So, let me
get this straight. You’re the president-elect trying to deliver a new spirit of
reform and integrity to Washington, DC, while at the same time healing and
bringing together a divided country. And then you tap Hillary Rodham Clinton,
perhaps the most corrupt politician in modern political history – and certainly
the most polarizing -- to be your Secretary of State? Hillary Clinton, the
nation’s top diplomat?
If you’ve
read about Judicial Watch's work for any length of time, or if you’re familiar with Judicial
Watch’s 13-year record of holding the Clintons accountable, you know what a
truly horrible decision Barack Obama has just made for his administration and
for the country.
It would
be impossible for me to provide a comprehensive review of the many scandals
that have involved Hillary Clinton. For this you should check out our
Internet site, www.judicialwatch.org.
(You can also read this booklet, which summarizes
Judicial Watch’s Clinton-related investigations and lawsuits) But here is
a “greatest hits” list of some of Hillary Clinton’s more reprehensible acts
over the last 15 years:
- Chinagate:
Hillary Clinton allegedly masterminded the illegal scheme to sell
taxpayer-financed trade mission seats in exchange for campaign contributions to
the Clinton-Gore reelection campaign in 1996. This opened the door to
campaign cash for White House access and administration favors for the communist
Chinese and other foreign nationals.
- Filegate:
Hillary Clinton allegedly orchestrated the theft of the private FBI files of
former Reagan-Bush staffers, and then used the information to blackmail the
Clintons’ political enemies.
- Travelgate:
Hillary Clinton ordered the firing of several long-time employees of the White
House Travel Office in order to install her friends and campaign supporters in
their positions. Independent Counsel Robert Ray stated that Hillary’s
testimony regarding the incident was “factually false.”
- Smear
Campaigns: Hillary Clinton destroyed the lives of women who had the
courage to come forward and publicly disclose the abuse they suffered at the
hands of Bill Clinton. This was all part of Hillary Clinton’s “slash and
burn” campaign used against anyone who dared to cross them.
- Campaign
Finance: Hillary Clinton failed to report a $2 million campaign
contribution in the form of a star-studded Hollywood fundraiser dedicated to
her husband. The National Finance Director for Hillary’s Senate 2000
campaign, David Rosen, was indicted in the scandal and her campaign finance
operation was fined by the FEC.
Trust me
this is a partial list. I could go on and on about pardons for
terrorists, pardons for cash (profiting her brothers), White House fundraising
coffees, Whitewater, doing business with the State of Arkansas while her
husband was governor, Web Hubbell, John Huang, Chinese generals, the Lippo
Group, and paid sleepovers in the Lincoln Bedroom, stealing White House furniture,
etc., etc.
With
specific relevance to her new job as Secretary of State, there are also the
serious conflicts of interest involving Bill Clinton, who has become something
of an international sensation since leaving the White House, brokering international
business deals and reaping huge fees for foreign speaking engagements.
Even the liberal CNN reported that Bill Clinton’s
“complicated global business interests could present future conflicts of
interest that result in unneeded headaches for the incoming
commander-in-chief.”
The
question is what promises will Bill Clinton make to his international business
associates with respect to U.S. State Department Policy that his wife will have
to keep?
Hillary
Clinton is ethically challenged. Her husband is ethically challenged. Has any
other Secretary of State nominee been the subject of a grand jury criminal
investigation? From their days in the White House to the present day, they have
consistently abused their public office for personal and political gain.
Hillary and Bill (not to mention their siblings) are scandals waiting to
happen. She has neither the temperament nor ethics to be in such a sensitive
office.
I believe
Obama made a deal with the devil to avoid a floor flight at the convention. It
may have served him politically, but the public shouldn’t suffer the
consequences. If the Senate is serious about ethics in government, Hillary’s
nomination would be rejected. In putting forward Hillary, Obama now owns the
Clinton scandals. Her nomination is another weak personnel decision that will
harm his presidency.
Will the
Obama administration exercise due diligence and keep a watchful eye on the
Clintons? My guess is that if Obama is willing to hire Hillary given her
dismal record, he’ll be willing to turn a blind eye to her likely corrupt
behavior at the State Department.
The
vetting of Hillary seems to have been run by John Podesta (her husband’s former
Chief of Staff) and Cheryl Mills (the ethically-challenged lawyer who served as
Clinton White House lawyer). Surprise, surprise. She passed.
Will the
names of those at home and abroad who gave the Clinton machine millions over
the years be released?
That means
it’ll be up to Judicial Watch to monitor Hillary Clinton’s every move if she
and Bill make it to State.