Should Obama help Clinton pay off her debt?
Sen. Hillary Clinton lent $11.4 million of her own money to her campaign.(PHOTO CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES)
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Hillary Clinton is out of the race for president, but she's not out of the red. Far from it.
In fact, it's believed Clinton has the largest presidential campaign debt in history. Recent filings show Senator Clinton loaned her campaign $11.4 million of her own money, and she also owes vendors about $9.5 million. That's at least $20 million.
Other wealthier candidates, like Mitt Romney, have loaned themselves more money... but they don't always plan on getting it back. Clinton also has to deal with both the personal loan and the unpaid bills. One campaign finance lawyer tells the New York Times that Clinton's debt is "unprecedented." Other candidates who have lost have owed less than half the amount she owes to businesses.
So what exactly are Clinton's options? The good news for her is her campaign says it's raised about $1 million since the final primaries last week. That suggests some supporters may be committed enough to help out with her bills.
The other possibility floated around is for Barack Obama to pitch in. Although campaign finance laws prohibit him from transferring money from his campaign to hers... his campaign could ask supporters to chip in or he could hold fund-raisers on her behalf.
But not everyone is sure this is the way to go. Some Obama fund-raisers say it will be tough to help out Clinton because they're already raising money for Obama and for the DNC. Others say the tensions from the primary race could make it more difficult. But if Obama does help Clinton, it could go a long way toward getting her – and her supporters – on board his run for president.
Here’s my question to you: Would it be a good idea for Barack Obama to help Hillary Clinton repay her campaign debt?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Shane from Montreal writes:
Absolutely not! This woman is supposedly more qualified than Obama to be president but she can't even manage her own 5-month campaign and many of her die-hard supporters have been downright vindictive towards Obama. He owes her squat!
Ray writes:
I think it would be a smart and unifying move for Barack Obama to ask his donors to help Clinton. I swore I would never give a dime to Clinton again after the negative campaigning of the primary, but if Barack asks me, I will give her some money.
Betty from Alabama writes:
She should have to pay him for all the ads the Republicans are running in my state featuring Hillary bad-mouthing Barack. I just saw one. It's awful that she gave the GOP so much free "swift-boat" info. No, he should not help her at all. She has hurt him and continues to.
Buster from Poughkeepsie, New York writes:
The correct answer to this query is nope, nada, not at all. Barack may look presidential but he sure doesn't look anything like an ATM machine. Memo to Hillary: His name is Barack Obama, not Bank of America.
Jonathan from Hartford, Connecticut writes:
Of course Obama should help Hillary pay off her debt. It's all in the Democratic family. He is a gentleman. Hillary supporters will be moved.
Nancy from Cunningham, Tennessee writes:
I feel a book in the air. Hillary may have to write a book about the campaign this year to pay for the campaign. She could call it "One More Stop and I'll Get off the Train".
@jackcafferty on Twitter
No she is supose to be a smart person.Boy what a Pres. she would of made, she can't even manage her own campaign she should of gotten out along time ago if she did't have the money that's her fault not Obama's he needs the money no.
no...it will alienate a lot of his supporters and donors..why should they raise funds to pay for her foolish and irresponsible spending? Mark Penn is one of the biggest debtors she owes..how does this fare for Obama to help her pay her debts..she is a big girl and she and Bill have lots of money...let them pay it themselves
Hillary should eat the debt herself. Multi Millionaires asking ordinary citizens to pay off their debts just won't wash and getting kids to sell their bikes to help her out is a little bit out in left field. Bill will make the loss up in a few months of speaking tours.
Jack, should Hillary be financially indebted to Obama? Don't think that passes the smell test.
Sonoma, CA
I am a hillary supporter, but will be voting for John McCain in the election.
I do not think it is Obama's responsibility to pay off her debt.
I am sure she will get this debt paid off by herself, without any help
from Obama. Don't ever under estimate this lady.
No. Hillary got herself in debt by thinking about herself.
I agree that Obama would be wrong to help her. The entire campaign cost thing has gotten out of control. If the candidates choose to run, they should find ways to pay for it. She can afford to pay from her own pocket, if you ask me.
No. She knew the math was not in her favor after 11 straight losses, but chose to continue – and go into debt – just the same. It was a foolish decision and Obama shouldn't be on the hook for it.
Jack,
No!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She could of quit the race when she was statistically out of it. She chose not to. If she truly beleived that she was the best canidate. She should have willingly given her campaign the money. Not loaned her campaign the money. She lost my support when she did that.
New Lenox
Absolutely not. Hillary knew that she really could not win the nomination way before she decided to call it quits. Her refusal to quit just showed a lack of responsible decision making. Get a loan from the U.S. govt interest rates are still pretty low.
Jack: I am sick and tired of Hillary stories. Unless she is Veep, you media folks should just stop talking about her.
Jack,
I believe the monies owed to the vendors NEEDS to be paid. We are in hard times, they were good enough to extend the credit to Hillary, so it should be paid. As for her personal loan? NOPE...that was her choice.
Isnt it true she has 26+ million in donations in reserve, should she have gotten the nomination? Couldnt some of that be used to pay those kind vendors??
Barack Obama can ask the big donors if they want to contribute to her debt, but not the "grassroots" donors, such as myself. We decide where our monies go. If we donate to Obama's GE..it stays with the Obama's GE.
I believe Hillary made decisions she has to live with..own up to, so to speak.
Just one Older Womans opinion
Why should he? There's a significant number of Clinton supporters who intend to either not vote, vote for McCain, or write her in on the ballot. I have not seen a single blogger or talking head suggest that they will vote for Obama if he helps pay off her debt. They just plain don't like him. Paying off her debt is not going to make that go away. The reasons may vary, from the understandable (experience) to the ridiculous (secret Muslim terrorist antichrist) but 'won't pay off Hillary's debt' isn't one I have ever seen as a reason not to vote Obama in the fall.
I think it is time for the Hillary Clinton supporters to put their money where their mouth is. Where were all of the Clinton supporters when she was begging for donations? It shows just how much they really care about her.
NO! She did it to herself. It may teach her a lesson in economics. Lesson Number One–Don't spend what you don't have even though your ego dictates.
Only if Hillary can guarantee that her disgruntled supporters will vote for Obama and not McCain. If they intend to vote McCain then let them take care of the debt themselves.
Jack –
It would be a goodwill gesture to the Clinton's and supporters to give her back the 20 million...but with the economy in the toliet and all the other hurting people out there... I think that money could be put to better use for those of us in the poor house. Frankly with the economy the way it is...I think camapign reform should happen sooner rather than later...all that advertisement money could really help out a few families hurting and loosing their homes and the American dream. Must be nice to have that kind of loot to spend and share...
GJ
Michigan
Though this was a spirited fight, Sen. Obama can ask some of his big donors who have given all they are allowed by law to help her and show good faith. He has proven himself to be a class act and it would accentuate what we believe to be true about him.
As for the supporters who say "no–I will just vote for McCain".–you need to step back and think about the next 4 years!! Let's come together like adults.
Carol
Knoxville, TN
Yes, BUT: Obama should be completely clear and honest with his supporters where their support money is going. I have not personally contributed to Obama yet because I do not want a dime of my money to help Clinton pay off her lack of economic management. If Obama chooses to help Clinton, a separate donation link should be included on his website which clearly states it is to help Clinton. As long as we have a choice I think that this will help mend some of the bitterness from the Clinton supporters and maintain fairness for Obama supporters who do not which to contribute to Clinton.
-Austin, TX
This is absolute proof that all elections should be publicly funded. It is insane that we say we want the best people to run for office,but they end up being hopelessly in debt when the campaign is over,whether they win or lose. It's gotten so outrageously expensive that even rich people will not be willing to squander their personal wealth to be president. Also,to answer your question,No.
What kind of example does it set when a candidate for president spends more money than it raises?
Isn't that one of the main reasons for our current national credit crisis?
Allowing the Obama campaign to help her pay for some of the TV adds that attacked him is a form of blackmail . It's as if they are saying....help Clinton if you want our vote...
Every dollar they extort from the Obama contributors is a dollar he might need in the fall.........I say, she can afford to pay her own bills, no one is raising money to help me pay mine.
It's illegal for him to give her money that his supporters gave him.
He can, however, help with a fundraiser to eliminate her foolish debts.
I'm not sympathizing with her – she is not fiscally responsible.
Thanks
Only if it is to pay off those poor vendors who were waiting for their money since March,. However, I would abhore the fact that a penny of our donation to Obama might go to her incompetent advisors the like of Mark Penn. By the way, what happened to all those18 Million Hillary Clinton supporters? Why can't they help donate $2.00 each to pay off one of the worse Campaign debt in our Primary's history? Or perhaps they only talk the talk, unlike Obama supporters who have enriched his campaign by the millions through small donation.
In a word. . . NO!
Hillary's eighteen million loyal supporters are the ones to turn their passion into dollars for their beloved candidate. As a Obama supporter I will be making any contributions I can afford to his campaign alone. My guess is that should Obama help
her out financially, it wouldn neither be appreciated by nor persuavie to those who supported Clinton.
You have got to be pulling my leg. With well over 100 million in the bank and much more to come, Hillary needs to pick up her own tab. The ludicrous idea that she "loaned" her campaign money was a risky investment that went bust. Too bad. Her borrower turned out to be a loser that is tapped out. This is her problem and no one elses.
Jack,Romney not loan to himself,her pearl more expensive than my house, she is filty rich
I don't think that it is Obama's responsibility to help her raise the money that she used to tear him down. I think Obama needs to be real careful with helping her raise this money because that idea is upsetting to me and may hold me back from donating to him in the future.
NO No NO let her take some of their ill gotten gains and pay it off.
First...to all the Hillary supporters who claim they can't vote for Obama because of his lack of experience, I say what was that "experience" worth? Second...Obama could help her out as much as possible but she better work really hard to get her supporters behind him.
Maybe she could hold a bake sale. Oh, that's right, she doesn't do cookies.
No one is helping me pay off my debts. My Mom said you make it you pay it, not my problem. She could file for chapter 11 but I personally do not think this is his debt. Maybe her 18 million cracks would all like to donate and help her out since they feel they are not part of Obama's team
NO....why should he help her??? unless she CONCEDES and no longer is a "candidate", she sure is not helping him.....he should use all the funds available to him to win the race WITHOUT HER!!!
After reading a few of the comments, I would say rhis subject is a "sticky wicket", so I will wade in with my own comment. Guess it depends on how much Obama wants to be Presdient is he willing to help to retire the debts of Hillary Clinton. I would remind all of those who think differently, I would wonder how much they want to see Obama President, as most of them seem to take it as a forgone conclusion will win the Presidency easily, which isn't gonna happen without Hillary's help. You really don't realize yet, but he cannot win without Hillary;s supporting his campaign. Just thought I would toss this into the mix to all of those who said that they would not vote for Hillary should she have been nominated. See you at the polls.. Maybe !!
Yes, BUT: Obama should be completely clear and honest with his supporters where their support money is going. I have not personally contributed to Obama yet because I do not want a dime of my money to help Clinton pay off her lack of economic management. If Obama chooses to help Clinton, a separate donation link should be included on his website which clearly states it is to help Clinton. As long as we have a choice I think that this will help mend some of the bitterness from the Clinton supporters and maintain fairness for Obama supporters who do not wish to contribute to Clinton.
-Austin, TX (currently in Puerto Rico)
No! She got herself in her own debt let her get herself out. She has PLENTY of money, why should anyone feel sorry for her.
Jack,
NO. Why does Obama always have to be the one to either offer Hillary a spot on the ticket or pay off her debts? Let her supporters and John McCain bail her out. To all of those Hillary supporters that intend to vote for McCain – what position do you think McCain will offer Hillary in his White House?
Teri
Palm Coast, FL
Its part of the risk you take for running for president Clinton created the debt she should take responsiblity for risk and pay it off. Get Bubba to help you he owes you one..
My understanding is that he can not simply write her a check. He can only support her and offer to help her with her own fund raising. I don’t see where it would hurt as a good will gesture – she certainly doesn’t need the money. In return, she needs to convince her more psychotic supporters to vote for him instead of McSame – for everyone’s good – even the Republicans, who are still too stupid to see the damage their hero has done.
The $20+M Clinton debts, should be paid by all her so called devoted supporters! She made the debt – then she wanted to run our country, God help us!??????
Senator Obama ran a debt free campaign and has left overs, well I applaud him and his campagin managers. He surely is the President I want in the White House. WOW!
Maybe, Senator Clinton and her group should go back to Business School and learn The Budgeting Course!
If Obama decides to help out that should be a personal decision but it should not be like he owes it to her or he is obliged to bail her out of her own mess in order to get support from 'her supporters'. Sounds like horse trading and in any case, she should cancel out $11.4 million that she loaned herself and at least reach out for help with the remaining $ 9.5 million if she wants to present a more genuine and plausible case. After all is the amount she loaned herself is just a fraction of $109 million and she should just let go.
I don't see why he should. He didn't create it. That would be like me paying for the prosecution to try me as a defendant. Hillary Clinton made a lot of unfounded allegations and claims running for president. Perhaps she needs to pay the American citizens for wasting their time with all that nonsense and wasting their money she blew running a dirty nasty campaign..
Sometimes I have to step back a minute before answering these questions. Here we have a family who made over 100 million dollars in the last seven years and has that earning piotential and more for their remaining years. Why would they expect anybody to pay their debts?? Maybe the kid who sold his bicycle to contribute can sell his shoes to help them.
Hell no! She got herself in hock, why should she expect anyone to come to her rescue. Some of the debts are her personal money, well, it was HER campaign, suck it up and bite the bullet!
No....she ran up the tab and it's hers to pay. All she needs to do is write another book about the campaign and she's in the money again.
Jenn Cape Cod (Hillary supporter)
She just needs more kids to sell their bikes and toys,
and give her the money.
Jack,
Hillary stated she was more qualified from day one, that she had more experience, so let her use her readiness and experience to get her campaign out of debt. This is just a snapshot of what would have happened to our country's finances if she had been the nominee and then got elected. We the people are really lucky that she vetted herself on her lack of fiancial prowess during the primary season and not during a presidential term. Obama should let her and her 18 million supporters pay off this debt they feel so strongly about, if they each donated $2.00 it would pay off her debt and she would have money left over for gas to get to and from her day job.
Judie
St. Augustine, Fl.
Of course he should! He's got that massive fundraising ability he's always talking about.
At least then he might be fulfilling his promise to be running a "different kind of campaign," and be the first politician to put campaign fundraising to good use!
Well if your thinking of the good of the party I see no reason why he should not help her since he has brought in millions and millions as long as it does not compromise his future campaigning against MCSame
I believe she would have done it for him if the roles were reversed!
Why does everyone have to be so bitter and hateful!
No, Obama should not pay off Hillary's debt . Simply because it wouldn't be ethical for him to do so. The people who donated to Obama did so because they wanted him, not Hillary to be the Democratic nominee. Think about it Jack; if I gave you twenty-five dollars, and you then gave it to someone whom I did not like, how do you think I would feel. If the people who donated wanted Hillary to have the money, they would have given it to her in the first place.
NO Jack. This would send the wrong message entirely to the American electorate. The candidates are responsible for their own promary spending – Period!! Focus on what is before the Dems now not the rear view mirror. One last point – She did only 'suspend' her campaign n'est pas?!!
No, for someone running for the President of the United States, she should have had better control of the economics of her campaign. I see no reason why Obama should feel it necessary to help her pay her bills. I read frequently that her campaign wasted a lot of money on unnecessary extravagances. She and Bill have so much money, why don't they pay it off?
Jack,
NO! If Hillary Clinton is the smart, responsible and experienced person her supporters would have us believe she is then why is she in debt? We all have budgets we have to live by with no hand outs being offered when we fail to stay within our budget. Why should she, a millionaire, be any different? Why should the American people have to pay for her failures? I think the way she managed her campaign is a direct reflection of how she would have handled our nations budget if she were elected. Maybe she can rally this countries children to sell all their toys and help pay off her debt.
Bill make $800 thousand only speech couples minutes and I make it take couples years if I m so lucky
He should wait to see what she does for him. If she is out campaigning for him and convincing her supporters to shift their support to him, then he could help pay off her creditors. As far as her own money she should figure that one out for herself. It was her choice to stay in the race and lend her campaign her own money. I doubt she'll be destitute if she loses 11 million.
First of all, if anyone is going to help her, fine, but not to recoup the money she donated from her private funds – that was her decision and her gamble. She lost.
As far as the rest of it, I'd like to see Hillary return the money to the poor kid who sold his bike and video games to support her. It's summertime, and now he's probably walking home in the swealtering heat, and has nothing to do when he gets there!
Doesn't that make sense???????????
No, he should not help pay her debt. Basic Economics: If you spend more than you have, you will go in to debt. Besides, I would like to see what she does when the bill collectors call at 3 am.
If Bill, Hillary and Chelsea are willing to disclose all their assets and liabilities to Obama which validate her inability to pay off her debt, then I say go for it as long as there is a payback agreement of some kind. Otherwise, I'd say if not one but all three Clintons benefited in some way on the campaign trail and only history will tell who benefited the most.
clinton dug that hole she needs to fill it back up herself. i don't see any of these politicians offering to pay my credit card, house, car, electric, phone, and other bills, so why should clinton, a multi-millionaire, receive help paying off money she willingly spent. what's that old saying, a fool and their money are quickly separated.
If Hillary really means what she says, that we need to do everything we can to put a Democrat in the White House, then she needs to handle her own campaign debt. She should not siphon off money that would otherwise be going to Obama or the DNC. That's not helping.
Back several months when Hillary knew she was not getting the donations she needed, she should have seen the writing on the wall, and realized that a lot of good campaigns went down the tubes due to lack of funds. When the money is gone, we quit. that's true whether its a Presidential campaign or a trip to a casino. If you over draw your account, nobody helps you fill that account back up. If she gave money to the campaign, its lost. Her donor's money should go to pay off the vendors first, then her if there is enough left. No, Obama should not have to help her pay them off, even by fundraising. Remember how insulting she was in those ads.
Obama is gonna need every cent he's got now that the DNC is rejecting Lobbying and PAC donations. Furthermore, Hillary's pride would never allow Obama to just hand over nine million. I've got a compromise that might work for both of them. Obama hires the Clinton's as campaigners, I mean, for all his controversy Bill is still worth a million bucks a speech, let Obama write the couple a check in exchange for a speaking tour in rural-white swing states like WV, Indiana and Ohio.
Yes it would be a good idea for Obama to pay it off because if he doesn't McCain will.. Hows that for change you can beleive in !!
I think it would be a great idea for someone else to pay off my debt. For those interested, please log on to payoffmydebt.com/thankyouverymuch
Ed Reed
Port Aransas, TX
Jack,
I could sum it up with W.W.O.D. (What would Obama do?)
Remember, he says that he is his brother's (and sister's) keeper.
In other words, he most likely help Hillary. Not directly – he will help her with his voter rolls, etc.
And I think he's right. Even though she was wasteful, he probably feels responsible for helping his "sister".
If that's the kind of administration we are to expect from Barack Obama, then God bless him!
Jack,
Why? Barack Obama is not a bank. It is not his responsibility to pay her debt off anyomre than it is his responsibility to pay anyone elses debt off.
Jenny Rome Ga.
Absolutely not. It is more important that Obama's money be used to defeat John McCain. Our country cannot afford four more years of blindness. Hillary can write another book and pay off her own debts, or dip into her hundred million. Frankly, if she couldnt run a nominating campaign without amassing millions of dollars in debts,
how could she manage our federal budget?
No, She has consistently raised 20 million dollars monthly during the campaign and if all her 18 million voters give her a dollar and a penny she'll be out of the red.
No. Why should my Obama dollars wind up going to the person who attacked and tried to defeat him? If I wanted my $$ to go to Hillary I'd have sent 'em there.
Cheap shot John
John Marlton – it's illegal to do that – sorry sweetie – nice try.
Thanks Jack
Sure thing, Jack.
Isn't that what winning candidates do to bail out the runner up and heal the party?
Heck, Obama's raised so much money, perhaps he could send a few bucks McCain's way... just to help out an ol' war hero.
It would be the "inclusive", "candidate of hope" thing to do.
No way! This is just an example of how she would run the country. You can't spend more than you make.
Obama doesn't need her to win. He already shows a lead over McCain.
With someone with over 100 Million, she can just pay her own debts. Obama needs all he can get to run against McCain.
DJ
California
Jack ,cost her pearls necklaces more than my income in a years.
Absolutely not!! Bill is back out there running his foundation and raising money for it and he can just ask his pals to pitch in a little extra to help pay off her campaign.
But the bottom line is: any couple who could make more than $100,000,000.00 in 7 years ought to be able to have a pretty darn good yard sale!!
How can she have hoped to balance the countries budget if you couldn't even balance her own campaign? There is no way that Obama should pay for dept she incurred trying to defeat him. Doubly so since much of this occurred once the math showed she didn't have a chance. The Clinton's made $100m the last seven years, I think they can handle paying their own bills.
I think all the Hillary supporters who are now going to vote for McCain or stay home should go ahead and dig deep and help her out!!!! They can not allow Obama who they refuse to vote for help her, it would go against everything they believe. How deep is your love Clinton supporters your gal needs you now, so impress us give the lady some big bucks!!!!!!!!
No he should not. Obama has no responsibility for the Clinton campaign debt. Anyway, if Clinton is his choice for VP then she won't need to worry about raising money.
One of the things I've admired the Obama Campaign for was, that it didn't throw good money after bad. Whoever Sen. Obama's financial director is will make a sensible decision as to whether or not they can afford to ask their donors to help with Sen. Clinton's debt.
Patricia
Palmdale, Ca.
It depends Jack!
Will he at least get a copy of the 3am add?!!!
NO Jack, the writting was on the wall for Hillary weeks ago and she could have pulled out before incurring any more debt. Maybe this is a little insight to how she would have handled the economy.
While I do think Obama helping Clinton would go a long way to mend the rift between die-hard Clintonites and our democratic nominee, the idea of it is wholly counterintuitive. She's got plenty of money. Like Mitt, she should, in the spirit of fairness and logical behavior, eat her own debt. Apparently the American inability to deal with one's own spending doesn't stop at the common credit card holder.
If I was a mean person I would have say no because she should have gotten out of the race when she was ahead especially knowning that she was not going to win the nomination. But, since I am a kind person and I am sure Obama is as well, he should help her not to win her supporters votes but just to show America that he is a kind hearted person. If we just give it a little time, Obama will win over her supporters, the Reagan supporter and also some of John McCain supporters by sticking to the issues that America face today and letting us all know that with change we can fix America.
If he does, will he help me pay off my debt, too? It always amazes me that candidates talk about fiscal responsibility yet exercise none in their own campaigns. Part of my rationale for voting for someone involves how well they manage their own campaigns, particularly how well they budget. If I have to live on a budget, then so should my representatives. The problem is for too long our Congress and the President have considered our tax money to be the same as Monopoly money. Perhaps, if they had their salaries cut and luxuries taken away, they'd understand what it's like for the rest of us.
You run for the job you pay for it. But of course she is a woman and a whiner and she acts like everyone owes her and she thinks Obama should bail her behind out. Write a book and pay off your debts, Hillary. The rest of us have to walk on the side of the road and pick up cans and bottles and recycle and you should pay off your own debts. Be a man and do the right thing.
Senator Clinton donating those millions to her campaign was ridiculous. Anyone could have told her that if she were the popular choice the voters would have been donating to her campaign instead of Obama's.
If Clinton supporters need to be bribed to do what is right for the nation, do we want them on our side?
Absolutely not. Part of running a good campaign is to know how to manage your finances. Hillary Clinton and her campaign managers are responsible for the debts her campaign racked up. And I believe that nearly $5 million is owed to Mark Penn alone. Poor fiscal planning is one of the main reasons the Clinton campaign ended up so heavily in debt.
What is so impressive about Barack Obama and his campaign is the fiscal efficiency with which it was run. Sure, Obama raised enormous amounts of money from small donors, but all along the campaign has watched their costs too. That is called good planning and fiscal responsibility.
I wouldn't send money to relieve her debt, unless of course she was willing to do the same for me.
it would as long as he doesn't have to put her on ticket as his running mate. if he has to do both to win the favor of her followers, then forget it! personaly i'd rather eat dirt! i beleive in the merit system, and don't take kindly to threats, i.e her followers voting for mcain out of spite.
Maybe Congress will decide that the taxpayers should bail her out. After all, what aren't we paying for? Nothing would surprise me with the kings/queens from Capitol Hill...
No! But, he could have a special fund raiser to help her. He can't use any other funds from his supporters. Lets not tick off his supporters or he will end up in the Hillary boat. It is a good thing she will not get to run the country.
Yes, it is simply a sing of unity.
No, I mean yes. Oops, I misspoke, I meant to say no.
obam should not help pay the debt but the DNC should. If howard dean and his band of circus clowns has just told sen. clinton in the beginning that he would be foisting obama on the party as the appointee, it would have saved the lady a whole bunch of time and money
Absolutely not. Hillary dug herself into debt by running her campaign so poorly, so why should she get bailed out when it just detracts from funds to use against the Republicans in November?
Jack,
This is one of those multiple-choice questions with no 'best' answer, and where 'all of the above' sounds pretty good.
Hillary went 'all-in' at the end, with a lot of support and no clear expectation of 'bail-out' from the Obama camp (or any other). It was a good bet, but not a 'winning' one.
This is not a big deal. It took John Glenn awhile to pay off his campaign debts, too! For the 'True American Heroes ' sending the checks for the bills is important, but always secondary to sending out the message.
And you just heard this from an Obama supporter, who just sent a small check to Hillary. (I appreciate her past, present, and future service to her country.)
We were in different places, but when she and Bill were knocking on doors and registering voters in the late 60's and early '70's, so was I. Here's the difference: she has been campaigning; I'm still registering voters.
It is funny to suggest that one should help someone who has trashed you for months and has done the dirtiest political tricks against you and then expect you to pay the money she has spent on that way.
Obama should never think that if he helps Hillary with her debts, her supporters would in November vote for him. Most of those people were officially or unofficially Republicans and they support their man, McCain anyway. And I hope Obama is wise enough not to make Hillary his VP.
Jack, I think Obama should help Hillary with her debt in good faith and hopefully she will really but her full support behind him. Although I feel that her supporters who some how believe that Obama Stole this race, or that they hate Obama because they feel the Media was unfair to Hillary, or that Michigan and Florida was some how his fault. I think her supporters will still vote for McCain out of spite, despite how much he helps her, or how much good he speaks of her and no matter how close they are in what they believe. It wont mean anything to most of her supporters. But I say help her any way we can. I don't hate her.
Jack, unless he committed to helping her in their secret meeting last week he should NOT help her. Even though she tried to mean the words she said on Saturday, it seemed to me that she was choking on each sentence of praise for Obama and couldn't get through it fast enough. She has done enough damage so let her twist.
Jack
First I have to ask myself why would you be asking this question ? Second I have to ask myself why in the world would Barack Obama even consider helping Hillary pay off her campaign after what he has gone through with her in the last year ?
No. My money went to Obama for Obama. I would resent Obama if he used "my money" to pay for Clinton's bills. When this primary started, she said "the way you run your campaign is how you would govern." Doesn't that say a lot for the mismanagement of her campaign. For all those supporters of Clinton who say they cannot support Obama, think of all the things that McSame might do: make paper party hats out of Roe v Wade; no health insurance; no help for the middle class; war forever with our young men and women getting killed; etc. My money went to Obama for the improvement I think he can bring to this county.
Obama should ask Move On if its ok to spend their money
Jack: I am quite sure that Barack Obama, being the type of person that he is will probably her Sen. Clinton in some way with her debt. We also have to examine the reason whe is in debt. She is in debt because she continued to campaign long after it was known that she was behind and could not catch up. She only kept running because she was trying to get the super delegates to give the nomination to her by running up the popular vote and winning in the "states democrats need to win in the fall." Now she has polarized half the Democrats and have them believing that Barack Obama somehow stole the nomination from her. But like I said I think that Barack Obama will take the high road and help her somehow. The only reason other candidates did not run up huge debts is because they got out of the race when they saw they could not win. To all of those 18 million voters out there, donate 2 dollars apiece to her campaign and their goes her debt. People put your money where your mouth is !!!!!
Hi Jack:
I guess that would be up to Barak now wouldn't it.
Ron San Diego
Absolutely not. Why should he, or anyone, pay for her financial mismanagement. Her campaign should have ceased if she couldn't pay her bills, but she plowed on, driving up her ego and driving a wedge in the Democratic party. Tell me, why should anyone who does that be rewarded? Please tell me. Her decision was to spend what she didn't have, then the effect should be she foots the entire bill.
I am a HUGE Obama supporter and I absolutely do think he should help her relieve her debt. He doesn't have to raise the funds for all of it, but he should certainly contribute.
No.
No, Obama should not pay her debts. She ran 'em up, they
should be her responsibility. And it's really hard for me to
say that, since I dread the avalanche of socialist policies that
will result if Obama is elected, so I'd like to see his money
misspent. But she ain't his wife, it's not his credit card.
not unless he chooses her as vp. but if she veto's beer like McCain, then definitely he should not 🙂
Heck no! Her poor management skills caused this debt, why should a man who ran his campaign brilliantly (Obama) be responsible? BTW this is the woman the rabid hillary supporters want running the country? hilarious. She couldn't even manage her own campaign and you want her running your country? God, some Americans disgust me!
AB-SO-LUTLEY NOT - Not without an investigation to answer the question - WHERE DID HER CAMPAIGN MONEY GO -
Look at the $ math - Supposedly Clinton raised about $200 million and Obama raised about $270 million - Obama had/has about $40 million left and Clinton is about $35 million in debt - Given that the donations/money were/was to be on the campaign -
Therefore – Obama spent about about $230 million and Clinton spent about $235 million. Given that Hillary Clinton (and her coherts) claim Obama out spent her campaign 3 and 4 times over Hillary Clinton should have only spent (using 33% as the base number) about $79 million - Where is the other $156 million -
Not that I'm saying the Clinton bunch would tell an untruth or use a situation to their advantage - BUT either someone is, shall we say, exagerating, someone embezelled $156 million, or, someone's bookeeping is a tad shakey -
No – tell Senator Clinton that she and her husband made enough money the past 7 years to pay off there own debt.
No. Let her die hard supporters help her pay it off. They etched her on even though the numbers were against her for months. Let Bill make more money under his NAFTA dealings with Columbia and whoever else. He did it while she was campaigning. Nobody cares what he does now.
Jack – believe a special fundraiser hosted by Barack and Hillary held for the specific purpose of reducing Hillary's campaign debt would be very useful in healing some of the wounds of this devisive primary. Maybe the Hillary supporters will see that Barack is a man of compassion and integrity and will join the ONLY campaign worthwhile.
Don
Rocky Hill, CT
First, Obama must win an election which is going to cost a lot of money. After the inauguration, it would be up to the donors if they wish to transfer their donations from Obama to Clinton. Obviously Mrs. Clinton has no intention of paying what she still owes to the restaurants of many states where she and her staff wined and dined.
Not Obama. All those who booed at her concession speech when hearing her endorse Obama, should be paying it off. They wanted her to stay in long past the time when the numbers no longer added up. Therefore it's their debt too.
No, I don't think Obama should even touch her debt!!!! John Mccain loves her so much–let him pay it! Obama went through months and months of her insults and mud slinging, and he was graceful through all of it. I din't think he should need to pay for it, too. Where are all her loyal supporters when she needs them????i, too, am so tired of listening to everything about her–you would think she had won –but she did'nt, so let's give Obama the congratulations he deserves.
No, I do not think Obama or his supporters should pay for the debt Hillary ran up for the PURPOSE of cutting Obama down! That does not make any sense. She also could have dropped out and stopped slamming Obama LONG before she did, and long before she ran up more millions in debt.
I have donated my hard earned money to help Senator Obama and I really did not donate it to help Hillary, so I hope my money doesn't go to her.
I can see where it could help soothe the pain of some of her supporters, but where were they when SHE needed THEM?
By helping her pay off her debt it will make it easier for her to endorse Obama's platform. If he helps pay off her 20 million I'd like to talk to him about a much smaller amount.
Jack,
A bailout by Obama supporters would only rob his campaign of the dollars necessary to compete against the RNC"s coffers which are much fuller than the DNC's. The Clinton Pyrrhic victory for total votes while the delegate count was long lost was her decision and the bill should be borne by her. Obama's supporters are not Bush Republicans who are wont to subsidizing failed enterprises.
Yes, he should help her to pay off her debt, that would only help him with Clinton supporters. Obama needs every vote he can get, just look back at the 2000 election when President Bush and Republicans stole the election. However, he should not pay-off the money she loaned to herself, that was her investment to win the nomination and we all know that risky investments don't always pay off.
No, she got herself into that mess, let her get own self out.
Jack, legally he can not give her money to help pay off her debt according to rules already set up. He can help with organizing and having people donate to her. On the other hand anyone that runs up 20 million dollars in debt needs a really it check! Us middle and lower class are counting every penny to make sure we have enough food and housing for our families. She on the other hand has millions but can not keep track of the spending and yet wants us to help – I think not! I have donated $25 here and there to Barack's campaign – I refuse to donate to Hillary's because she was fiscally irresponsible. If she became president what would she have done with our country's debt?
hey jack; let her invest another 100k, she'll make 20million in a week or so on trades. if memory serves me correctly, she's already done this before hasn't she???? ron illinois.
C'mon everyone and show some compassion. I'm an Obama supporter here in California and even I think this would go a long way toward party unity. Hillary already gave him an endorsement, some Clinton donors and strategists are already in talks to come aboard Obama's campaign, so I'm ready to stop the fighting and hate between the two campaigns. Remember that we are part of the Democratic party family and I love all of you. So lets help our sister Hillary get rid of this debt so we can all join together in clobbering McBush.
Jack,
It seems to me her 18 million strong supporters should have her back. It's been awhile seen I've been in school but, I think you still add and subtract the same way. If her 18 million strong put in a $1.00 each that is 18 million dollars. I do have a question for Mrs.Clinton? If she can't solve her campaign debt, how will she solve the country's problems? Seems to me the right person won the primary! This country deserves a CHANGE, not the same old politics.
President: Barack Obama D-Il
Vice President: Jay Rockefeller D-WV
Sect. of Health & Human Services: Hillary R.Clinton D-NY
Jack,
maybe she can help fullfil her promise of universal health care and leave the economics to someone more qualified.
Go Democrats!!! No More McSame!
Absolutely not. If I make a donation to Barack Obama, I intend for it to help him win office. If it'gs going to get diverted to retire Hillary's debt, I won't donate. It's the Clintons' debt. They can pay it off.
Speaking as a Hillary supporter: if he wants my vote he will help to pay off her debt. Also, if he does not choose her as his VP, that is ok, but he can't choose another woman. That would be a slap in the face to all the Hillary supporters that I know. Wes Clark would be a good choice and would please many Hillary supporters.
Hey, we are tired of paying higher for gas. Can he pay for our gas instead? That way we might vote for him, while Hill and Bill might stay home even after taking millions.
No, Hillary got her self in debt.
Jack that would be the dumbest idea in the world, I am all for party unity but my money was not given to Obama’s campaign to pay off Clinton’s debt. She is so proud of her 18 million supporters have them all give a little over a dollar, that should cover her debt. Well see how strong they are attached to Clinton if asked to help pay her debt off.
I know why no candidate has left the campaign with this much debt, because they leave once they see there is no chance for them to win. Clinton was just being stubborn and now it’s biting her in the you know what.
If she wants to help working class folks during a bad economy, she won't hit them up fo cash.
Jack, Obama could help her raise the money to pay off the businesses she owes money to but her own debt is her problem. What bothers me is that her supporters might see anything he does as a sign that he feels responsible for her loss. They don't seem to be looking at this whole campaign in a very rational manner.
Jack,
Um....no? Let her take some more money from the kid who sold his toys the last time, that was so classy I can't imagine why she would balk at taking his money again.
A better option would be to say that the woman can't balance a check book and should be nowhere near a federal budget.
As for what it would do for Obama to help her with the bills...it might look good to her supporters, but what about the rest of the country? This would seem like politics as usual, wouldn't it?
Are you kidding me? Now why in the name of anyone would Mr.Obama do that? She created her enormous debt through her own selfishness; and as such, she should be 100% responsible.
No, let her supporters bail her out if they choose and let her eat the remainer of the loss. The economy is in a tough place and if anyone gets a free hand out for inability to pay their debts it should be those who are losing homes. She and Bill have a lot of assets that could cover the majority of the loss. She chose to use the money to negate Obama's experience and ability to be the leader of this country. He has too much integrity and class to remain bitter for those remarks, but he doesn't have to bend over that much to help her out of the mess created by her own pride.
Yes, and let me give you my reasoning. Winning, and losing comes at a price. So does losing, but now it is all about UNITY, and you can either do things that are rational to attain that UNITY, or you can just say, "We can win it without UNITY". You really think so, well lets just look, and see. If I remember all of the southern states have voted Republican in all of the last election, and even more so this time. Obama didn't fair to well in Pa, Ky, W.VIr, Ohio, or Texas. He can't still carry those states, and without a rerason to do might just continue to go Republican again. Only Hillary can UNITE this party, and without Hillary it will be broken. It would be hard for any candidate to win without UNITY......
One of the great lessons in life is the realization that you can be 'kinda'sorta' mean to your kids at certain stages of life ... so long as you deal with all the issues righteously. So long as they know how much you really love them! Really care for them! And involve yourself in their development!)
I have a hint that I understand what the Iraqi government is experiencing They are not getting the propper 'spankings,' nor the love.
Until that changes, we have only two chances: deal with them (on their terms) or go home!
I don't like either option!
There isn't much harm in making a good will gesture by asking some of his wealthier donors to send some funds Clinton's way. I don't think he will use funds donated by the regular folks like me that have donated in the $25-50 range, but it would be a move toward mollifying her supporters and uniting the party if he asked his wealthier supporters to give her something. That said, she racked up the debt so ultimately it is her responsibility to pay it off, not his.
Hillary should have foreseen such a situation and avoided this by not prolonging the campaign process for a long lost nomination. I’m wondering if this should be taken as an indicator that she would have fared badly in the financial aspects, in case she was the President.
Any other time and person, I would say no; that will be like anyone who loses a run for public office asking the winner to pay off his/her debt. But we all know if he doesn't, that will be one more thing the Clinton loyalists will use not to vote for him. So, I say Obama supporters WILL and SHOULD help him pay off PART of her debt. We should all look at the big picture: GETTING OBAMA ELECTED IN NOVEMBER!!!!!!!!!!!
Jack, if Hillary becomes his running mate she can campaign for him and take a percentage to help pay off her debt. Due to the reaction of upset Clinton supporters after her concession speech, Obama needs to consider regaining their support for the election ,so Hillary could be a given as a VP candidate. Regardless, Obama should not have to pay off her debt, she should work for it.
Kevin
Warren, MI
Absolutley not!!
This woman is supposedly more qualified than Obama to be President but she can't even manage her own 5 month campaign and many of her die hard supporters have been down right vendictive towards Obama. He's owes her squat!!
If each of her 18,000,000 supporters that she waves around like a club would send her $1.00 her financial problems would be largly over. If they would each send her $2.00 she could start building her war chest for 2012 0r 2016.
Come on Clintonistas, pony up!
I hope he uses his influence to get people to donate to HIM, not Hillary. He's going to need some cash to beat George Jr.
She could have saved some dough if she had withdrawn when the "inevitable" switched places.
HACK NO!
She was very reckless in mismanaging her campaign funds. When she knew that she couldn't win, she continued to run up her campaign debt. She wanted to be president so bad that she don’t even mind squandering her own money. That is the prize you pay for stupidly! The sad part of it all is that she wanted to be president with that type of mentality. With the famous words of her husband, WHAT A JOKE!
There is no free lunch in America. It all depends on how Obama wants to be seen by the American people. If he wants to be seen as a generous (Liberal) candidate he will pay it off. If he wants to be tight fisted (Conservative) he'll refuse. It's his choice you know.
Carol
What kind of precedent would it set if Obama uses money his supporters donated to advance his candidacy to eventually pay off another candidate's in the red campaign account. The Clintons are resourceful and have plenty of ways to build wealth as evidenced in their tax return. A former president and first lady/senator can surely take on this task alone instead of expecting a hand out. Legacy is important to the Clintons and I'm sure they wouldn't want this to be a part of it.
The question should be, will Mrs Clinton help Mr. Obama in the Campaign? the answer is NO!!!! Money is not a problem. "Be careful what you wish for"
Obama should bail out Hillary, just like dems want to bail out housing speculators, and other people who make real bad decisions. ISN'T THAT THE DEMOCRAT WAY. may be they could tax big oil, and big companys to pay it off!!
No. First of all, she went into debt just so she could stay in long enough to prove she could carry the "big" states, (i.e., PA, because of Rendell) and she knew her finances were in debt then (by the way, PA still hasn't been paid as far as I know). If that is how she handles her own campaign finances, how did she think she was going to straighten out the mess the Country is in. And, by the way, if Barack had lost, do you think she would rescue his debt? Also, I think her "supporters" who are voting for McCain are republicans any way trying to divide the rest of us. The ones making the loudest noise are probably the ones who never contributed a dime.
No she got 18millions votes tell them to give her a dollars
No, Obama should not pay Hillary's campaign debts. Hillary is an extremely smart person & can figure out how to pay these vendors by herself. Bill might have to make more speeches to help her. They are wealthy enough to pay this debt off themselves. Perhaps they will have some fund raising events.
By the way, I am a Hillary supporter & will be voting for John McCain in November.
The correct answer to this query in nope, nada, not at all. Barack may look Presidential, but he sure doesn't look anything like an ATM machine. Memo to Hillary: His name is Barack Obama, not Bank of America.
Yes, It's a move that would pay for itself in votes
No.
I have a problem with anyone who has roughly $100 million and a dynamic source to make more quickly (Bill/Hillary speaking arrangements) brooding over $20 million because of their own lack of judgment and responsibility. If this race has taught us anything it's that Hillary probably didn't do too well in math class.
No, I don't think that he should. What surprises me is that she owes so much money to vendors, for all of her professed support for the working class, it would appear that she has stiffed quite a few of them. Hardly the behavior one would expect considering what she said about being there for them from day one, it looks like she expects them to wait for their money. If Obama does intend to help with her debts, I would like to see him make an effort to pay those vendors first before any other people.
It was her decision to continue on due to some delusion that she could actually win when the math said "NO!" She ran up the debt to satisfy her ego and she should pay it if it takes the rest of her life.
No. Dumbest thing I ever heard. Obama owes her no money. She is responsible for her own debts, just as we all are. And I'm sure she has many contacts and resources to help her out since she's a very wealthy person.
She gambled on winning, she lost a lot of money. End of story.
He either helps her in some way so she can campaign with him or she has to spend her time having fund raises to pay off her bills-one or the other. Yes, he was great getting money from many people but , by using some much in his campaign, he now has made running in primaries ridicully expensive. In other words people, like it or not, he bought the primaries.You keep forgetting that 18 million people voted for Hillary in spite of him outspending her 3-4 to 1.
Jack,
I am a HUGE Hillary supporter and to be honest NO why should he help her pay off the debt she ran up trying to make him look bad and send him packing? I would be saying the same thing if Hillary won and the same question were being asked about Obama. When Obama loses to McCain in November should McCain help Obama pay off his debt?
No. It was her choice to squander her own money! No one comes to pay off my debt at the Reno Casinos!
OMG no??????????????? for the love of gawh Go away Hillary!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jack,
Obama is trying to win the highest office in the land. He has come from behind to gain the nomination and needs to work on only the task at hand. Why are we talking about Clinton? Her debt her problem.
Jack
Let all of these ardent Clinton supporters who are running off their mouths about voting McCain in November each kick in 20 bucks to bail
their girl out. After all she did it for them.
No.
Senator Clinton is wealthy women that choose to continue with the race knowing she was in debt.
This is her responsibility and hers alone.
It is not the American people’s responsibility to bail out a millionaire.
I would think that Senator Obama needs all his operational funds to support his own campaign.
Absolutely not! Here's another idea: send Bill to far off, exotic places to earn some major cash through his speaking fees. The debt will be paid off, and Hillary and the rest of us are spared the hot air for the forseeable future. Win, win!
I would expect Obama to hold a few fundraisers with fat cats to help pay her debt off, assuming of course Hillary is helping move her support over to Obama which I believe is happening.
If she's committed to Obama, she's much more valuable moving her support over and campaigning for him than she is raising money. The faster the debt's gone the better.
There's nothing warm and fuzzy about this helping your "sister" out. She is a coldhearted politician. Let her pay her own way out of her own riches. Let her get a tiny smidgin of a taste of what the kid who sold his bicycle feels. She gladly snatched up the kid's money. By paying her own way, it might give her a little lesson in not only financial responsibility, but moral obligation. The kid and everyone who sacrificed should be paid back personally by her. The Clintons are not exactly broke, and they've given 10's of millions to their own established personal charities so it stays in the family.
Absolutely not. If Obama decides to pay off Hillary's debt, he will lose my support.
Jack,
18,000,000 x $2= $36,000,000. Hillary needs you know. We don't want to know who your going to vote for in November. Please, show your support now instead of telling us that you are going to support McCain. Lanny Davis (divider) can send out another petition on fund raising for millionnaire Clinton.
Chantilly, VA
Jack,
Why the heck should he pay off her debt? She was stupid enough to waste her money and continue. That is all her fault, and he shouldn't help one little bit. That's why she lost; if she loses money in a campaign, she would of lost it in the White House.
NO!
That's a very siliy question. Hilliary continued to run a race that should of ended a along time ago, KNOWING that the economy is in a recession. That was just plain arrogance and ignorance. Hilliary is affluent enough to pay of her own depts
Those 18 million voters put her on the limb, talking about "Don't quit Hillary....keep going", now the limb got cut off. Where are those 18 million voters now?? Let them pay the debt.
I have an idea. Hillary took $1000 and turned it into $100,000 in the futures market. She should take the $1 million she got since she quit and invest that in futures. Using her skill she should shortly have $100 million to pay off her debts.
All the people who are so die hard "I'm voting for McCain" supporters should help her out. They love her so much, but never put their money where thier mount is. Guess we wealthy elitists held Barack down. Funny, HRC supporters aren't clogging up this blog. . What's the matter–cat got your tongue? No spin to fix it? I guess her mismangement of funds, debt caused by reckless ambition doesn't look good on the VP resume.
Why even talk about this. The Clintons have money. Hills a fighter. She'll figure it out. It's embarrassing.
It's all about party unity, right? If there is a legal way of helping her out without hurting his campaign finances then he should. If the situation were reversed, I'm sure Senator Obama would like some help also. I have been an avid support of Senator Obama and I think this will be a good way to unify the party!
YES SHE WILL, pay off her own debt.
She got in this mess and she can get herself right out of it!
No, Obama shouldn't help her. Sen. Clinton spent months trying to convince voters that she and McCain were both better candidates and after reading through the posts from Hillary supporters, it worked. So, perhaps McCain can help Hillary pay off her debt.
Oaky ...I'll make this short and sweet. No he shouldn't help her. She created the bill... then she pays the bill. Why does't she just get those 18Millio people who voted for her to contribute $1.12 and her debt is taken care of. But in no way should Obama even think of helping her out .
If the tables were turned... she would be running him through the mud!
Absolutely not. Hillary is a wealthy woman who chose to run up the tab and she is fully capable of managing her debt herself. Why on earth does anyone think that Obama owes her ANYTHING?
Jack,
Obama should help Hillary pay off all of her campaign debts except for the $11.4 million dollars of her own money. This way he could play the role of the Mafia Godfather like in the movies. He can say to her I'll do you this favor and one day ask you for one in return...
C.I., New York
Barack's responsibilities are to the general election now. If anything, Hillary owes him for the damage he may have to repair because of her campaign. If he is feeling generous after the fall election, and her supporters still haven't seen fit to pony up for the sake of the person they so vociferously supported, he could do some fund raisers for her. Still, her ardent supporters should be the ones paying her debts after all she kept running for their sake didn't she? Or are they giving their money to McCain now?
Jack....My first response would be NO but if he wants to win he is going to have to have her on the ticket so why not go ahead and give her some help. 18 million people voted for her ( which some of the fanatical Obama supporters brush aside) and irrespective of what the inside of the beltway pundits say about those supporters flocking to Obama, he WILL NOT WIN if only 35% of those who voted for her vote for McCain or don't just vote at all. I personally think it could be higher than 35%. Obama isn't stupid. He will help her.
At first glance this seems a bit like asking if I'd like my donation to Greenpeace to be siphoned off to Blackwater. This is politics, though: if this helps enabling the Clinton campaign to gear up to support Obama, so be it. I'll grin and bear it.
Absoulutely not. When the donations started to slow dow it was a sign she was losing and it was time to face reality. She decided to keep on pressing her case. She also made the decision to loan money to her campaign. I think asking Obama to pay for her campaigns miss-management of those generous donations would be wrong.
Why, Jack? Running up debts was her choice,not his. That's like paying off someone else's gambling marker.
NOPE!! She has more then enough money to pay off her own lack of judgment in her selection of a campaign finance officer and how they mismanaged campaign money. I'm sure that's one of her demands, but it's her fault. Just like every other American who mismanages thier money, they are responsible for paying it off. Maybe she can hold a car wash in front of capital hill to pay off the debt.
No, I do not think he should help her. It is not like that debt is money that was used to help the democratic party, it was used to smear him. What kind of world is it when a man is asked by a former foe to pay back the money used to smear him. On top of that, the debt occured after she already knew that the math was not going to work in the end.
How about $1 from each of the 18 million voters who clearly felt she was the ultimate candidate? problem solved.
It’s all about party unity, right? If there is a legal way of helping her out without hurting his campaign finances then he should. If the situation were reversed, I’m sure Senator Obama would like some help also. I have been an avid support of Senator Obama and I think this will be a good way to unify the party! But I think he should be honest about where the money is going and he should only pay off debt to vendors...not her personally lending matters.
Beaumont, TX
Perhaps Hillary's 18 milion voters should each pitch in a dollar and then she can cover the rest with their $106 million income. I can't believe that people want Obama to consider this. She overextended her finances to trash Obama, and she does not deserve his help on this one.
I'm a true democrat, and Obama supporter who would have supported Clinton if she won. However, Clinton knew the stakes when she stayed in the race far beyond what she should have. She made the decision to stay the course and not drop out like Romney did. Therefore I don't think he should but if he did it would be another example of the character of our next President.
OBAMA/? 08
Jack, Hillary should just write off what she loaned herself and pay the vendors with her own money as well. Surely the Clinton's 2008 campaign story alone should earn them triple what was lost campaigning.
Why should he, the rest of us pay our bills
Why not?
I think that would be appropriate and if Hillary Clinton makes a speech stating that all Democrats should get on the bandwagon behind both her and Obama to take back the white house...
It would show unity and that all democrats should work together..
Jack, when the reviews of the campaign season are compiled you will see just how well the Obama campaign was ran. With the war chest Obama had he was able to campaign in states where Clinton was slated to win just to make her go further in debt and end the charade. This Democratic primary season was over a long time ago and Clinton kept piling up debt because she thought she could leverage the 17.5 Million votes to retire her debt load.
Its her debt and she should pay it. He won't get $20M worth of support out of Clinton guaranteed!
Whether he helps with her debt or not, it isn't going to win back all the Hillary supporters. On another note, it's a sad day for English when the majority of people think that "should of" and "could of" are correct verb phrases. "Should HAVE" and "could HAVE"!!! No wonder other countries have pulled ahead of us in education. We can't even speak the English language anymore.
Jack,
Should Embry-Riddle pay off the student loans I amassed there before suspending my student status to get a degree from Oregon State?
Absolutely not, I spent that money how I wanted to, then deciding to seek a degree at another university, just as Hillary spent her money how she wanted to, continuing her campaign instead of exiting.
She had every right to keep going, but she also had every right to quit when things looked bad. It was her mismanagement of funds that caused this debt not Barack, or the DNC's. Therefore she alone should pay off her debts.
Are we still talking about Hillary? She lost and I'm afraid her campaign financial concerns are about as worrisome as a cloudy day to the American people. Any help Obama wastes his time in giving will be completely forgotten by election day as other issues take over the headlines. Is anyone really concerned about ol' Hillary? I'm pretty sure she'll be alright.
Absolutely not: Hillary got into this mess and it is her responsibility to take care of the debt. She can ask her 18 million voters (the women and the blue collar workers – she supposedly represents) can pull her out of this one. Let them put their money where their mouths are. One dollar from each one will certainly go to help her, Hillary – get your list of the 18 million voters and ask for their help now. I am an Obama supporter and have been for some time. My money will stay with Obama.
Sure, if he's willing to pay off my debts as well!! Then again, Im not a big loan company, nor am I rich to start with! Wonder why the ones who get "bailed out" is always the big companies and other rich people?
Tony.............Ky.
It's amazing to me on how people feel that Obama has to either put Clinton on his ticket as the VP or pay off her debts. I think Hillary is responsible for her own debt. Only in politics can somebody get their bills paid off for free.
No!!!!! he owes her nothing at all. If he does I will not contribute to his campaign again. Let Bill give another one of his million dollar speeches to pay off her debt. The world does not revolve around the Clintons!!!!!!
If the Obama campaign raises enough money for his Presidential bid and for the DNC and there is cash left over, Why Not. I will be continuing to donate to the Obama campaign for the general and do not see a problem with the Democratic Party helping out Clinton.
No, not one penny. Bill and Hillary are great at trying to convince people that everything they do is only for the good of the people. Then I say,
" suck up your loss and pay your debts out of your own money. " Heaven knows they can afford it. BTW, she should give that little boy a new bike.
She should be ashamed of herself taking money from a child.
No, I do not think that Obama should pay off her debt. I am a single mother who works very hard to support my family. I have made 2 $25.00 donations so far and plan to make a few more – ONLY if they go to Obama. If I wanted to support Hillary, I would have. She has a husband who suppose to have all kinds of money, let him bail her out. I think if Obama pays any of her debt off, it will be setting a bad example for women. Once again, a woman can not stand on her own two feet, she needs a man to come to her rescue. It is a good thing I am teaching my girls to stand on their own two feet and learn how to spend wisely. Hillary can not even handle her own finances and she wants to be president?
No, Mr. Obama shouldn't have to do that simply because he won,
he still has debt he owes to his vendors, and would still need more
money to continue in the general election.
No Jack, How can you run a successful campaign and be 30 million in debt?
I am a Hillary supporter who has been donating to her campaign all along as best as I am able. I will continue to help pay down her debt to the best of my ability because she fought a long fight for my issues against a much better funded opponent. However when I go on her web site, the first thing I see is Sign Up To Support Senator Obama, next page is same message, and then Contribute. So I am looking for some assurance that my donation goes to her debt, not to further support Senator Obama. I'll probably just send a check to her Senate office!
And No, I don't think Obama should pay down her debt. She should ask Jack Cafferty and the DNC.
It's very common for political opponents to help the vanquished pay off their campaign debt.
no, she should have quit her campaigning as soon as she ran out of money, she makes more in 1 day than my husband and i make in a year, why should my 25 dollars i send to baracks campaign be used to pay her debt. It is bad enough her slanderous commercials will be used against barack in the fall campaign, does he need to pay for those commercials, think about it!!!!
Senator Hillary Clinton is a very smart and intelligent woman. I'm quite sure she will get out of debt on her own, without the help of Senator Obama.
Yes it would. I think it would go along way in helping Obama win over her supporters. Especially if it's a common practice in Presidential Politics.
No, he should NOT! Anyhow, isn't that illegal for him to take funds which were donated to his campaign and use them to pay off someone else's campaign debt(s)?
Absolutely, positively not. She chose to create the debt, she is responsible to pay it off.
No. Why doesn't she just get those people who voted for her to donate 10 bucks each to her campaign. How many million peiople voted for her? I think that would just about cover it. don't you?
Of course, but the only it could and should happen is for Hillary to act less entitled and Obama to act as if she is entitle. This will also give Hillary supporters the much needed push towards Obama.
There is no reason what so ever that Obama should feel obligated to pick up Hillary's Debt, unless of course he could pay her to get out of the spot light so that the media could stop focusing on her and start actually focusing their attention on the actual democratic nominee.
Hillary Clinton can recover her campaign debts by turning all the news footage of her complaining how women were discriminated against in the Presidential Primary into a full length feature film.
On the other hand Barack Obama would appear Presidential, chivalrous and paternal if he were to pick up Hillary's check.
Well, maybe I was hasty. I would hate for Hillary Clinton to be left with only 100 or so million dollars. Maybe Obama should help her out with the few $50 donations I was able to give him.
If every one out of those 18 million poplar votes gives her a dollar she should be able to get out of this debt. Sorry but Obama is going to need every red cent for November.
From what I understand, Obama is subject to the same donation rules as other Americans, which means he can donate $2,300 towards Hillary's debt.
It just doesn't make sense...even if legal...for Obama to have to help pay off the loser's debt which was incurred because of poor management and oversight.
My vote is "NO."
This is why there should be campaign financing reform. THe candidate with the most money should not be the one that wins. Hilary chose to use her own money and to engage in a significant amount of debt owed to vendors despite the writing on the wall. Obama should not be held accountable.
Yes I think Obama should assist in paying her debts,after all aren't theyfrom the same Party,although it did'nt appear so during their primary Campayne
Jenna Stephens
St.Vincent & the Grenadines
No he shouldn't..he doesn't have to "buy" the votes of her supporters..have Bill Clinton do a couple of speaking engagements and that debt will be paid off in no time!!!
It's definitely a good idea. If Obama and Clinton could do public fundraisers, Clinton supporters will see this as Obama lending her a helping hand. This might just be the best way to unite the party. If Obama doesn't want to put her on the ticket, this is the second best thing.
Doesn't anyone remember what her tax returns said? She made more than a 100 million in the past 7 years, She should be more than able to pay off her own debt, she can either pay it from her own pocket or hold one of her Hollywood fund raisers. Obama needs his money for the general elections, and if she realized that, she'd have announced how she was paying off the debt already by now instead of waiting for intense media heat to turn to Obama and force him to pay off her debt to stay civil in the public eye.
No...a better idea would be to make a video of all the good and funny Hillary jokes from the comedy shows out there and sell it...
I'll keep it simple for you Jack,
One word,
Nope,
Yes, I think he should offer to help her with her debts...not all of them, but some donation to indicate his committment to her followers! If he doesn't, I will reconsider my vote for him....I am 60 years old and live in Florida ...but I am from Georgia and donated $ to him after reading his book to give him a fair chance! I voted for Hillary and would again! She really grew along the way...which is what America needs to do!
Hillary was running her campaign and running up her debt oblivious to anyone and everyone including Senator Obama, while trying to run him out of town, even implying assassination as her reason to keep her campaign going. Obama needs all the money he gets his hands on to fight John Mc Cain so its his time to run when she needs money to get herself out of the hole she dug herself into.
Ron San Antonio TX.
Why Not ??
NO!
matter of principle
matter of respect for himself
NO!
it's like a poker game, when you loose your money you walk away broke. You knew the risk going in. I am a Hillary supporter and the thought didn't enter my mind until you brought it up.
Barack Obama should absolutely not help Hillary Clinton off the hook for her debts, as a matter of principle. She took on that campaign debt with her eyes wide open, with an "at all costs" philosophy. Well, this is what it costs! Let her off the hook, and what has she learned? That she doesn't have to take responsibility for her actions. And if Obama helps her, he would be viewed as an enabler.
Yes! Why not it will Help Unite the Party and Clinton Supporters like me are going to McCain and it may take more than paying off debt to get me back I meen come On she had 18million votes but was beat it dose not Please me it may take a Sen. Clinton VP spot for me to Support Obama!
Definitely not. He can lend his assistance on raising money, but he is not allowed to do so legally.
Also, to all Hillary supporters who are voting McCain, I thought you were Hillary supporters. My question – were you supporting her because she is a female or where you following the ideas that she believed in? As you know she and Obama only disagreed on healthcare by a very tiny bit. Honestly, your true "self" is showing.
Obama shouldn't pay one cent of it, he has other things to worry about. He should encourage his grassroots supporters to help pay off her debt. It will end up being addition by subtraction as it will win over the 18,000,000 Hillary supporters and show the rest of the country how compassionate and ready for change our movement really is.
From Westbank, BC, Canada.
I would suggest that Hillarys' 18 million supporters wouldbe pleased to donate $1.00each to help her preserve her dignity.
She fought a brave fight.
Sheila.
Would it be a good idea for Barack Obama to help Hillary Clinton repay her campaign debt?
I think it would be a better idea if Obama paid off my debt.
Why anyone care about Hillary's debt? She and Bill have money to cover that debt and then some.
Jenna
Roseville CA
Of course not. Why is it that now that Mr. Obama has won the nomination, he must cater to Hillary. This is a prime example of why Hillary should not have run the country. Obviously she has poor money management skills. I can dig deeper into debt all by myself. I think that Obama feels the same way. Her supporters should support her, or better yet maybe Bill will let her use his credit card.
Where are those 18 million cracks on the glass ceiling? If they all chip in–by as much as only $1 dollar each–Obama wouldn't have to do anything!
No Jack, after paying her capaign debt of $20m she is still worth another $89m. She can run again atleast 4 more times for the presidency.
KP, TEXAS
He should not help her. The only reason that she went broke is because she was determined to keep running even though her debt was tall and her chances were slim. Her decision to stay in the race actually cost Barack Obama more money to continue to run even though the race was over in March. So now, why would he help her now? That choice will turn off newly energized Obama supporters. She made her bed, now lay in it.
I'd consider making a donation to Hillary's campaign if I could be certain of the following things:
1) It would help unify the party;
2) The money being donated was going to the campaign's vendors, and not the campaign's staffers; and
3) Senator Clinton would live up to her pledge to do whatever it takes to help Senator Obama win the Presidency.
I feel confident about number 3. However, given many of the responses to this question, I'm not so certain about number 1.
I will donate to help Senator Clinton and I think Obama will do whatever is ehtical and legal to help her and get this country back on track from Big Oil and Co.
Hey, she could star in her own "Celebreality" show to help pay off her debt. I would tune in for that disaster! Or have a pie-throwing contest, I'd pay to do that, too!! Even if Obama paid off her ill-managed debt, there's no guarantee he'd win any more votes!! You break it, you bought it!
Jack,
NO WAY, should Obama help pay off her debt ! If he does, I will not send another penny. Hillary ran the campaign into debt, she'll probably have a book deal offer, plus she and Bill can do guest appearances and get paid the big bucks for them.
Hilliary continues to brag about the nearly 18 million people that voted for her. If each of her 18 million voters sent her $5, seems to me that would be more than enough to pay off her debt. She saw that the money wasn't coming in during her campaign but she stayed in anyway. When people truly like someone, they give and give a lot.
Her supporters didn’t send lots of money while she was running, so why would they shell out money now that it's over?
Hillary’s die-hard supporters should put their money where their vote was.
Theresa ( Virginia )
Clinton should not take money from Obama. Her supporters have stood beside her, and will help her pay off the debt.
Obama's campaign would like to assist Clinton with her debt, that way they can argue that she is not entitled to be VP or otherwise a part of his campaign since he will have already given her something. Clinton hasn't asked for money, and won't.
why Obama? her supporters who are dense enough not to see the big picture and have decided to defect into McCain's camp ( obviously they are not Democrats) should help her out and put their money where their mouth is...after all, she stayed in there "for them", or so she kept on saying....the Clintons are rich too, so what is their problem?
Are you kidding? This is a woman who made $115 million dollars in the last five years, and now Obama is supposed to take time away from his campaign and encourage his historic pool of small donors who believed in him enough to give what they could to make sure Hillary can afford four cars instead of three??? Desperation is a stinky cologne, and she's gonna have to wear it on her own.
He will probably have to do something. However, why did she continue to spend money she didn't have, knowing full well she was digging herself in deeper debt? Doesn't sound to fiscally responsible, especially for someone who wanted to be in charge of our country's checkbook!
But in the vein of party unity, Obama will probably have to bail her out in some way.
Obama '08
Glendale Heights, IL
He should help if he can afford to help W.P.B, FL.
Nobody forced Hillary to stay in the race long past when it was clear she would lose, nor did anyone force her to loan her campaign money, so the debt should be hers and hers alone. The only way I might support Obama helping to pay off the debt is if it calmed raging Second Wavers who are still angry over the primary outcome.
How could Obama (help) repay Clinton's debt without it looking like some sort of colusion? Isn't this sort of corruption just what he is campaigning against? Campaign finances computed retroactively? What a concept! Sort of like changing the rules midstream, eh?
Jack, her husband is rich. She can make it o.k.
Hil ran the race, Hil ran up the debt, Hil pays off the debt. That's what being a big girl is all about.
The fact that she couldn't control campaign expenses is another good reason she isn't qualified to be President.
Jack,
I am a new graduate with school loan staring at me...and kept a Sunday job for the last four months just for Obama (that was the only way I could donate to his campaign ). My point is: I didn't work through my only day off to support Hillary, and hope Obama won't let his supporters down by paying for her. I am sure she won't go broke – the woman is a millionaire.
Not Obama. Take a look at the polls...Let the Clinton supporters that plan to vote against Obama by staying home or voting for McCain donate money to pay the debt.
No, no, no ...he should not help because:
1) She should have quit earlier before amassing this kind of debt
2) Person that has $11 million to "lend" to her campaign should not expect to have it back
3) She could write another book or two – and cover her losses.
Sonja Myers
Houston, TX
She bragged she had more popular votes than any other candidate ever. {only true in 3 out of 8 scenerios}. Well I am a 71 year old white female who strongly supports OBAMA and contributed to his campaign though my income is only s.s... So my question is why not ask her adoring voters to each contribute 2.00. Millie Naples, Fl.
Most vendor the blue collar workers she can pay off from her check if she want too?? she always said I m for BLUE COLLAR WORKERS (Ok pay me now )
I have been a die hard democrat for well over 50 years and have died a thousand deaths over those years and support Obama all the way but I will not contribute to his campaign knowing that any of my money will go to Hillary's debt for running such an irresponsible campaign to gain the White House to protect certain of Bill,s papers as well of those of Bush Sr. and Jr.. This question should certainly be raised to Obama.