Wal-Mart Update: More Ties to Clinton
EmailHillary Clinton probably thought she’d heard the last on her ties to Wal-Mart courtesy the Brian Ross Unit. Here’s a brief detail that didn’t get fleshed out in the Good Morning America segment last week: While publicly distancing herself from the company, Clinton has involved two Wal-Mart lobbyists in her campaign.
Clinton named two Wal-Mart lobbyists to her Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Steering Committee last June. Ingrid Duran and Catherine Pino, the “D” and “P” of D & P Creative Strategies, are registered to lobby Senate offices on behalf of the Arkansas-based megaretailer.
While Clinton returned $5,000 she received from Wal-Mart’s political action committee in 2005, she has held on to roughly $20,000 she was given last year by Wal-Mart executives and lobbyists, as Brian noted in last week’s piece. More than half of that money came from Duran, Pino, and a third Wal-Mart lobbyist, Tony Podesta, according to campaign finance records.
Clinton spokesperson Howard Wolfson told Brian "there is no basis to return" those donations.
Clinton declined to be interviewed for last week’s piece, but she has said she does not share Wal-Mart’s values. The campaign didn’t respond to a subsequent request for comment.
A call to D&P Creative Strategies went unreturned Wednesday. A spokeswoman for Podesta said that while his wife threw a fundraiser for Hillary, Tony Podesta is not involved in the Clinton campaign. While he gave $2,300 to her campaign, he gave equal amounts to the (now-failed) presidential campaigns of Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson.
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Clintons are corrupt to the core, and Americans still do not know how many more skeletons are in their closets. Democrats love Clintons and they will pick Hillary. But, they are bound to lose the November general election because two critical constituents will desert Hillary, the independents who sort of like Obama and the youth. I bet Republicans will capture the WhiteHouse only because of this woman. Hope the Democrats will not act like a bunch of sheep voting for Clintons.
Posted by: Cortez | February 6, 2008, 2:23 pm 2:23 pm
What is surprising is that she declines to be interviewed on the subject at hand. One would think she’d like to clear up any confusion, no? mz
Posted by: Marie Zarankevich | February 6, 2008, 2:48 pm 2:48 pm
$20,000…That’s it! How about Obama’s oustanding debt with Rezko? He’s paid back $40,000 + $75,000, but still owes around $85,000. Mind you, it is also Obama and not Hillary claiming to not receive money from lobbyist. She’s hasn’t lied about anything here. The investigator forgot to mention that, while Hillary worked for Wal-Mart, she also strived to improve wage inequalities for women there, among other things, and was working for the Children’s Defense Fund.
HILLARY ALL THE WAY IN 2008!!!
Posted by: Marsbar | February 6, 2008, 10:12 pm 10:12 pm
as opposed to the non-corrupt bush/cheney administration? why do you think people run for president.
Posted by: re:cortez | February 6, 2008, 10:33 pm 10:33 pm
Most middle age Asian know how to recognize a character of a person just to look at it.
(most American know too, but it has to show a lot outside before they can recognize, they can not see the hidden one. For example, in the movie, it shows a lot outside, everybody can recognize in the beginning of the movie, whose will be a bad guy at the end).
So far the last 4 presidents on my score card, almost 95% right.
Here how I rate the current top candidates and their spouses. For compassion and carring.
Obama =2. Spouse=-8.
Mccan =4. Spouse= 3.
Clinton =8. Spouse= 6.
Posted by: rt | February 7, 2008, 2:12 am 2:12 am
Hillary brings all the Clinton baggage to the party, reducing the chances for putting a Democrat in the Whitehouse. Those who are infatuated by the Clintons
fail to recognise that the Republicans have not forgotten Bill and view her and programs as a Bill proxy. If you think that the closet is clean, just wait, if hillary becomes the nominee, the Republicans will bring out the skeletons they have held in reserve. In short, a vote for Hillary, means 4 years of a stale-mated, do nothing congress; something the country can ill afford.
Posted by: Patriot85375 | February 7, 2008, 4:05 am 4:05 am
Its a shame ‘youth’ probably will desert H. Clinton if she becomes the candidate. They are listening to Obama’s chant of “Change! Change! Change!” but he doesn’t get specific nor does he ever explain HOW he would do things differently. ITs just a slogan. Things are a real mess. We need someone who can hit the ground running and get things done. MRs. Clinton can do that. Obama is practically a baby, politically. Its too bad the young tend to not think things thru. But they are easily attracted to someone “new” and/or “different.” I find him to be incredibly arrogant.
Posted by: Chris | February 7, 2008, 7:14 am 7:14 am
That is why I am voting for Barack Obama, at least he was honest in his admission of what exactly he did in his past. Hillary and Bill have both lied to this nation and do not deserve even a chance to return to the White House to do it again.
Posted by: JB | February 7, 2008, 9:54 am 9:54 am
If Hillary gets the nomination, you will have a Republican POTUS after the election. The only Democratic hope is Barack. I am amazed that people fail to realize that. Democrats need a unifier, not a divider. AND MARSBAR, per your above comment, do and FEC search for donations Rezko made. He donated to the Clintons in the 90s, to Barbara Boxer, Dianne Feinstein… No one is asking them to return any “Dirty” money. Perhaps you should learn a few facts .
Posted by: ChgoSaint | February 7, 2008, 10:31 am 10:31 am
For those of you who want specifics, go to Obama’s website. More detailed than Clinton’s. Poor Chris from above lives in a soundbite world and fails to go beyond what he is told.
Posted by: ChgoSaint | February 7, 2008, 10:33 am 10:33 am
The media is trying too hard to get stories…every day I hear about Hillary in a negative tone and Obama is their savior…the media is affraid to be labeled Racist so they turn the other cheek on Obama and never play up his issues but downplay it…that is the only way Obama will win is because everyone one is afraid of being labelled the “R” word …
Posted by: dellee | February 7, 2008, 12:57 pm 12:57 pm
They’re not responding with comments because there is nothing to say. These silly statements don’t deserve a comment. The dude donated to other candidates also. If there were something wrong, then something would be done. Interesting that some just feel the need to keep stirring a fire that just won’t burn. There’s no fuel. Hillary is NOT a criminal. Check the facts.
Posted by: belle | February 7, 2008, 6:29 pm 6:29 pm
I’d say you are right about the Clintons and the skeletons in the closet. A report disclosed that Bill Clinton worked for the United Arab Emirates Dubai in more than one capacity. He was the agent who proposed that Dubai purchase the eastern sea port a year or so ago and he supposedly received a very large fee from them for this work. There was indication that Bill does various types of paid “work” for Dubai and gets hefty donations from them for his charity.
Her association with WalMart is concerning considering the lawsuit entanglements they have had on employee relations and issues – anti union and female discrimination, etc. Plus the fact that WalMart is known to pay their employees “poorman” wages according to federal wage scales. Based on these things alone, yes, it would be interesting to see disclosure of tax returns.
Posted by: Brenda Babjak | February 7, 2008, 9:46 pm 9:46 pm
OK so lets see we had a president for the last 8 yrs that has had a terrorist family and the oil companies in his back pocket and we got obama who has VERY LITTLE history in politics and has ties to a terrorist country and we got more republicans old fat rich guys yeah we need more of those running our country or we have a Women that has been there done it for 8 yrs and was a GREAT 8 yrs and so what if she has Wal-mart in her back pocket I worked for wal-mart for over 4 yrs when I was in high school and after school paid my bills was a job they might not be the best company in the world but there are alot worse I rather have a president that has a retail store in her back pocket then a terrorist family!
Posted by: Roy | February 7, 2008, 10:42 pm 10:42 pm
BILL CLINTON: Where to start? This ex-con, convicted of lying to a federal grand jury, obstruction of justice, stripped of his right to practice law is the only president impeached in modern times. There was also his use of the Arkansas State Troopers to chauffeur him to visit his many mistresses. But at least he visited Jennifer Flowers and a few others on his own gas card. And don’t forget Monica “I did not have sex with that woman – Lewinsky.“ This felon who wants to be your CO-PRESIDENT recently made himself 31 MILLION DOLLARS by facilitating a deal with the government of Kazakhstan, a country that has one of the worst records on human rights in history. DO THESE PEOPLE REPRESENTS ETHICS TO YOU???
Posted by: Randle Bate | February 8, 2008, 2:14 am 2:14 am
AH IDIOTS LOOK TO THE LEFT ON THE VIDEOS AND WATCH THE OBAMA AND REZKO ISSUE HAPPENING RIGHT NOW!
Posted by: Tammy | February 8, 2008, 3:28 am 3:28 am
The clintons are power hungry people that will do just about anything that they can get away with to get into the White House.
WAKE UP AMERICA!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Ted Pert | February 18, 2008, 12:31 am 12:31 am
they are all croocks even though some went in to politics for good intentions the only way to wipe it out is to do away with money until then its always going to be corrupt we have lost the meaning of life money has been the rute to all evil as history always tells us
Posted by: willie | February 23, 2008, 1:51 am 1:51 am
Don’t expect much from any of the three leading contenders for the tropy. If you vote for Hillary, then you can only blame yourself for what you are going to get. Hillary didn’t get to write $5 million checks by catering to the needs of the poor and disenfranchised.
The other two, despite what they say are in the pockets of the elite. Hillary’s body language in the Ohio debate clearly shows that she is in panic mode. Americans will not vote Republicans because of the terrible economic mess the US is in. That leaves Obama as the leading presidential candidate. This man has a silver tongue and will make Bill Clinton look like an amateur. Obama has a few skeletons in his closet. I’m not talking about Larry Sinclair but Judicial Watch. As the US economy disintegrates later this year, unemployed Americans will have much more time to reflect on politics and how the game is stacked against them. If they still have elections in 2012 they will have a slate of candidates to choose from that will include Jeb Bush among other notables. Good luck!
Posted by: John Taylor | February 27, 2008, 1:17 pm 1:17 pm
Please stop with the Obama is a baby??? Hillary has 6 yrs in the Senate, period. Obama had 8 yrs in State Senate and 2 yrs in Congress – that makes 10 yrs experience, duh. PEOPLE START READING AND STOP BELIEVING ALL THE LIES OUT OF HILLARY’S MOUTH – you are the ones drinking kool-aid – blindly believing everything out of her mouth. Don’t you people wonder why the republicans want Hillary to win? Because she has soooo many skeletons in her closet and they know she can be beat her. They are terrified of Obama – not saying he’s perfect, but close – the republicans do not want a president who wants government to be transparent.
On fundraising – One of Hillary’s biggest fundraisers Mr. Hsu, the Chinese guy who just got thrown in Federal Prison waiting for trial on charges of illegal campaign contributions – raised a ton of money for Clinton’s (Clinton is very chummy with Communist Chinese, did you forget that?) and she had to return a bunch of $. That Resko guy raised money for numerous democrats INCLUDING the Clintons (she is such a hypocrite) – there are photos of them together, although now she can’t recall (surprise). I don’t remember means you don’t have to return any money – Obama returned it right away when he found out, not an issue. And Obama has not been implicated in any wrong doing – unless you listen to Hillary (more bull). They just interviewed the Chicago Tribune guy today, and he said it wasn’t a story – they can find no wrong doing on Obama’s part, period.
Also, to the middle-aged asian guy, you are a horrible judge of character. Shame on you – Obama has supported Asian Americans for years in Chicago and has advocated for latinos, blacks and whites – working class people all over the state. He is the one who passed insurance for children in Illinois. Hillary will say or do anything to win – even if it destroys the democratic party – selfish to the bone.
Posted by: skimom27 | March 9, 2008, 8:25 am 8:25 am
Yes Hillary did have early ties with Walmart, but if you go to Votesmart.org From 1999-2007, she has strongly supported unions and workers rights and has had high ratings from AFL_CIO many of these years, This shows she is not anti-union, perhaps she learned from the days of Walmart how vitally important unions can be.So sorry folks there are some major misperceptions tha the media has fed you and they have also not told you this:”
by: Gordie
Fri Jan 25, 2008 at 17:16:52 PM EST
On Monday, January 21, 2008 on the stage of the Presidential Debate in South Carolina, Barack Obama criticized Hillary Clinton for being on the Board of Wal-Mart, knowing full well his wife was on the Board of the TreeHouse Foods of which Wal-Mart was its largest customer.
Senator Obama openly criticizes Wal-Mart for its anti-union labor practices, while his wife receives money from TreeHouse Foods and its largest business client, Wal-Mart.
Yes, Michelle broke the ties in May, 2007, but how many years ago (1985?) did Hillary break her ties? Who has the longest clean record?
Just how does anyone who lives in a glass house have the nerve to throw stones?
How can anyone get out on the political stage and criticize Bill Clinton for the things he says, while her husband has a double standard with the things he says?
Yes, many things are coming out of the Clinton campaign and they are being chastised in the press and on the blogs, BUT it seems to me the Obama campaign is doing very close to the same thing and certainly should be asked as many questions as the Clinton Campaign, by the Media and by the Blogs.
Let the readers decide for themselves, who is spinning and hiding?
Gordie :: Comparing Obama’s vs Clinton’s
Cross posted on RK
Why is it bad to do business with WalMart? (0.00 / 0)
I am not horribly upset by Hillary having been on the WalMart board, but I am not AT ALL upset with a company that does business with WalMart.
You’re TreeHouse; you sell pickles. You can sell pickles to Kroger, Safeway, and WalMart. Kroger and Safeway have their own house brand. And the largest market available to you is WalMart. What do you do? Do you pick up the phone and try to get their business, or do you say, “My shareholders would rather lose money than do business with the Evil Empire?”
You call the buyer for WalMart and do business and make money for your shareholders.
Hillary Clinton’s service on the WalMart board troubles me a little because she had a choice. She didn’t have to serve on the Board of WalMart. And there is no evidence that she used her time on WalMart’s board to prompt WalMart to less regressive labor policies, for example.
I know almost nothing about TreeHouse, and I know nothing to suggest that either they as a company or Michele Obama as an individual have done anything offensive
Posted by: Andrea Green | May 12, 2008, 10:52 pm 10:52 pm