Feb 8, 2008 4:48pm

Clinton Brings Cash into the Conversation

ABC News’ Jake Tapper and Eloise Harper Report: In Tacoma, Washington, Friday afternoon, Senator Hillary Clinton, D-NY, for the first time publicly brought her cash into the conversation.

"As some of you may have heard, I recently loaned my campaign some money because I intended to be competitive going into Super Tuesday," she told the crowd in a packed gymnasium Speaking at the University of Puget Sound, "and I think it turned out to be a good investment with all of those victories across the country."

Perhaps adding fuel to the fire of those who saw her loan — and news reports that her campaign was so cash-strapped that her senior staff were forgoing salaries — as a fund-raising stunt, Clinton said, "When a friend of mine heard that I had loaned my campaign some money, she said to me, ‘Why didn’t you tell me you needed help? Of course we’ll be there for you.’ Well, I have been overwhelmed by the response that I have received over the last three days."

Clinton asked the audience to go to website and offer her their support as well.

Clinton’s recent loan to her campaign has also been viewed as a way for Clinton — a former First Lady with nearly 100% name recognition and massive institutional support — as the underdog in her race against Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill. On a conference call with reporters Friday morning, Clinton campaign communications director Howard Wolfson repeatedly indicated that Senator Obama holds significant advantages going forward.

Clinton clearly wanted the focus of the day to be on health care, though, not on her campaign coffers, and today she wheeled out a new line against her opponent, who has frequently made "Yes, we can" a trademark line of his soaring rhetoric.

“When it comes to universal healthcare, my opponent is saying, ‘No we can’t,’" Clinton said. "Well I say, ‘Yes, we can,’ and yes, we will, if we make the right decision in this election."

Clinton urged voters in the state of Washington to come out tomorrow to the state caucus. She has admitted to having difficulties in caucuses, which are more time-demanding and require great passion of supporters; she has lost eight out of the last nine such contests. Clinton said in a recent press availability that caucuses draw the "activists" from campaigns and are not the most democratic process.

User Comments

How about, “No you couldn’t”, Senator Clinton? Your health care plan flopped spectacularly in the 90s. So based on your ‘experience’, I’m not putting all my eggs into your health basket.

Posted by: Cat Scratch | February 8, 2008, 5:12 pm 5:12 pm

If Clinton couldn’t get healthcare passed in ’92, what makes people think she can now?
And aren’t they blocking the Archives release of the papers from the Clinton Admin?
And where is their tax return? Why won’t they release it BEFORE any nomination?
Too many questions on the Clinton’s, not enough answers…and just plain tired of their ‘spin machine’!

Posted by: NanD | February 8, 2008, 5:21 pm 5:21 pm

No You Can’t, Mrs Clinton go “Garnish” some other voters wages to pay for your ill conceived plan and lets keep big government and the IRS out of our back pockets too!

Posted by: Free Country | February 8, 2008, 5:22 pm 5:22 pm

Hillary is done CRYING for VOTES TWICE.
She is done CRYING for MONEY once.
CRYING a THIRD time would look silly.
but I would not be surprised if she does some sort of crying, or may be have her campaign, or Bill, or Chelsea CRY for some votes or money.
How a cry baby is going to compete against ruthless Republican campaign, God forbid, if nominated.

Posted by: moeen | February 8, 2008, 5:26 pm 5:26 pm

It’s still interesting to me how she disses the people that support her. That last line about caucuses only attracting activists and not be a true democratic process–oh my! Is she dissing her activists? Is she dissing caucuses?? This is her way of making an excuse for loss–blame other people, and we’ve seen it in Iowa, South Carolina, even NH before she won. I hope her “supporters” hear this in the states she loses in, and know that she is blaming them for her losses.

Posted by: Jerome | February 8, 2008, 5:37 pm 5:37 pm

So she co-opts his message again. She’s not creative enough to come up with her own message.
It’s about time for Bill and Hill to find their retirement home somewhere in the Bahamas, and no, the White House is NOT a retirement home!
LA, NE, WA, ME, VA, MD, and DC
You all have a chance to push history over the edge…

Posted by: LA in Indiana | February 8, 2008, 5:45 pm 5:45 pm

Dont live in the past regarding her the previous health care plan..look into the future with the experiences of the past..Mrs. Clinton will succeed in providing universal healthcare as a president of the United states..
She is the most sincere of all to get fiscal responsibility and be commanderincheif, and very pragmatic

Posted by: joe | February 8, 2008, 5:46 pm 5:46 pm

dont underestimate the strength of a lady who has endured a lot in her personal and political life.. it is not enough just to be foot soldier…she has endured the media with intense scrutiny on her and Bill clintons life..while foot soldier has only shown one aspect of his tenacity as a soldier and wants to be an elected president on the politics of fear

Posted by: joe | February 8, 2008, 5:51 pm 5:51 pm

Do people not understand what “garnishment” of your check means?
I am appalled at the mere suggestion of it.
I would much rather have affordable healthcare and be able to choose whether I purchase it, rather than it being mandated that I have it, and then my check potentially garnished to pay for it. How exactly is that doing me any favors?

Posted by: PR In NV | February 8, 2008, 6:11 pm 6:11 pm

Wherever I go I see a lot more Obama supporters writing comments against Hillary. That’s another evidence that more O’s supporters use internet which makes sense because overwhelming number of young people back him, therefore the polls often are not accurate. Obama is a good man, but when it comes to running for president, he’s just as greedy, he also says and does anything (just in different ways) to get elected, he also attacks. I have no problems if you support him (for whatever reason), but what annoys me and turned me far away from him is the fact that he now is what media and press has created, someone he’s not yet (he might be that one in the future) at this point. I get goose bumps whenever I hear people trying to compare him with MLK or JFK (seems that he was already one of them). Think from the view of an outsider, you know what I anylized here at least makes sense. Also one must admit that too many young people who don’t really know politcs just blindly vote for him (or really for Oprah) like he’s a star that they want to follow. Fans of a star are mostly young teenage people. They get emotional too easily.

Posted by: snakebaby | February 8, 2008, 6:45 pm 6:45 pm

by chuckee i feel that these blogs are written about who ever the news people talk about i would like to see a news man or woman who wants to make a name for themselfs get out and do a real good investegation of obama, who his he ? where did he come from so fast?

Posted by: chuckac | February 8, 2008, 7:17 pm 7:17 pm

Wait till you lose your health insurance or find out that your current insurance won’t cover your current medical problems because your insurance company will claim that it was a preexisting condition and that you lied in your application. Then you’ll be singing a different tune about universal health care.

Posted by: Joseph | February 8, 2008, 7:26 pm 7:26 pm

oh my chuck ac, have you been buried under a rock?
He’s a Senator, and you think they don’t know anything about him?
I didn’t hear all this crap when Keith Ellison was sworn in using the Quran.
But y’all keep digging.

Posted by: LA in Indiana | February 8, 2008, 7:31 pm 7:31 pm

it’s really funny that her campaign is struggling….she spent half a million dollars on parking last year…? that’s a lil funny to me… half a million on parking and you want people to give you more money? also she didn’t give to her campaign….she loaned it? so this means that once people donate upwards of five million she gets this money back? that’s weird that she would ask supporters to donate but loans her own cash…

Posted by: Jay | February 8, 2008, 7:45 pm 7:45 pm

Hmmm … In 2001, Hillary and Bill were passing the hat for their legal defense funds and complaining that Ken Starr had bankrupted them. Since that time they have had to live on their Federal salaries and pensions [rent-free, admittedly, thanks to the donation of their house] and a couple of big book advances that were astronomical by book standards (but still not more than a couple of million). Now Hillary can write a check for $5 million. Hmmm … 1+1+1 = $5 million. Can anyone say “pork bellies”? Makes you wonder why they orate about the super-rich but refuse to reveal their own financial information, doesn’t it?

Posted by: Douglas | February 8, 2008, 8:10 pm 8:10 pm

If health care is mandated not everyone will be forced to buy it. Or Congress and Senate representatives will continue to get their free health care. The the government can afford to insure them why not everyone. How many jobs give full pay for life on retirement. They should get the same pay and benefits as the average American. Then they will be motivated to come to a good solution to SS and health care.

Posted by: Ben | February 8, 2008, 9:10 pm 9:10 pm

wHEN mR. CLINTOM was the president hillary could not do it because she was the wife of a president.People are asking dum question why did not she do it then? what the difference it makes now?
I tell you the difference. She was not an elected member of any government when her husband was the president. Now she will be the president of the USA. she can do the health care, Energy , economy. with all her experience she can turn this country arround. Obama needs experience. it like giving a semi truck to a new driver to drive in the city streets. The new driver will kill people with that semi. It will be same thing to put this country in young man who never had any experience in administration.Giving a lecture and inspiring people on the streets does not come in handy when Obama If he becomes the president. He will be like lame duck from the day one. He should be as vice president and gain some experience and go for it next time.

Posted by: Franklin | February 8, 2008, 11:28 pm 11:28 pm

Hillary says she can’t win the caucauses because the people who attend them are activists, not rank-and-file voters.
So, is she saying that those who *really* care about the process, really pay attention to the issues – aren’t voting for her.
Oh. That’s something I’d point out to the media, yeah. She’s cutting her nose off to spite her face…

Posted by: Waitamint... | February 8, 2008, 11:31 pm 11:31 pm

What is this that Hillary is the underdog? I thought she had the “experience”. She was the first lady everyone knows who she is. She is not an unknown. She has the famous Bill Clinton in her corner and she is thrilled about him wanting to stump for her. I don’t think he charges her the high fees for speeches he gets all over the world. What makes her the underdog? Because people have figured out these two. How come we can send money but she only gives herself a loan to be paid back? How come all of her money has stopped? Because her money is from big contributors, one of the biggest is Health insurers who indeed have a say in her plan that is to sweep the nation. She ought to release her tax records. They might have to disclose all that Bill is getting paid from the who’s and the how much’s. Bill is ending one such relationship with Khazakistan where he will receive $20 milbut if you are married to the Pres of US is that a conflict? Hillary’s Health Care Reform was conducted in closed doors and the records over several months to years were not available. It was deemed not handled well, it did not pass, and it flopped.

Posted by: Jeanie | February 9, 2008, 1:35 am 1:35 am

Jeanie,
“How come all of her money has stopped? Because her money is from big contributors, one of the biggest is Health insurers who indeed have a say in her plan that is to sweep the nation. She ought to release her tax records.”
That statement is exactly true. Anyone with half a brain knows it. The press knows it. Anyone that knows anything about campaign finance laws knows it. Anyone familiar with how the Clinton’s do business knows it as well.
It doesn’t take a smart person to put two and two together. But, it sure takes a dumb one to overlook it and/or try to defend what is so clear and obvious.
Which bring me to the point John Edwards made regarding Hillary, which was: how can one claim to work for the interest of people or on their behalf, when they have their hands in the DEEP in the pocket of lobbyist, big corporations, special interest groups, etc.
I’m just glad I didn’t mail in a ballot or that my primary isn’t until next month! I won’t be making the mistake so many others have made….There is no more benefit of the doubt…..And clearly some things (many things actually) have come out since last year that’s cause me to shift my support.

Posted by: Ann Marie J | February 9, 2008, 2:46 am 2:46 am

Barack Obama is getting all the endorsements because HE WILL WIN!
Hillary = lose
Obama = win
Take it or leave it.
The constant crying from Hillary supporters is both unfounded and obnoxious. You better wake up or else we’ll be waking up one November morning with a president by the name of John McCain. (shudder)

Posted by: Rubiconski | February 9, 2008, 2:52 am 2:52 am

Waitamint…,
I remember that statement. It was a slam and an insult to those people.
I remember wondering if she was going crazy, especially with so many caucus states coming up.
Anyway, Hillary snaps off at the mouth very easily. She’s good at bending and twisting comments and then trying to suck them up later or trying to forget them altogether.
Remember her 60 minutes interview and the comment about baking cookies, Tammy Wynette, etc?

Posted by: Jack G. | February 9, 2008, 3:05 am 3:05 am

I have read several comments and i think they are great. Talking of personal experience for both democratic candidates (Obama & Hillary): I think what they both have is “witness experience” and not the “doing experience” which each and every individual possess. There personal opinion is based on what they are seeing and not what they are doing doing as at present. Who know if they (HIllary & Obama)who are presently against the Iraq will support the war when they get into office.
Secondly, they are both liers if they both assumed that they have the experienced reqiured to be a president. Only Bill Clitton, Gorge Washington, Regan Roland who are once American President can talk of experience because they’ve been in it and they know how it is.
To Hillary: You can not based your on the fact that your matrimonial husband was once American president.
To Obama: It is not all about what you studied in law school.
Voters: Remember that this is exactly the same process (examination) the present United States president (G. Bush)went through before he was elected.
Will you say now that you had vote for the wrong candidate then because of G.Bush decision in office?
Both of your are just talking based on what you’ve learned, your personal assumptions and what you know that voters love to hear.
Ask yourself: Do you think if you become United States president, you will be perfect without critisms from from friends and enemies?

Posted by: Patrick | February 9, 2008, 11:55 am 11:55 am

Patrick,
“Secondly, they are both liers if they both assumed that they have the experienced reqiured to be a president.”
Are you joking my friend? The entire Democratic congress are liars. Both Houses are total liars and Democrats control them both. I’m a Democrat and I don’t know if I will be voting for them come Nov.
All this stuff about elect us and see real changes, what crap! Now, they are telling us they need the WH to get anything done? I don’t care what party is in charge, the fact is: you can’t get anything done unless you have the blessing of BOTH parties. I’m sick of all this partisan junk and placing blame. The Amer. people should be sick of this crap. Will I vote for the Rep. in my primary next month? Of course not, I will support one of the Dem. candidates but come Nov. I’m voting with the Repubs. The Dems. have totally let me down. Still in Iraq…. Still spending BILLIONS…
It’s ironic they (members of both parties) want to curb welfare and entitlement programs in this country, but they have no problem with entire countries being on the welfare roll. Seriously, we are bank rolling entire nations. THAT money could be spent here on our own citizens!
Sick of lies. Sick of promises. Sick of the avg. man taking it up the – while politicians stab us in the back…..I don’t know why it is so hard to get a third party candidate of substance elected in this country.

Posted by: Sandra | February 9, 2008, 2:01 pm 2:01 pm

“I’m here to help you. And if you don’t want my help, I’m here to garnish your wages.”
Not particularly American.

Posted by: Paul | February 9, 2008, 2:13 pm 2:13 pm

If mississippi has 50-percent black pop and white rep leadership how can obama ever win the south: GA/AL/FL/LA
Clinton got 70percetn of white vote in LA; also sorry to report caucuses are shams…in a primary people get to vote – in a caucus people debate and activist that don’t have to work are in the crods (obama can win cacuses but not primaries)

Posted by: mc | February 10, 2008, 6:04 pm 6:04 pm

I really wish that Obama supporters who supposedly are for hope and unity would stop being so hateful and cynical about every little thing that Clinton does! Both candidates spin things to make themselves better and Obama is guilty of many of the things that his supporters hate Hillary for. I’m starting to believe that Obama’s message of unity is being interpreted by his supporters as hope and unity only for those who love Obama and for those who love Hillary, let’s spit them in the face and mock Hillary for every thing she does. It’s petty and immature. If Obama can’t unify his own party then how will he unify the country. If you love his message then please try to follow some of his advice.
I’m elated that Clinton raised lots of money online and I don’t despise Obama because he too raised lots of money. No need to hate on Hillary…Obama also publicizes how much he raises online…and he also takes lots of money from corporations so stop with the hypocritical nonsense.

Posted by: jose | February 10, 2008, 6:17 pm 6:17 pm

She can’t have it both ways. Hillary is touting 35 years of experience, but the math doesn’t add up unless she includes her time as the spouse of an elected official. during that time she was not elected nor responsible to the voters in any way. It would be like like Laura Bush claiming to have eight years presidential experience. Doesn’t fly.
If she wants to claim the “experience” then she needs to take the blame for her failed health care proposals during Bill’s presidency.
I didn’t trust the Clintons then, and I sure don’t trust them now.

Posted by: Jay | February 10, 2008, 7:51 pm 7:51 pm

First, to the earlier poster: 48 is not old and almost falls inline with younger people too. Thank God I have well over a decade before I get there tho.
Obama will be the nominee and the next President of the United States… END OF STORY!

Posted by: Shai | February 10, 2008, 8:21 pm 8:21 pm

Hillary is losing this race.
Hillary probably had the biggest campaign war chest in history going into this race. She went thru all of it or fleeced her supporters just to grab headlines.
She tapped out legal limits on her deep pocketed “friends”.
She had planted questions in the U-Tube debate.
She has had to make several apologies for staffers or have them step down.
They protested by a lawsuit in Nevada to change caucus sites at the last minute.
She cried on national TV when she thought New Hampshire was going to Obama. She then reorganized her campaign and found her voice.
She unleashed Bill to fight her battles. She either could not or would not keep Bill from his temper tantrums and finger wagging tyrades.
She lost one major endorsement after another even with all her name recognition.
She held fund raisers (I say campaigned) in Florida although no other candidates did.
She refuses to say how she will enforce her mandatory health care plan.
She is changing her speach patterns to sound an awful lot like Obama’s style.
She fired her campaign manager.
Now she openly steals Obama’s campaign slogan.
She has tried every trick anyone could possibly think of. She has tried everything but being an honest, sincere candidate who really cares about the future of this country vs lining her own pockets. America has seen thru her at last. America is speaking out in volumes. Obama hope is sweeping this country.

Posted by: Texan Independent for Obama in Texas | February 10, 2008, 9:14 pm 9:14 pm

With the Republican nomination wrapped up, Republicans voted in great numbers for Obama in the Democratic Party caucuses today. All that is certain is that most if not all of these voters in traditional Republican states will vote for McCain and do not want Hillary Clinton. Obama will spin this as more evidence that he will take Republican votes in November. This is his massively delusional political speak, moving Democrats toward certain destruction in November.
That people would have the audacity to claim that the most liberal senator in the US Senate will draw Republicans is the biggest joke Republicans have played on Democrats in twenty-five years. That the Democratic Party is so delusional shows the difference between the silly Democrats and serious Republicans in this and every other election in the last twenty-five years.
In one Democratic Party caucus on the Eastside of Washington’s Seattle area, three high school seniors claimed they were in the right caucus, admitted that they had been Ron Paul voters, plan to vote for McCain, but voted for Obama. These young Republicans realized that in many caucuses, the vote could be small enough that they could affect the outcome and there would be nothing that would affect McCain. So they were voting for Obama at the Democratic Party caucus. They were allowed to come in and vote about thirteen minutes late. So it went, for certain, all over the two caucus states. Voters for Republicans in November lined up for Obama, the certain loser in November. In fact, Obama has a lead over McCain only due to the undecideds. Many will come back to McCain or will not vote in November once the handwriting is on the wall. And that is if anyone is foolish enough to consider the polls at all accurate.
Lancaster County Democrats designated 53 caucus locations, and was the last county in the state to caucus. The proceedings were just beginning at 6 p.m. Officials said they saw a number of registered Republicans changing their party affiliation at polling sites “just to participate in the process.” This will prove nothing in Republican states. Until the Fall, of course.

Posted by: cynthia | February 10, 2008, 10:32 pm 10:32 pm

With the Republican nomination wrapped up, Republicans voted in great numbers for Obama in the Democratic Party caucuses today. All that is certain is that most if not all of these voters in traditional Republican states will vote for McCain and do not want Hillary Clinton. Obama will spin this as more evidence that he will take Republican votes in November. This is his massively delusional political speak, moving Democrats toward certain destruction in November.
That people would have the audacity to claim that the most liberal senator in the US Senate will draw Republicans is the biggest joke Republicans have played on Democrats in twenty-five years. That the Democratic Party is so delusional shows the difference between the silly Democrats and serious Republicans in this and every other election in the last twenty-five years.
In one Democratic Party caucus on the Eastside of Washington’s Seattle area, three high school seniors claimed they were in the right caucus, admitted that they had been Ron Paul voters, plan to vote for McCain, but voted for Obama. These young Republicans realized that in many caucuses, the vote could be small enough that they could affect the outcome and there would be nothing that would affect McCain. So they were voting for Obama at the Democratic Party caucus. They were allowed to come in and vote about thirteen minutes late. So it went, for certain, all over the two caucus states. Voters for Republicans in November lined up for Obama, the certain loser in November. In fact, Obama has a lead over McCain only due to the undecideds. Many will come back to McCain or will not vote in November once the handwriting is on the wall. And that is if anyone is foolish enough to consider the polls at all accurate.
Lancaster County Democrats designated 53 caucus locations, and was the last county in the state to caucus. The proceedings were just beginning at 6 p.m. Officials said they saw a number of registered Republicans changing their party affiliation at polling sites “just to participate in the process.” This will prove nothing in Republican states. Until the Fall, of course.

Posted by: cynthia | February 10, 2008, 10:33 pm 10:33 pm

That’s all we need is this universal healthcare crap thrown at us. Businesses and corporations would love that, one less expense! We would have to pay it, sad……

Posted by: ann | February 11, 2008, 12:03 am 12:03 am

That’s what Obama’s websites instructs their supporters to do for the caucuses. Here is what is written there under caucus frequently asked questions:
“I’m an independent (or Republican). I can’t caucus, can I?
As a matter of fact, you can. There is no party registration in Washington. Upon signing in at the caucus you will need to attest that you are a Democrat to participate, but you can switch your affiliation just for Caucus Day. You can be an Independent, Republican, Green, Libertarian or anything else the next day.”
Obama’s caucus support is anti-Hillary, not pro-Obama!

Posted by: Mike | February 11, 2008, 1:08 am 1:08 am

Do people know how much Bill & Hillary make a year in salaries? I read last month that in approximately 6 years Bill had made about 40,000,000.00 dollars plus his retirements as governor of AR.and President. After 4 years she will draw her congressional pay the rest of her life. If he fills in for her in the Senate he will then also draw her retirement from the Senate. They have their books. My question is how much money do they need to live on. I think when people have this much money they don’t realize there are some people that live on about 700 dollars a month on social security and ssi or somewhere in that area.

Posted by: Bob | February 11, 2008, 1:59 am 1:59 am

For me the formula: “Obama wins, Clinton loses” determines my vote in the Maryland primary. Obama with his soaring rhetoric and razor sharp mind reminds me of an earlier president, FDR. You see I am an old white guy, and I remember what a real leader sounds like.
Clinton also has a sharp mind, and unfortunately a sharp tongue to go with it. You wouldn’t want to be on her Secret Service detail.
John C.

Posted by: John Culleton | February 11, 2008, 9:08 am 9:08 am

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