A little impoverishment might do Hillary some good

From the Washington Post:

Nearly half of the major donors who are backing Ready for Hillary, a group promoting her 2016 presidential bid, as well as nearly half of the bundlers from her 2008 campaign, have given at least $10,000 to the [Bill, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton] foundation, either on their own or through foundations or companies they run.

The Clintons have relied heavily on their close ties to Wall Street, with donations from the financial services sector representing the largest share of corporate donors….

A third of foundation donors who have given more than $1 million are foreign governments or other entities based outside the United States, and foreign donors make up more than half of those who have given more than $5 million.

Hillary's is less a political machine than a money machine. It's a sprawling, interconnected invitation to self-interest over fundamental principles, which is why, one could argue, the political side of the Clinton empire has been sputtering so badly of late. What we're watching is less of a thoughtful clash between old Clinton advisers and former Obama advisers than an unseemly, incoherent scramble by all for position — because all things Clinton, via the foundation or super PACs or campaign organ, is where the money is. 

Hillary's court is open, and what an extravagant court it is, with the Clinton Foundation alone raking in "close to $2 billion from a vast global network that includes corporate titans, political donors, foreign governments and other wealthy interests" since its creation in 2001. The foundation's "communications officer" explains to the Post that the charitable organization "receives the support of individuals, organizations and governments from all over the world because our programs are improving the lives of millions" — case closed; it's a "false choice," he adds, "to suggest that people who may be interested in supporting political causes wouldn’t also support philanthropic work."

That of course is a muddled dodge. No one I know would suggest that supporting a political cause conflicts with supporting philanthropic work, but everyone I know knows that giving hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars to both profoundly suggests a purchase of influence. If a Koch brother said something like what the Clinton foundation's communications officer said, he'd be laughed at by conscientious Democrats — and for good reason. It's laughable. But when it's Clinton fun money we're talking about, mum's the word amongst most Democrats.

And for those wanting a respectable slice of the Clinton pie — all the jockeying strategists and media advisers and campaign organizers — there's no intrigue, skulduggery or backstabbing that isn't worth the attempt. The Clintons, quite simply, are where the money is; and there's so damned much of it, in assorted incarnations, that losing one's politico-philosophical interior is rather easy to do.

What's more, the infighting, dog-eat-dog rat race we're now watching is just the beginning.

 

Comments

[Peter G]

I think everything you've said here is true. I would, myself, make a distinction between the philanthropic work of the Koch brothers foundations and the Clinton's. What they do with that money matters. Nobody's all bad. Any person who watches the best science show on television, Nova, knows that David Koch supports that. And yes they are still covering global warming. Very very well in fact.

If you make a pile of money anywhere in the world you will draw a crowd. I'm always reminded of that line by David Runyan, advice from one of his character's father, to always rub up against money for if you do some of it may rub off on you. And this Democratic presidential campaign, which looks to be the only one, is going to have the biggest pile ever. Power within the campaign will be proportional to the funds at the disposal of the person wielding that power. I'm sure every person associated with that campaign will all have very sound reasons why it should be them.

[shsavage]

Love that picture--Elizabeth I meets the Red Queen...