Posted on 08/31/2007 7:42:57 PM PDT by doug from upland
Analysis: the first jolt to the Clinton campaign
Question marks over a major donor to Hillary Clinton's campaign are the first challenge to her smooth progress so far
by Tim Reid
The revelation that one of Hillary Clinton's major donors is wanted for fraud is the first time her hitherto relentlessly disciplined campaign has been thrown on the defensive.
So far, it is no more than a temporary embarrassment for Mrs Clinton. There is no suggestion she had any personal knowledge of Norman Hsu's tainted background. But Mrs Clinton, more than any other candidate — because of the scandal-plagued White House years of her husband - has sought to project an image of financial and moral integrity.
For that reason, anything remotely smelling of scandal — this episode included — revives in people's minds the sleaze that beset her husband's presidency. The potential for the words "Clinton" and "scandal" to once again be linked is perhaps the greatest fear among her campaign aides.
Any financial problems will also be used by her enemies to remind voters of a huge fundraising scandal that beset Bill Clinton and Al Gore in 1996, when it emerged that Asian businessmen with links to China were funnelling money to Democrats to try and influence elections.
Over 20 people were eventually convicted for fraud or for channelling Asian funds into the US elections, several of whom were longtime Clinton-Gore friends and political appointees.
Mr Hsu was a major "bundler" for Mrs Clinton, a key fundraiser who finds donors and then packages their cheques together. He is a member of Mrs Clinton's "HillRaiser" team, individuals who have pledged to raise more than $100,000 for her campaign.
Teams of investigators from rival campaigns — both Democratic and Republican — will be combing through Mrs Clinton's fundraising disclosure forms. If Mr Hsu is the only problem she has, the likelihood is that it will prove a temporary setback. If a pattern of compromised donors emerges, it could become a potentially disastrous development.
Tainted donors are not new. Earlier this month Mitt Romney, a leading Republican presidential candidate, was forced to return contributions from a fundraiser who was charged with defrauding companies of $32 million.
After months of Republican scandals, both sexual and financial — dozens of candidates returned money from the convicted Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff last year — the Hsu episode at least gives Republicans something to crow about. Mr Hsu has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for Democratic candidates, including John Kerry, Mr Bush's 2004 presidential challenger. He has even given $5,000 to Barack Obama, Mrs Clinton's main rival for the Democratic nomination. They are now all rushing to divest themselves of his contributions.
To Ann Lewis or Harold Ickes or Sid the Snake Blumenthal or Kelly Craighead or Lying Weasel Howard Wolfson or any of the rest of you are are on FreeRepublic tonight ---- your lies, lawbreaking, and subterfuge are going to come to an end.
THE LIGHT OF TRUTH IS ABOUT TO SHINE ON ALL OF YOU COCKROACHES! INCLUDING YOU, QUEEN COCKROACH!
One can only hope.
Michelle Obama, check your work email. Joe Trippi, check your home fax. I think you know what to do next.
The list of tainted donors also includes the Paws. I read about them here on FR the other day. A couple that owns a gift shop but has been able to donate $45,000 to Clinton. Must be some major price tags on their inventory.
The Smartest Woman In The World had no knowledge of this? The author makes her sound like a neer-do-well MBA puppet on Dick Cheney's strings.
As much control that Hillary had over Bill Clinton, you can’t tell me she doesn’t know where every dime comes from. She also knew what went on during her husbands election process. She just about ran everything.
I have been speaking with many reporters over the last few days in light of the Norman Hsu scandal. Finally, they are interested.
If this gets legs, it will have consequences. Mrs. Clinton's campaign is a house of cards, it can only appear inevitable until the first serious doubt appears. Then it will all tumble down.
I certainly hope so. She is too dangerous - too ruthless - to allow near the Democratic nomination.
I’m praying that the indisputable truth about these monsters finally comes out for everyone to see. It is time.
Yeah because some of them like Obama. If this was the general election they would care less.
This is coming out ‘way too early - the lawyers know the damage something like this can cause Hillary’s campaign, so they’re getting it out in front of everyone else; it’ll become “old news” very quickly, I bet.
>> Michelle Obama, check your work email.
ARE YOU SERIOUS?
You’d rather have Obama as the Donk candiate, over Hillary??!?
(just kidding — yeah, I’d pick Bambi over Satan, too. Easy call.)
Congressman Billybob
DOUG pat yourself on the back UK Papers picking it up DUDE you are on Fleet Street
You Brits top right now you up there with David Beckaham and Queen Betty and royals
http://i9.tinypic.com/62qhkkl.jpg
“Michelle Obama, check your work email. Joe Trippi, check your home fax. I think you know what to do next.”
Stay far away from Ft Marcy Park.
The Friday before Labor day weekend.
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