Quid Pro Cash
ABC News reports that at least three people pardoned by Bill Clinton before leaving office have made political contributions to Hillary Clinton's Presidential campaign. The Clinton campaign reacted sarcastically when the contributions were brought to their attention.
Three recipients of controversial 11th-hour pardons issued by former President Bill Clinton in January 2001 have donated thousands of dollars to the presidential campaign of his wife, Democratic front-runner Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., according to campaign finance records examined by ABC News, in what some good government groups said created an appearance of impropriety.
"It's not illegal," Melanie Sloan, executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, told ABC News. "But, of course, it's inappropriate and she should return the money. It does raise the appearance that this is payback.
"One can only hope that she wasn't yet aware of who made the donations," said Sloan.
"We have raised over $65 million from over 200,000 people," said Clinton campaign manager Howard Wolfson, adding sarcastically, "I appreciate your bringing the instance of this $5,300 and these three people to our attention."
The campaign has a point, of course. With the amount of cash in play, $5,300 is not even noise on the system. It speaks more to the judgment of the people who made the donations than it does to the campaign. Yet those people obviously felt that they owed something to the Clintons, did they not? It just adds another odor to the overall scent of corruption that seems to hang around the Clintons.
Bustard Blog says that a number of Republicans who had been pardoned by George Bush had contributed to George Bush. Sorry to disappoint you, Bustard, but if that information is correct that is wrong, too. It is not illegal but it is improper – it just plain looks bad. Period. Regardless of party involved.
Other Links to this Post
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Payback for Pardons | BitsBlog — November 15, 2007 @ 2:14 pm
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bustardblog — November 15, 2007 @ 2:34 pm
By martian, November 15, 2007 @ 1:09 pm
Owed something to the Clintons? Heck, they probably have friends and family members who could use some pardons! Or maybe they want to spend a night in the Lincoln bedroom? Who knows? This seems to be just another blip in the never-ending Clinton practice of influence peddling and special favors for contributors. If a Republican had half as many improprieties (financial, sexual, perjruy, etc.) revealed as the Clintons have had the Dems would be screaming for his/her blood. But it’s okay if a Democrat does it, especially if their name is “Clinton”.
By Mockinbird, November 15, 2007 @ 2:12 pm
Man, I wish I could get away with…oh, never mind.
Pardon me, go back to your reding.