More scintilating Clinton $ reporting
January 28, 2009 10:46 am ET by Eric Boehlert
It just never ends, does it? At first, the whole soggy story revolved around the fact that foreign governments or leaders had donated money to Clinton's Foundation and that was an awful, terrible thing because with Hillary Clinton becoming SOS she might hand over America's foreign policy to the highest bidder. (Plus, how dare foreign dignitaries give money to a foundation that, among other things, helps poor people around the world.)
Well, despite Christopher Hitchen's Clinton-hating heavy breathing, that Hillary's-going--to-be-sold-to-the-highest-bidder storyline (nothing sexist there, right?) hasn't really gone anywhere. But fear not, the AP has a new Clinton $ angle.
Headline: "Bill Clinton made millions from foreign sources"
Lead:
Former President Bill Clinton earned nearly $6 million in speaking fees last year, almost all of it from foreign companies, according to financial documents filed by his wife, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.
More foreign funny business, right? At this point, after reading these never-ending stories I actually wish somebody would uncover some actual news, even if it was hugely embarrassing to the Clintons. But that somebody aint the AP. The entire story's about how Bill Clinton was paid speaking fees by business located outside the U.S. That's the "foreign sources." A Canadian publisher. A German entertainment company. etc.
Bill Clinton is one of the most famous people in the world and businesses headquartered outside of the U.S. have paid him a lot to hear him speak.
Thanks for the news flash, AP.
UPDATE: From Politico, which, of course, is very excited about the latest Clinton $ news [emphasis added]:
Former President Clinton’s globetrotting speaking tours and charitable activities were considered the major impediment to his wife’s confirmation
Clinton, of course, was easily confirmed.
Clinton was paid, “…$6 million in speaking fees last year, almost all of it from foreign companies”. That’s, “companies”, plural, as in more than one? And it took Clinton a year to do this?
What a piker. Learn from the masters:
"In October of 1989, for two 20-minute speeches, (St Ronnie of) Reagan was paid $2 million by a (i.e., singular) Japanese conglomerate.”
The company (singular) was Fujisankei Communications Group, then a $5.5 billion conglomerate headed by Nobutaka Shikanai, a right-wing nutsac.
Taking inflation into the equation Reagan’s $2 million equals $3,304,704 in 2007 dollars. For two 20-minute speeches, Reagan pulled in a bit more than half of what Clinton received for speeches - in an entire year.
Doesn't matter does it? Is what Clinton doing illegal? Heck no. The man is earning some dollars, doing what he does best. Communicating with people. So what if some of his speeches were outside of the US. Last I knew, he wasn't Sec of State, his WIFE is.
I love how the media tries to make this some sort of scandal. Never you mind that Bill Clinton said he'd open the books to his foundation to show no conflict of interest, and to show who is donating what money to his foundation, which regardless of where you stand politically, is doing great work around the world.