Clinton fundraising at convention?
Click the play button to see what Jack and our viewers had to say.
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Yet another sign that Hillary Clinton is doing her dead-level best to take title to the Democratic National Convention.
In addition to the laundry list of concessions she has already wrung out of Barack Obama, Bill and Hillary Clinton plan to use the convention to raise money to pay off more of her campaign debt from the primaries.
Hillary Clinton has announced she will award one lucky donor a trip to the convention – with her. And in case that's not incentive enough, Bill Clinton sent an e-mail to potential contributors promising a memorable week with his wife.
Watch: Cafferty: Clinton in debt?
"You'll get to see Hillary speak on Tuesday, and Barack Obama – the next president of the United States – on Thursday. And I hear Hillary and you will have a chat – I'll make sure to stop by." Makes you want to borrow against your house.
I mentioned Hillary Clinton's doing her best to take title to the convention? Clinton will have her name placed into nomination and there will be a roll call vote. She gets her own prime-time speaking slot. She will be introduced by her daughter, Chelsea. The video preceding her will be produced by her own production company – the same bunch that did the "Man From Hope," for Bill Clinton. Oh, and he's going to speak too. All this for the loser in the race.
The clock is ticking when it comes to Clinton's debt. According to campaign finance rules, candidates only have 20 days after the convention ends to fund-raise for their personal loans. So if you see Senator Clinton out in front of the convention hall with a cup of pencils, buy one. She needs the money.
Here’s my question to you: Is the Democratic Convention the appropriate place for Hillary Clinton to raise money to pay off her campaign debt?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Jessica from Springfield, IL writes:
NO! Not appropriate. If she had gracefully "suspended" her run when WE all knew she couldn't win, she wouldn't BE $20M in debt!! This is Obama's time, also historical; she needs to BUTT OUT!!
Larry from Scappoose Oregon writes:
I guess the media is so desperate for a story you are talking about Hillary fund-raising at the convention. To me it just doesn't matter, as long as she doesn't make a fool of herself on the stage during the speech, it just doesn't matter. There are so many important issues that we could be discussing.
Chad from Los Angeles writes:
I voted for her, but now starting to feel a little embarrassed for her and how desperate she appears now. All this just to pay off a debt that she will make up with her next book, or Bill’s next guest speaking tour.
Karen from Houston Texas writes:
What difference does it make what we think? Obviously the only thing that matters is what Hillary, Bill and her PUMA supporters think. At least that's what the media and she and her supporters keep telling everyone. I will be so glad when this election process is over and I don't have to see or hear the Clintons again.
Nicole from Virgin Islands writes:
Hell to the no!
Let her 18,000,000 supporters retire her debt.
J. writes:
It is in poor form and inappropriate, but I've got an idea, Jack. Why doesn't Hillary just charge large amounts of money for people to overnight in her home? That worked when she and Bill lived in the White House, it should work in New York, too.
Ed from Florida writes:
Jack,
Who are you going to pick on after the convention?
@jackcafferty on Twitter
no no no & hell no!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
No, NO, NO! This is like having the government bail out large corporations. Bailing Hillary out of this jam isn't the job of the convention goers. It is her job and her responsibility. Yet another reason we are lucky she didn't get the nomination!!!!!
Jack
Give me one good reason why she shouldn't??
NO NO NO NO NO NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It beats panhandling. Maybe Bill should just charge his usual fee to speak at the convention. That should cover most of it.
Just one more time, Jack, tell me–who is the Democratic nominee for president? I would have more sympathy for her had she dropped out even 6 weeks before instead of running up this massive debt. It is like people running up credit card debt and not being able to pay it. She knew the bills were coming in and should have dropped out and been a bigger person.
Knoxville, TN
The convntion is an appropriate place for Hillary to wrap up her campaign.
Duh? NO, in big, BIG capital letters! If her campaign debt cannot be paid by her avid PUMA supporters, then she and Bill should quietly go hat in hand to some of their rich buddies. And if her PUMAs are not willing to put their money where their mouths are, I really, REALLY wish they would shut up, already.
Just when you think you've heard it all. Someone needs to tell Hillary this is what happens when you persist in running a campaign for months beyond any possibility of gaining the numbers to win the nomination. She needs to dip into the Clinton family fortune and pay it off herself. Dunning campaign goers is downright tacky.
First of all, I've never been a Clinton supporter but sure, why not? All her delegates will be there and all the rest of the Democratic party big wigs. Since her "18 million supporters" won't do it, then this would be a perfect venue. As long as we walk out of this thing, all united behind Obama, That's all that matters.
NO!! If I irresponsibly run up debt knowing that I don't have the money to pay, then I am alone responsible. Likewise, Hillary ran up that debt knowing she had no money to cover. She should take a page out of Mitt Romney's book and cover it herself. She and Bill have the money.
They are both an embarrassment to the Democratic Party.
Jack, it wasn't Hillary's fault she ran up those debts, it was the predatory lenders. Congress should pass a bailout bill to pay her debt.
How Tacky!!!!!!!!!
No, it is not a good place to raise money for her political campaign. She should be more focused on backing the current presidential nominee Barack Obama. She is really trying to put her own self back in the spotlight and that is not what should be happening.
Jack,
No! She should have raised the money she needed while campaigning. If she wasn't able to manage her finances during the primaries how could she expect us to think she could help this country recover form the Bush era?
Dave
Iowa City, Iowa
why not. she's out to get it any way she can. money, nomination whatever.
I'd send her ten bucks to shut up.
Well, if her 18 million voters get to come to the convention, maybe they can have a cover charge at the door. I think that's the only way she's going to get this debt paid off.
Seriously, its not about her. This is the selection of the nominee, speeches about the Democratic Party and how they will fix things, and the new nominee. I think she should smile, orate, and get out of the way.
I am not anti-Hillary, but I do not think the party should bail her out for mismanaging her campaign spending. The campaign spent more than it had, and now she expects others to pay off her debt. Reminds me of the government bailing out the motrgage industry.
Jack:
It would be more appropriate if she just put up a sign on the floor of the Senate or walk the halls of Congress hat in hand or just paid the thing herself.
Since the super delegates could still wake up and nominate Hillary (the only candidate who can beat McCain), it would be entirely appropriate for the Clintons to raise money there. If she were to be the Nominee after all, she will need it.
Who? ...and why is this lady still around...remember she LOST!
Why doesn't she ask all her 18 million supporters to pay for her failed bid for office
A great deal of Clinton's debt is going to Mark Penn's excessive fees. From the content of his "strategy" memos, I think it highly irregular that the pluralistic Democratic Convention is an ppropriate place for the Clinton Campaign to be pleading for money to pay off her debt.
The appropriate fund raising should be for the DNC and the Obama campaign.
Jack
I think all of us have had enough of Hillary and what she has to do with the convention. And yes it is inappropriate for her to raise money to pay off her campaign debt, maybe if she conceded when the writing was on the wall her debt wouldnt be so high. This convention belongs to Barack Obama.
I don't see why not, it's full of Democrats!
Why not. Good as any.
Jack
No it is not. Her handling of her finances shows her to be equal to that frat boy in the white house, She should just fade away like he hopefully will The primary voters were right when they chose Obama.
Jack
Boynton Beach FL
No, but the Republican Convention is an ideal place for her to round up
a little extra jack to help her pay off her campaign debts. She's helped them out the most.
Sure Jack, and they can get Jack Abramoff to run the committee.
Jack: I would say NO, but "beggars can't be choosey."
Come on. Unlike many of us, Senator Clinton will never have to worry about money for the rest of her life. She chose to spend those enormous sums of money and to go into debt in the process. The notion that politicians must spend gargantuan sums of money to get elected is a sad premise. If a politician has truly worthwhile ideas and a platform that resonates with the voters, it would not take so many millions to buy their votes.
No. The DNC and Senator Obama are raising funds for the party as a whole to when seats throughout the country as well as the White House.
Senator Clinton should write off her debt, like Mitt Romney did and move on.
I for one will continue to support Senator Obama's campaign by donating my $25 – $100 checks monthly. The rest of my limited budget is slotted to pay off my bills. No Jack I don't have royalities from my husband's or my book sells to fall back on. I'm not in the class the McCain says (5million) is middle class. I am POOR!
Hillary Clinton should be retiring her own debt. Between the two of them, Bill and Hillary should be using their own resources to support their political aspirations. Why should I be asked to contribute to her ambitions? I'd like to go out and ask the public to pay for my career ladder.
The DNC should have made it conditional that anyone who decided to cast a roll-call vote for Hillary at the convention would first have to pony up $50,000 to help retire her debt. I'd be curious to see how many delegates would still be really committed to her then.
And may I say that I'm truly disappointed in Rendell's decision to cast his vote for her. He may be my governor, but he is not reflecting my wishes.
No,
She mismanaged her fund and should find another way to get it back. This is just going to look bad on her the next time she try to run for any office.
Absolutely not.
Absolutely not! The convention isn't about her, and frankly unless she becomes vp, I hope to never hear about her, or Bill, again.
Personally, I do not mind her efforts to prostitute herself at the convention in attempting to buy off her debt of $25 million. Obama has been reluctant to help her as is prudent. We will see if there are enough suckers out there in her behalf to parlay this amount for her. She is a good circus event and employing PT Barnum's astute observations that indeed suckers are born every minute! Maybe she can find them!
It doesn't surprise me in the least. Isn't it her money she is trying to re-coup? Of course, she wants it back. There is a big hypocrisy here and it clearly goes against her campaign qoute of : "It isn't about me, it is about our country". Balooney – it has always been about the Clinton's!!
Absolutely not. I have never witness a worse sore loser. Anything to detract from Obama and the VP pick. She is really acting worse than a spolied brat.
Jack: Any money raised at the convention should be used for the General Election. Clinton used poor judgement in running an extended campaign when it became clear that mathematically she could not win. Now she is using poor judgement in trying to usurp the convention that should belong to the nominee, Barak Obama. How can someone with a $100 million income ask me, (living on a small pension,) for money?
Hilary Clinton is giving "women" in general a bad name ... is there any other gender we can assign her? The women who have already broken through the executive-level glass ceiling must be cringing in horror at her tactics (and antics!) I know I am. I can just hear the critiques in the mens' room the next time the male executive establishment encounters a qualified and aggressive female candidate for a position ... "Oh, she's just doing a Hillary!" Thanks a lot, Senator Clinton. You sure have helped us out a lot.
If Hillary has plans to run in 2012, I think she is making a grave mistake using the democrat convention to raise money in an attempt to pay off her debt. The stakes are just too high and would not easily be forgotten.
18 million X 2 dollars each, that would give her the cash she needs. Why would she have to do anything else? Where are those 18 million strong opinionated people, they can rescue her, no need to embarass yourself at the convention, Shouldn't that be all about Obama? I could be wrong, I have been wrong before, like when I kept wondering why does she keep running up the tab on her self and her campaign???
Sure. Why not? The Democratic party is indebted to her for smashing barriers and trying to bring back the Reagan Democrats. They will need her in the fall. Why should she be supportive of the party if the party chooses not to be supportive of her?
Ego can get you in trouble sometimes, and gambling debts should not be rescued by someone else, but I do think Obama should help as much as possible for party unity. Did he not make comments on this subject after she conceded?
She and Bill could pass a hat around!
Jack,
No. The convention is for one thing: officially nominating and getting 100% behind the candidate. All the convention's energy should serve that end. All of her energy at the convention should serve that end. I admire Hilary for running as hard as she did, but she drops a notch in my estimation if she tries to raise money for herself at the convention. Go elsewhere for the money.
Jack, Does everything have to be about Hillary? If She doesn't know how budget and get out of a bad situation within her paerty, how can she run a country. Sorry Jack but the convention is not the place to ask for money.
No, Jack. The convention is to confirm the nomination of future candidates, paticularly those for President and his running mate. Time may also be used to agree on how the Democrats stand on key issues.
However, knowing the Clinton's, it will be used to further Hillary's interest as to her nomination for Presidential Candidate; moreover, all the Clinton band will use the convention's time get ask party members and their supporters for monies to pay for Hillary's primary bid.
Jack,
She should try to raise money to retire her debts, anyway and anywhere she can. Just not at the convention. Her so called supporters don't seem inclined to give her any more of their money.
It seems that the 18 million people who voted for her are unwilling to donate $2.00 each to her cause and insure that she retires her debt. Makes you wonder just how many of the 18 million voters were republican crossovers trying to have some fun. Seems as if Hillary was not as ready and prepared as she thought she was and she was the one with all the experience, or so she claimed.
Judie
St. Augustine, Fl.
No, not for anybody but the Clintons. They feel rules don't apply to them, whether legal, moral, or ethical. Of course, it is difficult to follow precepts when you have no idea what they mean.
Hilliary should pass the hat during Obama's acceptance speech.
I don't see the big deal about it. There are plenty of people shaking their cup outside in Denver.
Absolutely not since the Senator from Illinois gave Hillary all the tools she will need to take the nomination at the convention. Mrs. Clinton will need the money for the general election. Perhaps if Obama is lucky she will name him VP.
Hi Jack:
If should be enturely up to Barak Obama. It's his call.
Ron San Diego
Jack:
I am so tired of the Clintons and their antics. If by donating $1 to her now defunct campaign can get her out of my face forever, then so be it.
Jack, every donation to her failed campaign comes with free "whine".
Has anything the Clinton's have done since the race started been appropriate? The convention is not a fund raising event for the loser, and Hillary is a loser.
Jack, can I answer James from Chicago for you?
Because James, it is not her party and she cannot cry if she wants to, that why.
No it isn't the correct place for anyone to try and eliminate their debt but these are the Clinton's, the poor people who need the money the most out of all Americans. If I was a mulit-billionaire, I'd offer to pay off their debt with one condition, go away and never come back.
No, but this is the Clinton's who feel they own the party. plus they do not want to spend the $109 millions they made in the past seven yrs. they like to play and let some pay for it.
If I see her on the sidewalk with a homemade cardboard sign and a tin can, I may give her a few dollars. That would be worth the entertainment.
Dee, Denver
No. She entered the race knowing she could fail to be nominated, so now she needs to step back and if her supporters want to bail her out, fine. But all Democrats, even Hillary's supporters, need to get behind Obama 100% at the convention or the voters of America, which seem to prefer sound bites to thoughtful discussion, are going to give us four more years of Republican nonsense in the White House.
Jack,
All I have to say to Hilliary is... Welcome to OUR world.... real people in deep debt trying to pay off that debt keep our house and buy gas and food without going bankrupt... I wish I could get a bunch of people together in a convention center and ask them to give me a few thousand dollars each.
The answer is no of course not... it isn't the place for catharsis either but that won't stop her.
Luwanna Guysville Ohio
It's her last chance. Many of the Clinton donors are maxed out in their campaign contributions and she needs Obama supports to donate. I will never donate to her since I think the last stretch of primaries when it was clear she wasn't going to win is when she spent most of her money and the campaign was very negative. If Obama mentions it then that might be a little more appropriate and doesn't sound like Hillary is begging (even though she is very wealthy and can afford it).
Sorry, Jack, but my experience with panhandlers is that most operate on street corners, not inside convention halls.
Seriously, Hillary has a web-site and the opportunity to arrange fundraisers. And there is always the phone. One of the consequences of making a political donation, is that you hear from these folks often.
Political conventions should stay focused on serious business ... setting the stage and tone of the final weeks of the Presidential election cycle ... not as a vehicle for the loser to retire debt.
Jack,no the convention is not the place nor the time for hillary clinton to hold a fundraising to retired her debts. Houston Texas
Absoulutely NOT!!!
Here again! Why don't we forgot about this case and move to important ones.
Absolutely not Jack. It's a travesty. Would Ford ask GMAC if they could use their assembly line to produce some of their cars?..NO, Because it just doesn't make sense. The Clintons have no SHAME!!!!
This kind of reminds me of Bush trying to wage a war on borrowed money. It was a stupid move to try to campaign with a budget deficit and makes me think she doesn't really have the financial judgement to be president, had she been the nominee. Maybe it takes a village to raise a child, now it takes a PUMA to erase a huge debt. Who in their right mind wants to donate to a lost cause?
I hate when I'm down to my final 80 million dollars and I have to pay for pursuing my dream. It just don't seem fair
Why doesn't Hillary Clinton just ask all her 18 million voters to send her a dollar or two. That should pay off her debt in no time. If they loved her so much to vote for her, then a dollar shouldn't seem like too much to ask. Obama is the presumptive nominee so passing the Hillary Clinton collection plate around the Democratic Convention seems highly inappropriate.
Victoria – NYC
One thing for sure...not too many Democrats are staying home. I have a feeling the media will be pretty eager to cover the show. Showdown?
John McCain may have to get Paris AND Britney and start ANOTHER war if he wants equal coverage. Or I guess he could just invite the Clinton family to his convention.
Jack, I don't think it is the appropriate place, but she is going to try it anyway. By the way, where are her 18 million supporter, if they each give $3 dollars a peice, that will be 54 million, so much for her 18 million supports.
Jack, Hillary's self-serving efforts at the convention will not hurt Obama but will probably irreversibly tarnish her own image and derail any 2012 or 2016 campaign for president.
No, 18 MILLION times. 18 million times $1 equals $18 million. So get half of those to pay DOUBLE ($2)- you know the ones that did not max out at $2300- and her debt is still taken care of. What I hate is SHE would not have let this happen if she WERE the nominee. The convention is for crowning- oops, nominating our candidate- for President of the United States. Please let this go smoothly or I am scared what we might see in Denver!
You know this soap is never going to end... I don't even think that paying her debt would make her go away.
I think the party should pay off her debt. Had the media treated her
fair during the campaign she would be where Obama is today.
I'd rather witness debt relief for Africa prior to raising funds for a debt incurred by a multi-millionaire Presidential candidate.
No, it is not the place. His is Obama's night and it really ticks me off that he being as gracious as he can, is being taken advantatge of by the Clinton's. But I guess it is Obama's fault in the long run, as he is at times just to damn nice and forgiving.
Jack, listen to my fellow bloggers (obvious Obama supporters) speak like the convention floor is sacred ground. What ever gave them that ideal. This is a politcal floor and there is no desacrating it. This is what we have become, money grubbing politicos, this is the new American (the past will have nothing to do with up), expect more of the same, film at eleven
+
NO!
Unlike Mrs. Clinton, we Democrats are mostly NOT millionaires. All of our political donations should further our efforts to take back the country from the plutocrats.
Does it really make a difference! The question should be why dose it cost so much! The cost of elections is truly staggering!
No , had she stopped her campaign 60 days earlier she wouldn't have the debt. When I over spend it's on me, as this should be on her..
I'll send money, but only if Bill promises to go away.
I voted for him twice, but every time he opens his mouth these days, he makes me wish he -had- been impeached.
Jack: If the 18,000,000 people that voted for Hillary in the primary each sent $1 to her campaign, her debt would be paid off.
Where are the 18,000,000 cracks in the glass ceiling?
Another example of just how low-class and tacky the Clinton's really are!
So much for 18,000,000 supporters – where are they, where are the PUMAS???
Why not? Obama did basically the same thing. I recently got an email announcing 10 selected donors who would be his guest at the convention. But then, he is the nominee and he's not in debt so it could be a tad more appropriate in his case.
I think the Clinton takeover of this convention is what is really unpleasant. Do you think she would have been as kind to Obama had he lost to her? She'd have tried to squash him like a bug.
It really isn't all about HIllary or the Clintons, however much they try to make it that way. I used to have a lot of respect for both Bill and Hillary, but whatever integrity they had is long gone.
First she wants her name on roll call. Now she wants to swindle her 18 million for money. Just like the Clintons.
Oh Lord ! The woman ows millions of dollars to unpaid vendors, goes cap in hand around the land asking for money to pay off her debt and has been given a major speaking part at the convention. That's akin to a bankrupt mortgagee being the key note speaker at a major financial instution annual board meeting and....oh yeah, asking for money. Good luck!
I'm shocked this is even up for discussion. We're consistently reminded of hilary's 18 million voters that want her accomplishment recognized at the convention. A couple of dollars from each supporter should easily clear her debt. Where's the exciting protesters that are hell bent on disrupting the convention?
I guess so! She's taken over everything else! Who's the candidate anyway?
B.C. Canada
Hillary Clinton is old news about sour grapes that should scraped from the shoes of every lucid delegate entering the Democratic National Convention.
That's what the definition of catharsis is.
Where does this sense of entitlement come from, Jack? The CW is that she's positioning for next time already. Could democrats possibly nominate her next time after seeing what she's really made of?
I don't think she is going away. I think Obama will select her as his VP. When I heard it said that he and Michelle had made the decision last week, I knew it was Hillary. That is also why Obama decided to allow the roll call. If he were to allow the roll call and almost half went to Hillary, that would be such a downer. But now with her as the VP, they'll be so much excitement. I don't know if it is a winning ticket, but I don't think Obama has any choice. The other candidates they are talking about won't help his ticket at all.
Hi Jack
In case you haven't noticed everything is appropriate for the Clintons.
I wrote to you before to watch them pull something at the convention.
Mike CA
$13M of this debt is money she loaned to her campaign, ie: herself. I think she should be helped to get the $12M she owes the outside vendors that gave her credit in good faith. As for the $13M of personal funds??? Let her eat cake. Sorry Hillary, sometimes you have to pay to play. Since you proclaimed early in the primaries that you "have never lost an election" you've been in, maybe now you know how every one else felt when you won and they didn't. Losing is never fun. Suck it up and take your medicine.
Jack,
Hey I got an idea. How about I go to Vegas for the weekend, lose my entire savings account playing blackjack, and then come to your next birthday party and ask for donations so I can pay my rent?
This is totally ridiculous. This just goes to show that she intends and likely will steal the nomination from Obama. She needs the apparatus in place so she can take donations right after she does. Her illusions of grandeur are astounding.
She is not going to get anymore than she has gotten from her supporters. The best thing for Hillary to do is WRITE IT OFF AS A LOST. It will be a very cold day in hell before I give her a dime. She has a lot of gump in her pants to go and beg at the convention.. How ruthless. All she has to do is ask her 18,000,000 supporters to send her $1 and there she would have it. I'm sure they think she is worth $1. Have a good day Cafferty. I enjoy you.
just win Hillary, we need you .
So what's wrong with that? People have a choice here...
to contribute or not.
Why not?
In the spirit of party unity.
Can one of the attending delegates, super or not, have the same privelage accorded to them? That is can they get an extra ticket and use it for fundraising purposes? If not, then Hillary should not either.
Other than that, I don't have anything against the idea. I sure hope and pray that she finds a way to reconcile that debt in time.
Maybe the image of Hillary with hat in hand at the convention will finally shut the big mouths of her sore-loser supporters.
Or maybe it will give them another reason to complain.
Either way she's gotta do what she's gotta do. It can't be easy for her and I think folks need to give her a break. She should have dropped out of the primaries a while back instead of trying to do as much damage as she could to Obama, the party and the country.
Late in the primary when she started really slipping she made a decision to loan her campain over ten million dollars to try to buy the noimination.
Her tactics failer her in the primary and now she feels entitled to beg for a reimbersment of her investment in herself.
Does that sound a bit arrogant to anyone else?
Send her home to Arkansas (or New York)
CJ
Oklahoma
I am so tried hearing what the Clinton want. I am sure if any one checks they will find out that Hillary has been doing what ever she can to try and get enough votes so she is the one who comes out the winner after the democratic convention. If the people who voted for her are so sure they want her as their pres. then why aren't they paying off her bills? I can not believe even she would make herself look so low as to try and raise money at the convention, but then if you are as sure that everyone truly wants you as she is I guess nothing she does should surprise any one.
Probably not but Obama doesn't have much choice if he wants to win over her supporters. You can bet Obama has gone along with this so he can show his support for her. I think it was a big mistake on Obama's part to allow either of the Clintons to speak at the convention, I would not be surprised by some nasty events not only by her supporters but by his supporters who don't like the Clintons and there are plenty on both sides.
Rose
AZ
tampa, fl, no, but it is a perfect time to introduce the democratic party to the concept of nominating the person with the most votes, and those votes are from us individuals, not superdelegates or "your vote doesn't count due to the moon being full on tuesday" type of nonsense. tell me jack, when did we voters stop getting a say so in the election process?
The Clintons once again show, as they have throughout Barack Obama's run to the presidency, that they are like school in the summertime...........
no class!
No. The convention is not the place nor time for Hillary and Bill to get their beg on.
Hillary talked about her 18 million votes why doesn't she ask each one of those voters to pledge $1 to retire her enormous debt.
Then she could have a surplus to boot.
As much as I like bill, I think Hillary is becoming a huge pain is the backside with her antics. I believe she can pay off her own debt and she should leave center stage for Barack to accept his party's nomination.
If Hillary hadn't run such a negative campaign and Bill would get over the fact that Obama won, their debt would have probably been paid off by now. I voted for Clinton on Super Tuesday but was digusted by the negative turn her campaign took after that. Once that happened, I stopped donating to her campaign. Yes, I was one of the 18 million who voted for her but until I see a little respect and humility from Bill, they are getting no more money from me!!!!
Jack, The Clintons and the Obama's are good friends and the press does not want us to know.
I have a question for you as regards McCain and the church furum.
Here’s my question to you Jack: Can the presidential race make a “D” student an “A” student? If your answer is “NO” how come McCain knew all the questions and answers? He even answered most of the question before the pastor asked them?
WHERE IS P.U.M.A.....?
It isn't so much of a bother that she want's to fundraise at the convention to cover her debts, after all, she did run an aggressive campaign. What does bother me is that this atmosphere of clout that the Clinton's once had as the president and first lady, has not gone away after they have been out of office.
When I hear that she's fundraising, and when the news media hears that she's fundraising why isn't it that we just don't say... so what? A politician fundraising; no news there.
Instead, the fact that this is a story at all just cuts into the time that Barak has earned, and that gives her far more press than she deserves. Have the other candidates payed down their debts?
No she should not!!!!!!!!!!!!! Where are her devoted 18 million that made the crack in the ceiling. Please bail out your own debt Hillary and not at this convention. If each of your devoted followers gave one dollar you would be fine. I am so sick of Hillary. I know she realizes that this is her last horrah but my, my, my what a way to go out. Her name will be mud when this is over. She will not be able to run for dog catcher. You have surely torn your butt with many voters who have class and dignity that act civilized (definitely not the idots who follow you). It seems these people and Hillary have taken leave of their senses. God help them all, because in the end she will need it.
This is SAD.
Jack: I thought she got 18 million votes. If they each donated 1-2 dollars to her campaign she could pay off that debt and have money left over. And to the people who think that she can still get the nomination and she is the only one to beat John McCain, keep dreaming. It's not going to happen. If she had stopped campaigning when she was clearly not going to win she would not be in debt. I love people who keep saying that she would be the best President. Think what would happen to our national debt with her running the show. By the way I am a black 57 year old female who voted for her.
There is no such thing as an appropriate time or place to pay back campaign debt to someone that is already filthy rich and was responsbile for mismanaging her own campaign finances.
I'm sure Hillary and Bill will more than make up for their losses with paid appearances for the rest of their lives. We should all be so unfortunate.
No it's not. Where are the 18 million supposed supporters she keeps talking about? If each of them threw in $1.12, she'd be out of debt. But something tells me that once again, her math is way off and they don't exist.
Boise, ID
Jack, the Clinton's always do what they want. Her debt is "HER" dedt. She is not only trying to raise money to pay herself back she is also going to place her name for the nomination at the convention. I am hoping Obama has his eyes wide open and realize what the Clinton's are up to. The Clinton's are "POOR" losers. Every person that runs in an election should know they have to pay there own bills. The questions should be Jack, "Who is the real Candidate". Obama or Hilliary? I was of the opinion it was Obama.
No. It's time for the Clinton's to abandon the Democratic Party and start up their own. Then those 18 million cracks in the glass ceiling can choose to fully support that new party of choice and get that welfare couple off the Democratic Party's back. In fact, the Clinton's party can be called the Welfare Party, but the people won't be the ones receiving financial aide.
Sure. Why not? Hillary should also swing by the Republican convention while she's at it. Maybe Karl Rove and Cheney will write her and Bill a big fat check so they can keep up their shenanigans through November.
Not as part of a speech, but otherwise there is no apparent problem. Makes me wonder why yiou question it. You may find Obama people fundin raising – if you do that's OK.
I doubt that the Clintons will be doing any overt fundraising at the convention but if they do. it would be bad for the democratic party. The convention is an opportunity for the democrats to showcase what an an Obama administration would look like. The people want to see who their leaders will be and how they will govern. They want to see a united party willing to serve their nation and their needs. They want to see a strong party with compassionate interests. They want to see a contemporary party with one eye on the present and the other on the future. They want to see a party that will repair the machinery of government and return the nation to the people. They want to see a convention about ideas and principles, about freedom and justice, about peace and prosperity and most of all, about honor and truth.
tom
las vegas
No Jack, the Democratic Convention is the wrong place to exact a reward for her service to the cause and retire her debt. The Republican Convention is the proper venue as a grateful GOP might want to thank her for her invaluable service to McCain's campaign and with a little financial encouragement on their part, result in a ten-fold return of their dough, er bread, on the water!
Yes jack I did send her money so what? you have a problem with that its your mind that cant find any thing good about one of this country history.
Jack,
This kind of reminds me of the South Park where the homeless invade South Park, Colorado and beg every one for change, turning them in to change hungry people. This is very similar, except she can pay her own debt off! Remember the old saying "Don't Write Checks your But can't Cash"
Whatever. Just get it over with. So we can get on with the business of electing Senator OBAMA president and get this country back on track.
OBAMA 08
The convention is not about Hillary's primary woes, it is for the official naming and celebration of the Democratic candidate. This is a sure sign that her support and donations to retire her debt have come to an end. While she is on break from her day job, why don't the Clintons give a few paid speeches. That'll take care of it in no time at all.
They just won't go away. I find her efforts to shingha the convention dispicable, her nonstop begging for money tackey and her need for the limelight sad. Where are the 18 million supporters Senator Clinton keeps talking about.? A few bucks apiece and she is good to go.
No way. It’s shame on who. Clinton family? Democrats? Nearly 18 million voters who supported Hillary? Hillary alone? That’s right. It’s she. She is responsible for this mess.
One thing is good about this news. She doesn’t have a chance to get nomination in this convention. American people know now that how Hillary can handle their financial problems if she herself can’t hers.
Shafi Alam
Austin, Texas
Now Tokyo, Japan
I say her "loyal supporters" pony up $1.00 each and if she is still short, perhaps Forrester the billionaire and her loyal Governor Rendell should retire her debt. Of course all of this should be done at Rendell's home. Governor Richardson said all of this made him a little nervous and I so agree. I wonder what they have up their sleeves.
Since Obama will put a chicken in every Pot, a new mule for everybody and free medical insurance, I am sure he could find a couple of bucks for another non-contributor Hillary
The Clintons could easily pay off Hillary's debts at the convention without taking center stage to do so. If they just put Bill in a Dunk Tank device for 5 bucks a shot, her debts will be paid within a day or two.
There's no way on earth that it is appropriate for a millionaire 100 times over to ask me to help retire a debt that they foolishly ran up. How she keeps a straight face while pretending to be "the blue collar candidate" is a mystery for the ages. Pay it off yourself.
Jack,
Yes. If Obama wants to give her floor space then why not. Those donors would not be donating to Obama any way. I love this article especially when you said, Clinton will have her name placed into nomination and there will be a roll call vote. Misleading the public are we? When Hillary was asked if her name would be put in to nomination she said, " No. Thats not going to happen." Although you would like to make this sound like she had her name put in It was Obama that had her put in to try to get some of her supporters. It was him pandering plain and simple. I know that you will not read this. It has to much truth for your spot. I just thought that this is typical of your kind of pro Obama spin.
It is an inappropriate place to solicit donations. There is a paradox here – Hillary managed her resources poorly and wants to be rescued by people who may be worth a lot less than one-million $$. It makes us wonder how she will manage her 2012 campaign. And how she would manage a presidency!
So what! It's a convention, that's what everbody does. From folks going to Charity Functions. Most of the folks know that. They are not holding it as a secret. No surprise to anybody. Get Over It!! It's a conc\vention. Everybody will be raising money for themselves as well. at both conventions. Grow up JACK
Definetly not. That's like McCain going to the Democratic convention to raise money. Obama had to battle with Clinton to win the primary. He won, and now he's still battling her every time he tries to raise money. Answer me this one question: Why should Clinton be rewarded for poor financial management?
Obama/Hagel '08!
Jack,
I liked Bill and Hillary Clinton. But I am tired of them. They should stop ruining the Democratic Party's chances for their own interest. Please leave convention alone.
NO. I believe this is her mess and she needs to handle it, not on a national stage – taking away from the real reason the convention is held. Furthermore I think it is crazy that she would expect Obama to raise all this money for her failed campaign before he has secured the presidency fpr himself. She must feel that she should sit back and let everyone else pay off her debt. If you ask me, the whole this is laughable.
Heck No, Jack. Hillary needs to learn that losers don't call the shots. she needs to be respectful of Obama's dominance in the race and let him have his day. Enough of Hillary already. The woman is giving America a headache with her delusions of granduer. "hillary, I've got news for ya, you didn't win!"
Jack: There is nothing wrong with raising money to pay off Clinton's campaign debt. All the players with money who are democrats will be at the convention. I do think the nominating speech and roll call vote is stupid, but then all political conventions have some stupid as part of the game plan.
John
Alabama
Heck No, Jack. Hillary needs to learn that losers don’t call the shots. she needs to be respectful of Obama’s dominance in the race and let him have his day. Enough of Hillary already. The woman is giving America a headache with her delusions of grandeur. “hillary, I’ve got news for ya, you didn’t win!”
It's incredibly inappropriate for Hillary to raise money at the convention. She should not have gone so in debt in the first place, it was irresponsible management on her part. But the convention should be focused entirely on supporting Barack Obama's bid for the Presidency. She is getting too much time as is.
If her 18 million voters gave 1 dollar apiece... isn't that enough to... never mind I'm sure they would much rather tear the party apart on national television. A classic example of an unequipped over ambitous leader allowing her angry mob to run wild. The blind leading the blind right into another 4 years of the same. I pray that Obama survives this Billary B.S.
Senator Clinton is the only candidate capable of being the best President that our children, our troops and America needs and deserves right now.....such disrespect for her only partially disguises the guilt others feel for supporting lesser candidates (mccain/obama)....
Jack, this is TACKY. And now we see how she would have Governed as President!
will she, bill, and chelsea be standing outside the convention hall doors with their red pails and bells?
It is the Republicans she is helping. Shouldn't she do her pan-handling at their convention?
No, but this is just the latest in a long list of inappropriate things she's doing. But as long as she won't be the VP pick (for Obama, at least), this stunt may very well be the last one that could hurt Obama. I hope that's not just wishful thinking on my part.
Considering she could make money by selling her influence, I'm pretty ok with this.
Obama continues to beg his supporters for money, what is the difference?
Neither can manage money, and neither deserve to be in office.
McCain is the only choice for sane people, Democrat, or Republican.
Fundraising at the convention is in poor taste.
Staying in the race after it was clear she couldn't win was in poor taste.
Throwing the kitchen sink at her opponent in desperation was in poor taste.
Sulking for 4 days after her opponent secured the number of delegates without conceding needed for the nomination was in poor taste.
Not chastising supporters looking to make trouble at the convention was in poor taste.
It is because of all this poor taste that Hillary should not be the Vice Presidential running mate.
Helping her retire her debt means she can spend more of the 20 following days campaigning for Barack Obama, so she should definitely do it and everyone in the party should help her. Telling her to just go away is a perfect strategy, if one wants Barack to lose.
its sad to see the comments of so many who obviously have decided to compromise the best interests of our children, our troops and America by supporting lesser candidates (mccain/obama) to take on the awesome responsibilities of the next administration....
jack,no i do not think hillary clinton should try to raise money to pay off her campain debts at the democratic convention,she got herself into the problems she has and i think the convention should be focused on barack obama the nominee not her
Jack,
This highlights the fundamental reason she was not selected. Her primary campaign was poorly run, poorly advised and poorly financed. This reflects why so many people chose Obama. He had most of the same ideals yet he surrounded himself with bright advisors and made brilliant choices.
It is inappropriate for her to come to the convention and add that burden to what should be an intoxicating event.
Jack..let me get this straight......18,000,000 million voters times $20 equals.......let me see.....$360,000,000.....How much was her debt again??
It seems that the Clintons are hell-bent on making sure McCain is the next president!
If it is done in good taste, what better place to meet people with the money. I don't want to see her out side with a tin cup.
No, she just wants to try to take away all of the attention from Obama. The convention is for Obama, not her.
No. She should get it from the oil lobbyists like the republicans.
Jack,
She should be allowed to raise the money at the convention. If she promises to give the money back to the people who donated after she was mathamatically out of the race in APRIL!
Joe
Ohio
The fact that she still has a debt when all these PUMAs are making a stink tells me that these PUMAs are just troublemaking. We haven't even seen her debt dwindle to a half of what it was. If these PUMAs are so "FOR" Hillary, why can't half of them pay just $1.00 each and kill a great chunk of her debt?
Why is anyone but Hillary responsible for the gross mismanagement of her campaign or campaign funds? She made the choices, now grow up and live with it. Politicians always think someone other than them is responsible when the news is bad. It is just another example of her failed leadership capabilities. A woman for president – Yes, but Hillary is not the right woman. We don't need to relive the Clinton's antic for the next 8 years.
Vote wisely!
Could Clinton be proving more why I didn't support her?? She can't even figure out how to balance her own budget, much less the country's. She can blame this on her diehard supporters all she wants. The fact remains that she has not been sincerely supporting Obama and that has further encouraged the Clinton fanatics. Why haven't those supporters paid off her debt?? Curious..... THe answer: NO!
I'll be happy to chip in a buck on the condition that the Clinton's go away forever. I'll pass on the prize, thank you.
Predictable Behavior, Isn't It ???
Hi Jack
your talking about Hillary,she would raise money at her mothers birthday party to pay off her debt,she made this debt with a losing campaighn and she shoul pay the debt herself,she didnt budget her money and thats just to bad.maybe she can come to CNN and work off her debt.
clearwater,fl
Let me get this straight. Hillary spent more money than she had and 18 million people voted to give her the keys to the US budget? Next she'll demand President Obama create a "Retire My Debt" tax on tire gauges.
I'm concerned that Hillary's dominance of the convention will overshadow the candidate. She needs to face the fact that she has lost the nomination and get behind the party.
Yes. It is called the DEMOCRATIC National Convention. Hillary is a Democrat and has been a huge part of the primary that lasted for months and months. This also gives Hillary and Bill more time on stage to convince their former supporters to support Obama.
Jack,
From a business perspective, what better place to attempt to raise funds than with a national audience and a room full of sypathizers. From a political perspective, it may not be the best place as it may dilute the funds that would otherwise have gone to Obama. Either way, I wish her well, however, she is to blame for this huge debt as she should have bowed out gracefully sooner than she did.
No. Hillary's debt is her own business. Speaking of business, why can't the Clintons use some of their $100 million windfall profits since Bill left office to pay off her debt? Instead, the money (and power)-hungry Clintons will continue to be a thorn in Obama's side.
It sounds like The Clinton's (and Penn) are still campaigning for president. Still using the "kitchen sink" tactics...But this time they are using it against their own. Very unbecoming...I hope it all turns out for them & worth it.
Remember, that nasty media will be around in 2012 to remind everybody what you did to get where you are...Karma has a way of doing that!
Look ... If those ardent supporters of hers who presumably have raised boatloads of money to fight for her nomination ( that she is still going to lose ) had instead donated all that money wasted for commercials and the like to her debt elimination, she would have been done with paying off her debt by now ...
John ...
Absolutely NOT, but when has she ever done the right and proper thing?
Hillary can fundraise wherever she wants as long as she honestly backs Barack Obama for President. If she doesn't realize that she will take most of the blame if he loses in November she's a worse politician than I thought.
Jack –
18,000,000 supporters?
Surely not all are tapped out. Seems like she need to ask the PUMAs to Unite For her A.. and send money!
Of course it is...duh! It'll help complete the 1-2 punch and keep the democrats divided. Hillary was the chess master the whole 2nd half of the primaries and this is her cherry on the cake. What better way to show her support for the party while proving Obama's overall weakness. Quite brilliant I'd say.
Hillary 2012...bank on it!
She must have underestimated the Obama Campaign's intellect to think, she would have the debt paid off, for the convention.
The campaign is waiting to see all this support, of her supporters, before paying off anything.
We're still waiting Bill, for real this time.
No more inviting Obama to do other things for you, in other countries overseas.
You see, We the People are still awake Jack, it's those nasty little quips of Puma and the other few die hards, that make us stay up at night.
It ALL depends on truly, real support, of our candidate. We're not stupid, you know.
I am sad to be a democrat now. The radical liberals support the troops but not the mission they sent them to do in the first place....we need a draft again so people value their country more once again.
But Hilary is doing something I like.... in War, Love, and Politics....there are no rules, haven't we realized that by now? Hilary can fund raise anywhere, anytime.
Jack, I'd rather see her being responsible about paying her debts than babbling about how much more of our money she's going to spend.
Of course, I won't be listening...
Jack! !
Come on, where better to knock down the debt and make things uneasy for Obama all in one fell swoop ??
Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. She is doing her best to detract attention from Obama. It hardly seems appropriate to collect money for HER coffers at the convention, but that has never stopped the Clintons.
Hillary Clinton should have assesed her own ability to pay off any debts she chose to take out for her self and her campaign. When one takes on debt it is their own task to pay it off. Dosen't she know that is the American way?
A. Harris
Bradenton, Florida
NO, NO, NO, NO, NO !
Jack's idea is the best. Let both Clinton's stand at the entrance to the convention hall and sell pencils !
That does it for me. I will not turn on the convention until Thursday, when the candidate we're supposed to be focusing on actually has a turn.
it still seems pretty sad that Hillary's supposed "18 million" voters/supporters couldn't just step up will just $1 or $2 each. Gives a whole new meaning to "voting with their wallets".
The convention is a great place to raise money for Hillary. It gives her (and Bill) something to talk about that won't hurt Obama's campaign.
Why not. If I am not mistaken, no one has been nominated yet and there has been no roll cal vote. We only have a "presumptive" nominee at this point, and he's still raising money at every opportunity.
No it isn't but if her 18million supporters are so dedicated to her, why don't each of them donate $2.00 and the debt will be settled without a blink? They need to put their money where their mouths are and stop disrupting progress.
Not really but appropriate or not if I was in debt I would use the opportunity.
Why is it necessary belittle good people who are working within the system to fund their effort to run for public office?
Frankly I prefer this sort of innocent process of auctioning off time with a candidate to the much sleazier process of exchanging billion dollar contracts and myriad other concessions to wealthy businesses in exchange for greasing the palms of lobbyist and their political cronies.
If the democrats want to have a bake sale to raise funds for their candidates whats the problem?
I can't think of a better place for Democrat to raise money than at a convention of them. It's kinda like if Captain Kirk needed to get out of debt, wouldn't he have a fundraising booth at the Trekkie convention. It makes sense. The same goes for a Republican doing the same by the way.
Absolutely not! Ridiculously irresponsible of Clinton to run up campaign debt when it was obvious she would not be the nominee. This is not the venue – she lost. Glad she will not be president, imagine her fiscal irresponsibility once she became president! She'd be asking the people to bail her out!
I am very ecstatic that most of her ardent supporters are eventually going to vote for "A Republican" but I do not see why they had to waste all that money they raised after her concession to fight for a nomination she is still going to lose. Had they put their efforts to just reducing her debt, she will not be needing to go to the convention to raise money ...
I think it’s fine.
Also, I wanted to say that I think it’s great Obama has been considerate enough to make these concessions to her even though some people are accusing him of being weak. But in my opinion, I think his making these concessions shows the strength of his character and his confidence in himself.
Jack,
A nice lemonade stand on the side of some rural road in Arkansas where a few folks still like her might be more lucrative!
I have to say that i was a passionate supporter of Hillary Clinton's candidacy during the primary season. Now, I pledge myself to the democratic nominee, Senator Obama.
Hillary is completely within her right to do whatever she can, as long as it doesn't hurt Obama's chances of wining, to raise money to retire her debt. I find it amazing that people still have such a negative perception of her and what her intentions are. She has done an amazing thing by runing for the presidency... to call her a "looser", Jack, is insulting to everyone who voted for her. I find it even more unbelievable that anyone thinks that her runing a contest where the winner gets to fly to see her, and every speaking democrat that day, is taking away from Obama.
Why not! She should be nominated instead the DNC picked Obama. If anyone in the DNC was bright enough they would have realized Hillary carried all the state that would have given the democrats a win in the Nov. Bush did the fuzz math and won but the DNC can’t add 2+2 together. Good luck for a win in November DNC you picked another loser. Hillary 08
Yes jack the domocratic convection is the best place for hillary to raise money to retire her debt. she is the one of the reasons why the democratic is favoured to win this fall election and moreso if Hillary raised enough money to settle her campaignn debt and any left over money I would advise Hillary to give it to Jack so that he can buy a new brain; a brain which will tell him to stop hit up on the Clintons.
NO. Instead of listening to democratic party officials and dropping out of the race when she had no chance of winning, she stubbornly continued for selfish reasons. Now she's expecting those same people to help her get out the debt it created for her? It highlights exactly why I'm glad she's not the democratic nominee: her selfish and stubborn nature.
Jack, what bothers me most about Hillary's effort to erase her campaign debt on the back of the Obama campaign is that she incurred over $20 million it after it became obvious to all but Bill and Hill that the primary was effectively over. There was really no chance that she would come out the victor. And despite the obvious, she instead persisted in running a highly negative campaign to the bitter end, a campaign designed to raise Obama's negatives to the stratosphere in hopes that somehow she and Bill could twist enough superdelegates' arms to change their vote to her side of the ledger. This is just wrong. It feels wrong.
One thing is for sure. Should Obama lose this election, I, for one, will not support a presidential run by Hillary Clinton in 2012.
Absolutely. Anything to make money. Just because she spent the money to try to beat Obama, why shouldn't her subjects pay it for her?
If everyone of the 18 million people who voted for Hillary would send her just one buck she'd be straight...I doubt however that they will.
It's an unfortunate situation for Hillary,that her & her campaign created. After it was clear that their was no way the numbers added up for her to win the nomination she continued to run claiming she wanted EVERYONE to vote (basically her puma's) I think they should pay her debt & for the damage her extended run did to the party. Bobby Ocala Fl.
If I click my heels 3 times will it make Hill, Bill, and her debt just go away! Oh...why won't she just disappear
Jack,
I donated $25 to help retire Hillary's debt after Barack WON a the nomination in good faith even after I had donated hundreds to Obama. What a mistake
I received the famous letter from Bill this morning and have been railing ever since.
I voted for Bill Clinton twice but his and her deportment during the primary was the most classless exhibit by a former President and an ungracious loser on her part as well.
There is an old French expression "ils- ont beaucoup de front" Losely translated " they have enough forehead to go all the way around there heads.
NO it is not appropriate!
Paul from
Sarasota
I think it is time for Hillary to bite the bullet and ante up the millions of dollars she spent on her campaign long after the race was over. Hillary's supporters have little or no desire to pay for what didn't work. Paying for the campaign debt is like making payments on a lemon automobile. You regret the purchase, resent the payments, and rue the day you traded off your old but reliable heap.