserlow
Lubbock, Texas

I am with the majority … not a dime. Haven’t seen her helping him much since she quit.

He should not be expected to help her in any way. She chose to run in the campaign, which has been her goal for years. It is up to her to pay off her debt. Tell her to just go to her bank and take out the cash. God knows they have it.

No! Why should he? He ran just like she did. He was better controlling his spending. Most of the debt is her personal debt. She has 100 million dollars. If she’s concerned about her name being in a collection agency like the rest of us, she should pay her debts. By the way, he did give her $4,600, right?

He should help by going to fund raisers to cancel her debt and us the time to continue to unite the party. They would still be an awesome team and hard to beat.

Politics is a dirty business. I would only help pay her debt if her and her husband could be a big benefit to my campaign. If I would not get any assurances that both of them are willing to campaign for me and convince their supporters to vote for me, then I would not pay off their debt. She was the one that put herself in this position by continuing her campaign knowing full well that she could not win the nomination.

She is worth over 100 million dollars. Why does she not write herself a check?

Jack, he shouldn’t have to pay a debt that is solely her responsibility. If her supporters think so much of her, they can make small sum contributions which, judging by the large number who supported her, could easily cancel out the debt. By, the way, where are Hillary and Bill? I thought they were going to help rally voters to his side.

I can’t imagine the Clinton’s with any money problems. I think what ever debt she was willing to take on during her campaign is exactly that; her debt. Obama must think that he can just buy her supporters with a dollar amount. That is not just wrong, it should be considered bribery.

James
Romeoville, IL

I don’t think he should HAVE to pay anything but it seems to be a normal part of the political process–the winner helps the loser with their debt. That said, it’s frustrating to hear that her supporters are setting conditions for their support. His first priority needs to be to get elected. But he also has to be strong. So their threats defeat both objectives. Graciousness right now could go a long way.

Jack this is tough one. Many Obama supporters want to help, but we also need to send money to Obama’s campaign to help fight the Repub attack machine that is getting millions of dollars from 527s. Obama was smart to not accept public financing, he is going to need every dollar to fight the right-wing smear machine. If it comes to a choice of paying Clintons vendor debt or helping Obama fight the right-wingnuts, that choice is simple. Many of us cannot afford to do both.

Obviously she ran up the debt, she, as a responsible human being should pay it off – she certainly has the money. On the other hand, if $20 million is the price Obama has to pay for her considerable support, I guess it’s worth the price. But the real question is, “how many people will be offended by paying her bills for her and how many people will be offended if he doesn’t pay her bills for her?”

Jack
This time round, I did not get your expected. I think you meant ‘how much should Obama raise to help; otherwise it is as if he is under obligation to help her and in which case he is not.

zilch, nada, nothing, zip. who does she think she is? she should have dropped out when she ran out of money in the first place. it’s like getting into a mortgage you can’t afford. forget it. obama does not need her.

He should pay off as much as possible and then appoint her his VP,

Jack , this time round, I did not get your question. I think is should be ‘how much should Obama raise to help; otherwise he is not expected to raise anything if he does not want to. I think he is under no obligation to do so.

i dont feel obama needs to cow toe to the clintons for anything.
matter a fact if the clintons are supposed to be democrats then i am
ashamed to call my self a dem. i will support obama with my vote and cash donation. as long as the clintons are playing there games ican not support the dnc.

I don’ t think he or his campaign should help her at all. She made her bed, let her lie in it. Why can’t Mrs.Megabucks pay her own debt.? Afterall she and her husband are worth hundereds of millions. It was her husband that said if you don’t want to play the game, don’t put on the pads.

Hillary, Chelsea and Bill all benefited during her campaign. Are they going to retire from the political spotlight, I don’t think so. With that said, Obama and Michelle have already given the maximum allowable amount, $2500 each, so they aren’t indebted to Hillary.

I understand it’s a customary practice in all primaries to help losers pay their debts. Given that, I’d say he should pay her all but the $11 million she lent herself, and the amount owed to Mark Penn. She should get HER supporters to pay off Penn in a specific donation pitch–maybe it’s time for an intimate online chat with her supporters from the cozy couch.

$2300. If he wants to give that to her campaign, that’s his business. I choose candidates by how well they budget during the campaign. It’s a miracle I can find anyone for whom to vote during any election.

Welcome back, Jack

If she would have done the math back in April, she would have stopped her campaign then and there, and kept her debts down. Poor campaign management. Also, if Clinton supporters are complaining about her debt (saw a clip on the news last night) , why weren’t they donating to her campaign? If THEY cared, they wouldn’t have a $20 million campaign disaster

Barack Obama should only raise money for his own presidential campaign. Maybe Hillary could make the case that she was duped by unscrupulous lenders and try for a Federal bailout using taxpayer dollars. After all, she does have years of experience in getting things done in Washington.

Fort Collins, CO

It amazes that a candidate cannot handle their own campaign concerning money, yet half this country wants them to run their country?

Seriously, if he wants her supporters votes, it would help. Doesn’t it make you wonder what on earth they are thinking? Simply amazing!

BJ from Seminole, FL

Jack, I dont believe that there should be a defined amount that would be acceptable in paying off Clinton’s debt. More importantly I think its the effort that’s being made is what counts. Hillary is the one who continued to go further and further into debt when there was no mathematical way to win the nomination and frankly I just feel that is irresponsible. Sometimes I think about this and get angry that she’s using her support in the general election as leverage when its Hillary’s DUTY as a member of the party to get Obama elected with no strings attached! I can only find peace of mind about all of this believing that at least he probably wont pick her as VP.

Jack,

It is amazing that we are still speaking about this woman, how long must we suffer through the media’s love affair with Hillary? Obama should not pay a dime towards her debt, she decided to drag this race to the point where she had to loan herself money. Hillary who makes millions will just have beg her struggling supporters to pay for her mismanaged campain.

Carlos
West Palm Beach, Fl

Hope you had a nice vacation Jack. I’m so tired of the Clintons and more so her supporters who are trying to demand this and that. Senator Clinton knew months in advance before she took on all that debt that she was fighting a losing battle. Whatever amount he can come up with will be more than enough - period point blank and simple.

He shouldn’t help her at her. One of the reasons her debt is so high is because she insisted on hanging on to the bitter end and running up more debt when everyone else knew she couldn’t get the nomination.
Clinton’s ego shouldn’t be rewarded.

I was taught at a young age that rewards come with good behavior. Clinton’s trashing of Obama when it was impossible for her to win, was not good behavior. So far, after the primaries, Hillary has made exactly one appearance for Obama, and Bill has made zero. I’m waiting for the good behavior…then maybe I’ll give a reward. You don’t get something for nothing.

Hillary’s campaign debt payoff requirement is just a display of Clintonian political endorsement gamesmanship. Where I come from it is called “blackmail”. Tell her to call Consumer Credit Counseling.

Welcome back Jack, I wouldn’t expect Obama to pay off Hillary’s debt any more than I would expect you, Jack, to pay off my debts. But if you wouldn”t mind old buddy, could you please give me your email address so I can send you my account and transfer routing numbers so you can wire me the funds?

Thanks a lot, my Best Friend Forever,
Buster

not at all….she and Bill have plenty of their own money…she should work out something with her buddy Mark Penn..why should anyone
other than her pay for HER financial mistakes?

Once Obama has won the election, then they should help. But, don’t take funds away from the Democratic Presidential race to fund an already lost primary campaign.

No matter how absurd it would be to elect another Republican after 8 years of failure, the American citizen is still susceptible to influence by negative TV ads.

So, Obama must use his funds to:
1) point out how a third Bush term would be bad for everyone, and
2) combat the negative add campaign corporate America will pay for on McCain’s behalf.

Chad Jarman

Los Angeles
California

I believe that Obama should rethink helping Hilary. All she did during the primaries was bash Obama and insisted that she is entitled to the Presidancy.
I don’t hting she was entitled and if she were, hypthetically, all first ladies should be entitled.
I don’t and can’t trust tha woman. She has to do a lot of proving o me and others.
Nick
Ok

Jack
It depends on how much help he gets from her and her husband. So far she hasnt given Obama much help and Bill has been non-existent. Based on that I wouldnt give her a dime. He has given her $ 4600.00 already from his personal account.

I do not think that he should help pay off her debt. A poorly run campaign running on fumes and an inflated ego is entirely her fault. But the debt issue puts Obama in a spot. Would she still support him if he doesn’t help with the debt? Party unity comes with a high price tag.

Obama gave Hillary a link on his website. That’s worth about 23 million bucks. If the situation were reversed, I don’t think the Clintons’ would be making any effort to help their fellow primary candidate.

Jack, How much does Obama want her supporters? How about $18 million, one dollar for each of her supporters. What a deal!

No! Why should he? He ran just like she did. He was better controlling his spending. Most of the debt is her personal debt. She has 100 million dollars. If she’s concerned about her name being in a collection agency like the rest of us, she should pay her debts. By the way, he did give her $4,600, right?

Gina, Harrisburg, PA

hes not obligated in anyway to help pay hers or any one elses campagn debt. that any one would think he is surprises the hell out of me. hillary incured the debt, not obama. he is able to pay his bills. besides she and bill have plenty of money i’m sure. after all, didnt they each had a best selling book?!

What is wrong with this picture? Where did all the Hillary supporters go?
And Hillary is a multi-millionare! Do we really think voters, many of whom are practically penniless between pay checks or whatever their meager income, need to make donations to her? !!!!!

Why don’t we ask Bill Clinton?

Hi Jack,
They (Obama, Hillary, Bill, Michelle,and all the experts that both teams employed or still are)gather up all the brains they can muster together and turn that into hard cash and that is what he should be expected to raise. I figure that should bring in about a buck twenty nine. That seem about right.
Mark, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Tell her to get a job. Wait, she’s a Senator, right? Tell her to get a real job…

Jack, Hillary obviously mis-managed her campaign and her personal financing of it. Not a good indicator of her presidential qualifications. She should take presonal responsibility for her over-spending, and Obama supporters should expect that 100% of their contributions will all go to electing Barack.

Jack, I think the Hillary supporters cut their noses off to spite their faces or
should I say Hillary’s face. I guess Obama supporters did not like the threats. Connie from Indiana

Since votes can still be bought I would say he needs to raise enough money to retire half of her debt and then he can say to her supporters that he has done his part so now it’s time to do their part and vote for me.

It is a kind gesture for Obama to assist Hillary in retiring her debt, BUT…if Hillary’s 18 million voters should show their support and donate $2 she would have more than enough.

I really don’t know what Hillary’s supporters are expecting of Barack. She is basically asking him to pay for all of the last two or three months worth of negative ads that she threw against him. If Hillary wasn’t so concerned about herself and instead the party and country as a whole, she would have accepted her defeat months ago. Hillary’s wounds at this point are self-inflicted and well deserved!

Obama not only should help to retire Hillary’s debt, but if he is wise, he will choose her as his VP choice. It will take all that both of them can do to “bail” this nation out of the miseries caused by the last seven and one-half years of incompetent leadership. Both of them together will need all the good will and help that others are willing to provide in the goal to correct all the ills that need almost immediate attention.

Jack,
It is with amusement that I listen to the Clinton people bemoan the alleged lack of financial support among Obama’s small contributors. For me the bitter attacks made by Clinton supporters on people like me who have supported Obama are just too much. I am a retired school teacher who will again donate a small amount to Sen. Obama’s general election campaign because I want him to win. I do not, however, have extra money to bail out Hillary. It almost strikes me as welfare for a women whose family is worth $100 million. For losers they certainly seem to be making an awful lot of demands.

WELCOME BACK JACK. You may not know it but CNN was about to go “Belly-Up” without your presence. Glad you chose to reture. On the Hillary matter and Obama, it is usual and customary for the winning candidate to pay off or assist the loser in retiring his/her campaign debt. It is not mandatory. She collected 18 million supporters. Why do they not chip in $1.00 each to help Obama retire her debt?

It all depends on how badly he wants to get elected. If he doesn’t pull a lot of votes in the upcoming election, it will certainly diminish his image as the people’s choice as the bright and shining political newcomer. So far, he’s shown that he can sing and dance, but can he legislate. Besides, wasn’t one of his basic tenets to get people back together again? I think it’s an issue of having the Clintion people kowtow to his campaign. Lots of luck!

Obama should pay off ALL of Hillary’s campaign debts, and write it off as “tuition.” He couldn’t have found a better teacher to land the nomination.

Now he should crown her with the VP job, and HE will get into the White House himself that way. Otherwise, not..

Hillary supporters are FOR HILLARY.

Hillarys supporters should help her with her debt, if anyone. They are the ones who encouraged her to run.
Obama needs all the cash he can get to defeat McCain.
Some Hillary supporters have vowed to vote for McCain, and no amount of money for Hillary is going to change that.
How bad is it when a millionaire is begging for money to pay a debt she knowingly went into with no chance of a return?
Doris
Ojai, California

How hard should Hillary work to get her supporters to vote for Obama? We are all expected to just jump over and vote for a person we didn’t choose out of “party loyalty”, so the least he can do is buy our votes…don’t we hear about how much cash he has to spend? That i’s the most in modern history? Isn’t he supposed to be some sort of Robin Hood? Actions speak louder than words…too bad for him.

abingdon, md.

why should he put money in her bank account! and while we are at this about money, can you put 1 million in my bank account.

thank you, you can get me by e-mail.

thanks, love ya.

Barack Obama trying to help Hillary Clinton pay off her campaign debt is the same thing as buying votes. John McCain should take advantage of this and and triple whatever amount Obama gives Clinton.

we told her to drop out,when it was clear she wouldn’t win,but,instead she racked up debt,running negative campaign ads against the candidate we supported with what little we could.she made slightly less than obama,but,spent it less wisely.anyone want to help me with my credit-card debt?besides hillary is rich.she can afford to pay for her own mistakes.reckon thats why bill is still upset?

Zero, notta, Zilch, I can’t put it any plainer than that! Has there ever been a time in history that the winning candidate paid for the losers losses? The fact that even after it was impossible for her to win, She continued to spend money like a drunken sailor. Whats that old saying about lying in the bed you made, maybe bill will be in it with her for once.

Jack,
The Obama team should help Hillary pay off all of her campaign debt except for the 11 million dollars of personal loans she lent herself. In order to show the voters of the country his solidarity to reach across the aisles in the Congress to work with Republicans to slove our country’s problems not other countries problems…

C.I., New York

Sen. Obama is going to need every dime to counter the relentless lies and falsehoods that the Republican party and the swift boaters will be throwing at him the next several months. While I believe it is admirable that he would like to help Sen. Clinton pay off her debt, the imperative here is getting Sen. Obama elected President. Had she not “stayed too long at the fair”, I would feel better about helping her, but right now, the paramount goal is seeing Barack Obama elected President not paying off Hillary’s debt!!

Obama’s donor base simply cannot afford to retire her debt. When Mrs Clinton chose to continue her campaign when it was already in the red ans she had no chance of winning did she not know how the debt would be repaid? She must pick up the loss.

I think he’s done more than he needs to already. Hillary’s debt is her repsonsibility. If her 18 million supporters I keep hearing about each donate $1.30, she will raise enough to pay off her debt.

sinch she said she have 18 million vote, all she have to do is tell the 18 million people to donate 2 dollers each for her i belive that will pay off her debt . barack should not payoff anything for that woman.
Obama 08

Even Management gives concessions to unions so as to continue on in an agreeable and workable atmosphere in order to promote the common good. So be it.

How much money should Barack Obama be expected to raise to retire Hillary Clinton’s debt?

Maybe Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz should lead the way to payoff the Clinton debts.. She’s out there telling Obama that he needs to woo her supporters when she should be out there supporting the elected nominee.

Jenna
Roseville CA

Come on Jack, Help Hillary? Why don’t the 18 million who voted for her donate to their “experienced” candidate, that would almost cover it all. Guess she’s lacking “experience” in the financial department.

Jack,

My heart says that Barack Obama shouldn’t support his large donors from helping the Clinton campaign out. Long after there was no mathematical way that Mrs. Clinton could win, she continued running up a massive debt which fueled her winner takes all, scorched earth campiagn for president. Sen. Clinton is a smart woman. She knew she was going to lose. However, .it seems to this voter that her common sense was overrun by her sense of destiny to return to the White House as the commander in chief.

I think it’s reasonable for Democratic party officials and Barack’s very large donors to retire the portion of the debt that was not part of a personal loan from Mrs. Clinton. When you play, you pay and the legacy of her campaign is not inspiration, but retribution. Hillary’s followees are not joining the Obama ranks and helping out. Their lack of support is splintering the party. I don’t think we need to worry about Hillary being able to survive her loan not being repaid.

However, the graphic artists, the writers, the cameramen, and the printers may not be able to surive the campaign not following its promises. These are the people that Hillary and her supporters, the Democratic party and the Obamas should take care of.

Why aren’t we asking why Clinton isn’t taking responsibility for her debt? Making Obama pay for the attack ads she ran against him heaps insult upon injury. It is all the more exploitative because if Obama didn’t have a strong fundraising base, she wouldn’t dare to ask.

i miss u jack. welcome back. the situation room was not the same without u. i mean it. welcome back.

Well Jack i read an article today that said clintons donors Balk at Obama and the gull of Ms. Lynn Forester saying that she thinks Obama is elitist and frankly she dont like him, well if thats the view of her donors who have already maxed out thier contribution to clinton, let me think, is there a number below Zero.

He shouldn’t have to do anything for her. The whole thing is insane! SHE was the idiot that stayed in the race and ran up the debt despite the fact that everybody else with a pulse knew she was done. She stayed and stayed and stayed and run up bills, and for what? She lost anyway. In reality, the race was over when “they” said it was over. She cost the party much needed unity while doing it. Now she’s asking Obama to pay for her irresponsibility. She shouldn’t even be asking HER supporters for money, let alone his. Have Bill do another speech or something to pay it off.

Jack, she said she found her voice at one time…hopefully she can find some money at the same place she found her voice. Because if she expects this village she used to speak about to bail her out, then I am going to another village.

…Has everyone already forgotten that the Obamas have already given $2300 each to Hillary Clinton? Why should he be expected to give more?

None. Why? No matter how much money Obama’s supporters might give to Hillary’s campaign in her supporter’s minds it would never be enough.

Geri - Mead, Ok

If Obama is truly interested in party unity he should be working very hard to pay off her debt. Otherwise I’d say Party Unity My A$$

Well, she spent her money bashing Obama. Is that a good reason to redeem her debt?

Jimbo

Absolutely! Isn’t the Democratic way to take money from those who have worked hard to get it and give it to those that haven’t been as successful?

Exactly $0.01. It shows he didn’t forget.

Hillary wanted to keep the fight going (on borrowed money) when it was clear it was over. She made Barack spend more money than he should have. He doesn’t owe her a thing.

As a former Clinton supporter, I don’t believe Barak Obama nor his supporters should be pressured or feel obligated to pay off her campaign debt. Clinton’s decision to run up a campaign debt of over $23 million dollars, even after she knew it was highly improbable that she would win, did not show sound fiscal responsibility, and isn’t that something we desparately need from our next president?

As much as possible to shut up the hillary HATERS

Not much. Most of Obama’s donors haven’t given the maximum, so how can he ask them to direct their hard-earned money to a sore loser in debt, rather than toward his own fight against the Republican machine?

None. He’s already donated his personal maximum. Anything more will only hurt the Democratic party by diverting funds from the general election campaign.

She’s making the same mistake so many Americans did over the past few years, spending borrowed money with no plan to pay it back. She can deal with this on her own. We have an election to win.

Boise, ID

No, I do not think Obama should pay off Clintons debt for her support. This appears that Clinton will only support Obama for payment. I do not think that is how it should be. She should support Obama only if she agress with the Democratics choice him over her but not for payment to her by paying her debt off. Alva-Austin,TX

Jack: In essence, Obama doesn’t have an obligation to raise money to resolve Hillary’s campaign debt. Hillary’s campaign debt is a result of her refusal to accept that she was defeated in the primaries. To label Obama with an obligation to pay off her debt under the umbrella of party unification and/or for Hillary’s support of Obama as the presumptive nonimee is purely political arrogance and annointed vanity. No matter how many fund raisers Obama sponsors, his contributiors are not going to share his views in funding Hillary’s mis-management of her campaign finances…….but that is what is expected from the Democratic Party…….and you know what……it is so hypocritical and nauseating…….no matter how you slice the political pie.

How about $1 per vote from Hillary’s camp?

Welcome back, Jack! Have missed you, you always bring life & truth to the Room.

OK, I find this odd that he should have to help her pay this off. It was a competition and she lost! All these Clinton supporters who are crying and saying they won’t vote if he doesn’t, for real…? GROW UP! You are not in 5th grade anymore. Go ahead and vote McCain, but when the economy, wars, and the state of the union goes down, I don’t want to hear a peep out of you whiners!
No one one would be making a big deal of this if it was switch around and it was Obama who needed help. In fact I could see how all in the media & bloggers would make it a racial issue if it was (Black man needing a handout).
Obama/Clinton ‘08 For Sure!

Jack
Welcome back. The Sit Room is not as much fun without our National Curmudgeon to spice things up.
Us Obamistas should help pay off Hillary’s debt, but this is an individual choice. Senator Obama can ask, but that does not obligate them as disagrees with me on this point to honor his request. One of the pitfalls of having a donor system that is truly small “d” democratic is that the candidate cannot command or direct contributions. Obama is doing what he can but i doubt the die hard Clintonistas will see it as anything but him reneging on what they thought was a deal.
Pablo in Arlington Texas

if Obama suporters give money to her what they goin to give to Him?

he should help witht the debt that is not her money he should not help her raise that portion of the debt and he should not have his supporters help her with that portion because she should have dropped out when there was not possiblity that she was going to win.

Hillary ran that debt up, it’s hers to pay off.
It is a clear indicator that she is not fiscally responsible. The money she loaned herself is her problem, I only hope the vendors get paid.

I think he should do all he can for her! She endorsed him and is trying to unify our party, so how about doing something in return. What does Obama think she is going to do all of this campainging for him and showing efforts to help elect him in November and he can’t help her no more than that! Show some back bone Barack Obama! Its a two way street, what he needs to do is say Hillary is my VP.

Obama-Clinton 2008

Like we all know Hillary would have paid off Obama’s debt if he needed and she won the nomination …. RIGHT (LOL)! Thank goodness we’re not going to have her try tro fix our economy!

Oxford, Mississippi

Jack, Barack Obama has a general election campaign to run and has much bigger isues to worry about. Of course he can help Hillary Clinton retire her debt, but he is certainly not obligated to retire a specific amount of it. Anything he can do he will do and some of us will just have to learn to live with it.

If so many people wanted Hillary for President, where was their money? Seems they weren’t willing to pay for the priviledge. Time to ask all those folks to help Hillary out now.

Rich Des Moines Iowa

Obama Should Help Her! Obama can’t win without Hillary Clinton This year. He needs all her help! Hillary Clinton is going to be the Vice President Nominee. Hillary is a power full women and has millions and millions votes. Think about it?

Obama has two options. Either pay off her debt, and be able to choose anybody for VP, or not pay off her debt with the obligation to put her as his VP.
Brian Battle Ground, WA

Not only was Hillary expensive to run against in the prolonged primaries, now it looks like her support will be coming with a huge cost. In the name of unification, Obama should give her some of his raised funds, but he should not feel obligated to carry the entire weight. The general race is what is most important now - It’s partly about unification, but not all. Hillary is a good talker, she can join the Bill Clinton ‘get rich quick’ speech circuit and have it taken care of in no time.

I would have supported Hilary if she won the nomination, but she lost a lot of credibility with me over the primary. If Hilary racked up $23 million, it is her own fault. She stayed in too long. The democratic party needs to dedicate all available funds to beat McCain.

Obamas efforts should be in stipens equal to the time Bill & Hillary spend on the campaign trail for Barack.

She thinks she’s got him by the huevos. She is playing supportive so he’ll pay her debt and maybe even put her on his ticket. Watch out Obama! She’s playing the same game, just in a different ball park.

I think many of Hillary’s top fundraisers are being disingenuous when they criticize Barack Obama for not doing enough to help with Hillary Clinton’s debt. They are well aware that he is the major fundraiser now for the DNC and his own general election. He has asked his supporters to help, he cannot mandate them. Just as some of Hillary’s top fundraisers have publicly stated they will not support Obama, one even when so far as to say she simply did not like him. Both candidates will have to win the support of the others’ constituency. Obama will have to win the trust and support of Hillary’s supporters and Hillary will have to make amends for a contentious primary race where she really alienated Obama supporters. In the end, if she and Bill support and help elect Obama, his supporters will quickly help her retire the remainder of her debt after the general.

He has given what he is allotted to give and if that is not enough so be it. Obama doesn’t own the Clintons a thing. She make the decision to stay in the race to hurt Obama and look who is hurting now.

“If you cant stand the heat..get out of the kitchen”

If you cant pay your debt, dont incure none…Period.

Jack, if I’m not mistaken, isn’t it traditional for the primary winner to assist in such a retirement of debt. Guess Obama has more than enough money to go around so why shouldn’t he. What’s he going to do with it otherwise? Build an extension to the White House? It’s all politics!

The intelligence of some people never cease to amaze me when political topics are discussed.
If the Democratic Party sincerely wants to unite, then yes, Hillary should get help terminating her debt.
As far as Hillary’s ability to manage money and the White House, there is no doubt about it, Hillary can manage the White House with no difficulties.
These are two very different topics and should be treated as such,

two words: Diddly Squat!

jack. I think Obama has done what he can. He can not force anyone to donate to her and as one of his small donors{emphasis on small}, if he asked me to donate to her I would say no. Her poor management and staying in against all odds has put her in this debt. If each of her supporters- you know the eightten million she had- would send a dollar then her debt could be almost paid. How quickly they forget.

Why can’t Obama be able to just thing about running his own campaign .Why is she still in his way?

“Presumptuous” is the best word to describe Hillary Clinton’s campaign. Just ask yourselves this tiny little question: would Hillary or any or her supporters even consider helping Obama with his campaign debts, if positions were reversed?

Sorry to break this to you, uber-feminists: what’s sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.

Clinton divides and polarizes the people even after it’s over. It was somehow Obama’s fault that the Primaries in Michigan and Florida weren’t re-done. He’s only doing well because he’s black. He’s a sexist. Now by some Clintonian leap of logic he bears responsibility for resolving debts arising from her incompetent campaign, despite the fact that she has turned so many against him. That’s the trouble with princesses. Someone else is always responsible for their behavior.

Jack,

I think Obama should help Clinton with her debt because he is a better person. If the tables was turned I don’t think this question will have been asked. Hillary played hard ball with Obama while she was trying to get the presidential nomination which tainted alot of Obama’s supporters and hindering her supporters to get behind Obama …. bottom line though is to unite our Political Base! Help as much as he can … but don’t put himself out by doing so….

At this point no.
I don’t think she’s done enough to get her supporters to back him so I think she should be on her own. The damage she did during her campaign has made it impossible for a good portion of her supporters to back Obama. Her campaign was so divisive that I don’t think she will be able to convince her supporters to back Obama. Some are just too bitter and spiteful.
If the Democrats lose, they can place the majority of the blame firmly on her doorstep and she can forget about ever running for President on the Democratic ticket again.

Only if her and Bill promise to go away and never be seen or heard from again.

Jack, welcome back! This seems like a question that should be reversed. The Clinton supporters are not only holding out on raising money for Obama for the general election, but are trying to hold him hostage to their demands that she be on the ticket. If she refuses to shut them up and make them quit going on the national cable news saying they don’t trust him or won’t vote for him, then why should he lift a finger to raise money for her? He won! What part of “it’s over” do they not understand?

Jack,

One hand washes the other. If the Obama team wants Hillary’s fund raising base to finance his run, then Obama’s base must do the same.

Many folks here think Hillary & Bill should go all out for Obama on the campaign stump & not return the favor to Hillary. That’s called being selfish.

Once you donated the limit of $2300, you can not donate any more. So that means those Clinton supporters who already sent the max can not help with her debt. So folks need to stop screaming that Hillary’s base need to help when they legally can’t at this point.

The Hillary supporters that wont vote for Obama are either racist or out of touch with whats important in the world. Frankly. I would hope Obama would choose Hillary as his running mate to appease the idiodic political know nothings. If they knew what was important they would understand howe important it is for the Dems to take back the White House. More importantly why isn’t CNN reporting on the U.S military deforming babies in Iraq by using depleted uranium. Shame!!

I think Obama should address this matter after the 2008 elections in November. Since Hillary’s supporters aren’t rushing to financially support Obama’s campaign for the White House why should his supporters be expected to finance her failed campaign debt. As an Obama supporter I’m still trying to help fund my candidate’s bid for the White House. Hillary’s campaign debt is of no importance to me right now. Why don’t the Hill Raiser ask John McCain for the money to pay off her campaign debt.

Hillary Clinton’s debt is Hillary Clinton’s debt alone. Why is this something that should concern Obama???

It has been a common practice in politics and I think its a very kind gesture (on the Senaor Obama’s part). I thinks its less than honoroable on the part of Senator Clinton to have run up these bills when clearly she knew she would not be the nominee. I feel that her refusal to condede (knowing this custom) was designed to be a drag on the OBAMA campaign and a way of poking him in the eye once it was over. What it really points out, is that she is not a good manager and therfore may not be the best steward of our tax payer dollars if she were to be elected president.

Welcome back, we missed you
Hillary should be happy to obama for giving her some money

I don’t think he should be “expected” to raise anything. Now if Obama decides to help retire her debt that’s his choice. How can you give an ultamitum to the winner. You were the presumptive nominee and failed to plan and execute accordlingly. It is Hillary’s responsiblity to pay her debt, she can go dig in that war chest of $109 million and handle her business.

Obama should not pay any of her debt!

Jack, how much should Obama pay for the debt Hillary racked up running anti-Obama attack ads? zero.

She lusted after a victory she could not win, spending money she didn’t have, and any reasonable person would have acknowledged reality sooner. Let Bill pay for it.

not one red cent!!!!!

Not one penny of the debt she incurred after it was mathematically impossible for her to win the nomination.

Where does this notion that the winner of a primary has to turn around and pay the loser’s debt? That has never happened before and only serves to confirm some of the more negative ideas people have about the Clintons.

None,

How much SHOULD he help? Not a damn dime, Jack. Not a damn dime.

$2300 , the maximum he is legally allowed to give and he already did that in good faith …

Jack, I am one of those small donation online donors.. and YES, I’ve been asked. Multiple times. I just think this woman knew what the money situation was and continued to spend like a shoe fiend at her local Macy’s, knowing she couldn’t pay the bill.

Why should Obama supporters keep her out of political bankruptcy? I can barely stay out of it myself.

about $1.50 should about cover it

Welcome Back Jack & Wolf!

Miss you two. The best duo in the business! My answer to the question. None!

Obama’s donors and supporters should not squabble over the length of Hilary’s campaign or categorize her actions as harmful to Obama’s chances to win. Hilary and Obama were both engaged in a race for history and a race for change. The best solution regarding their campaign financing would be to announce Hilary as his vice president candidate. This would fuse both candidates debt together, thus ending this debate altogether, and unite the Democratic Party to almost ensure victory in November. Harmony between Obama and Clinton is the key to victory.

Blackmail is such an ugly word… but if the highheel fits…

Why doesn’t Hillary just each of her 18 million voters to just kick in $1.00 each - she could easily do that online. It would either (a) pay off her debt relatively quickly or (b) verify if the 18 million number is real…

None Jack. Not a dime. Let the 18 millions die hard contribute at least 2 dollars each.

Zero, enough already of the Clintons and their whinning.

I wouldn’t give her a plug nickle. As far as I’m concerned, this should be illegal.

New Hampshire

Barack Obama should not have to raise one dime for Hillary Clinton, it seems as if the Clinton camp is forcing Obama to raise money for her to buy her off the campaign trail, she is a horrible human being. She lost, she waisted her own personal money. She took that risk and lost. She is begging for the VP spot and she does not deserve it and she does not deserve my donations. Obama 08!

Absolutely nothing! Why should Obama reimburse Hilary for monies she spent in trying to defeat him?

I am living on social security and she’s a multi-millionaire. I agree that she incurred that debt after it would have been impossible for her to win, out of stubbornness and ego. How could anyone expect me and others like me to pay her debt. I don’t like being held hostage by the Clintons and I bet Obama doesn’t either. She should repay it out of her own wealthy pocket.

Nothing! I want Barack Obama to devote every penny to beating John McCain. Any donation for Hillary is a donation that could have been spent reaching potential Obama voters.

Hampstead, NC

When did the U.S. politics become a system of quid quo pro? From the hundreds of lobbyists involved to awarding high positions to those you owe a favor to, wondering why exactly we aren’t moving towards eradicating the potential for corruption in politics. He does not and should not owe Hilary a single dime for her support for her debt. Any amount she gets from his supporters should be received with gratitude and she should support him 100% just like she promised in her concession.

I do not feel that Obama should be compelled to raise any money for Mrs. Clinton. To easy to spend and not be organized to balance ones finances.

Hillary Clinton should pay for her debts; period! Doesn’t she have tons of money anyway? The Democratic National Party should help her if anyone is to be asked. The Clintons are always in that “entitled” mode. I wonder if she would have helped Obama if it were the other way around…I doubt it.

I think the Clinton Camp needs to be realistic about the fact that Obama is in the middle of a general election campaign, and that retiring her campaign debt — debt that was arguably ill-advised for her campaign to take on — is not and should not be his main focus at this time. I, for one am a small donor of Barack Obama’s that won’t be sending her a dime until after November.

I don’t think he should give her anything! She bashed him with everything she had. She wounded him and the DNC, no doubt about it. She has some mending to do of her own, and so does Bill. If they want to go away quietly to the unknown, then they shouldn’t campaign for him, but if either of them want to be known as somebody, they’d damn well better show some unity and campaign with all of their might. Hillary’s supporters are saying 2012 for her, I want to tell them that if Bill and Hillary don’t change their attitude, NEVER is all they’re going to get. We don’t forget easily.

Why can’t those who voted for Hillary Clinton contribute to retire her debt? What kind of Democrat would vote for a Republican out of spite as some of her supporters are threatening to do? Obama shouldn’t give her any money; he should give her the boot.

Nope. I so tired of Hilliary’s supporters saying if he didn’t make her VP or help with her debt they will vote for mcstupid, go ahead who in the heck give a darn if you vote for that loser. You hillary supporters need to get over it. She did not win, I agree with the comments from LT from NY lets wait until after November and then we’ll see if we can break Hillary off a little something. Obama does not owe her ANYTHING!!! and you hillary supporters need to shut up!!!

Obama/anybody but Hillary 08 2012

Obama should help pay off half of the amount of money Senator Clinton spent before it was mathematically impossible for her to win.

New Jersey

None until after the election. Obama needs all his resources for winning an election. For the Clinton’s to expect payoff of THEIR dept prior to election sounds like a black mail effort for the Clinton’s support. This might also keep the Clinton’s in the ring of support if they know Obama must win for them to have their debt paid off by Obama supporters.

Hi Jack, What ever Money The Clinton’s could come up with with their contributors, Obama’s contributors should Match It. All the burden should not have to be put on Obama’s contributors to pay Hillary Clintons debt. Welcome back.

Depends on if he wants to be elected President. If he does, then he will sincerely help her with her debt to the best of his ability, not the bait and switch that he’s been doing lately with many issues. Hillary’s supporters are still out there and still not convinced about voting for Obama, so if a high percentage of 18 million voters is important to him…then he will get his supporters on board. If he thin