Here's the thing: Senator Clinton could be the incarnation of Mother

[Raven]

Teresa and it would not move my vote.

I'm gratified that they contributed to charities.
I'm happy that they seemed to have paid their fair share of taxes.
I'm relieved that they finally released their tax returns.

Having said that:

Senator Clinton's tax returns tell me nothing more about the candidate than I knew yesterday and certainly gives me no reason to change my vote. But,

The amount of money the Clintons made following their exit from the White House disturbs me, makes me uneasy. I cannot really put my finger on it, but 50+ million dollars for speeches seems really excessive to me. There are tons of colleges in this country that would die to have the wisdom of the POTUS, especially Bill Clinton, and yet he seemed to be entirely out of their reach. As a matter of fact, I happen to be involved with one college which has a program every year focusing on the importance of service to the community. We have had 25+ years of speakers who come to the campus and spend 2 days. They make a major speech and then spend the second day meeting with students in small seminars. We have never had to spend a cent for our speakers and they have included some of the most important political and social figures in America. I guess Bill and Hillary would have been off limits and I think that is a real shame.

Again, there is something about selling you WH experience to the highest bidder that really bothers me...actually, it repulses me.

And, before you ask the question, I'd feel the same way about anyone lining their pockets this way.

[Cleita]

1. I feel uneasy too about the gobs of money they have

made since leaving the White House. One of the things that made them attractive as a couple was their modest portfolio of assets. It seems like they have abandoned their middle class values for greed and gain.

[polpilot]

8. Sold out...long time ago. Typical hillfolk.

[BlooInBloo]

2. Pfft. Like the (re)incarnation of Mother Teresa would vote for war. NOT.

[flor de jasmim]

3. The Lincoln bedroom came to mind. But HRC herself said:

Obama has only speeches - they don't pay the bills. How ironic.

[anonymous171]

4. I'm pretty sure some of her supporters here actually believe that.

[dansolo]

5. It's not the money that bothers me

What bothers me is the fact that they are getting this kind of money with the full expectation that Hillary was going to be running for president. Even back in 2000, people were circling 2008 as the year that Hillary would run for president. When people give bundles of money to a person that they expect will end up in the White House someday, it raises the specter of dirty dealings.

If Bill and Hillary were out of politics, they could make 10 times as much, I would bat an eye.

[DesertFlower]

6. i don't care how much money they make.

it's their "sense of entitlement" to the presidency that bothers me.

[stillcool]

7. It's that revolving door..

between industry, or lobbyists and Government kicked up a notch. The re-incarnation of the Bush I Administration certainly points out that people lay in wait to regain their power, and while not 'in power' effectively use their influence and leverage to broker deals and rake in the big bucks the amount of which I can not even fathom. I keep on referencing this book lately..maybe someone who isn't familiar with it, or who wants to take another look will appreciate the link. It can be down-loaded for free because of it's copyright expiration. "The Rich and the Super-Rich" by Ferdinand Lundberg. There are also lots of other interesting books available. Here's the site:

http://www.soilandhealth.org/03sov/0303critic/0303socialcriticism.html