Posted on 08/29/2016 9:40:18 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
While attempting to minimize the importance of the special access donors to the Clinton Foundation gained with the State Department under Hillary Clinton, interim-Chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee may have made matters even worse: (ABC News)
(VIDEO-AT-LINK)
“First of all, Martha, the way I look at it, I’ve been a government official. So, you know, this notion that, somehow or another, someone who is a supporter, someone who is a donor, somebody who’s an activist, saying I want access, I want to come into a room and I want to meet people, we often criminalize behavior that is normal. And it’s — I don’t — I don’t see what the smoke is.”
Not only is this a startling admission that access is granted to major donors on a “business as usual” basis over at the DNC, Brazille’s statement also illustrates a much larger problem for her candidate and her relationship with the Clinton Foundation.
You see, Brazille is describing a scenario where, she believes, it’s perfectly understandable that a major donor to a political campaign might gain some access to a candidate or an event because of their donation. She calls this “normal” and she may be right.
Here’s the problem, Ms. Brazile: The Clinton Foundation is not supposed to be a political campaign fund!
In her defense of her candidate, Ms. Brazile seems to have highlighted the exact problem — if not illegal behavior — in how the Clinton Foundation operated in connection with the State Department. The foundation is a 501(c)3, non-profit, non-partisan charity, not a political campaign apparatus.
By equating (possibly by mistake) the Clinton Foundation charity with a political campaign, Brazile has inadvertently acknowledged that within the State Department the Clinton Foundation was seen as a political organization and was treated as if it was. And that is the problem.
For a government official to grant access to an individual or organization in exchange for political donations is, in fact, against the law. I asked former US Attorney Joe DiGenova about this Monday on WMAL radio in Washington DC and he explained “Access is a thing” and when it is a violation of the law when that thing is exchanged for money.
The fact that Brazile so cavalierly suggests that this is “normal” tells you everything you need to know about the DNC.
Political campaigns are regulated by the FEC specifically so they can keep on eye on this sort of thing. A charity like the Clinton Foundation is not.
Regardless of all of these points, let’s not forget that the presumption of impropriety was on the table during Mrs. Clinton’s confirmation hearings. That’s why she went out of her way to promise the Obama Administration and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that there would be a fire wall between the Foundation and her office.
Apparently, that “fire wall” was made of gasoline soaked rags and old newspapers.
There was a time (perhaps when Boy Scouts were a part of the American way of life) when paying money to get access would be frowned upon because it smacks of bribery.
I am a teacher, could I defend setting up a foundation to solicit cash from my class in return for “extra credit” points?
Why not?
Can’t call it the “new” Demonrat normal because it’s the “old” Demonrat normal!
The Clinton Foundation is nothing but a money laundering scheme where influence is bought and sold.
Becsuse you are one of the "little people" and not a Clinton.
Or as good old Jess Unruh said....I didn’t come to Sacramento to wear a hair shirt
PING!!!
Article and comments
Not only is this a startling admission that access is granted to major donors on a “business as usual” basis over at the DNC, Brazille’s statement also illustrates a much larger problem for her candidate and her relationship with the Clinton Foundation.
You see, Brazille is describing a scenario where, she believes, it’s perfectly understandable that a major donor to a political campaign might gain some access to a candidate or an event because of their donation. She calls this “normal” and she may be right.
Here’s the problem, Ms. Brazile: The Clinton Foundation is not supposed to be a political campaign fund!
Thanks, 2ndDivisionVet
A femal buffoon!
Ouch. This will hurt if ever picked up by the MSM Nazis, but I have an odd feeling they will bury this one. Maybe it wasn’t the “intent?”
Exactly. She conflates a non-profit charity with a political organization or campaign.
There’s a reason for that.
That school analogy would make a brilliant political add that cuts through all the bull, and is timely with school starting soon.
That was a major gaffe. Hope Trump jumps on it.
“The whole system is corrupt. They think it’s normal to accept bribes for access.”
To paraphrase “Donna Brazille says corruption has been so deep for so long it is now Standard Operating Procedure!”
The late Paul Simon made no bones about it in his little town meetings, saying in so many words, “You donate a lot to my campaign? Then of course I’ll be more inclined to grant you access to these large-lobed ears.”
“First of all, Martha, the way I look at it, I’ve been a government official. So, you know, this notion that, somehow or another, someone who is a supporter, someone who is a donor, somebody who’s an activist, saying I want access, I want to come into a room and I want to meet people, we often criminalize behavior that is normal. And it’s — I don’t — I don’t see what the smoke is.”
The criminality is when the government official allows this to become normal.
Just implying that that a small donation might help increase sales would result in an immediate termination from ANY high tech company.
No public man can be just a little crooked.
Herbert Hoover
....."what's the big deal?".......
It's b/c getting a meeting w/ the US Secy of State is the equivalent of "currency"....especially in Mideast countries. The meeting can be parlayed into dozens of money-making ventures.
The conniving Clintons know this....and made a fortune on it for themselves and their cronies.
Here's how the Royal Idiot got the 100 million to give Michele to bring to Morocco to establish programs to "teach Muslim girls."
Perennial govt parasite, Cheryl Mills, runs BlackIvy, developing a privately-financed dry port that will be located 56 km outside of the Port of Dar es Salaam, and will use shuttle trains to take transit and upcountry cargo to and from the Port (BlackIvy spokeswoman Erin Pelton confirmed to Breitbart News). “BlackIvy is focused on in-land logistics, not operating seaports,” Pelton added, denying that BlackIvy is running into opposition from the Tanzania Ports Authority.
So how did Cheryl Mills and BlackIvy, a brand new firm with no discernible track record of building ports, manage to become an overnight player in the East African energy market?
It turns out Clinton’s former aides had some help from a company called Symbion Power, which was created to profit off rebuilding efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan after the U.S. invasions. Symbion Power happens to be a very good friend of Hillary Clinton’s.
NOTEORTHY Hillary Clinton visited Tanzania in June 2011. Where did she go to speak? The Symbion Power Plant in Dar Es Salaam, where she spoke in front of Symbion and General Electric (GE) logos. Soon after the speech, Clinton intervened in a business deal between Symbion and GE to help Symbion’s interests in Tanzania.
An attendee quietly captured Clinton on video after her speech chatting up business executives, including one from General Electric. “Hi, Chris. Nice to see you. Thanks for GE’s contributions (to the Foundation). I really appreciate it. You’ll have to tell Jeff Immelt — or, I’ll call him to tell him how much I appreciate it,” Clinton said to the General Electric official, referring to the GE CEO. http://littlesis.org/org/158171/BlackIvy_Group
It turns out Clinton’s former aides had some help from a company called Symbion Power, which was created to profit off rebuilding efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan after the U.S. invasions. Symbion Power happens to be a very good friend of Hillary Clinton’s.
BACKSTORY Hillary's pal, Sid Blumenthal was the conniving Clintons' bagman---a $325,000 employee of the Clinton Foundation, he had numerous paid side interests----promoting any number of foreign deals and schemes in which he had a financial interest.....many of which were predicated on the toppling of Libya's Khadaffi.
Blumenthal was ambidextrous---chronically emailing Hillary Libya foreign policy messages w/ one hand....his other hand firmly in the State Dept cookie jar.
In one confidential e-mail to Clinton, Blumenthal was clearly colluding w/ onetime Amb Joe Wilson (Valerie Plame's hubby) to help himself to the tax dollars in the State Dept cookie jar.
GAME ON Amb Wilson pumped himself up as a 'director' of Symbion Power---an outfit seeking millions of dollars in contracts from an obscure government agency chaired by Hillary....the Millennium Challenge Corp. (MCC)
In September 2010, Hillary's MCC awarded Symbion $47 million tax dollars for (cough) 'power projects in Tanzania.'
EVER WONDER how much of the $47 million tax dollars got to Tanzania....after the players divvied it up among Blumenthal, Wilson, the Clintons, Obama?
NOTE Millenium is also the source of the 100 million tax dollars Michele gave to Morocco "to teach Muslim girls" ===========================================
FREEPER ACTION PROJECT--DO THIS NOW: demand the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) books be opened. We demand to know the financial details and the scope and dimension of individuals connected to these outrageous State Dept giveaways.........govt parasites profiting at taxayers' expense.
CONTACT CONGRESS HERE---http://www.contactingthecongress.org/
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