SELLING THE WHITE HOUSE by Dick Morris....their former Best Friend!!
Friday,September 22,2000
nypostonline.com
SELLING THE WHITE HOUSE
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THROUGHOUT her Senate campaign, Hillary Clinton has systematically and shamelessly used the resources of the White House and the federal government to advance herself, reward supporters and seduce fat-cat donors.
The taxpayers have footed the bill for more than a million dollars of her campaign travel expenses, using Air Force jets and expensive vans. White House staff have provided issue research, speeches, orchestrated press events and, when necessary, provided negative information about her opponent.
Remember the official White House photo of Rick Lazio with Yasser Arafat that was released right before the last debate? It's nice to have friends where you need them.
But the most brazen of Hillary's schemes to fleece the taxpayers for her personal needs is her well-organized use of White House social events for her personal political purposes. The Lincoln Bedroom scandal of the 1996 Clinton campaign apparently taught Hillary only one lesson - you can get away with it.
In 2000, Hillary admits that her supporters spent the night at the White House and Camp David, but claims that it was only to spend time with the president and first lady. Later, that was amended to include getting to know the president and first lady, suggesting somewhat new friends and supporters.
Though the press has been clamoring for a list of these special guests for more than a week, none has been released. And published reports suggest that on at least some of these special overnights, the president and first lady were not even in the White House. So much for spending time with supporters and getting to know them. Look for the White House to release the names without any dates.
Besides the questionable White House overnights, Hillary has used the glamorous State Dinners for visiting kings, presidents and prime ministers to reward her existing donors and encourage some of the biggest contributors to the Democratic Party. People helpful to her campaign have been invited as well as those who are influential with important New York constituencies.
All in all, the most recent dinners have turned into gatherings for those who can help Hillary get elected. And all paid for by the taxpayers.
Think about it - it's quite brilliant. Invite those who can pay for your Senate race to an exclusive and opulent party without spending a dime!
On Tuesday, I documented the guests to the State Dinner for India's prime minister, which was ridiculously top-heavy with Hillary donors. But that dinner and its carefully orchestrated pandering to Hillary's campaign needs was not an isolated event. In fact, a review of the guest list for the past three state dinners indicates that Hillary has perfected the art of using official White House events to entertain, entice and reward those who are important to her campaign.
For example, on June 20, 2000, at a dinner for King Mohammed VI of Morocco, Hillary also lavishly rewarded donors to her campaign with places of honor. A majority of these unoffficial guests were contributors to Hillary's campaign.
And, according to the Federal Election Commission, the guests - not including official guests - were the creme de la creme of campaign-finance heavyweights, contributing large amounts of soft money and Democratic committee funds during the past few years. (The FEC lists the two categories seperately).
Space prohibits the listing of other smaller donors and Hillary cheerleaders, But, I think you can get the picture from the table above.
To those who say that this sort of thing happens all the time, the answer is: "No, it doesn't." Not on this scale, and not about a U.S. Senate race.
The use of the White House, like the sale of space in the Lincoln Bedroom and at Camp David, shows that the president and first lady will leave no dime of tax money unspent in their desire to promote her campaign in her calculatingly adopted state. |
