Telegraph: Obama To Pay Campaign Debt, Offer Cabinet Posts

The British Telegraph reported yesterday that the Obama campaign is talking with the Clinton campaign about paying her campaign debts when she withdraws from the Democratic primary race next week. The Telegraph also reported Obama staffers seriously discussing offering Clinton a place in the administration and extending offers to former nomination rivals Joe Biden and John Edwards.

In the writing, the Telegraph story was admittedly cryptic as to its sources:

"Another Democrat who has discussed strategy with friends in the Obama inner circle said that Mr Obama was openly considering asking Mrs Clinton to join his cabinet, alongside two other former presidential rivals: John Edwards, who is seen as a likely attorney general, and Sen. Joe Biden, who is a leading contender to become Secretary of State.

"Informal talks have already begun between Obama and Clinton fundraisers to discuss a merger, enabling Mr Obama to pay off Mrs Clinton's campaign debts of $11 million.

"Senior figures in the Obama camp have told Democrat colleagues that the offer to Mrs Clinton of a cabinet post as health secretary or to steer new legislation through the Senate will be a central element of their peace overtures to the New York senator."

In the wake of the controversial Democratic Party Rules and Bylaws committee ruling Saturday, it's not surprising the Obama campaign would be turning the lion's share of its energy to uniting the party and its voters behind his candidacy. An quick move to make an inclusive ticket and presumptive administration would likely draw in Clinton campaign staffers and supporters, which would go a long way toward healing rift in key states such as Florida, where Clinton backers have threatened to hunker down and either vote for McCain or write in Clinton's name come November.

Comments

[Robin in Missouri]

Her debt proves that she is typical Washington­...spend-s­pend-spend and let someone else pay for it.
They made $109 Million in 8 years, they can pay it themselves or if all of the supposed 18,000 Hillary supporters would donate $2.00, she would be out of debt tomorrow. Where are all these "supporters”
Why should Obama have to pay or even assist her in paying off this debt? I'm not!!! She wants respect? Then respect Obama, concede and take Bill home. Hillary does not represent the "change" Obama represents.

[rosestone50]

Why should Barack Obama pay off any of Hillary Clinton's debt? She is the one who incurred it, so she is the one who is responsible for satisfying the debt. Bill and her have the money from all the book deals they've made and from Bill doing his shanigans with foreign governments. Obama needs his money to run his Presidential bid to beat McCain in November. Give Obama a break! First he beats her fair-and-square. Now people want him to act as a servant and pay her bills! Sorry folks, this is 2008 and blacks are not subservient anymore.

[egal]

Not only that, but it's the American peoples' money, mostly, and they certainly didn't give it to blunt the consequences of Hillary's economic incompetence.

[Chazz27]

Why do people keep posting this crap about Obama paying off Clinton's campaing debt? He can't do it. He has a $2000 limit that he can contribute. He can do fund raisers but he can't just "give" her that kind of money.

A federal candidate's authorized committee(s) may contribute no more than $2,000 per election to another federal candidate's authorized committee(s).

http://www.fec.gov/pages/brochures/contriblimits.shtml

[PrdAmerican]

unless they form a joint campaign??

[knowhelpnow]

Come on now we have to unite the party, this is how we win, I just want them to roll back all the Bush 2 secret programs and all those gimmes to his friends and get out of Iraq and lose Blackwater and all the contractor for the military. This privatize of the government has to go. You get huge dishonest greedy people hungering for these contracts (their friends) that has to go. We need one payer health care for all it is time this country took care of it's own.

[chriss0114]

I say let's wait until AFTER the GE to see how "helpful" the Clintons have been THEN help them raise their blood money.

[StephenJK]

Your melodramatics are duly noted. Now go back 2 bed.

[olivia]

Obama has been gracious and dignified and generous in the face of Hillary's vandalism spree. Americans are unused to such behavior. They barely recognize true strength anymore.

If he offers her a cabinet post, and helps pay off her debt, he will be dangerously close to looking like he can be bullied - in other words, weak for giving in to her.

Don't do it, Barack. She tried to take your down in the sleaziest ways, even hoped for your death. You owe her nothing.

[SURRYMARK]

This is true, Olivia. One of the Cliinton's principal attacks has been that Obama is not a "fighter" who can stand up to the republican attack. If he pays, she'll take the money, but we are sure to hear a report of some private conversation where she gloats about bending the sucker over her knee. If the McCain-Obama polls look bad, we can be sure that Hillary will start setting herself up as the real leader of the party. Obama can be dignified without taking part in the Clinton game.

[mrqcguy]

Abe Lincoln brough in several of his opponents who ran unsucessfully for him when he became President. It was a smart and politically savvy thing to do then and would be for Obama to now. Trust me no one has been more disturbed by HRC than myself, but I am also pragmatic.

This would give HRC an opportunity to save face and to work with Obama to mend our party. As far as the donations goes, he cannot directly pay off her debt, but he can encourage his supporters to contribute towards helping to retire it.

[hopeforchange]

Yawn. The bad thing about the internet is anyone can say anything even if there is no source.

[Ged2012]

First off, the money that Obama has raised on the internet is not his own; it is owned by his campaign and the over 1.5 million people who donated to him. His own capital with his wife Michelle is a little over a million dollars, unlike Bill and Hillary's which topped a $100 million.

I believe that the first thing that Hillary should do before Barack pays off her debts is to say sorry to him and his supporters PUBLICLY. And she should stop using the word "regret;" it is time for her to say "SORRY," like saying "I am sorry that I joined with McCain destroying you using that mythical gas tax holiday just to pander for votes."

We need to remind ourselves that those debts were spent by Hillary on advertisements destroying Barack Obama. Also, Obama should not pay the debts which Hillary owes herself. The loans she had given her campaign taken from the 100 million dollar capital with Bill should be borne by her.

[JOHND777]

Don't worry Obama can't do it legally nor do I think would he give her any funds anyway!! At best he would do new joint fundraisers for her!! I think however a precondition must be that she WITHDRAW AND NOT suspend her campaign for the slimy reasons she stated to that editorial board!!

[Chazz27]

She cannot recover her money if she withdraws or closes her campaign. She has to suspend the campaign in order to continue collecting money for it.

[McPander]

How Obama handles this will determine how I will vote....I believe he has been gracious and not vindictive.
To be a leader is to lead and not to allow your supporters to drive your direction and to lead is also not have your enemies drive your direction.

I would imagine that he will move the conversation off of the topic of unity very quickly and in 2 weeks we will be talking about something else.

[olivia]

We will have unity if Hillary just goes away. It will happen.

I believe Hillary's supporters' threats are greatly exaggerated, and the number of her supporters who will not support Obama is greatly exaggerated too. All over the internet people are bragging they are Operation Chaos operatives and they are mighty pleased with a mess they are taking credit for.

And without Hillary stirring up animosity (racism, sexism) and pushing her popular vote lie, people will come to terms with reality.

[McPander]

I think Ronald Reagan put it best...."Don't negotiate with terrorists­"....sorry­....there is a basic moral rule when it concerns blackmail....once you pay a penny....they come back for more.

He has already shown his desire for unity:
1. He backed off HRC when the party asked him to after Indiana - result -she ran up the counts
2. He has spoken kindly of her in every speech since Indiana - result - "Hard Working AMericans, White Americans"
3. He was open to compromise and worked with the DNC and states over MI/FL - result - she refused to compromise.

I thank any more reaching out he will start hurting his base and will gain nothing but more people wanting more from him.
He must appear to be in a position of strength and not like he is compromised and weak.

[McPander]

Compromise is overrated in inter-party battles. He would do better to find a compromise across the isle. The party will mend on its own and for those who are not going to vote for him....they won't no matter what he does....they will just come up with another reason.

[OhioJan]

Barack Obama had better NOT pay off her debts!!! That was HER doing! No one on EARTH would consider paying off all of OUR debts, now would they? Nope! They'd laugh in our faces & tell us that since WE made the debt then WE should pay it! Ditto, clinton!

And another thing: Barack Obama needs to cease & desist his "turning the other cheek" strategy, because it AIN"T WORKING! Hillary, billy 7 chelsea clinton AND THEIR ENTIRE FOLLOWING had better APOLOGIZE for EVERY SINGLE INSULT they have spit into Obama & his Family's faces over the last 6 months!!! ESPECIALLY with billy's latest: that Obama MADE all those people AND religious leaders "be mean" to little cry-baby hilly!

APOLOGIZE TO BARACK OBAMA, HIS FAMILY AND HIS FOLLOWERS, clinton's...NOW! (Just like ALL of you scream for HIM to do when someone he knew once says something you find "offensive"!!! Well, I find ALL of you, and ALL of your verbal bile personally AND DIRECTLY offensive to ME, the Obama's AND the AMerican VOTERS!!!!!!

[McPander]

A cabinet post is a slap in the face for a sitting Senator......I'm happy with that

[olivia]

If it has to be, create a new cabinet post for women's equality or election reform - since she is suddenly sooooooooooo very committed to those causes!

Senator Obama, maybe you should call her bluff.

Maybe she won't screw those up the way she did her attempt to fix health care, with her arrogance and divisiveness.

[HopeGirl]

She wasn't committed to FL and MI before she was committed. She actually empowered Harold Ickies to vote for those delegates and those elections to NOT count. That was before she empowered Harold Ickies to have them only count for her.

[GayIthacan]

This is sweet.......

except Obama CANNOT LEGALLY PAY ANY OF CLINTON'S CAMPAIGN DEBT. At least not with any funds he has raised for his own political campaign.

Perhaps the Telegraph should research American political campaign laws a bit more closely.

[neocon666]

He can't directly pay off her debt from his own campaign funds, but he can arrange joint fund raisers in the future.

[HWNA]

So instead of raising money for the general he will be helping Hillary, who will be doing everything she can behind the scenes to derail his victory against McCain.

[longislandlol]

See should get a cabinet post-- the senator of ny job should rightfully go to Bobby Jr.- a long time resident of ny and a real gem

[olivia]

I think President Obama should fill his cabinet with ethical people.