This post is part of our feature on Money Losers of 2008. See all 20.
Hillary Clinton is easily one of the most polarizing figures in U.S. politics. Perhaps it's because she combines the DNA of a female with the ruthlessness, grit, and cold-blooded calculation of the average male politician -- journalists never know whether to criticize her hairstyle, or her foreign policy credentials! (Governor Sarah Palin received similarly schizophrenic coverage: Yes, she's got an opinion about offshore drilling, but what kind of statement are those pumps making?)
In any event, it was a given that Hillary would run for president in 2008. As an idealistic, card-carrying young feminist, I'd personally been chanting "Hillary '08!" ever since I cast my vote for her in the 2000 Senate race in New York. Unfortunately for Ms. Clinton, it seems that most of her fervent supporters have a certain characteristic in common with me. No, it's not two X chromosomes; apparently, we're all broke.
When she suspended her presidential campaign in June, it was a bitter defeat for Hillary. Not only was she edged out in the primaries by an Ivy League rookie, but she also had to contend with a whopping campaign debt load. Reports indicate that the future Secretary of State poured $11.4 million of her own money into the campaign, just for starters. At the beginning of November, she still owed $7.5 million to various vendors, and the primaries haven't even been paid for yet.
In order to settle her debts, Hillary's taking a cue from her one-time rival and soon-to-be boss, President-elect Barack Obama. Many pundits credit his jaw-dropping fund-raising success to a grassroots campaign that relied heavily on internet outreach (Obama was twittering before most of us even knew what "twittering" was). Like Barack, she's online, and like the Temptations, she's not too proud to beg -- visitors to HillaryClinton.com can now make a donation toward eliminating her campaign bills.
The online Clinton faithful better click on that "donate" button fast, because time is short. Her appointment to Secretary of State means that Hillary will no longer be allowed to trade face time for campaign cash, and former President Bill Clinton may have to forgo donations from some of his most generous international patrons.
Plus, let's face it -- who really wants to throw cash at a failed presidential bid? Even with encouragement from Fundraiser-in-Chief Obama, it's hard to make a Hillary handout sound like a good investment during a recession -- unlike, say, one of Scarlett Johansson's used tissues. And yes, you guessed it; Johansson is an Obama supporter.
Elizabeth Harrow is an analyst and financial writer in the research department at Schaeffer's Investment Research. She is featured in the video series Schaeffer's Daily Q&A on SchaeffersResearch.com.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
12-26-2008 @ 8:34AM
jeff said...
This is disgusting! This is really disgusting...be sure to read it
all... If Hillary wins in 2008 and Bill is 'appointed' to fill her
Senate seat and either live to retire 'they' (together or alone)
would get two US Presidential retirement checks, two US Senate retirement checks, and
a retirement check from the State of Arkansas . About the only thing they
MIGHT NOT get is a Social Security check....but I wouldn't bet on it.... I understand ole Bill has earned $40, 000,000 in the past six years. What a guy!
AND THE REST OF THE STORY... Hilarious Rotten Clinton, as a New York
State Senator, now comes under the 'Congressional Retirement and Staffing
Plan,' which means that even if she never gets reelected, she STILL receives her Congressional salary until she dies. (Would it not be nice if all Americans were pension eligible after only 4 years?)
If Bill outlives her, he then inherits HER salary until HE dies. He is already getting his Presidential salary until he dies. If Hillary outlives Bill, she also gets HIS sa lary until she dies.
12-28-2008 @ 1:01AM
Serge G said...
I'd like inform you that Scarlett Johansson (actress)actually is a clone from original person,who has nothing with acting career.Clone was created illegally using stolen biomaterial.Original Scarlett Galabekian last name is nice, CHRISTIAN young lady.I'll tell more,those clones(it's not only 1)made in GERMANY-world leader manufacturer of humans clones,it's in Ludwigshafen am Rhein,Rhineland-Palatinate,Mr.Helmut Kohl home town.You can't even imaging the scale of the cloning activity.But warning,H.Kohl staff strictly controlling their clones spreading around the world,they're NAZI type disciplined and mind controlled,be careful get close with clones you will be controlled too.Original family didn't authorize any activity with stolen biomaterials,no matter what form it was created in,it's all need to be back to original family control in Cedars-Sinai MedicalCenter in LA.Controlling clones is US military operation.Original Scarlett never was engaged,by the way
12-29-2008 @ 1:44AM
Beltway Greg said...
Kind of hilarious. They just about pimped every member of the family into trying to get the public to pay down her debt. They even got her mother got into the act. I must have received about 75,000 e-mails from Hillary requesting a small contribution. Hey, she's a big girl. You pays your money you takes your chances and she ought to be happy with Sec. of State which should've gone to Gore or Richard Holbrooke. I cannot think of one substantive thing she has done or said in regard to foreign policy. She was for the war in Iraq and when George W. manages to pull the wool over your eyes you've truly been blinded. And BTW, is that entire Caroline Kennedy thing a joke or what? Enough Bushes and enough Kennedys for one life time please. Can't these people find some type of meaningful employment?
1-02-2009 @ 1:15AM
Walter said...
I can only say one thing after the last several years of bad government, I must say I was against Obama getting elected because he is for everything I am against, but if he does what he says for this country and all of it's people, then I say more power to him, I have always been for what is best for this country and it's people and that means everyone, not just the choosen few. I pray that Obama works his mircle he claims to have and gets our country back on it's feet, but if he does then i will look for his next mircle the parting of the Water, because nothing but a mircle will save this country from it's government and their own personal greed.