Bradley: Bill Clinton's Financial Backers Could Pose Big Problem

Though known for his soft-demeanor, former senator and current Obama supporter Bill Bradley let off a bit of steam at the Clinton campaign during an appearance on NewsHour Wednesday night.

Calling into question the known unknowns (channeling my inner-Rumsfeld) of former president Bill Clinton's financial backers, Bradley raised the specter of down-the-road quid-pro-quos and one-hand-behind-your-back general election fights against Sen. John McCain. As he explained to host Jim Lehrer:

"I think Barack Obama has a much stronger chance of beating John McCain in the general election. I think Hillary is flawed in many ways, and particularly if you look at her husband's unwillingness to release the names of the people who contributed to his presidential library.

And the reason that is important -- you know, are there favors attached to $500,000 or $1 million contributions? And what do I mean by favors? I mean, pardons that are granted; investigations that are squelched; contracts that are awarded; regulations that are delayed.

These are important questions. The people deserve to know. And we deserve, as Democrats, to know before a nominee is selected, because we don't want things to explode in a general election against John McCain."

Here is the video:

Tip of the hat to goldmj at Daily Kos for first noticing this.

Comments

[anghiari]

Wasn't Bill just in Canada in the last week to attend a fundraiser held by Frank Giustra...now if anybody knows Mr. Giustra he is a mega millionaire businessman in Canada with a very high profile. He clearly is a friend of the Clintons and there fore must be supportive of Hillary. Is it too far fetched to believe that talks about Nafta in the Canadian Embassy might have been leaked to Mr. Giustra by someone wanting to get in his good favor and Mr. Giustra thought it might be doing a favor for Bill or perhaps Bill even asked...The coincidence of a leak from someone related to the Canadian Embassy that could have created a tempest in a teapot for Senator Obama...and the fact that Bill's current best bud is Canadian are not unrelated....

[cybersense]

and maybe...might....perhaps maybe My word!

[nickgrossman2000]

Exactly

[savertime]

The latest on the Canadian/Obama NAFTA story (posted here on Huffpost)
The call came from the Clinton Camp saying it was just campaign talk..

The Clintons were selling the CLINTON BRAND (influence peddling) just before leaving
the White House in preparation for Hillary's senate run. - according to the Paul lawsuit.

[Svenson]

So here come the fairy tales from Obama's surrogates such as bradley, arianna, etc.

[billflannigan]

Why aren't these legitimate questions to ask? Bill's contacts and business arrangements over the last 7+ years will come up in Nov., so why are they nervous? Why the delay in releasing all this info now? She started slinging the mud- Obama and his supporters are just slinging it back. Get used to it- this is the way HRC wants to win, well this is the way she will lose.

[swanky]

Nobody's nervous sweetie - it's called not-doing-it-because-Obama-says-I-have-to. Has she apologized for her war vote? No. Why? Because Obama said she has to. And why should she do anything he says? This is a billion dollar fight to the death. Get used to it.

[DennyCrane]

I heard a fairy tale from Hillary, the one about her having 35 years of experience and being ready on day one.

[cybersense]

No fairy tale DennyCrane. American needs someone in there that actually knows the mechanics of the White House. I am not putting my bets on someone less experienced right now. Day one will be.

[MsLiz]

State facts, Svenson. Don't just state conclusions.

[Roose]

Game on! The Clintons are FINALLY being vetted.

[mix2007]

When are they going to ask Hillary about Frank Guistra and Norman Hsu?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Giustra

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Hsu

[Roose]

Hey, they ALSO took money from Rezko. Surprise, Surprise!


http://www.margieburns.com/blog/_archives/2008/2/2/3501879.html


http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2008/01/photos_surfaces_of_hillary_cli.html

[mrJJ]

CLINTONS TIED TO REZKO

Clinton's national co-chair received donations from Rezko. Three of the co-defendants at Rezko trial contributed to Clintons and campaign supporters. Obama didn't receive any donations from Rezko.

Since the name of Chicago defendant Antoin ‘Tony’ Rezko has come up in national debate, it seems fair to look at donations from other defendants in Chicago’s “Operation Board Games.”

Of the other five defendants, three have donated to the Clintons or to Clinton supporters, three have donated mostly to Republicans, and at least two have donated to Obama’s political opponents. None have donated to Obama.

http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/03/clintons-tied-to-rezko.php

http://www.fec.gov/disclosure.shtml

http://www.opensecrets.org

Flame for the cigar? blame talking points memo.... btw use the fec link above to find the money... no more spoon feeding LOL

[StephenS]

The article Roose cites does not say either Hillary Clinton or Bill Clinton took money from Rezko. Roose made that up.

from Roose's own link:
http://www.margieburns.com/blog/_archives/2008/2/2/3501879.html

Here are the donations of Rezko's co-defendents to Hillary Clinton or husband Bill Clinton:

Co-defendent Cari (out of $203,000 donated): gave to Hillary Clinton $500 in 2000 and $1000 in 2003, gave money to HILLPAC in 2002, and gave money to a PAC that donated to both Clintons. Cari gave $2000 13 years ago in 1995 to Hillary's husband Bill Clinton.

Hillary returned at least the $1000 donation. No direct Obama contributions are listed, but Obama returned $1439 from apportioned DNC and/or Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee contributions.

Co-defendent Stuart Levine (out of $255,000 donated): gave nothing to Hillary Clinton; gave $1000 13 years ago to Bill Clinton.
Co-defendent Hurtgen (out of $48,000 donated): gave nothing to Hillary Clinton or Bill Clinton.
Co-defendent Kiferbaum (out of $27,000 donated): gave nothing to Hillary Clinton or Bill Clinton.
Co-defendent Loren (out of $1,500 donated): gave nothing to Hillary Clinton or Bill Clinton.

[mrJJ]

Well Norman was just a bagman ... yeah he was a crook but a little peon in the Triad.

Charle Trie
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/campfin/stories/op080397.htm

Norman Hsu's Boss Chan Tse-Chiu aka Eddie Chan
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE2D6173AF931A3575AC0A966958260

Norman
The return Of Dollar Bill's magic money men ... err pass it on to Hillary please...
Norman
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=local&id=5643329

[Lisette]

Oh God, I can't believe any thinking person would want these 2 Clinton's back in the White House?

Did they forget how awful they really are?

Bill is a con artist and stupid people fall for it

[Mollye]

Republican???

[2liveNdie]

Clinton's have too many skeletons in their closet!

[EspritDeVoltaire]

You can't mean Lady Macbeth...

[EspritDeVoltaire]

The specter of the first Clinton White House rears its ugly head. A perfect match for Team Clinton's Ken Starr remark.

[steve1945]

Would anyone in America buy a car from the clintons after seeing the disgrace they put us through the last time we gave them the chance?

[bccity]

Did you vote for Clinton?