Critics have suggested that the Clinton Foundation could create new conflicts of interest for a Clinton administration, an argument that the Clintons have grudgingly accepted – though without explaining why the same arguments would not have applied to her term as Secretary of State.
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Bill Clinton, in what aides said was a speech he wrote himself, stressed what CGI – which is part of the foundation and matches funders with causes – has accomplished over the last 15 years.
It’s a “bad idea” one former official told Politico. The networks virtually ignored the conflict-of-interest aspect in 95 percent of their stories, according to Ms. Nelson, who analyzed 62 network news stories about the Clinton Foundation that appeared from August 9 to September 9.
The story came to light after the release of a groundbreaking book by Peter Schweizer – called “Clinton Cash” – which uncovered a serious of State Department decisions that appeared to favor big Clinton Foundation donors.
Former U.S. President Bill Clinton holds his hand to his chest to acknowledge applause as he makes departing remarks on the final day of the Clinton Global Initiative in NY. 4, 2012 with the help of President Bill Clinton.
“This is a time when this sort of talk is not in fashion all over the world”, Clinton said. An AP story found that more than half the private visitors Clinton received at State were donors to her family foundation.
During an interview with NPR, which aired Monday, Clinton opened up the door to Republicans’ pay-to-play attacks by saying that some donors probably gave to the Clinton Foundation to gain greater influence with the Clintons, eyeing a Clinton White House 2.0.
The couple’s daughter, Chelsea Clinton, will remain involved. The group boasts of 3,600 projects that have taken place in 180 countries and benefitted 435 million people since 2005.
Despite serving as president for eight years, Bill Clinton has said his work with the foundation has been the work of his life.
Bill Clinton has made a round of media appearances this week defending the foundation and making the case that the controversy is overblown. He plans to step down from its board of directors if Hillary Clinton wins in November.
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Bill Clinton, 70, has expressed frustration that political journalists covering his wife’s campaign have written more about the foundation’s donors, which include the government of Saudi Arabia and foreign billionaires, than the charitable programs it runs. But as the Times editorial states, it also has become a vehicle for suspicions about backroom dealing and currying favor – feeding and reinforcing a narrative about the Clintons that has long dogged Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign.
