Clinton's Ties to Burkle Include Funds in Offshore Tax Haven

Yahoo News ^ | December 17, 2007 | Timothy J. Burger and Ryan J. Donmoyer

[khnyny]

Former President Bill Clinton's decision to reconsider a business relationship with California billionaire Ron Burkle reflects concern those financial dealings may embarrass his wife's presidential candidacy.

Securities and Exchange Commission documents and financial- disclosure forms filed by Hillary Clinton show that Bill Clinton, 61, has a financial stake in three investment entities registered in the Cayman Islands by Burkle's Yucaipa Cos. LLC.

In 2004, Hillary Clinton, a New York senator, said she wanted to ``close the loopholes'' for ``people who create a mailbox, or a drop, or send one person to sit on the beach in some island paradise and claim that it is their offshore headquarters.''

The former president's possible decision to move away from Burkle ``is all tied up with the laws of appearance and the politics of perception,'' said Linda Fowler, professor of government at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire. ``The world being what it is, people are attracted to the spouse of somebody with political power. The level of potential conflict is just that much higher with a former president and a senator who would be president.''

Moreover, added Fowler, ``with this particular couple, somehow, the whole story doesn't come out except in dribs and drabs.''

Bloomberg News last month submitted a list of questions to the Clinton campaign regarding the former president's involvement in the three Caymans-based funds. The campaign didn't respond to the queries until Dec. 13, after the New York Times reported that Clinton plans to dissolve his five-year partnership with Burkle, a longtime friend and important fund- raiser for both Clintons.

`An Appropriate Transition'

Jay Carson, a Clinton spokesman, said that while the former president hasn't ``severed ties'' with Yucaipa, he ``is taking steps to ensure'' that ``there will be an appropriate transition for those relationships'' if his wife receives...

[Yaelle]

I know. I know that the Clintons have literally stopped at NOTHING to achieve their aims. Maybe some of the Arkancides are exaggerated. That’s about as generous as I can go. If only average Americans would believe some of the things, rather than allowing the Clintonistas to call anyone who would DARE say these things a Vast Right Wing Conspiracy.

The Clintons have always had an ingenious defense: The accusation against them is so HEINOUS that it cannot be true. There. Nothing to see here. That’s how they can do ANYTHING right under our noses. Because “NO ONE WOULD DO SUCH A THING.”

[Yaelle]

And didn’t she send her boyfriend Vince back and forth to Switzerland for her?

[Bringbackthedraft]

“She is looking like the tired old hag that she really is.” ................... She is almost like Leona Helmsley’s twin.

[Cicero]

And didn’t she send her boyfriend Vince back and forth to Switzerland for her?

Yes. Vince Foster was their bag man during the early years in the White House. When he apparently tired of these criminal activities and tried to leave, he was offed.

Hillary went to Switzerland at least once a year after that, attending NWO conferences. Presumably she stashed the cash in her diplomatic luggage, safe from Customs.