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DonViejo

(60,536 posts)
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 05:20 PM Jun 2014

Bill Clinton: Hillary's Answer About Our Finances Was 'Factually True'

TOM KLUDT – JUNE 24, 2014, 3:54 PM EDT

Bill Clinton defended his wife Hillary Clinton on Tuesday from the ridicule that's followed her recent comments on the family's personal finances.

Speaking at a forum in Denver hosted by his foundation, the Clinton Global Initiative, the former president insisted that his wife is "not out of touch" and said she was telling the truth when she claimed that the couple was "dead broke" when he left office in 2001.

“It is factually true that we were several million dollars in debt,” Bill Clinton said, as quoted by The Hill, adding that reporters “should put this in some sort of context.”

The "dead broke" remark has made the family's wealth the primary focal point of a book tour that was supposed to serve as a springboard for Hillary Clinton's anticipated 2016 White House bid. She later tried to clarify the comment, saying she appreciates "how hard life is for so many Americans today."

more
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/--100536

101 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Bill Clinton: Hillary's Answer About Our Finances Was 'Factually True' (Original Post) DonViejo Jun 2014 OP
~facepalm~ Marrah_G Jun 2014 #1
Did you read the full article or.... DonViejo Jun 2014 #3
Read the whole article Marrah_G Jun 2014 #5
Not if folks pay attention to what was said and, in the process,... DonViejo Jun 2014 #9
I think we have a bit of a difference in the definition of broke Marrah_G Jun 2014 #13
They had large debts which were largely lawyer's bills from defending the Clintons amandabeech Jun 2014 #20
I was being hyperbolic... DonViejo Jun 2014 #38
the point is that NO ONE IS PAYING ATTENTION Dawgs Jun 2014 #14
I don't disagree with you... DonViejo Jun 2014 #39
That's not true at all. Dawgs Jun 2014 #73
Thank you for agreeing with me... DonViejo Jun 2014 #75
then why are you screaming....the only people that seem to care are Republicans... VanillaRhapsody Jun 2014 #40
Because if Republicans are screaming it then so is the media. Dawgs Jun 2014 #74
just how broke was poor ol' Bill? frylock Jun 2014 #48
Awww. Isn't it fun being sarcastic and chock full of hyperbole? eom DonViejo Jun 2014 #50
no, that was my life in 2004.. frylock Jun 2014 #51
I've been there also, from 1977 through 1981... DonViejo Jun 2014 #55
there was nothing in the least bit bit hyperbolic in my post.. frylock Jun 2014 #58
Broke maybe, but certainly not dead broke marshall Jun 2014 #72
"Paying attention to what was said" is what's causing the problem. FBaggins Jun 2014 #76
The Clintons just don't know when to quit; time to leave the stage. InAbLuEsTaTe Jun 2014 #77
They need to let this die already. femmocrat Jun 2014 #2
Only the people that already hate Hillary even care.... VanillaRhapsody Jun 2014 #28
The GOP is getting very scared to keep pounding their failing talking points. greatlaurel Jun 2014 #71
It depends on what the meaning of 'is' is? Erich Bloodaxe BSN Jun 2014 #4
I thought the same Ichingcarpenter Jun 2014 #19
Leave it to Bill to dig the hole deeper. InAbLuEsTaTe Jun 2014 #78
This message was self-deleted by its author quinnox Jun 2014 #6
Charles Krauthammer of Faux Newz and Glenn Beck attack Hillary Clinton over her wealth comments Cali_Democrat Jun 2014 #7
Rich Lowy from NYPost… saw that at the pizza joint just now. KittyWampus Jun 2014 #34
Rich Lowry also writes for National Review Alex P Notkeaton Jun 2014 #66
It's good to see Bill defend Hillary from these right wing attacks. nt Cali_Democrat Jun 2014 #8
Reality is hard for some, some are having problems with the Clinton's net worth, they have come a Thinkingabout Jun 2014 #10
I don't have a problem with the Clinton's having wealth RainDog Jun 2014 #15
There is a good question, who created this. Thinkingabout Jun 2014 #17
What happens? You mean all that peace and prosperity we had under Bill Clinton? VanillaRhapsody Jun 2014 #29
reading comprehension has never been your strength here RainDog Jun 2014 #32
ahahahahahahahahaha....good one... VanillaRhapsody Jun 2014 #33
Well, maybe not everyone, dflprincess Jun 2014 #67
I'm sorry, but both the Clintons are up to their necks in the corpocracy cali Jun 2014 #23
Like a broken record...who could have predicted? VanillaRhapsody Jun 2014 #30
Post removed Post removed Jun 2014 #35
Freaks me out how? I support whoever wins the Primary....why am I "freaking out" ? VanillaRhapsody Jun 2014 #37
uh, it's obvious the way you're running around these threads acting desperate and misrepresenting cali Jun 2014 #43
Not running anywhere....sitting in this desk chair actually....meanwhile VanillaRhapsody Jun 2014 #45
actually, 'nilla, I spend most of my time- gardening, writing, cooking cali Jun 2014 #52
and your other hobby....bashing the Dem Frontrunner on a Democratic Forum.... VanillaRhapsody Jun 2014 #53
nah, I don't have hobbies. cali Jun 2014 #57
You certainly have the Hillary Hatred hobby.... VanillaRhapsody Jun 2014 #60
lol. no nil, I don't hate hillary. I despise her politics. It's not personal. cali Jun 2014 #63
sure you don't....everyone knows that..... VanillaRhapsody Jun 2014 #64
Yeah.....I follow you.... VanillaRhapsody Jun 2014 #65
thanks for proving that, nilly. cali Jun 2014 #69
proven what? VanillaRhapsody Jun 2014 #99
I'm not sure why that is.... Bobbie Jo Jun 2014 #81
Exactly.... Beacool Jun 2014 #87
And he was able to get all of his power tools out of pawn as well! snooper2 Jun 2014 #84
Hillary knows how hard life can be for Americans because on Walmart's B.ofD., closeupready Jun 2014 #11
What do you think board member responsibility consist? Thinkingabout Jun 2014 #18
LOL. Nothing backs a spouse to the hilt like declaring their words "factually true" JVS Jun 2014 #12
kind of like Jumbo Shrimp, I had to laugh too. Actually more like Very Unique. Whisp Jun 2014 #25
LOL leftstreet Jun 2014 #56
Is that a jumbo shrimp or a miniscule monster truck? Whisp Jun 2014 #59
Dear Clintons Dreamer Tatum Jun 2014 #16
The entire Clinton family bigwillq Jun 2014 #21
Both Bill and Hillary are conflating debt with "being dead broke". Ikonoklast Jun 2014 #22
Indeed they're coming off that way. cali Jun 2014 #24
As I mentioned in another thread, I've seen "dead broke" deutsey Jun 2014 #96
"I was so poor I couldn't join Winged Foot, National Golf Links of America... AngryAmish Jun 2014 #26
"I was so poor I had to walk uphill to my mistresses, both ways". n/t Whisp Jun 2014 #62
I was so poor I had to borrow a private jet. Boom Sound 416 Jun 2014 #89
We were so poor we only had Haiti and the Honduras to eat. Sometimes we got Iraq. Whisp Jun 2014 #95
Did he wag his finger at the camera when he said it? tularetom Jun 2014 #27
Heaven's to Betsy....the Clintons are not perfect and do not walk on water... VanillaRhapsody Jun 2014 #31
bwahahahahaha. I love the irony, 'nilla. cali Jun 2014 #44
who? I don't expect perfection....never did... VanillaRhapsody Jun 2014 #46
I think the Clintons would be the first to disagree with you Boom Sound 416 Jun 2014 #90
? VanillaRhapsody Jun 2014 #98
They are still trying to explain themselves Boom Sound 416 Jun 2014 #100
Can we expect Bill to pipe up every time Hillary steps in it? 1000words Jun 2014 #36
It IS insulting. 'Clean up on aisle Hillary', and along comes Bill Whisp Jun 2014 #41
True dat, Hillary more than capable of defending herself; but, Bill has never been one to respect women. InAbLuEsTaTe Jun 2014 #79
Who do you think asked/instructed him Boom Sound 416 Jun 2014 #91
It depends upon what the meaning of the word 'is' is krawhitham Jun 2014 #42
Their combined income in 2001 was over 16 million Yo_Mama Jun 2014 #47
they're determined, along with their most loyal fanbase, to go to the mat on this frylock Jun 2014 #49
Why? This has been a good pulling issue for Dems. Yo_Mama Jun 2014 #61
How hard life is for many Americans today? Baitball Blogger Jun 2014 #54
Bill knows damn well they were going to get a windfall. joshcryer Jun 2014 #68
George W thought he would be rolling in speaking engagements but ended painting Thinkingabout Jun 2014 #86
He reportedly raked in $15 million as of 2011 FBaggins Jun 2014 #88
"dead broke" is not the same as having debt or even having zero net worth fishwax Jun 2014 #70
My thought exactly. Dead means dead, not coming out of alleged debt in record time with millions in the bank. InAbLuEsTaTe Jun 2014 #80
Maybe she really meant 'Zombie Broke'? Whisp Jun 2014 #82
LOL, yes, good one!! InAbLuEsTaTe Jun 2014 #83
Their primary assets were earning capacity through books and speaking engagements. lumberjack_jeff Jun 2014 #85
It reminds me of Donald Trump bankruptcies. JVS Jun 2014 #94
Exactly right. JVS Jun 2014 #92
David Ignatius spoke about their ability to borrow against future employment Boom Sound 416 Jun 2014 #93
Everyone of course knows that "factually true" rock Jun 2014 #97
Not sure what she meant by "and we've done it through dint of hard work." Live and Learn Jun 2014 #101

DonViejo

(60,536 posts)
9. Not if folks pay attention to what was said and, in the process,...
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 05:33 PM
Jun 2014

recall the Clintons were broke when they left the WH. Their financial status is what led to the VRWC accusing them of stealing furniture from the WH and yet another investigation.

 

amandabeech

(9,893 posts)
20. They had large debts which were largely lawyer's bills from defending the Clintons
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 06:05 PM
Jun 2014

through the various scandals and the impeachment/trial.

But somehow they managed to finance the purchase of that very large compound in Westchester County, NY, and the expensive townhouse in the Georgetown section of Washington, D.C. Chelsea never had to drop out of Stanford to attend UDC or one of the Suny campuses.

The Clintons have wealthy friends all over the world who were not about to see the Clintons really struggle. Undoubtedly those friends arranged things so that the Clintons managed until Bill could start raking in the big bucks for his speeches and put together the Global Initiative.

Most of us do not have such a network of wealth, nor can we make beaucoup bucks with speeches, foundations and writing books to pay it all back. We also don't have wealthy advisers nor friends with ideas for investmenting loaned or earned money.

All Clintons and their proxies need to just shut up about this if Hillary is to actually get a campaign going. Both Bill and Hillary have huge name recognition, and all of it is not positive. There's another sleazo anti-Hillary book coming out this week that apparently suggests (without a shred of truth, undoubtedly) a difficult relationship with the Obamas and gives (phony) details suggesting that Hillary has serious health problems. The book will put that much more bad air out there that the Clintons should put this wealth thing behind them and lay low for awhile.

 

Dawgs

(14,755 posts)
73. That's not true at all.
Wed Jun 25, 2014, 08:33 AM
Jun 2014

Many of us recognize that the ONLY THING THAT MATTERS IN POLITICS is how things are perceived by the general public.

We don't want our democratic leaders saying stupid things that will only hurt them. Don't you?

DonViejo

(60,536 posts)
75. Thank you for agreeing with me...
Wed Jun 25, 2014, 08:50 AM
Jun 2014
"Many of us recognize..."


Not precisely the same words I used but, exactly what I meant; not everyone is 'not paying attention' but that lack of attention extends to some of the folks here on DU, also.
 

Dawgs

(14,755 posts)
74. Because if Republicans are screaming it then so is the media.
Wed Jun 25, 2014, 08:35 AM
Jun 2014

And then that's all the public knows. And the public includes low information voters on the left, right, and center.

frylock

(34,825 posts)
48. just how broke was poor ol' Bill?
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 07:30 PM
Jun 2014

did he pour a can of soup over a bed of rice to make dinner a little more filling? did he ever stay up all night wondering if they were going to make rent? what credit cards, that he was using to buy gas and food, did he blow off paying 2-3 months in a row because the money just wasn't there? did they have to stay at their mom and dad's for a few months after filing for bankruptcy? is any of that in the article?

DonViejo

(60,536 posts)
55. I've been there also, from 1977 through 1981...
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 07:41 PM
Jun 2014

Maybe if you weren't sarcastic and hyperbolic, you'd get a different response about your 2004 ordeal. At least you'd get a different one from me, I cannot speak for others.

frylock

(34,825 posts)
58. there was nothing in the least bit bit hyperbolic in my post..
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 07:44 PM
Jun 2014

everything in that post happened just as I posted. no embellishment or exaggeration whatsoever. thankfully, I had the support of my very loving friends and family to get me through that period.

marshall

(6,661 posts)
72. Broke maybe, but certainly not dead broke
Wed Jun 25, 2014, 12:36 AM
Jun 2014

To be dead broke is beyond being broke. It means not only not having any money, but also having no reserves and no available options for obtaining any money.

FBaggins

(26,681 posts)
76. "Paying attention to what was said" is what's causing the problem.
Wed Jun 25, 2014, 09:16 AM
Jun 2014

We all know what the purpose of the "broke" statement was. It implied that she connected with the millions of Americans that stuggle financially (rather than with the wealthy).

You can argue until you're blue in the face whether or not the statement was technically true because of the debt they accumulated prior to leaving the WH... but it doesn't change the reality that their financial situation at the time did not connect them with with those millions. Their situation was in no way comparable.

femmocrat

(28,394 posts)
2. They need to let this die already.
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 05:23 PM
Jun 2014

Yesterday, Chelsea talked about not caring about money. Today, Bill jumps in to defend Hillary. It's starting to look like an episode of "VEEP"!

Someone please advise them to change the subject already!

 

VanillaRhapsody

(21,115 posts)
28. Only the people that already hate Hillary even care....
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 06:55 PM
Jun 2014

they see it as some big smeary blight and they are gleeful....yet they are the only ones that seem to think it is a major deal.

greatlaurel

(2,004 posts)
71. The GOP is getting very scared to keep pounding their failing talking points.
Wed Jun 25, 2014, 12:21 AM
Jun 2014

If one actually read the articles where HRC and Chelsea made these statements, the statements are completely different taken in context. The only people leading this parade of HRC and Chelsea hating are GOP sympathizers like Chuck Todd. I remember when HRC was FLOTUS and changed the rules so the top dogs in the White House press core no longer got to eat steak and lobster on the taxpayers dime. The whole "Travelgate" hoopla was created because Sam Donaldson of ABC news and George Will stopped getting free gourmet meals paid by the American people.

Thanks for trying to keep the record straight here at DU. There are a couple of regular posters here that are starting to remind me of the Nixon years dirty tricks campaigns. The only hope the GOP has for 2014 and 2016 is to trick Democrats into party infighting.

Ichingcarpenter

(36,988 posts)
19. I thought the same
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 06:04 PM
Jun 2014

it depends what is rich is , is broke is what lying is....... they is even a word
for what the Clintons do that explains it and its not the word
truth.


And why the fuck he had to pull his dick out so Bush could beat Gore.?


Now........ they went out and made themselves the NEWS, We didn't ask for the headlines one after another.
They sought it and promoted it

This isn't about a BOOK

Response to DonViejo (Original post)

Thinkingabout

(30,058 posts)
10. Reality is hard for some, some are having problems with the Clinton's net worth, they have come a
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 05:34 PM
Jun 2014

long way since 2000, they have helped others and have worked to get humane treatment of others. This is the Democrat way, we help others, unlike the GOP who seeks to hurt poor people.

RainDog

(28,784 posts)
15. I don't have a problem with the Clinton's having wealth
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 05:52 PM
Jun 2014

It's what happens when people are in positions of power - I wouldn't expect it to be any different for them.

The problem is the seeming tone deafness of Chelsea and Hillary's remarks in the context of the current economy and the permanent damage the banksters have done to many people, though the fault of the banksters, who are also operating within a legal financial system.

The problem is the system that exists - and who helped to create it.

RainDog

(28,784 posts)
32. reading comprehension has never been your strength here
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 07:02 PM
Jun 2014

and not interested in your manipulations. bye.

 

VanillaRhapsody

(21,115 posts)
33. ahahahahahahahahaha....good one...
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 07:04 PM
Jun 2014


My deceased Grandmother told me long ago that EVERYONE benefits under Democrats...
 

cali

(114,904 posts)
23. I'm sorry, but both the Clintons are up to their necks in the corpocracy
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 06:36 PM
Jun 2014

that, like it or not, counterbalances what they've done to help others. And the revelations about the Clinton foundation that came out a couple of years ago, are none too savory.

 

VanillaRhapsody

(21,115 posts)
30. Like a broken record...who could have predicted?
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 06:57 PM
Jun 2014

I am sorry....but most people just don't seem to care.....this is not the issue the Ideologue wish it were...

Response to VanillaRhapsody (Reply #30)

 

VanillaRhapsody

(21,115 posts)
37. Freaks me out how? I support whoever wins the Primary....why am I "freaking out" ?
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 07:14 PM
Jun 2014

Please enlighten me how I AM the one freaking out and not the other way around...C...?

 

cali

(114,904 posts)
43. uh, it's obvious the way you're running around these threads acting desperate and misrepresenting
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 07:18 PM
Jun 2014

what people say, 'nilla, old girl.



You are fun to play with though, nills- I feel like a cat with a pet mouse. purrrrr.

 

VanillaRhapsody

(21,115 posts)
45. Not running anywhere....sitting in this desk chair actually....meanwhile
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 07:21 PM
Jun 2014

day after day...hour after hour....week after week....diary after diary...

here you are on Democratic Underground bashing the Democratic Frontrunner and likely next President...

Who is desperate here?


keep trying C....maybe you will get better at this...

 

cali

(114,904 posts)
52. actually, 'nilla, I spend most of my time- gardening, writing, cooking
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 07:38 PM
Jun 2014

visiting, and doing other things. Unlike most people, I only sleep 3 to 4 hours out of 24. I get a lot more time in any given day to do things and thus get more done than most people. Today, I made a wonderful curried brown rice salad, slow roasted beet, orange and blue cheese salad, asparagus gribiche and Linzer cookies for a picnic tomorrow. I planted more lettuce, spinach and chard. I made hummingbird nectar, I weeded. I wrote 8 pages. I edited a chapter of the book I'm writing. I made herbal face cream, body scrub and an herbal almond oatmeal face mask. Oh, and I exercise a minimum of 45 minutes a day and meditate for 20. Here are a couple of poems I wrote recently:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1199232
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1199229

You can find my essays on art and other subjects in the writing forum.

What do you do, nils- aside from spending hours and hours on DU, hon?

time to go fill the cookies with jam.

 

VanillaRhapsody

(21,115 posts)
53. and your other hobby....bashing the Dem Frontrunner on a Democratic Forum....
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 07:39 PM
Jun 2014

Oh we know how invested you are in that one....we know....

(and I am betting in the end you vote for her....)

 

cali

(114,904 posts)
57. nah, I don't have hobbies.
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 07:44 PM
Jun 2014

and no, I won't be voting for her should she be the nominee.

so what do YOU do, 'nilla- aside from complaining about me, which seems to be your hobby? Do you write? make things? photography? cook? garden?

 

VanillaRhapsody

(21,115 posts)
60. You certainly have the Hillary Hatred hobby....
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 07:49 PM
Jun 2014

and what do I do? I play in a band


and the rest...none of your business...

 

cali

(114,904 posts)
63. lol. no nil, I don't hate hillary. I despise her politics. It's not personal.
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 09:17 PM
Jun 2014

how on earth do you find time to play in a band? You're always here following me around and complaining bitterly. bitter, bitter, bitter, nilla.

Bobbie Jo

(14,341 posts)
81. I'm not sure why that is....
Wed Jun 25, 2014, 10:49 AM
Jun 2014

"I feel like a cat with a pet mouse. purrrrr."

Because that's not what it looks like from here. Generally, condescending people aren't nearly as superior as they believe themselves to be.

 

closeupready

(29,503 posts)
11. Hillary knows how hard life can be for Americans because on Walmart's B.ofD.,
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 05:38 PM
Jun 2014

she doubtless knew just how hard Walmart's lowest paid employees worked to make ends meet.

These people make me sick.

JVS

(61,935 posts)
12. LOL. Nothing backs a spouse to the hilt like declaring their words "factually true"
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 05:38 PM
Jun 2014

Not a very strong effort here by Bill.

 

Whisp

(24,096 posts)
25. kind of like Jumbo Shrimp, I had to laugh too. Actually more like Very Unique.
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 06:41 PM
Jun 2014

Last edited Tue Jun 24, 2014, 07:52 PM - Edit history (1)

and hey, we all know Bill tells factually true truths.

 

bigwillq

(72,790 posts)
21. The entire Clinton family
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 06:21 PM
Jun 2014

should just stay out of the public view. I am done with them. Have been for a long, long time.

Ikonoklast

(23,973 posts)
22. Both Bill and Hillary are conflating debt with "being dead broke".
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 06:33 PM
Jun 2014

None of their assets were touched in order to service that debt.

Bill was soon making over $9,000,000.00 a year in speaking fees, and the fund set up to pay off debt had some pretty large donors.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/clinton/stories/legal022599.htm

They were never in fear of losing their home(s). They never worried where their next meal was coming from. Both had sources of income.

They were never broke as in destitute, and they both know this. They were in debt, but very quickly that was no longer so.

The Clintons must think we are all idiots.


deutsey

(20,166 posts)
96. As I mentioned in another thread, I've seen "dead broke"
Wed Jun 25, 2014, 12:13 PM
Jun 2014

That's what my family faced when I was growing up and had the electric shut off and were eventually evicted from our apartment.

I'm sure the Clintons had to do some hustling and juggling to dig out of their debt, but what they experienced, imo, wasn't being dead broke. It was a temporary setback they were soon able to rectify.

 

AngryAmish

(25,704 posts)
26. "I was so poor I couldn't join Winged Foot, National Golf Links of America...
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 06:48 PM
Jun 2014

or Shinnicock. You feel my pain"

tularetom

(23,664 posts)
27. Did he wag his finger at the camera when he said it?
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 06:50 PM
Jun 2014

Like this other time when he made an unfortunate statement:

&feature=kp
 

VanillaRhapsody

(21,115 posts)
31. Heaven's to Betsy....the Clintons are not perfect and do not walk on water...
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 07:00 PM
Jun 2014

Where is the fainting couch I am feeling the vapors.....


Are you guys STILL expecting saviors and saints?

 

VanillaRhapsody

(21,115 posts)
46. who? I don't expect perfection....never did...
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 07:23 PM
Jun 2014

I expect Democrats....that is all. I'm the realist remember c?

 

Boom Sound 416

(4,185 posts)
100. They are still trying to explain themselves
Thu Jun 26, 2014, 01:39 AM
Jun 2014

Because they don't think she said anything wrong and was not wrong.

They wanted to talk about with Gregory and they did.

 

1000words

(7,051 posts)
36. Can we expect Bill to pipe up every time Hillary steps in it?
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 07:13 PM
Jun 2014

How insulting to Hillary. I don't think she needs her husband to defend her.

 

Whisp

(24,096 posts)
41. It IS insulting. 'Clean up on aisle Hillary', and along comes Bill
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 07:17 PM
Jun 2014

with his broken mop and leaky pail making things worse.

It should be embarrassing for the fine and great Feminist (lol) Hillary claims to be.

InAbLuEsTaTe

(24,103 posts)
79. True dat, Hillary more than capable of defending herself; but, Bill has never been one to respect women.
Wed Jun 25, 2014, 10:34 AM
Jun 2014

Yo_Mama

(8,303 posts)
47. Their combined income in 2001 was over 16 million
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 07:23 PM
Jun 2014

That is not the average person's definition of "dead broke".

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2014/06/12/dead-broke-a-deep-dive-into-the-clintons-finances/

No one who in one year earned more than enough to pay off all debt would call themselves dead broke. Further, they knew about the book advances, and when the financial disclosure was filed in 2001 it shows a positive net worth. Further, the legal debt was not all really theirs - there were external funds set up to help pay it.

They should just leave this subject and stay off it.

Yo_Mama

(8,303 posts)
61. Why? This has been a good pulling issue for Dems.
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 08:09 PM
Jun 2014

Is it really their intention to try to nullify that advantage?

Or are they so clueless that they just don't realize what the average person experiences? "Dead broke" means "I don't have the money to pay my current minimal living expenses." rather than "I am not as well off as Oprah."

Maybe they're really campaigning for Elizabeth Warren?

Anyone would laugh in the face of their friend who told them on January 31st that he was dead broke because he only was going to earn 160K that year and he had a 50K mortgage (plus other assets), and that's what this equates to.

Baitball Blogger

(46,532 posts)
54. How hard life is for many Americans today?
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 07:40 PM
Jun 2014

Well, I would be doing better today if Clinton's campaign donors weren't given such a wide berth in the late nineties. Patronage is a game that is not a victimless crime. I guess, you really have to be living in the trenches to see it. I absolutely believe that Clinton could be "The One." And I don't just mean the next president. I mean, the next great president. But she has to come to terms with the fact that her quick neo-liberal solutions are creating untold hardships on many of us.

joshcryer

(62,265 posts)
68. Bill knows damn well they were going to get a windfall.
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 11:24 PM
Jun 2014

It's just factually untrue that they were in any way broke as modern Americans. Even if he got removed from office from the impeachment he still would've been able to make boatloads of money on book deals and speaking outlets.

Thinkingabout

(30,058 posts)
86. George W thought he would be rolling in speaking engagements but ended painting
Wed Jun 25, 2014, 11:24 AM
Jun 2014

By numbers. For the fact Bill and Hillary are still in demand shows their popularity. People still want to hear what they have to say.

FBaggins

(26,681 posts)
88. He reportedly raked in $15 million as of 2011
Wed Jun 25, 2014, 11:32 AM
Jun 2014

He comes cheaper than President Clinton does (100-150k reportedly), but that's hardly "paint by numbers"

fishwax

(29,146 posts)
70. "dead broke" is not the same as having debt or even having zero net worth
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 11:53 PM
Jun 2014

It's about not having money or not being able to pay for stuff that you actually need. That wasn't the case for the Clintons. I have no doubt that they had mountains of debt from defending themselves against all that right wing witch hunting, and that their debt likely exceeded their assets. But I don't think they were dead broke.

InAbLuEsTaTe

(24,103 posts)
80. My thought exactly. Dead means dead, not coming out of alleged debt in record time with millions in the bank.
Wed Jun 25, 2014, 10:37 AM
Jun 2014
 

lumberjack_jeff

(33,224 posts)
85. Their primary assets were earning capacity through books and speaking engagements.
Wed Jun 25, 2014, 11:09 AM
Jun 2014

If your net worth is a very large negative number, I don't think "dead broke" is all that outrageous of a statement. Misleading? Perhaps.

But the obvious implication is that she and Bill did some sort of bootstrappy thing and could be a useful case study on how to succeed.

JVS

(61,935 posts)
94. It reminds me of Donald Trump bankruptcies.
Wed Jun 25, 2014, 11:59 AM
Jun 2014

An issue of cash flow but not a serious threat to standard of living.

 

Boom Sound 416

(4,185 posts)
93. David Ignatius spoke about their ability to borrow against future employment
Wed Jun 25, 2014, 11:54 AM
Jun 2014

Ie speeches in order to secure the housing loans.

rock

(13,218 posts)
97. Everyone of course knows that "factually true"
Wed Jun 25, 2014, 12:17 PM
Jun 2014

is the very best kind of true there is. In fact the only kind.

Live and Learn

(12,769 posts)
101. Not sure what she meant by "and we've done it through dint of hard work."
Thu Jun 26, 2014, 04:13 AM
Jun 2014

It could be taken as meaning those of us that aren't as well off or "dead broke" as them don't work hard or the others that are as well off or "dead broke" as them don't work hard.

I do know that she should have used the 'sarcasm' icon when she made the "dead broke" remark. That, or the people running this country are seriously out of touch (reminds me of George H Bush and is scanner incident at the grocery store and Donald Trump's bankruptcy).

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