Sen. Clinton Defends Private Jet Travel

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Associated Press

Published Wednesday | May 30, 2007
Sen. Clinton Defends Private Jet Travel
By KATHLEEN HENNESSEY Associated Press Writer
The Associated Press

LAS VEGAS (AP) - Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton said Wednesday that she followed all Senate rules when she accepted rides on a private jet from a longtime benefactor.

"Whatever I've done, I complied with Senate rules at the time. That's the way every senator operates," the Democratic presidential contender said in an interview with The Associated Press during a campaign stop in Las Vegas.


Democratic Presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton delivers a speech at Canyon Springs high school in Las Vegas on Wednesday, May 30, 2007. (AP Photo/Isaac Brekken)

The travel and consulting fees paid to Clinton's husband have come to light recently in a lawsuit against Vinod Gupta, a Clinton contributor and chief executive of the data company, InfoUSA Inc.

The lawsuit by company shareholders accuses Gupta of excessively spending millions of dollars, including $900,000 worth of travel on the Clintons.



Read more: http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=1100&u_sid=10024587

[illinoisprogressive]

1. not all senators, Hillary. Your rival from Illinois traveled commercial air

up until he announced for the presidency. there have been articles on this.

[pnwmom]

2. She is accompanied by Secret Service everywhere, as the wife of

a former President. I don't think travelling on commercial airways in that situation makes a lot of sense.

[IndianaGreen]

6. She can pay for this out of her own pocket!

instead of relying on the largesse of a wealthy benefactor who will be expecting a quid pro quo once she is in White House.

[pnwmom]

13. She is reimbursing him at the same first class rate that any other member

of the Senate pays.

You can criticize the rules, but you shouldn't be singling her out.

[Kelvin Mace]

19. Chartering a jet

costs a WHOLE LOT MORE than a first class ticket.

[madrchsod]

3. if i were a stockholder i`d want to see some receipts

from the clinton campaign fund.

[IndianaGreen]

4. IOW: I am just another politician getting favours from wealthy benefactors

Good, Hillary! Stay in the Senate forever!

[dflprincess]

5. I wish someone could explain to me the difference between a favor

and a bribe.

[IndianaGreen]

11. If they do it, it's a bribe. If we do it, it's a favor.

I hope that clarifies it for you. :-)

[dflprincess]

12. Thank you -

now I get it.

So, could you explain the inside fly rule to me? I can never keep that straight either. :hi:

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

7. I've also followed all the rules for my private jet travel.

Rule number one: I don't get one.
Rule number two: Don't even think about it.
Rule number three: "Hey! Pay attention! That grindstone is spinning without a nose on it!"

[anotherdrew]

8. has there ever been a shareholder lawsuit like this before? and what's the likely outcome? n/t

[Tekla West]

9. On the other hand

given how bad air travel has become, the last thing I need is her on the same plane as me.

[pnwmom]

14. Exactly. And then there's the risk factor, too.

[anitar1]

10. Seems to me that the protests are about how women travel.

First , it was Nancy Pelosi, who also was following the rules. I'm sure that Hilary did not beg or bribe this man for a private plane.BTW, I do not support Hilary,just don't care for her politics. But why not look into all of the candidates mode of travel on both sides of the fence ? No, beause it is easier to target a woman.This sounds like a Pug set-up.Flame away, I don't care.

[pnwmom]

15. Ain't that the truth. n/t

[deweyp]

16. That's right, the women get hit on how they travel

The guys get hit on their haircuts.

Jeez. We're working with a lowest common denominator media here. You know, Simple Strokes for Simple Folks.

Just relax. We'll elect someone who says they'll fix everything, but they won't. They never do. They can't. The system is rigged. Every human endeavor is precisely the way it is, no matter how bad, because someone wants it that way. The best we can hope for is to not get another colossal screw up.

I think Jack was actually going to make some changes, so they shot him. That won't happen again. No one wants *that* job.

[demigoddess]

18. the right is also yowling about what bill might do if hillary is in the oval office

will he cheat on her? They are NOT asking will guiliani be faithful to his wife while in the white house. Nor are they asking Newt when he is talked about as a presidential hopeful.

[BeyondGeography]

17. Obama has been paying the full cost of any private jet travel since Jan. of 2006

Meaning HRC is bullshitting when she says "that's the way every Senator operates.":

<Obama to pay full fare on private jet: Citing ethics role, he will
Chicago Sun-Times, Jan 21, 2006 by Lynn Sweet

WASHINGTON--From now on, Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), who this week became a Democratic spokesman for ethics reform, will be using his political war chest to pay the full costs of a flight taken on someone else's private plane, rather than pay the much cheaper price of a first-class ticket.

<..."As for private planes," said Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs, "moving forward our PAC will pay the fair market rate for any such flights that we might use rather than the way the law allows members of Congress to operate now."

Gibbs said Obama "wanted to ensure that his rhetoric on ethics reform was consistent with his actions.">

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4155/is_20060121/ai_n16024675

[mitchleary]

20. I and I am sure most others love it when

politicians answer a question with the equivalent of, "Well, it is not illegal." Freaking scumbag.