The Clinton Global Initiative - Is It Even Possible To Do An Ethical Wall?

[Median Democrat]

This reminds me of what it would be like to try to appoint Buffet as Treasury Secretary. On the one hand, Bill and Hillary's international conntections, as well as Bill's work through CGI make Hillary uniquely qualified to be Secretary of State. Afterall, Bill has an entire foreign policy think tank and political action committee operating under his direction with millions of dollars in funding.

So, what is the problem? Well, Bill has an entire foreign policy think tank and political action committee operating under his direction with millions of dollars in funding.

Yes, Bill is both an incredible asset and liability as Secretary of State. How many SoS can walk into a meeting with a former President who is still well regarded internationally on their arm? The problem is Bill's CGI. What do you do with it? The apparent answer is to set up some sort blind trust, but will CGI continue to function without Bill?

My thought is that Hillary as SoS brings a lot to the table, and if Bill and Barack can work throuh all the conflict issues, then they should make it happen. But it won't be easy.

http://www.clintonglobalinitiative.org/NETCOMMUNITY/Page.aspx?pid=2358&srcid=2356

/snip

The Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) is a non-partisan catalyst for action that brings together a community of global leaders from various backgrounds to devise and implement innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges.

Today, CGI is reaching even more leaders in diverse regions, future leaders from college campuses, and global citizens through a community of projects evolving from CGI’s unique model that focuses on taking action. Since 2005, CGI members have made nearly 1,000 commitments valued at upwards of $30 billion to impact more than 200 million lives in over 150 countries.

/snip

[HeraldSquare212]

1. But he knows who has donated already, as with the library, too.

You can't do a retroactive blind trust.

[Median Democrat]

2. That Is Solved With Disclosure - Future Operations Are An Issue

I think the Senate approving Hillary solves any past issues. The problem is the future. The Senate can't approve Hillary if Bill continues to freelance through CGI.

[gateley]

3. I read where Clinton hadn't been forthcoming about the library donors --

that donors could be kept confidential. Is that wrong?

BTW -- I once heard a pundit say that "Presidential Library" is code for "Blank Check" -- No wonder they all are eager to get one in the works after their terms!

[Median Democrat]

4. Politico Update - I Was Right - Its The Future Operation of CGI

The Senate is going to approve Hillary as SoS regardless of pass conflicts so long as Bill is not on the payroll of Iran and Osama Bin Ladin. The problem, as noted in this story, is the future operation of CGI. You really can't have Bill acting as a free agent on international affairs with his wife as Secretary of State. The problem is do you close down the CGI or does Bill somehow walk away from it?

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1108/15680.html

/snip

Obama isn’t likely to formally offer the post to Clinton unless he’s given assurances that Bill Clinton’s global charitable foundation won’t create future conflicts of interest with foreign governments, according to a person familiar with the situation.

The Clinton Global Initiative has earned widespread plaudits for its efforts to eradicate AIDS, malaria and poverty in Africa.

But it could prove problematic for Obama if the former president continues to seek donations from foreign countries at the same time that his wife, as secretary of state, is asking them for diplomatic concessions. The Clinton Global initiative, which has raised more than $30 billion since 2005, has solicited major donations from a handful of foreign governments, including a $1 billion pledge from Norway in 2007.

/snip

[gateley]

6. That puts the Clintons in a tough spot --

It's too bad that Bill's works (the good stuff!) will be taken away from him and on the other hand, too bad that Hillary can't just be appointed (if that's what Obama decides) without worrying about what her spouse is up to. But I do understand it's necessary, just too bad for both of them.

[Median Democrat]

9. This Is Why "Vetting" Is A Misnomer

The real issue is what is Bill going to do going forward? Bill cannot use CGI to advance positions that contradict those or are inconsistent with Obama. For example, Bill supports a free trade deal with Columbia. Obama doesn't. Obama and Hillary can't have Bill using CGI to advocate positions that undercut the Presidency. This is why the real issue is how to "divest" Bill from CGI. It is not about skeletons, it is about Bill's future as a freelancing ex-President. Bill will need to sacrifice for Hillary for Hillary to be SoS.

[Medusa]

5. Only if Bill cooperates

and from the latest, word that the Obama crew are exasperated with the Clinton crew and I think you can figure out what's going on and it's not pretty.

[Median Democrat]

7. In The Long Run, Bill's Recusal From CGI Could Help Hillary's Long Run Political Ambitions

Obama did not really slam Hillary with this during the primaries, but Bill's receipt of foreign funding and operation of CGI would become an issue if Hillary had been selected as VP, and if Hillary runs for President in 2016. The issue is pretty clear, Bill can't run CGI or receive foriegn funding while Hillary is SoS. The problem is that this is a pretty big sacrifice for Bill. Would you do it for your spouse? Its a tough choice.

/snip

Over the weekend, Obama advisers began to get a little scratchy about the Clintons’ response to vetting requests.

“The ball is very much in her court, but the president's finances have been a major point of sensitivity from Day One,” the well-connected Democratic official explained. “Given that everyone's mystified by how deliberately public the Clintons have made this once-secret process, the assumption is either that the Clintons are trying to use the public buzz to steamroll their way in, create a sense of inevitability that overcomes those concerns, or that it's just a matter of time before they … satisfy vetting somehow, some way. Otherwise, after all this speculation, there’ll be a permanent dark cloud hanging over his finances.”

The former president was in was in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and Kuwait City over the past four days and returned to the United States on Monday morning.

Friends outside government said it seems reasonable for a couple to want to talk about a life decision over the kitchen table rather than over a crackly cell connection 10 time zones away.

/snip

[Sensitivity]

8. Clintons operated a "Shadow State Department" with $billion budget

The question is just whether it serves the nation that this Shadow Dept be officially brought into the Obama government.