1/2 of Clinton’s 2014 Speaking Fees Came From Groups Also Lobbying Congress

[kristopher]

We don't need transcripts to know that this is morally reprehensible.

Half of Hillary Clinton’s Speaking Fees Came From Groups Also Lobbying Congress
Philip Elliott

Groups with giant lobbying budgets gave Clinton big speaking fees ahead of 2016 presidential campaign

Almost half of the money from Hillary Clinton’s speaking engagements came from corporations and advocacy groups that were lobbying Congress at the same time.

The Democratic presidential candidate earned $10.2 million in 2014, her first full calendar year after leaving the State Department. Of that, $4.6 million came from groups that also spent on lobbying Congress that year, according to data compiled by the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics....

...Asked Tuesday if there were conflicts of interest in speaking to these groups, Clinton was curt with reporters in Cedar Falls, Iowa. “No,” she said.

“Obviously, Bill and I have been blessed and we’re very grateful for the opportunities that we had...

http://time.com/3889577/hillary-clinton-paid-speeches-lobbyists-influence/

Great chart at article
http://time.com/3889577/hillary-clinton-paid-speeches-lobbyists-influence/

[farleftlib]

1. ^^THIS^^

This is why releasing the transcripts is important. This is why her close ties to Wall St. are very concerning. This is why she's a compromised candidate. This is why we need Bernie for president.

Very big K & R.

[kristopher]

3. Transcripts don't mean anything. It the MONEY ITSELF.

The Republicans aren't going to wait for or care about Transcripts. Trump will eviscerate Clinton and her acceptance of that money - self funding is at the heart of his campaign and his popularity.

Thanks for the K&R.

[farleftlib]

5. yes

I re-read and see your point more clearly. Money is speech now isn't it?

[kristopher]

6. Who will win: Self Funded Trump vs $21M Hillary ?

Trump has tapped into a deep, wide vein of disgust at the dirty cockroaches of politics; and that disgust is so strong that people are willing to burn down the house to get rid of them.

Trump can win.

[senz]

2. What sort of "speech" is worth 6 figures? What does "speech" mean in this context?

The answer is somewhere in this list: http://www.thesaurus.com/browse/payola

[kristopher]

4. Carter: “unlimited political bribery”

Former president Jimmy Carter said Tuesday on the nationally syndicated radio show the Thom Hartmann Program that the United States is now an “oligarchy” in which “unlimited political bribery” has created “a complete subversion of our political system as a payoff to major contributors.” Both Democrats and Republicans, Carter said, “look upon this unlimited money as a great benefit to themselves.”

Carter was responding to a question from Hartmann about recent Supreme Court decisions on campaign financing like Citizens United.

Transcript:

HARTMANN: Our Supreme Court has now said, “unlimited money in politics.” It seems like a violation of principles of democracy. … Your thoughts on that?

CARTER: It violates the essence of what made America a great country in its political system. Now it’s just an oligarchy, with unlimited political bribery being the essence of getting the nominations for president or to elect the president. And the same thing applies to governors and U.S. senators and congress members. So now we’ve just seen a complete subversion of our political system as a payoff to major contributors, who want and expect and sometimes get favors for themselves after the election’s over. … The incumbents, Democrats and Republicans, look upon this unlimited money as a great benefit to themselves. Somebody’s who’s already in Congress has a lot more to sell to an avid contributor than somebody who’s just a challenger.

https://theintercept.com/2015/07/30/jimmy-carter-u-s-oligarchy-unlimited-political-bribery/