Former president Bill Clinton is wrapping up a speaking tour of several European countries - Norway, Sweden, Austria, Poland, Spain and Ireland. He is reported to earn at least $100,000 at each appearance for delivering his speech on "globalism".
Prior to arriving in Poland, the Gazeta Wyborcza newspaper reported that Clinton had failed to obtain a work permit that was required for anyone entering the country as an employee of a business. Clinton's sponsor in Poland, the Pulsu Biznesu business journal, responded that the work permit was not necessary because Clinton was carrying a diplomatic passport, and because they did not employ Clinton directly, but rather made a contract with the speaker's bureau that manages Clinton's appearances.
The day before Clinton arrived in Poland, the Polish labor authorities raided the offices of Pulsu Biznesu to determine if the magazine was violating the labor laws by hiring Clinton. The results of the Polish investigation are not known at this time.
The question arises as to why Clinton has a diplomatic passport in the first place. Passports are issued by the State Department, which publishes an information pamphlet (PDF format) which includes the rules about appropriate usage of diplomatic passports by former presidents -
" c. Courtesy diplomatic passports are diplomatic passport books that are issued, for tourist purposes only, to certain former high-ranking U.S. Government officials, such as former Presidents, Vice Presidents, Cabinet Secretaries, and Foreign Service Chiefs of Mission who were career government employees. These passports are issued at the Department to a very limited number of retired USG employees and their spouses. The prescribed fees are charged. When questions arise about a courtesy diplomatic passport, contact CA/PPT/SIA." On his European speaking tour, Clinton is blatantly violating the rule that states his diplomatic passport is intended to be used "for tourist purposes only". Clearly, he is abusing his diplomatic passport for business trips to earn money, and to circumvent the local laws of the countries he is entering to deliver his $100,000 speeches.
This is just another routine violation of ethical standards by Clinton, but something could be done about it. The U.S. State Department should launch an investigation into Clinton's improper use of his diplomatic passport and take steps to revoke it immediately before he commits further abuses.
- HAL9000 - www.freerepublic.com -