Funny Money
By Mike Gallagher
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
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A funny thing happened on the way to Hillary Clinton's announcement that she's raised a record-setting $26 million dollars this quarter.
It's one of those funny things that most Americans probably won't notice. But once in awhile, those pesky reporters serve a purpose. Sen. Clinton's refusal to come clean about what part of that $26 million is for the primary and what part is for the general election can give us a strong glimpse into the secretive, ambitious, scheming ways of the woman who wants to return to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
US Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton waves to supporters before NJ Governor John Corzine endorsed her candidacy for President of the United States, in Elizabeth, New Jersey, April 2, 2007. REUTERS/Chip East (UNITED STATES) Allow me to explain.
The Clinton campaign announced that 50,000 donors contributed the $26 mil. Trouble is, since they won't reveal how much is for the primary and how much is for the general election (something the John Edwards campaign did disclose), there's no way of knowing how much of that money she can actually get her hands on. Because under campaign fundraising laws, she cannot touch any money donated for the general election unless she wins the primary. If she loses the primary, all the general election contributions must be returned.
For all we know, Team Clinton has collected $1 million dollars for the primary and $25 million for the general, making her "record-setting" fundraising quarter a laugher.
Few, if any, political observers believe that the Clintonistas don't actually know what the breakdown is.
So what we're probably left with is one, big, fat headline that is utterly meaningless: "Hillary Raises Record $26 Million." Which is precisely what she wants.
Politically speaking, Hillary Clinton is all about style over substance. Forget the truth, she and her husband worship at the altar of focus groups, polling, surveys and looking good in front of the masses.
townhall.com
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