Clinton Charitable Contributions Went To Clinton Foundation

The New York Times notes that most of the Clinton's charitable contributions went to their own foundation, which has yet to give away much of the money:

During that time, the Clintons paid $33.8 million in federal taxes and claimed deductions for $10.2 million in charitable contributions. The contributions went to a family foundation run by the Clintons that has given away only about half of the money they put into it, and most of that was last year, after Mrs. Clinton declared her candidacy.

Comments

[sickofallofit]

Shocker!

[the964kid]

I also just started a charity for myself, I'm giving myself 50% of my income - anybody who wants to donate to me - let me know - it's a better place to put your bucks rather then throwing it away on Hillary Clinton.

[NoGoodNamesLeft]

that's not how it works you idiot. the fact that it is named the Clinton foundation doesn't mean they are the recipients of the money.

[EspritDeVoltaire]

Are you not familiar with administrative overhead?

[3billis811]

Yes it does.

[JavaCityGal]

And you know this....ho­w? Please tell us all exactly how a foundation works, you seem to know a lot about it.

[MyThought]

Okay - another Hillary bashing day - this is getting quite tiresome. Hey, HuffPo, we know you're out to get her, but really this is ridiculous.

Did you check out where Obama's charity donations went? Well, they went to his wife Michelle's interests.

Enough already. Clinton's foundation is a very good cause, tax breaks or no. We all get tax breaks for charitable donations.

[SShaw490]

The majority of Obama's charitable contributions went to his church, I believe. If you have any kind of notion that Michelle received Barack's charitable contributions and they were not dispersed for charitable causes, please provide details. Otherwise, please provide a retraction. Or just do us a favor and STFU.

[Biracial1]

Not sure about other churches but in many AA churches it is called Tithing.

[Darkbane]

STOP!

Clinton supporters stop walling up and being defensive. This isn't about beating up on Hillary this is what we have been saying from the beginning. There are major DIRECT issues with her. The fact they are giving donations to there own foundation and that money doesn't all seem to be used IS a problem. If it was Obama you all would be furious. Rightfully so........­.don't give her pass just because you like her.
WRONG IS WRONG!
She is fraudulent and unethical. She is trying to get delegates to switch (regular delegates!) , she has lied several times about personal experiences she has had, she has been investigated for DIRECT improper financial dealings, She has exploited every negative avenue available, She has put Mccain above Obama (considering they share 80 percent of the same views what does that say about her). She has lied about her experience and credentials. She is a moral cesspool. Her administration would be WORSE than Bush's when it comes to transparency , oversight and legality.

[NoGoodNamesLeft]

are you of the opinion that the Gates foundation gives away all of it's money every year? Or, the Ford foundation? Or, any other foundation?

[uheardme]

Hillary bashing or Hillary vetting?

[BrighidG]

Reality has a well-known pro-Obama bias.

[PJay]

Nice. A foundation (tax shelter) TO the Clintons, FOR the Clintons, run BY the Clintons.

[StephenS]

What a scandal - Gates / Ford / Getty / Hewlett / Packard / Carnegie / Clinton family gives to the Gates / Ford / Getty / Hewlett / Packard / Carnegie / Clinton Foundation.

Clearly the Clintons should have followed the Obamas' lead and given to charity a lower percentage of their money every single year from 2000 through 2006. And given away only 3.8% of their income rather than their actual 8.3%. Right.

Oh, and in the year before the Clinton Foundation was founded, the Clintons gave 9.8% of their $360,000 to charity while the Obamas gave just under 1.0% of their $240,000.

[SShaw490]

The Clintons lose more money in the couch cushions than the Obama's make.

[NABNYC]

This is just one example of many of how the tax code is set up to allow rich people to avoid taxes. We need to end this whole "personal" charity bs. When people say that Bill Gates is so charitable, they're missing the point. He hides his money in his own private charity, and avoids paying taxes on it. He then takes that money and decides how he can use it to enrich himself further while pretending to be charitable. For example, give schools in India microsoft software, so that's the only system any of the people know, and they will all buy microsoft forever. A small "donation" from his charity nets an enormous profit to him down the road.

If they pay out 5% per year, they never have to pay taxes on the amount stuck into these private charities. Remember the whole fuss about Bill Gates and Warren Buffet combining their money into the same charity: all designed to avoid taxes. Disregard their claims that they want to give it away. Not in this lifetime. If they wanted to help, they could give it all to Habitat to build houses for people, give it to hospitals. But they don't want to help. They just want to keep their money.

The Clintons have become so scummy, it's truly disgusting. And such a disappointment. They're almost worse than Bush.

[NoGoodNamesLeft]

once the money is in the foundation,it isn't theirs any more. They can't access it for personal use.

[SShaw490]

No, but they can direct it to those "causes" that give them maximum political leverage.

[PennP]

They MAY not. Not the same as they CAN not.

[schatsie]

what is this? Gates gave to the Gates foundation, Ford to the Ford Foundation, Rockefeller and dupont and the Bushes give to themselves­... Didn't you read about Babs charitable donation to Neil?

Give me a break, give me REAL NEWS Like how much did Bearn Stearns take in Year End Bonuses last year before us taxpayers coughed up 30 billion????

[TheRealMacDaddy]

The difference is Bill Gates Foundation actually does something with the money...an­d does not use the Foundation as a tax shelter!

[NoGoodNamesLeft]

areyou trying to imply that the Clintons have access to the money in the foundation to do anything other than give it to charities? If so, you are wrong.

[NoGoodNamesLeft]

the Gates foundation does not immediately give away all its money every year.

[Gary47]

Of course he uses it as a tax shelter. Just like you do when you give money to charity. Your Clinton-hating is getting in the way.

[StephenS]

Yes. Hard at it seems to be for some people reading HuffPo to believe, when a foundation gets money, it often does not just spend it the next day. Sometimes foundations take time to decide where best to spend their money. Sometimes they build up endowments and only spend the income earned by investing the money they get.

In any case, the records for what the foundation spent in 2008 will show that all of the $3 million the Clintons gave last year had been passed on to other charities, say Clinton reps.

[Darkbane]

That is correct and the presidents on that list are FINE company indeed....­.......

Use your brain. We want to be BETTER....­.not similar.

[NoGoodNamesLeft]

do you even listen to yourself? you are now claiming that foundations like Ford, Gates etc are not honorable?

[anfractuous]

Just wait until Bush retires; he'll get $500,000 for just lighting a fart.

[4wehttam]

As for why I support Obama:

He is genuine, he transcends race, he offers a fresh perspective from the old way of doing business in Washington, he spoke out against Iraq from the beginning, he has the ability being mixed to see through the lens of someone who can understand the inequalities we face, he is for equal pay, housing, education, he doesn't take money from lobbyists, he carries himself with dignity, has respect for his opponents, never talks down to people, has the capacity to engage the young like NEVER BEFORE and one of the most important aspects is the running of his campaign. The best grassroots organization, the most money raised, the use of the internet to get his message across, his ability to hire people for their SKILLS and not their friendship, favors owed or history together.

[gba]

Amen

[4wehttam]

apresdeluge- I don't know if you got my post from the previous page. Here it is.

Thanks for replying.

FACT Bosnia lie, it is a fact she lied about the woman in Ohio who died," She lied about Obama on NAFTA, when her own camp was accused of it. fact Penn was caught dealing with the Colombians and Hillary claims to have not known about the meeting. (everything an aid does reflects on the campaign, that is politics 101, Penn knows that, Hillary knows that.) Rupert Murdock fund raised for her her, it is a fact Bill went of Rush Limbaugh's show, she uses her gender to sway votes (crying in NH, whining on SNL, saying boys are out to get her, using Lewinsky to play the victim), their reported 10m to charity when half of it went to their FAMILY FOUNDATION and didn't start going out until she started to run for potus, that they have played the race/ethnic card (Shaheen, SC, Kenyan photo, pastor Wright, Ferraro, Rendell, HE CAN"T WIN), they labeled Richardson a traitor, tried to buy votes by threatening Pelosi, could go on put I'd be here all day.

[gba]

Amen

[ChrisS13]

She didnt lie about Obama on Nafta, that story was all over the news and there was even a memo leaked that detailed it. OBama lied and said that his advisor never met with the Canadians and there is still no info that HRC's people talked with the Canadians. Penn is a campaign advisor not a policy advisor. you say an advisor reflects the canidate so that would be true with OBama's advisors who have been contradicting Obama every step of the way? Who cares if Murdock had a fund raisor for her? Obama's rev. is a racist hate monger, isn't that worse? Bill went on Rush's show when Rush wasn't there, and it was for free publicity, that's what campaigning is about. Obama went on Hannity's show for damage control after the wright thing, should we be leary about that? OMG she cried, what a bitch, and by bitch I mean you. She didn't whine on SNL, why would you lie about that? When did she use Lewinsky to play the victim? You act as if Lewinsky was some how her doing. The race card has been played by Obama's camp as well, Jesse Jackson JR, and David Axelrod. they never tried to buy votes by threatening Pelosi, they didn't want the speaker influencing the voters. It's truly a sick and twisted human being who will lie and twist many different things in a lame attempt to attack. You truly have an obsession problem, maybe time for your meds.

[SLone08]

The Penn issue became a problem when it was reported that the Columbian government official was unclear whether Penn was there on behalf of his consulting firm or Senator Clinton.

[3billis811]

Chris, if' you'd stop crushing your meds and snorting them, you probably wouldn't be so cranky all the time

[jsinclair]

She DID lie about Obama and NAFTA. I heard her do it last week. Even though she now KNOWS that he did not have an advisor go behind the scenes to say he didn't really mean NAFTA has to be changed, she STILL is saying it. (And even though Canada has said it was CLINTON advisors who said not to listen to her statements on NAFTA).

That's a lie she's telling about Obama, Canada and NAFTA. An outright lie.

And she KNOWS it.

[NoGoodNamesLeft]

I'll give you the lie on Bosnia. But, the rest of the stuff you listed in pretty much CRAP.

She did not LIE about the woman in Ohio who died. She told the story the same way the story was told to her. If you read the entire article instead of snippets about it you would know that. The test for this will be to see if she continues to tell that story now that she knows it was told to her wrong.

Where is your proof that she knew ahead of time that Penn, for his own company, was going to meet with the Columbian Govt?

If you want to talk about everything an aid does, then apply it to Obama. His aid Goldsbee DID meet with the canadian rep and talk about NAFTA. It took Obama over a week to finally either figure it out or admit it. We just found out yesterday that Obama's military advisor says he should keep 60,000 - 80,000 troops in Iraq as of the end of 2010.

[wolfi101]

She lied to us in New York, saying she would get us 200,000 jobs. She then ignored us and we ended up losing thousands.

Obama may not be a saint, but Hillary is a sinner. Every day we learn of some new lie or "miscommunication" by her. Or perhaps, some new way to break the party rules or persuade ---pledged--- delegates to rescind their pledges... she has no shame.

[NoGoodNamesLeft]

i like how you claim Clinton is responsible for REv Wright. That issue is wholly Obama's fault. Show me our proof that Clinton sent the Kenya photo to Drudge. What's your problem with Rendell? What difference does it make if Clinton goes on Limbaugh? That's where you reach many independant voters. Crying in NH? Do you have some proof that her emotional response was fake? How is Shaeens discussion of Obama's admitted drug use related to race? Do only blacks use cocaine? We have discussed other politicians use of drugs in the past. Is it only Obama we can't talk about? What difference does it make about Murdoch? Does Obama accept donations from republicans? He likes their votes, not their money?

[4wehttam]

First of all, I DID NOT say she was RESPONSIBLE for the Wright controversy. She is however responsible for staying quiet about during the intensity of it and when her Bosnian LIE came out she reflected it by FINALLY putting Wright back into the conversation.

Rendell made the whites won't vote for him comment...­...democra­ts to say that against other democrats in the middle of a primary. Obama does take money from republicans, just not CORRUPT repugs, going on Limbaugh after he REPEATEDLY attacked her and other democrats, then recently backing away from that to attack only Obama is an indication that something doesn't smell right. Calling Obama a "druggie' when he stopped doing drugs when he was young is uncalled for, that is a repug tactic. Drudge says the photo came from the Clinton camp, I believe Drudge BEFORE I believe the Clintons.

[sickofallofit]

As a PA resident I can give you a list of what is wrong with Rendell. Hillary probably came up with the "infrastructure job creation" deal after riding in PA. Our roads are shittier than they have ever been, after Rendell raised the gas taxes and raised our personal income taxes. Those of us who live in rural PA got shit on even more starting a few years ago when he took our infrastructure (road repair & replacement) dollars and dumped them into Philadelphia's bankrupta SEPTA public transportation system. So now my roads are nothing but HUGE potholes, are buckled and bridges have been closed for 3 years without getting fixed, but don't worry Slick Eddie's constituents in Philly (the only ones he cares about) get subsidized public transportation. January 16, 2011 can't come soon enough!

[Darkbane]

NoGoodNamesLeft you can search all of the info you can find.....a­nd you won't have a comparison for Bosnia.

Hillary lied about a first hand account. Not something that happend outside of her presence or what she was told. She lied about a FIRST hand account. That is entirely different than everything else that you used for Obama. You can't compare the two. I don't hold Hillary accountable for the little stuff.....­for the support mix ups and all that....pe­ople DO make mistakes and she isn't all knowing about everything 24/7 that her people are doing or saying. But the one thing I can't allow is for them to lie about a experience they personally had. There is no excuse and there is no looking past that. It's just like "I did not have sexual relations with that woman". You either did or you didn't Bottomline and like a little kid that got caught lying she needs timeout or a spanking if thats how you roll.

[rojo7449]

You are exactly the person the media loves. No thinking on your own, just blindly follow the story that suits you. Do you know how many of your claims have since been proven inaccurate? You obviously don't understand the operations of a charitable foundation, and Murdoch's daughter did a huge fundraising event for Obama.

[4wehttam]

Murdoch is not a racist, far right wing conspiracy theorist, Is she? She was married to an African American and is NOTHING like her father.

Pray tell which claims have been proven inaccurate? ..........­.....PRAY TELL.

[NoGoodNamesLeft]

Some of you seem to be very confused about what a foundation actually is. The fact that this is named the Clinton Family Foundation doesn't mean that the Clinton Family is receiveing the benefit of the money. It's just the name. Like Bill Gates' foundation is named after him

Once the Clintons GIVE money to the foundation they no longer can access the money for their personal use.

Many foundations spend the first years collecting enough money before giving any away so that the foundation can go on FOREVER without any more contributions by just continuing to give away the earnings on interest from the money each year. they therefore can give away money forever and end up giving much more in the long run. I've considered setting up a similar foundation myself to leave all my assets to in my will. That way you keep giving forever.

[rosek]

but...they control who the foundation will contribute to....

[NoGoodNamesLeft]

how would that be any different that if t hey gave the contribution directly to the same groups without giving it to the foundation first?

[December7]

And while the Colombian president is criticizing Obama (he is afraid of a change in foreign policy that would shed a harsh light on the state of Colombia thuggish dictator)

Mark Penn was acting for the Clintons in whatever capacity they may deem useful.

Colombia to honor Bill Clinton amid growing Democrat scrutiny

BOGOTA, Colombia: Colombia will honor former U.S. President Bill Clinton for his efforts to reverse the country's image for violence and drugs at a gala event next month in New York City.

That, during the same 2007 spring when former vice president Al Gore cancelled his appearance at a Miami environmental conference because he did not want to share a podium with Uribe, the hemisphere's poster boy for state-sponsored terrorism, narco-trafficking, and assassinations of opposition political, labor and social movement leaders.

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/05/25/america/LA-GEN-Colombia-Clinton.php

[rojo7449]

What does this have to do with charities?

[Titonwan]

MUUHAHAHAH­AHAHAHAHAH­A! The hits just keep on coming! Boy, I love it! I am getting to the point I relish hearing every sordid detail of the CROOKS. They're starting to make Nixon look good! WOW :O :)

[roncraw]

Is your head screwed on right?

[rojo7449]

Is ignorance bliss?

[3billis811]

You tell me rojo. You seem to be living the imbecil dream.

[MadeinAmericaProud]

They learn the rules of the road from Nixon, Regan, etc

that is why we are in the hole the size of the grand canyon waiting on our welfare check from china.
I received (taxpayer's money) telling my welfare check from china will be coming if I file my 2007 taxes. that government, they spent money to tell I will get a hand out. Life is good.

[roncraw]

Big deal.Does anyone with half a brain think they can take money out for their own use.Grow up!

[RogerHWerner]

Another point that this article fails to not that while the Clinton's may have given $10.2 million dollars to their own foundation, if that non-profit receives the majority of its funds from a single source, then a substantial part of the contributions by the giver(s) remain taxable. Donations to one's private foundation are not 100% tax deductible.

[bhobo]

yes roncraw there is a clear disconnection. Donating to neutural charities means that the people that work for those charities have nothing to do with the political process. It is typical Clinton style they can not play it straight if their lives depended on it. The difference is the Clinton Foundation is stocked and ran by political appointees of the Clintons that are also involved in presidential politics up to their elbows. The Clinton foundation makes a donation to a selected charity and makes damn sure there is a political payback.
of course the Clinton lemmings (are they are growing shorter in numbers and more vicious by the day) will defend the indefensible by saying Obama donated to a racist church. 27,000 is a long long way from ten million to what is a basic political operation

[MadeinAmericaProud]

Read the very fine print. In America any loophole is possible. Take a look at Bear Stern. We the taxpayers grand children will have to pay. They are all connect so if one fall this could happen again the feds will have us bail them out. (it is for our own good they did this to save our retirement money)
the feds forget to tell you the money you save will be the money you will pay for the wars we are not paying for now. Life is good. I am grown, that's why I know what sh*t is, what it looks like, and how it smell. I try not to step in it. But my government is throwing it at me. I don't like it, but don't have any control. But, Life is good

[Darkbane]

No but the tax break they get sure is pretty nice......­....aaaaaa­nd they can control where that money goes......­to friends and allies that have good causes perhaps.

[NoGoodNamesLeft]

they would get the same tax break and be able to give it to the same people if they gave it directly instead of through the foundation. So, I don't get your point.

You keep acting like it would be better if they gave it directly to a charity, like the Heart Assoc or something. Well, they can do the same exact thing by having the Foundation give money to the Heart Assoc.

[MRb1000]

THE CLINTON ARE CROOKS INCLUDING THERE DAUGHTER. WHAT A SHAME!!

[SharonB]

Hey...you.­.. with the ALL CAPS... calm down and weave another basket.

[MadeinAmericaProud]

Not so. If you are talking about the foundation. They know the rules of how to play the game. That's the American way. Anyone can play if you know the rules of the game. Life is good.

[livesimply]

Name calling does not serve ANYONE.

[AZDemocrat500]

Whaen will the Obama Post stop the Clinton venom. We wiill be switching if she goes and you and the rest of the Clinton haters can take that to the bank.

[DoAsISay]

Are you going on strike? I know a union buster called Penn who will bust you.

[bridgeworker]

AZDemocrat500, Don't you want our next President to be a person of character, who tells the truth to the American public? Is there anything hateful about investigat­ing/vettin­g a candidate to see if what they are telling us is true and how they conduct their financial matters. Specifically, in this case, this speaks to the difference between sheltering a good portion of their money in the guise of charitable giving, which is certainly something I think the public deserves to know.

I really don't understand how you could view this as venomous and hateful. Information is always power, and it is always better to be more-informed than less.

[Aleka]

I am sure that the families of the people who will die in the ongoing McCain war will thank you for your selfish and self serving stance.

You do realize, right, that "it takes two"? Go on...be objective. Here is a revelation for you, since you seem to have lost sight of what is important - BOTH sides have people upset. There are smear articles on Obama being linked.

Don't cry about unfairness and venom when you are a perfect example of it.

[4wehttam]

Switching to what? Basic human decency? Your going to vote RePUG if the she-devil is not the nominee. Way to stand up for the policies your leader espouses.

[LiberalRebel2]

Hey, Are you sure you will be switching? Really? Promise?..­..

HURRAAAYYYY! We got rid of another soft butted divisive one to to go "destroy" the other side..Than­ks for helping us out here pal, by leaving us. That dear Clintonian, is about the best people sounding like you can do for the benefit of the campaign of the next President! ..OBAMA!!!

LMAO!