Husband's foreign deals may pose issue for Clinton

[babylonsister]

Husband's foreign deals may pose issue for Clinton

By SHARON THEIMER
Associated Press Writer


WASHINGTON (AP) -- Former President Bill Clinton's globe-trotting business deals and fundraising for his foundation sometimes put his activities abroad at odds with Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and could cause complications if President-elect Barack Obama picks her to be secretary of state.

During her own White House campaign, the New York senator criticized China for its crackdown on protesters in Tibet and urged President George W. Bush to skip the Olympics in Beijing. Her campaign was embarrassed by reports that her husband's foundation had raised money from a Chinese Internet company that posted an online government "Most Wanted" notice seeking information on Tibetan human-rights activists that may have been involved in the demonstrations.

Hillary Clinton has campaigned as a champion of workers' rights. This year, Brazilian labor inspectors found what they called "degrading" living conditions for sugar cane workers employed by an ethanol company in which Bill Clinton invested.

In the Senate, Clinton was an outspoken critic of a proposed deal under which a Dubai company planned to buy a British business that helped run six major U.S. ports. The company, DP World, privately sought Bill Clinton's advice about how to respond to the controversy over the port plan, which later was abandoned.

more...

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/CLINTONS_OVERSEAS_VENTURES?SITE=CONGRA&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[JVS]

1. Ok.

:popcorn:

[LittleBlue]

2. This worries me about her

She is too connected for this job. The Chinese thing is especially bad/embarrassing.

[Cosmic Charlie]

3. Hillary is deciding right now if she is willing to be vetted, along with Bill

I doubt they will expose themselves just for SOS.

[ProSense]

4. Wow!

In a 6,400-word speech in London in March 2006, the former president laid out his views on a variety of world issues, including the Middle East peace process. Buried in the lengthy address were a few lines that could make a White House press office rush for damage control.

"The Palestinians are younger and poorer today than they were when we started the peace process in 1993," he said. "And I have never met a single poor Palestinian anywhere in the world except in the Palestinian territories. Every single Palestinian I know in America is a millionaire or a college professor, and I say that with deep respect, but when there is a conflict, when there is an absence of security, there is always an absence of opportunity."

[LittleBlue]

7. On the other hand, that is impressive

It's too bad these two gifted people have such a lengthy history, and made a few poor choices.

[ProSense]

11. There is nothing impressive about that comment. n/t

[LittleBlue]

12. What's wrong with it?

The "every single Palestinian I know" is a bit weird, but the latter sentiment about opportunity is positive.

[Mass]

13. Every palestinian he knows is not a representation of palestinians in the USA.

It is just short-sighted and plain wrong.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

17. Pretty much everyone he knows, of any ethnic background, is probably a millionaire.

That's how Bill rolls now.

[ProSense]

18. "is a bit weird"?

It's highly offensive.

[AtomicKitten]

5. Oh what a tangled web they wove.

[Sensitivity]

6. DUH! Husband's provate dealings may pose risk for REST OF US

I support Bill and Hillary's right to maintian satisfying private lives.

Risks will attend to the rest of us, however, if either take a major public role in the Obama adminstration. Bill will have to keep above public reproach in his private life, and I am not sure that he will be able to do this -- all the "insider" rumors say he is not.

[TayTay]

8. Sen. Kerry would be in charge of any confirmation hearing, right?

I wonder what questions he would raise on Sen. Clinton and her husband and their dealings with the issues raised in the OP.

That could be quite an interesting set of hearings.

[marylanddem]

9. Good post - thanks

It would be awful if this kind of mess distracted from Obama's attempts to open a new chapter in American history.

[Egnever]

10. its all about Bill

:(

[babylonsister]

14. I know.

Too bad he's such a lead weight around her neck, or can be perceived that way. :hide:

[acmavm]

15. This is the problem I have with Hillary. Bill is part of the deal.

That break's the deal for me.

[Lugnut]

16. I knew this would come up eventually.

I think Sen Clinton would be a great SOS. It would be a shame if Bill's deals mess that up.

[Beacool]

19. Did it ever occur to any of you that Obama already knows about Bill's business deals?

If he indeed offered her the position, he must know about Bill's world connections.

I don't know whether she even wants it, but Hillary would be a great SOS if she chooses to take the job.

;-)

[ClarkUSA]

20. To avoid conflict of interest, Bill would have to leave the Global Clinton Initiative.

And Bill would have to give up his backroom deals with foreign nations' despots and dictators that have enriched the Clinton
coffers tremendously. Somehow, I can't see Bill giving that up or allowing Hillary to give sworn testimony about his morally
dubious post-presidential dealings. Not that she'd want to, either.

Plus, the Clinton Presidential Library donor list would have to see the light of day and be dissected in front of Senators on both
sides of the aisle. I doubt President Obama wants to waste his time and his political capital on yet another sleezy Clinton media
melodrama.

[Kahuna]

22. I imagine Bill himself would be called to testify about his dealings in

the confirmation hearing. Sounds like a non-starter to me.

[ClarkUSA]

23. Oy. What a nightmare media circus that'd be -- at a time when the nation wants calm leadership.

Team O knows better. They won't allow their political capital to be wasted on defending the indefensible.
Back to the Senate she goes...

[onefreespiritedchick]

21. I read this article earlier

It is too bad Bill has so much baggage.

[Number23]

24. So very, very INNNNteresting that this comes out the DAY after it's "leaked"

that she's being considered for Sos....???

That Obama is just a simply brilliant man.... :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: