Clinton Loaned Herself $5M In January

Howard Wolfson, Hillary Clinton's communications director, confirms:

"Late last month Senator Clinton loaned her campaign $5 million.The loan illustrates Sen. Clinton’s commitment to this effort and to ensuring that our campaign has the resources it needs to compete and win across this nation. We have had one of our best fundraising efforts ever on the web today and our Super Tuesday victories will only help in bringing more support for her candidacy."

Also: Clinton is challenging her supporters to raise her 3 million in 3 days.

From an e-mail to supporters entitled "Huge":

We had a huge night last night -- we won the biggest states and the most votes, and we are ahead in the overall race for delegates. But this race is far from over.

Voters came out in record numbers, not just to make history but to remake America. Thanks to your support and your votes, the momentum is solidly on our side.

We don't have time to catch our breath -- the next races are just three days away, and there are 10 more contests in February alone.

Let's meet this moment with bold action worthy of those who have put their faith in us. We are setting a big goal for the next three days: raise $3 million to fund our history-making campaign.

Contribute today to help us reach $3 million in three days.

After seven years of a president who listens only to the special interests, America is ready for a president who brings your voice, your values, and your dreams to the White House.

We had a great day yesterday. Now we must keep that momentum going. You have sustained me throughout this journey, and I am calling on you again to give our campaign the resources we need to win critical upcoming races.

I've never asked so much of you as I am now: $3 million in three days. But the need has never been so great.

Comments

Why doesn't she just loan herself another $3mil?

Posted by jjcoop | February 6, 2008 3:33 PM

Or maybe Bill can broker another deal with a post-Soviet dictator - that ought to bring in some nice scratch.

Posted by Tom | February 6, 2008 3:37 PM

jjcoop-

This is me rolling on the floor laughing. So, so true.

Posted by Michael's Mom | February 6, 2008 3:38 PM

Does that mean she has NO reserves???? Yikes - she'll have to loan herself more to survive February.

Let Obama's talking points on Hillary begin! It's not going to be a pretty newscycle to watch. But she will not get my sympathy vote.

Posted by C.B. | February 6, 2008 3:39 PM

Its huge, alright --- hugely embarrassing.

Posted by goethean | February 6, 2008 3:45 PM

Clinton claiming a huge night is similar to Bush claims of victory in Iraq.

Do they really believe this nonsense?

She's gone from an inevitable coronation to a dogfight with a cultural phonemenon whose got all the polling and fundraising momentum.

So sad.

Posted by shwoop | February 6, 2008 3:46 PM

Clinton claiming a huge night is similar to Bush claims of victory in Iraq.

Do they really believe this nonsense?

She's gone from an inevitable coronation to a dogfight with a cultural phonemenon whose got all the polling and fundraising momentum.

So sad.

Posted by shwoop | February 6, 2008 3:46 PM

Is this $5 million being counted in the "$13 million raised in January" figure?

Posted by Brad Levinson | February 6, 2008 3:47 PM

Is this $5 million being counted in the "$13 million raised in January" figure?

Posted by Brad Levinson | February 6, 2008 3:47 PM

The loan illustrates Sen. Clinton’s lack of financial support from regular people

Fixed.

Posted by Howard | February 6, 2008 3:47 PM

This is pretty devastating, honestly. She's self-funding now (through loans) and asking for $3 million in 3 days. So then she can blow that $3 million the following 3 days. Meanwhile, Obama will raise $31 million the next 31 days. Can she keep up with her donors maxing out?

Posted by Elrod | February 6, 2008 3:47 PM

I respectfully point out that she loaned her campaign $5 mil so she could for all intents and purposes tie Obama yesterday. It's hard to see how this is a good thing. I wonder what super delegates think about this development.

Posted by Ben | February 6, 2008 3:48 PM

Its huge, alright --- hugely embarrassing.

snicker.....

Posted by Jay | February 6, 2008 3:52 PM

What favors are Hillary going to do for Hillary in exchange for Hillary loaning money to Hillary? Inquiring minds want to know.

Also, I wonder which Hillary made the loan, and which accepted it: "deporting all illegal immigrants 'sounds good'" Hillary, or "Latino-vote-winning" Hillary? "Yes-on-the-war" Hillary, or "no-on-the-war" Hillary? "Don't ask me about the pardons" Hillary, or "don't ask me about Kazakhstan" Hillary?

Posted by David | February 6, 2008 3:52 PM

The $5MM is not included in the $13.5MM total. Which means she's absolutely broke.

Posted by Keith | February 6, 2008 3:54 PM

OK, where did the $5 million come from? Is it her money from her memoirs, or is it "their" money, i.e., dirty money from Bill Clinton's shameless hoovering of every dollar that isn't nailed to the floor. Is the media even going to bother to ask?

Posted by The Details | February 6, 2008 3:55 PM

Chelsea's a big hedge fund manager now, right? Maybe she could flip her a few large.

Posted by Kerry Packer | February 6, 2008 3:57 PM

Obama will beat her by something like 3:1 over the next 3 days... without even asking. Hope the Obama campaign keeps track of this, would be a nice spin war win before the beltway primary.

Posted by John M. | February 6, 2008 3:57 PM

More corporate media selective amnesia- and it always seems to target a Clinton.

Almost EVERY high-powered politician does this, yet it's only reported and made into a huge story when a Clinton does it.

Yet another fishing expedition by the media aimed at a Clinton.

I'm not even a Clinton supporter, either. It's just becoming so laughable when the media singles out a Clinton for stuff everyone else does.

Posted by BC | February 6, 2008 4:01 PM

That was $5million for January. How much more Clinton self-funding for Feb?

Posted by Ann B | February 6, 2008 4:01 PM

Clinton's inevitable all right. Inevitably broke.
Bill better get on the horn to Mr. Kazakhstan quick. Or Hillary needs to hit up her Wal Mart buddies.

Posted by Lynn | February 6, 2008 4:02 PM

If she only raised $8.5 mil in January outside of what she gave herself, that would be incredibly pathetic for a front-runner who won 2 states during that time frame.

What the hell happened to the over $100 mil. she raised in 2007? Surely she cannot have blown through all of it organizing and advertising for Iowa and New Hampshire. That would be really surprising.

Posted by Sara | February 6, 2008 4:03 PM

Really, BC? Can't recall hearing about Obama having to dip into the private till. Maybe you could find an example of where he had to do this and bring it to our attention.

Posted by Jay | February 6, 2008 4:04 PM

This thing will be decided by cold hard cash

>>It's just becoming so laughable when the media singles out a Clinton for stuff everyone else does.

Posted by rob! | February 6, 2008 4:07 PM

I love all the negativity towards he Clinton and the arrogance of the Obama campaign. It just makes winning that much sweeter. Barry Obama, as arrogant as it gets said Monday at the Meadowlands he would carry New Jersey, and carry California. How's that work out for you Barry?

Next question, after Barry's huge buys for Super Tues, and his huge ground game that he funded in most of the states, where is he at cash wise as we sit here today?

PA alone will cost 20 million at least. I think both camps are going to be scraping for cash.

In other news Clinton picked up two endorsements and two superdelegates today .... both from MI. Reps. John Dingall and Dale Kildee.

Posted by Dickie Flatts, Charlotte, NC | February 6, 2008 4:07 PM

Thanks, Dick Head Flatts. Yes, Clinton will be scraping for cash.

Posted by Joe | February 6, 2008 4:12 PM

I think Joe Trippi said something about Clinton's high cash burn rate after Iowa. I sort of assumed that her wins in NH and NV would have helped enough with her donations that she'd be alright financially. If that's not so, she may be in real trouble.

There can't really be anyone named "Dickie Flatts," can there? If there is, is he related to Biggie Smalls (RIP)?

Posted by mrsaturdaypants | February 6, 2008 4:19 PM

Obama can't loan himself money because his and Michelle's net worth is only 1.3 million according to Salon.

Bill and Hillary's is about 35 mill.

Posted by cbc | February 6, 2008 4:20 PM

Hey Dickie, thanks to regular folks like me, Obama can spend to his (our) heart's content. I know my money is going to the movement and I'm proud to own a piece of it.

Posted by Jim | February 6, 2008 4:20 PM

I'm sorry, BC, but when you make your "experience" the centerpiece of your campaign, you can't be caught trying to dig your campaign out of financial doo-doo. This is an enormous embarrassment to the campaign, especially coming right after Bill Clinton's own fundraising (remember Boratgate?) scandal.

Posted by Howard B. | February 6, 2008 4:21 PM

Although I don't think he is going to need to. Most of his supporters are nowhere near being maxed out.

Posted by cbc | February 6, 2008 4:21 PM

No arrogance. Their campaign is broke. And what do they have to show for it: a tie.

Posted by Keith | February 6, 2008 4:22 PM

Actually, Marc....in some sense they loaning the campaign Ron Burkle's and the ruler of Dubai's money, since this is a big source of their personal wealth.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120097424021905843.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

While the focus by the media on this is going to the anemic fundraising of the clintons, there is a bigger story here.

That the Clinton campaign is not just violating the spirit of campaign finance laws, but doing so with money earned from shady business people collaborating with middle eastern goverments.

This, coupled with the $10 million, that the Clintons took from the saudi royal family for their library is going to be a big problem in the general.

The Hillary spin/beltway CW is that Hillary has been tested and vetted and so that the republicans have spent all their ammo against her, whers Obama is going to be fresh meat.

But the fact that they are swimming in shady middle eastern money is going to be an easy point of demamgoguery for the republicans, much more so than anything in Obama's past, present, or future.

Now that this dirty money is funding her campaign, I think it is time to dispense with the untruth that Hillary has been "tested and vetted" and "Can't be swiftboated."

Democrats need to realize that she is much more vulnerable, and thus unelectable, than her spin would have us beleive.

Posted by RKA | February 6, 2008 4:26 PM

Next question, after Barry's huge buys for Super Tues, and his huge ground game that he funded in most of the states, where is he at cash wise as we sit here today?

Obama may have a higher burn-rate than Hillary, but that doesn't matter when you're raising a million dollars a day and your opponent is loaning herself money.

PA alone will cost 20 million at least. I think both camps are going to be scraping for cash.

Go to opensecrets.org if you want to understand the reality of the money situation. Clinton relies quite heavily on large-dollar donors, many of whom have already maxed-out. In contrast, Obama relies on hundreds of thousands of small donors exhibiting a level of enthusiasm that borders on religious devotion. I don't think there's any question that he's going to have vastly more money than her for the remainder of the primary.

Posted by asdf | February 6, 2008 4:29 PM

It is a fundraising aid. Obviously, if Hillary DID NOT WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW that the campaign was in a financial crunch, they would not have ISSUED THE INFORMATION.

You guys aren't the sharpest tools in the shed.

Things can't be much different for Obama. Last quarter was the first that he outraised Hillary, and he was about $25 million in arrears of her overall total at the time. Plus he has spent a lot more since the voting began. I woudl be willing to bet that there isn't more than a few million difference in their respective cash on hand figures at the moment.

Meanwhile the trap is closing on Obama's cousin Odinga in Kenya - http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hu1q9MI4JTHR_27gg8FtQ6zvvFSwD8UL12G80

He also will not likely be allowed into the U.S. any longer as the State Department has issued a statement that "individuals fomenting violence and unrest in Kenya will no longer be issued visas to America.". Odinga was with Obama last fall when Obama announced his candidacy. I guess he won't be around to comfort him when he drops out. Unless Obama goes to Africa and his cousin is issued a day pass. But I don't think they issue day passes to WAR CRIMINALS.

Posted by robert ethan | February 6, 2008 4:32 PM

I think that asdf's point above is accurate. By definition, it's better to have a wider donor base with smaller donations, than a narrow donor base with maxed-out donations. (Not that HRC's base of donors would have been considered "narrow" in any previous cycle).

Obama, since he has more donors in absolute terms, has a greater opportunity to get more out of them, since not as many (relatively speaking)are maxed out. It also helps a campaign to have many donors, even if they aren't large - b/c donors mean more donors. Donors are also more likely to volunteer and participate in the campaign per se than nondonors...

Posted by ElectionNightHQ.com (McCain site) Publisher | February 6, 2008 4:34 PM

Expect to see Hillary's people making sure we all know that she and she alone loaned the campaign the cash. If there is any hint that Bill's money was involved (even if legal as they are married) then that truly would be an unspinnable story. Bill would be seen as buying his wife the Presidency, and that story would be fatal to her campaign.

Posted by swarty | February 6, 2008 4:35 PM

John M., you're right on the, yes, money. This item inspired me so much that I went straight to Obama's website and gave $50! Didn't wait for an e-mail plea...

Sara, a fair amount of HRC's cash is designated for the general election - can't be used for the primary.

Posted by JR | February 6, 2008 4:40 PM

This $5 million loan will be at the frozen interest rate that Hillary has been pitching on the trail.

This story is going to write itself. And while it will certainly get some Hillary folks to pony up, the Obama folks are probably happily going broke donating today.

Posted by swarty | February 6, 2008 4:40 PM

The email is funny. My favorite part:

"After seven years of a president who listens only to the special interests, America is ready for a president who brings your voice, your values, and your dreams to the White House."

Just one little problem - the Clinton campaign has taken more special interest lobbying and pac money than any candidate in either party.

Posted by JT | February 6, 2008 4:43 PM

Know the Fact:

Get latest update of election results and delegates

http://www.seferm.com/news/us/governementelection/results/elections-result.asp

Posted by Tim | February 6, 2008 4:44 PM

Looks like B-Serious over at Jack and Jill Politics was right...Clinton's call for weekly debates is her way of getting free publicity, since she can't afford to buy any.

Posted by fabooj | February 6, 2008 4:50 PM

Can't they just do some advance booking of the Lincoln Bedroom to get through the tough spots?

Posted by J.B. | February 6, 2008 4:52 PM

Even though we saw this coming this morning, I still find it stunning. I guess this explains why she didn't try to compete in the states in which he crushed her yesterday.

Since Obama stayed so close through yesterday, he's now in very good shape to work the next states and win them all. If he does win all the states between now and March 4, will March 4 for Hillary turn into the nightmare FL situation that Guiliani had? Thinking he could lose the early states and still take Florida?

Posted by evie | February 6, 2008 4:54 PM

Yeah, right, Tim. Some obscure little website you pulled out of your back pocket has "the Fact", even though their totals don't agree with CNN, AP, or a handful of other sites.

The question now is, WILL OBAMA CAMPAIGN ALLOW HIM TO DEBATE HILLARY ONE ON ONE? Now that the Gang Of Four, who pooled their meagre talents against Hillary has been whittled down with the timely demise of Edwards, Richardson, and Kucinich.

I doubt it. Obama is fine when he has a script WRITTEN BY SOMEONE ELSE and set out in LARGE EASY READER TYPE on his ever present TELEPROMPTER, but if he has to ad lib and think on his feet, he is a stuttering, meandering, non sensical mess.

Stay tuned, it is going to get a bit uncomfortable for Obama now that he no longer has his aidors and abettors along to take the spotlight off of him. That shallow one note campaingn platform is going to get a little tired with time and exposure.

Posted by robert ethan | February 6, 2008 4:59 PM

I like this. Ho ho ho she is getting broke! .Hey man, I was so proud of Obama that I went straight away and posted 50 buck for him.The guy is beating the hell out of that lady. Good job!

Posted by siam erzuah | February 6, 2008 5:13 PM

Obama response to Hillary's debate challenge........"We MIGHT be able to schedule one further debate..".

Bob and weave, B.O., duck and dodge. Run for your pathetically flimsy little political life.

Posted by robert ethan | February 6, 2008 5:15 PM

I like this. Ho ho ho she is getting broke! .Hey man, I was so proud of Obama that I went straight away and posted 50 buck for him.The guy is beating the hell out of that lady. Good job!

Posted by siam erzuah | February 6, 2008 5:16 PM

robert! you are aware they have already DEBATED ONE ON ONE BEFORE, RIGHT?!

stupid

Posted by eric | February 6, 2008 5:17 PM

I like this. Ho ho ho she is getting broke! .Hey man, I was so proud of Obama that I went straight away and posted 50 buck for him.The guy is beating the hell out of that lady. Good job!

Posted by siam erzuah | February 6, 2008 5:18 PM

LOL. I can't wait to see how Adolph H. Axelrod and Plouffe You're a Frog! spin Hillary's financial difficulties into their "Underdog" mantra. As desperate and despicable a pair of liars as those two are, I think it will take all of their collective corruption to pull that one off.

Posted by robert ethan | February 6, 2008 5:21 PM

I am totally embarrassed for Billary.

Days after Obama had a record $32 million month, it emerges she had to give herself $5 mill.

Also, Billary requesting debates also that funds are looking low for her,

She is pulling down $170,000 annual or so as a senator, and her previous work history does NOT indictate she personally could have saved up $5 million.

So yeah, how many underhanded deals did Bill broker for this?

Posted by Billary Blows | February 6, 2008 5:27 PM

...and hello to you too eric.

Yes, I'm aware they have debated one on one, and I SAW THE RESULTS. They weren't pretty for your fuzzy thought process candidate to put it mildly.

Hillary will eat him alive and spit his bones out on the ground in any sort of debate forum. I mean we are talking about an individual who COULDN'T EVEN PRESS THE RIGHT BUTTON WHEN VOTING.

A simple YES OR NO CHOICE. Obama could't even pull that off without error.

A guy who promised to have talks with "The President of Canada". Which was certainly news to Canadian head of state PRIME MINISTER Stephen Harper.

Posted by robert ethan | February 6, 2008 5:30 PM

That shallow one note campaingn [sic] platform

Unfortunately I think that describes every major campaign on both sides

Posted by JK | February 6, 2008 5:31 PM

robert, you need to get a hold of yourself. david axelrod is hitler? get some water, you might need to lie down. your heart must be racing. you are losing it. please calm down or you are going to hurt yourself.

Posted by eric | February 6, 2008 5:32 PM

Bill Clinton in Iowa Dec 24, 2007

"They say you couldn’t stop me from spending all the money I’ve saved over the last five years on Hillary’s campaign if I wanted to, even though it would clearly violate the spirit of campaign finance reform."

I guess he changed his mind.

Yes, we can.

Posted by eric | February 6, 2008 5:36 PM

Guys, I have to apologize for the dumb-ass who keeps pilfering my name. He's just a sad little cracker who apparently missed the last 18 debates. Don't pay any heed to his race-baiting ramblings.

Posted by robert ethan | February 6, 2008 5:39 PM

Legally, in a normal marriage, there is no such thing as "his" or "her" money. So Uncle Bill could be the earner, but it's still "her" money.

Of course, in the world of the super-rich, which all our emeritus politicians seem to end up belonging to, there are all kinds of trusts and private foundations, et al. Those kinds of structures would be a barrier to Bill funneling money to Hillary.

BTW: "Borat-gate"! That's excellent.

Posted by Fleisig | February 6, 2008 5:43 PM

As the news said Obama's supporters earn an income level of $150,000-200,000 whereas Hillary's supporters income level is $75,000 and lower. Shows where Obamas priorities and it is not with the low middle income and poor. And now he says he has to reach out to the poor.Hillary's supporters may take a little longer to contribute but make no mistake they are. Never uunderestimate those that make kess income.

Posted by VC | February 6, 2008 5:55 PM

Hillary made large sums from her tomes "It Takes a Village" and "Living History". Not that I'd have read any of that crap, but I do recall something about crazy large advances and subsequent sales.

Side note: Robert Ethan. You are one deranged mf. Seriously.

Posted by Jay | February 6, 2008 5:57 PM

you guys crack me up. you talk mad trash about where hillary got her money, while for the past 8 years we've all been getting our ass raped by the bush administration.

Posted by sha | February 6, 2008 6:08 PM

It is incredible that Hilary Clinton's record of failures and dishonest behaviors during her husband's eight years in office have not been remembered by the press and the American people. I realize that much of her support is from young people so they may have limited recall of the perpetual mismanagement, conniving, abuse of power, media manipulations, etc. that were the daily fare of the last "Clinton Regime".

How can we even consider Hilary with her record! How can we forget how she destroyed FBI files and letters during "Filegate"; the inappropriate closing of the White House Liaison office; the scandal of the White House Travel office, the mishandling of the Paula Jones lawsuit, the Whitewater scandal which led to the Ken Star investigation and revealed Bill's Monica Lewinsky affair.

This led Bill Clinton to lie to the grand jury and to lose his law license and to be impeached by the House. Hilary was indicted for perjury and obstruction of justice.

Bill Clinton then protected her actions by asking the National Archives to withhold from the public until 2012 many records of Hilary's actions, correspondence and calendars, while in the White House. There are ongoing lawsuits to force release of these records. If she is elected you can be sure that these records will also be destroyed.

Hilary voted to support the plan to invade Iraq, she has since changed her stand and could endanger our forces with a rash withdrawal.

Hilary ran for the Senate in New York, a state she never lived in. Her husband pardoned FALN terrorists in order to manipulate Latino support. Hilary also had Bill pardon her brother's clients for a fee "to get financial support." And then there was all the scandal with Bill's brother, Roger Clinton.

When the Clinton's left the White House they took over $200,000 worth of White House furniture, china, and artwork. Stolen from the American trust.

The litany of misconduct, manipulation, favoritism, evading and circumventing the law, using underhanded tactics, immoral behavior, is the legacy left by the Clinton's. I for one do not want to endure another four years of scandal and impotence in our government.

I have watched Hilary read her speeches, all written and very controlled, full of catch phrases, and sentences describing the American human condition. She rarely gives true solutions, rather she offers that the government will come up with some way to subsidize individual lives. I can foresee the Clinton's once again milking the American government and its people for their own profit and to unfairly pay back the people who have supported them in their bid for re-election.

Wake up America. Remember the past. Any candidate will be a better president than Hilary Clinton!

Where is the press when they are needed to inform our young and remind our citizens of the resume of leaders who have betrayed our trust and preyed on our incredulity.

Posted by August Jaffe | February 6, 2008 6:22 PM

As the Clinton campaign actively solicits their list of supporters for $3M in three days, Politico reports that Obama has raised $2.2M in the past 24 hours -- and he's not even asking.

I imagine that number is still growing. I just threw in another $25 matched contribution.

Posted by Jason | February 6, 2008 6:29 PM

So, now it's official: Hillary Clinton is the Mitt Romney of the Democratic race. First the flip=flops, now the imminent bankruptcy. Seriously, how can anyone imagine that a woman who can't even manage her own campaign financially has any chance of managing the US economy?

Posted by maraschion | February 6, 2008 6:31 PM

Robert Ethan used to post at politico all the time, I'm sure he remembers me. I guess they finally IP banned him for posting diatribes filled with nothing but curse words and racist epithets after Obama won Iowa. That's the next step up from posting half of his sentences in ALL CAPS. Robert Ethan, you are truly an interesting psychological phenomenon.

Posted by John M. | February 6, 2008 6:38 PM

http://www.mydd.com/story/2008/2/6/18292/83173

Top Clinton Staffers Now Forgoing Pay...

Posted by cousin vinnie | February 6, 2008 6:44 PM

Each every American has skeletons in their closet and who are you to judge. You who would want any other candidate: where there is one candidate that would carry on war until we win, THERE IS NO WINNER IN WARS.... Wars are for the rich who have invested in war bonds, black gold known as oil..and of course cannot forget Haliburton while Americans( young Americans) lose their life for their investments of war. Let theses men fight their war, you don't see their children losing their life in war. I would rather have a candidate that maybe isn't perfect but would at least give the middle and lower class people a voice, have knowledge of checks and balances( right now China owns more of our country than we do) and give the United States of America back the respect we lost worldwide. This country has serious problems that will need someone with experience to even begin to meet these problems with the know how.

Posted by VC | February 6, 2008 6:45 PM

She's turning into Romney. A bloated campaign; underwhelming results; huge personal loans to the campaign coffers...

http://www.political-buzz.com/

Posted by matt | February 6, 2008 6:48 PM

VC: Hillary Clinton voted to authorize the war. You're an imbecile. Go stick that in your closet.

Posted by Bill | February 6, 2008 6:49 PM

Didn't Trippi say that Obama's mistake was in letting Hillary escape the "inevitable candidate" meme?

Sorry to have to point this out to you Obama simpletons, but how do you portray a "broke" Hillary Clinton as the "inevitable candidate"? Furthermore how do you portray your guy with all of his WASHINGTON INSIDER ENDORSEMENTS (which didn't help one iota, btw) and an "apparent" FUND RAISING ADVANTAGE as "The Candidate of Change"? Or the "Underdog"?

I think that despite the overwhelming handicap of an incredibly hostile press, and the general sheeplike mentality of a large portion of the voting public, the Clinton campaign has just pulled one over on (Adolph Hitler LOOKALIKE...eric ;) David Axelrod, and Plouffe! (you're a frog again).

But that is just my opinion.

Posted by robert ethan | February 6, 2008 6:53 PM

Again, apologies for the spurious troll.

Posted by robert ethan | February 6, 2008 6:56 PM

So Obama is going to hold talks with "The President of Canada" :)?

I guess that was one of the classes he skipped while he was out "getting high on pot, and doing a little blow when I could afford it..".

Or maybe it is indicative of the admission standards Harvard University used in assessing his application from some insignificant junior college which no one would recognize.

Or perhaps it was a result of his devoting too much time to being "popular and well liked" at Harvard to bother with intracacies of international politics.

Who knows?

Posted by robert ethan | February 6, 2008 7:02 PM

intricacies NOT intracacies

Please note that my identity-thieving troll is illiterate as well as a racist moron.

Posted by robert ethan | February 6, 2008 7:14 PM

I enjoy screwing other men.

Posted by robert ethan | February 6, 2008 7:21 PM

I enjoy screwing other men.

Posted by robert ethan | February 6, 2008 7:21 PM

Presumably slow, blind ones without a sense of smell.

Posted by maraschion | February 6, 2008 7:28 PM

How much longer before the HRC campaign appears at www.fuckedcompany.com?

Posted by Travis Jones | February 6, 2008 7:33 PM

To add to the poster above about Obama's haul just today, I have just received an email from the campaign (I have donated a time or two, and yes, I make

Posted by N M | February 6, 2008 7:34 PM

The chatter is that the money troubles started after Iowa, improved a little after NH, then dried up again when Wild Bill was unleashed, upon the world. A reporter told me he'd been told that some of the big donors started saying "Don't even call me anymore."

When you see posters on boards saying they are going to start giving money to the Clinton campaign now? I'll wager that's not really true.

Remember, the Clintons got their big inflow last year when she was inevitable. I know a guy in NYC who is a big Hillary supporter and he said he really thinks they blew it and the last thing he "feels" like doing is giving money.

Psychologically, people don't want to give money to someone who they think has little to no forward momementum.

Posted by Gregor | February 6, 2008 7:38 PM

Wow things re really pretty out of control here. Reminds me of the old Raging Bull penny stock boards where everyone was completely vulgar, rude, belligerent, intolerant, and biased beyond all ability to think rationally. This is the crowd supporting the candidate of hope? Yes we can avoid it. What a hoot.

Posted by Jammer | February 6, 2008 7:48 PM

People seem to have gone off the deep end here.

Posted by robert ethan | February 6, 2008 7:55 PM

"We are very frustrated because we have a Supreme Court that seems determined to say that the wealthier have more right to free speech than the rest of us. For example, they say you couldn’t stop me from spending all the money I’ve saved over the last five years on Hillary's campaign if I wanted to, even though it would clearly violate the spirit of campaign finance reform," - Bill Clinton, December 24, 2007.

Posted by brad | February 6, 2008 8:08 PM

Well, to borrow a page from the Clinton phrase book, it's "understandable that many of her supporters here would feel frustrated with this news and try to strike out negatively".

Face it, Clinton's well is drying up because people aren't inclinded to invest their money in her message. Go on and rant all you want about Obama this and Obama that and if he'll debate and if he hit present --- all your frothing at the mouth won't earn Clinton a dollar and that's what she needs.

Posted by Jeff V. | February 6, 2008 8:11 PM

$3M in three days?

Sooooooooo 2004.

Posted by Chris R | February 6, 2008 8:54 PM

Just FYI, it appears that the Obama campaign is using the $5M loan as a fundraising tactic. Total donations since the polls closed are now at $4.5 million and counting.

Posted by Jason | February 6, 2008 8:57 PM

And she supposedly has all the organizational history and expoerience to lead from Day 1. Well it's Day 1 after Super Tuesday and the pickin's are looking real slim. Not Good Hillary. Not Good. Or could this be another sympathy move? Hmmmmmmmm.

Posted by Valdez | February 6, 2008 8:57 PM

And she supposedly has all the organizational history and experience to lead from Day 1. Well it's Day 1 after Super Tuesday and the pickin's are looking real slim. Not Good Hillary. Not Good. Or could this be another sympathy move? Hmmmmmmmm.

Posted by Valdez | February 6, 2008 8:58 PM

One of the Robert Ethan's wrote:
"Or maybe it is indicative of the admission standards Harvard University used in assessing his application from some insignificant junior college which no one would recognize."

Obama did his first two years of undergraduate study at Occidental College, and then transferred for the last two years of his B.A. to Columbia University. So yes, Rob, you are right as usual: both of these educational institutions are completely insignificant. Pooh on you.

Posted by aeli | February 6, 2008 9:00 PM

This offends me because I want WHOEVER gets elected to GET elected fairly, and not BUY their way in with their own personal money. This puts the presidency UP FOR SALE, it is obscene.

This is classic Hillary. A sleazy move, another con job. And a SUPREME example of why I don't want anything to do with her, EVAH!

Posted by siri | February 6, 2008 9:02 PM

Didn't Kerry loan his campaign a lot of money? What's the problem? it seemed virtuous back then.

Posted by Michael C. | February 6, 2008 9:21 PM

woot, $4.8 million.

Go siri!

Posted by c | February 6, 2008 9:21 PM

Obama has raised $5 million since the polls closed last night. The servers that support his website are struggling to keep up with the traffic.

Posted by cousin vinnie | February 6, 2008 9:31 PM

Obama has raised $5 million since the polls closed last night. The servers that support his website are struggling to keep up with the traffic.

Posted by cousin vinnie | February 6, 2008 9:31 PM

"Paid for by Hillary Clinton for president:" that means you. Not only was Hillary Clinton against the passage of the Civil Rights Act, for which Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his life (as a Goldwater Girl, Hillary was against Lyndon B. Johnson, the president she credits for Dr. King getting to the mountaintop), to make matters worse, New York Senator, Clinton was the first 2008 presidential hopeful to invoke 9-11 during her loosely paraphrased speech, taken straight from the base of the Statue of Liberty, on Super Tuesday.

“Help Make History! Paid for by Hillary Clinton for President.” It’s as if Hillary Clinton had never even visited the White House from 1992 to 2000. Hillary's current incantation of the events of 9-11 seems only to parallel that of her Civil Rights stance(s). But I remember Hillary’s last invitation to help her make history; that call came in California in 1995, and we're still paying for it: http://theseedsof9-11.com

Posted by Peggy McGilligan | February 6, 2008 9:35 PM

I make under $50,000 per year, and I'm an Obama supporter. I've already given him $75 this year, which is a lot of money for me.

When you look at fundraising and caucus performance, it is clear that Obama has the more energized supporters. It used to be that Clinton had the broader base because of her name recognition and her husband, but even that is no longer the case. Obama basically tied her in the popular vote yesterday.

Hillary is in big trouble, but like McCain she could still make a comeback if Obama stumbles.

Posted by Sage | February 6, 2008 9:42 PM

Bill Clinton- Uranium Deal ($31 Million)

I wonder if any of this cash is somehow going to find its way into Hillary's campaign?

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/31/us/politics/31donor.html?pagewanted=print

Posted by vinnie's cousin | February 6, 2008 9:49 PM

That is laughable crap you are posting Peggy McGilligan. What color is the sky on McGilligan's Island?

On the subject of laughable crap, why hasn't anyone called "Plouffe!" (you're a pumpkin again) on his B.S. of Obama getting an extra 100 delegates on Super Tuesday? Every credible source I've seen shows Hillary WINNING MORE DELEGATES LAST NIGHT. In addition to GETTING A MAJORITY OF THE POPULAR VOTE.

Why doesn't anyone call the Obama camp, and media shills like Politico and Drudge on the BIG LIES THEY TELL?

Why doesn't anyone call the SUBURBAN CHICAGO ILLINOIS law enforcement agencies on their FOOT DRAGGING and half hearted pursuit of the AFRICAN AMERICAN MALE who EXECUTED 5 WOMEN on February 1?

Due to the fact that it is a potential perceptual problem for South Side Chicago's most famous politician?

I think so.

Posted by robert ethan | February 6, 2008 10:06 PM

You guys are driving me nuts. Clinton started it: "I loaned the campaign $5 million from my money." The rest of you (the Washington Post, Sullivan, Yglesias, Ambinder, a thousand Atlantic posters and most of the rest of the internet) have followed right along.

"Loan" is a noun only, not a verb. Clinton gave herself a $5M loan. She *lent* herself $5M. "Loaned" is not a word. Do we want a president who doesn't know how to use proper English? (nyuk)

Posted by Madboy | February 6, 2008 10:11 PM

Does this mean that Ron Burkle or Marc Rich or whatever other billionaires the Clintons have in their pockets can "pay" Bill Clinton $5 million for a business venture, and then the Clintons(plural) can donate $5 million to her campaign the next day?

Doesn't that seem like a rather transparent and flagrant abuse of campaign finance laws, since under no circumstances could any of those billionaires donate $5 million to the Hillary for President campaign.

Andrew

Posted by Andrew | February 6, 2008 10:12 PM

Does this mean that Ron Burkle or Marc Rich or whatever other billionaires the Clintons have in their pockets can "pay" Bill Clinton $5 million for a business venture, and then the Clintons(plural) can donate $5 million to her campaign the next day?

Doesn't that seem like a rather transparent and flagrant abuse of campaign finance laws, since under no circumstances could any of those billionaires donate $5 million to the Hillary for President campaign.

Andrew

Posted by Andrew | February 6, 2008 10:13 PM

My whole family makes less than $50,000 a year and we just donated to Obama. Not a lot of money, mind you, but some. We know there are others out there like us who feel the same way.

Obama is pushing for $6 million by midnight tonight.

Posted by Elrod | February 6, 2008 10:32 PM

Mdboy, I think you'll find that "loaned" is a word, as in "I have loaned you five million dollars, Mrs Clinton. Do you have an approximate repayment schedule?"

Posted by zxerp | February 6, 2008 11:05 PM

robert ethan the racist whoooohoooo!!! I love finding you on blogs making stuff up and hating on everyone who isn't like you. You really should trade mark your name and nasty posting style. I will look for you on other blogs and say hi there too!!! Robert Ethan FTW!!!!

Posted by dave | February 6, 2008 11:16 PM