A loan? So you'll will take contributor's money as payback? Knowing how you are, I'm sure you will charge interest. So when you lose, you'll get your money back with interest. Nice scam!!!

Wake up people!!!!!!!!

I guess this is the way HC would run the country--spend it before you have it---borrow---and tax.  

I wonder why Sen.Clinton emphasized that she loaned the campaign 5 million from "my money". Does she mean "my money" oppose to Bill's money? Maybe they have two separate bank accounts. But that's neither here nor there. I find it amusing that in explaining why she had to loan her campaign money, she tries to tout that she had a great month of fundraising in January, if that was true, then she obviously wouldn't have had to loan herself 5 million dollars. I don't know the net worth of the Clintons but I know it's nowhere near that of the Romney's, which means she is literally putting her money where her mouth is.

Remember the hour TV special that Clinton announced at the end of the last CNN debate? Did that happen? If it did, I wonder how much it cost. And how she could justify buying it while asking her staff to go without pay.

This shows the weakening Hillary machine and the steady movement that Obama is leading.

You can beat the man Hillary, but you can't stop a movement. Obama has transformed and you won't be able to stop him without going negative.

So Hillary, what's it gonna be?

More smearing?

More distortion?

I can't wait to see what she does!

This is a silly topic! did the press jump on Jon Kerry when he loaned millions to his own campaign?

Whatever happened to balancing a budget?

A leader who is supposedly "Ready On Day One", should not be executing a strategy that spends more than he/she has.

Common sense says that's not a winning plan.

Since they're not Governors, the only way we can truly determine how either Hillary or Barack would perform as the "CEO of the US Economy" is by how they manage and execute their individual campaigns and campaign-finances.

Basically, these are mini-$100M+ corporations.

Based upon what we've seen here, then one can predict how Hillary plans to manage and lead...

-- Spend, Plan, Borrow, Spend, Borrow, Plan --

That's like READY, FIRE, AIM, then ask someone for more bullets.

Regardless of the Iraq War Vote, or Universal Healthcare, or any other issue, that kind of fiscal management is not the type of experience that I want on the resume of the next President of the United States.

Someone who can't even manage a budget.

IMHO, that's a quick way to bankrupt a nation.

The common-man/woman does not spend more than they have in the bank or "spend the rent money before the rent is due".

Period.

And before anyone starts talking about her being the "underdog" and forced to spend to "remain competitive financially" -- Hillary had assembled over $100 MILLION in her campaign warchest before the NH Primary..

It's not like somehow the remaining states after Super Tuesday just suddenly jumped onto the calendar.

That's just poor planning.

Frankly, she's getting out-campaigned and OUT-MANAGED.

It's funny... the candidate who supposedly didn't have enough experience has been able to assemble an impressive organization that has successfully competed with the incumbent nominee in every state in the nation... including concurrently during 22 states during Super Tuesday... and somehow found a way to leave "some in the tank" for upcoming events.

Again, whether or not you are for Hillary or Barack, I find that downright impressive.

Just something to think about...

No, not a wisdom of your investment. You are so desperate that you cannot attract more donors, while Obama added more than 170,000 new donors in Jan., demonstrating his leadership abilities. You only demonstrated your desperate competition for the presidency, and you used lies and deceptions.
Hillary, why don't you open up and tell voters what they want to know and seek their donation not by distorting your opponents' records and playing race, and gender cards as well as politics of tears. hat way, voters will be happy to lsiten and help you raise as much as Obama.

It occurs to me that the idea of placing limits on how much you're allowed to contribute to a campaign was centered around denying the wealthy the ability to control the government through sheer financial power. That said, isn't "loaning" money to your campaign a pretty shady and dishonest way of circumventing that particular rule?

It must be nice to have 5 million dollars in cash that you can put in your own campaign.  Recall when Bill first ran for president.  clintons net worth was nowhere near this.  I guess being president has its perks.  Funny, how the average worker making less than 50K can support a woman who can plop down 5 million dollars and worked on board of Walmart for 6 years instead of the guy who worked as a community organizer in Chicago.

• February 9:
Louisiana,  
http://www.sos.louisiana.gov/tabid/68/Default.aspx
Voting Hours Are From 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Louisiana's elections laws provide for voting on election day at designated polling places from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

A Reminder to Voters - Take Picture ID to Polls
When you go to the polls to cast your vote in an election, be sure to take a driver's license, a Louisiana Special ID, or some other generally recognized picture ID. Voters who have no picture ID and bring only a utility bill, payroll check or government document that includes their name and address will have to sign an affidavit furnished by the Elections Division in order to vote. Should any problems or questions arise, the principal office of the Registrar of Voters in each parish will be open from 6 a.m. until 9 p.m. on election day.
--

Washington caucus (info and video)
http://www.wa-democrats.org/caucusinfo
------------------------------------------------------


• February 10: Maine (D)
http://www.mainedems.org/caucus08.aspx
http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/

Bubba Speaks:

Oh No You Won't Hil-Liar_ry!

I know you will say and do and do anything to become president of the U.S., but now you're going too far! Take off that red dress! What would the American People think, having a former first lady standing on the corner, at this time of night, all for the sake of politics?

For some, Power is more addicting than Drugs!

Obama "08″

If you are looking for a differance between the two democratic runners, this piece perfectly illustrates the fundamental gap that separates them; that Clinton has 5 million dollars to "loan". As a registered nurse in the midwest, it would take me a hundred and eleven years to make that much. Clinton, despite her rhetoric or her apt political skills, is just one more member of the rich, ivy-league class that can buy a powerful political position  

 As someone who has made several small contributions to Barack Obama, this is an important moment to me. I thihk many like myself who have contributed to Senator Obama have done so in part to send a message.
 We want to make it clear that the American people can regain their voice in government. Those like Barack Obama and John Edwards who resist efforts to buy influence, deserve our support.
 I think that is the big story here."YES WE CAN!" an d WE WILL!

It is very interesting that Hillary claims to be " ready on day one" while her campaign is having money trouble and staffers are going without pay.

Save some for Chelsea's trust fund.

There has been much discussion on your network about the "educated, elite" Barack Obama base, and his incredible ability to raise big money on the internet. There is a lot of positive media spin about the "change" in the Democratic base i.e. higher income, educated people, but it important to note that while  Senator Obama's fundraising is impressive, his base does not appeal to the elderly and lower income Americans who perhaps can't afford a computer, or do not know how to use one.  It would be a very sad day in America if the underprivilaged people loose their voice in this election because of media hype and unbalanced reporting.

how do you "break all records" when you're out-raised by almost 20 million in January?

I heard that Hillary sent out emails trying to raise $3 million in 3 days.  I received an email from Obama trying to match the $5 million Hillary donated to herself and as of 7 am ET 2/7, the total raised since the polls closed on 2/5 is $6.692 million. February could be even bigger than January for Obama and Hillary will not be able to keep up. This is extremely bad news for Hillary.

as is usual w/the Clinton's, this also does not pass the smell test.

Obama's campaign has raised 6.6 million dollars in just over 24 hours.

How much money did Clinton use in fuel consumption to fly back and forth for the Florida primary (she signed a commitment not to campaign). They (Bill and Hillary) are master gamesmen. She does not think of herself as the underdog, but in fact has always assumed that she will be elected. re: early interview with Katie Couric last year.

News flash campaign 2008. The political analysis's are laughing at americans all the way to the bank! McCain and Romney are tring to be Reagan!  (sad) Obama is tring to be JFK! (even sadder). At least Hillary is tring to be Hillary!

Tell miss Hillary welcome to the real world. When she gets that cup passed to her pass it on because thats just the way it is in the real world, you bust yor tail every day and you run out of money, thats life so don't expect me to feel sorry for her because she does'nt have millions more dollars to pour out on her indulgences while she is campaigning. Also how bout a little less sensationalism on the medias part? I'm tired of the news media dictating to us what to believe. There is so much emphasis on intense words such as phenominal,explosive,narrow,ect., that no one knows just how important a piece of information is. Please if any one of you on T.V. think you can even minutely comprehend what ordinary folks face every day you are sadly mistaken living in your posh world.

This just goes to show why Hillary's attitude is not exactly fit for the oval office. "Wisdom?" Yeah, kinda like Mitt Romney investment wisdom?

Lets face it, Hillary is getting flat out beat at her own game on her home field; and, once again, she refuses to accept that she is making bad decisions. (think war vote) Advertising does not create votes, Message does.  People are also starting to realize that the Hillary Health Plan is not exactly Not-For-Profit.  She's also admittedly scared to hold forums with Iran, Russia, and Korea.

What is her upside?  That because she's a woman, she'll provide obvious change.  That's simple minded reasoning at best.

We need fundamental overhaul of government, and Senator Obama is the answer.

Although it seems that even if Barack runs the table and wins more pledged delegates, Hillary will unfairly win by default because of the lion share of the 796 superdelegates.

The only thing super about that is that it reminds us of why we so badly need Barack Obama in the first place. Of course it would be too late by then.  

Update: an email from the Obama campaign shows that they've raised 6.7 million since Clinton made this announcement.  Was a good fundraising incentive for his donors, apparently.  Nice!

It looks like all Obama has to do is wait Clinton out.  Her problem is that she can't generate new support as fast as she loses it to attrition.  The Clinton campaign was designed for speed and overwhelming initial force.  But "shock and awe" died in the cornfields of Iowa and have given way to a protracted campaign, which benefits Obama.  Looks like Edwards' delegates are becoming less and less important now.

So where'd Hillary get the money?  Cattle futures?  Inquiring minds want to know...

Who cares! Its her money. MSNBC, the Oprah and Obama network, is no better than FOX. They constantly rail against Clinton, while brandishing Obama with superlatives. Russert, Matthews and Olberman are members of the Clinton attack squad. Where in the heck can we get news that's not tainted? CNN is looking like the answer right now.

Andrea -

Please clarify. Is it true she gave $4 million of her previous campaign funds to the company of her Chief Strategist? Is this correct and allowed under the rules for using such funds? Why would she do that if she is/was short on cash? Hopefully Obama will be short on cash and the Repubs (with deep pockets) will have an easy time in November. I certainly don't want this type of mismanagement running my country.

Spending nearly all of your money in less than five states, and predicating your whole candidacy on the assumption that you will be the only candidate that matters is neither wise nor financially prudent.

Looks like Clinton's starting down the slippery slope that Romney is on - loaning yourself money to hang onto the limelight.  Just remember one thing:

You can buy all the airtime you want, but you can't buy Hope on a loan.

This is my third pledge to Hillary. Go Hill!! The best candidate must prevail.

She ran out of money because she's buying the souls of superdelegates, and paying for endorsements from african american preachers :o)  Knowing the Clinton's history of dirty tricks, it probably just another tactic. It would cause a bit of a movement for her if you think about it. Supporters will see her in trouble and go on a frenzy trying to help..instant movement.

A LOAN!!!! A LOAN!!!
PLEASE WHAT'S UP WITH THE MACHINEEEEE!!!! THIS IS STARTING TO SOUND LIKE OHH MIT!!! WHO IS GONNA PAY BACK THIS LOAN REGARDLESS OF WHAT HAPPENS???? WHO IS RESPONSABLE FOR PAYING IT BACK?? IS MIT ROMNEY LOANING HIS CAMPAIGN 40 MILLION BUCK FROM HIS TOY BOX TOO!!! ARE THE TAX PAYERS GOING TO HAVE TO PAY THEM BACK???? ALL THIS STUFF SOUNDS LIKE MORE AND MORE A POWER GRAB. IF YOU CAN'T RAISE THE MONEY FROM THE PEOPLE WHO CLAIM THAT THEY BELIEVE IN YOUR MAEESAGE THEN YOU SHOULD BACK OUT.... A LOAN!!!!!  A LOAN!!!!
JUST GOES TO SHOW YOU HOW FAR PEOPLE WILL GO TO GRAB THE POWER BAG UNBELIEVEABLE!!!!!!! I'M ABOUT TO LOAN 5 MILLION DOLLARS TO BARACK THEN ANOTHER 5 MILLION AFTER HE WINS IN THESE NEXT FEW STATES..... REMEMBER FOLKS IT'S JUST A LOAN.. SO AFTER BARRACK WINS...HUUUMMMM I'LL BE MR COLLECTOR MAN RIGHT
wink wink ;)~

If she's elected, I wonder if she'll donate more of the Clinton's money to get the economy going as well... <grin>

BTW, Obama raised over five million yesterday online, (There's her sign :)

I see the ratings came out for Tuesday's election coverage and it went as follows, 1)CNN 2)Fox 3)MSNBC

I told you, your pro Obama and anti Hillary coverage over the last two months is now showing in the ratings.  You guys can't even beat Fox.  This is what happens when you slant your coverage for one candidate over the other.  When you spend 75% of your shows praising Obama and 25% bashing Hillary.  People just want to see equal non biased coverage of the candidates.  I know people like myself didn't even watch your coverage on Tuesday and actually turned on Fox a couple times.  But most of the time, me and my friends were watching CNN.  Some of them are Obama fans who saw the bias and didn't like it either so they also watched CNN.  CNN gave equal time to both candidates and didn't try and give excuses why Hillary won California or any other state.  They had their pundits and had a surrogate for Hillary and one for Obama.

It's no wonder why CNN debates get more people watching and it's because they ask the candidates questions on the issues instead of Brian Williams and Tim Russert asking personal questions about race, gender and he said she said questions.  Your channel and website have become nothing but tabloid news and it shows in your coverage of the election.  I hope you learned your lesson, but somehow I doubt it.  So keep bashing Hillary and hopefully PBS will beat you guys in the next ratings.  

I'm tired of hearing about this...big deal...she's not the first person to use her own money for a campaign....what about Romney? Guiliani? John Kerry? etc. There are more important issues than this but you always find a way to trash Hillary and ways to annoint Obama. When are you going to start talking about the fact Hillary would make the best President and have Obama as her VP....this would give both of them an edge.....she has the maturity, experience, and guts to handle the "mess" our country will be in when Bush leaves. Obama has the "dream" but we need more than a dream at this time---we need realty and action, which Hillary can provide. We also need a woman President because women think differently than men, and that's the real change we need. Obama's black but he's still a man and thinks like a man. Also, with him as VP it would give him the experience he needs so he could take over the Presidency after Hillary, regardless of what Teddy Kennedy says...Obama is not ready for that office without maximum assistance from others...which is too reminescent of the current regime.............prefer to be anonymous

This is why I can never support Hillary.  She lies and twists things around too easily, even when blatantly false and doesn't need to.

"We had a great month fundraising in January, broke all records [but I had to give my campaign $5 millon of my own money and ask my staff to "volunteer" to go unpaid for a month]".   And say all that with a smile on her face.

Give me a break.  This is why so many don't like her.  If she would have just come out and said "Yes, I loaned my campaign money.  We didn't have as good of a month as we had hoped, but I believe in this campaign so much I'll put my own money on the line and we'll continue on."  she'd probably have gotten less flack.  Sure, many Clintonites will think thats what she said, but those that aren't already hooked in by her won't see it that way.

Hell, look at McCain.  Many, many say they don't support his views on issues at all, but they are voting for him because they find him honest when he talks, even if they don't like what he's saying.

My question is if Sen. Clinton believes so strongly in her campaign why did she "loan" the money instead of giving it outright? Will she repay herself from donations when they come in?

You of all people. I listen to you joining in on the destruction of Hillary and hope that some day soon, you will too ask why you people turn on each other so readily. I am really surprised, but maybe you had it made in the field you are in. You suck up so well to Tim, Chris, Joe and the other men. Even Pat Buchanan realize how biased you are being. Love Obama huh, I truly doubt you have any loyalty to anyone. Watch out Andrea - Chris and the boys seem to like turning on women.

I have two questions for the Clinton campaign:  First, where does someone who's supposedly spent a life in public service get $5million?, and, second, if she believes so much in her own campaign why didn't she just give the money to her campaign--a la Mitt Romney--rather than loan it?

  Looks like "sleezy", "flip-flop" Hillary is still at it!  She says in a speech she 'donated' the money to her election campaign (making herself look good), however, we learn that she 'loaned' the money.  I guess becoming president of the united states was not worth $5 million dollars to her!!  (In contrast to Mitt Romney who is (for the most part) funding his own Republican election campaign).  Apparently Mitt has a lot more scrupples and faith in his own election than Hillary does!!  It is also questionable where Hillary got the $5 million to 'loan' to here election campaign - I hear tell it is foreign interest money ($20 million) given to her - hmmmm for what??).  Also, is the democratic party going to pay the money back to Hillary, even if she loses??  I'll bet she demands interest on the money and, as sleezy as Hillary is, it will be under the table and not be claimed on her 2008 income tax report!!

Gee, I wonder how much new income this will generate?
I wonder if the campaign was actually broke?
I wonder how much interest she is paying herself?

This is good politics by Clinton. She loans herself $5 mil and the media runs away with it; suddenly the money begins to role in. This is about as fake as the tears.

seems like a waste of time to write in here anymore.
most of anything I write doesn't get printed. probably because I don't like the stuff I see on most of the programing on msnbc any more, and I say so.  I have preferred nbc and msnbc over the other major cable channels untill the start of this election cycle.  I have just been sickened over the all out war on some programs against Hillary Clinton.  For a few minutes this morning I watched morning jo. Mika was gleefully speaking about Hillary putting some of her own money into her campaign.  She then read something George Will said about how it would be so hard for Hillary to run against McCain because it would unite the republican votes around McCain.  This has been Mikas mantra for weeks now.  She is finally getting her point across to others who want to keep Hillay out.    
Mika's Father is ,(I believe) an adviser to Obama.  I also believe he was an adviser to President Carter. I like Carter just fine and admire some of the work he has done after his presidency, but I don't think he was always given the best advise while he was in office. He will not be remembered as one of the great president's. Of course Reagan should not be either, but he is.
i am so upset over the way Hillary has been treated on this channel that I have watched Fox and CNN more lately.  Much to my surprise Fox, strickly a right wing station is treating Hillary with more respect and is much more likely to say something positive about her than msnbc.  I don't see much of a bias on CNN for either side,which is really refreshing.  
I just don't think Mika is right.  I think if Obama is the nominee, we will be just handing the election over to the Republicans. we just don't need a Republican in the White House for another term.  I sure don't think McCain would be a two term President, but look at all the harm he could do in 4 year's.  It's not going to be easy for anyone, but I trust the job to Hillary more than any one else.
Some say time is on Obamas side, I don't think it is.  I believe when people start to hear more of what he is really all about they will have to believe that Hillary is so much more ready to , as she has said, to go to work on all the hard issues on day one.  I sincerely believe she is the best person for the most important job in the world.
I just can't take him seriously right now.  I think 9 more years in the congress will give him much needed expierance.  
All of the media love affair with Obama has really turned me off.  I just don't like him anymore.

well i think its about time Senator Clinton realised how excellent Senator Obama will do when he becomes the chosen candidate. With all her "EXPERIENCE" and "LINKS" she still could not raise enough money for her campaign as did Obama. Obama is very intelligent, likeable and full of wisdom so Hillary, leave him alone!

Word of advice to the New York Senator, dont spend much into your accounts cos IF ITS MEANT TO BE IT WILL BE and if ITS MEANT FOR OBAMA, LET HIM BE THE PRESIDENT. I believe you had a wonderfull time as a one time First Lady and that was history enough.

5 million dollars, one tear at a time.

It's no wonder she's broke. Her campaign spent/wasted an obscene amount of money in Iowa. I was shocked to find out that she actually had to pay "local" people who were in her print ads claiming to support her. Sarah Jankeweitz appeared on all sorts of Clinton print literature that was mass mailed. Turns out at her caucus site (CR-41), she was actually an Edwards supporter, and she and her children were paid, like any other "model" would be. Having to pay someone to be in a print literature piece is unheard of in Iowa. When "actors" are hired for commercials, it is a story. No one thought to question Sarah's support of Hillary, but there were a lot of surprised people caucus night at Washington HS.

It's no wonder she's broke. Her campaign spent/wasted an obscene amount of money in Iowa. I was shocked to find out that she actually had to pay "local" people who were in her print ads claiming to support her. Sarah Jankeweitz appeared on all sorts of Clinton print literature that was mass mailed. Turns out at her caucus site (CR-41), she was actually an Edwards supporter, and she and her children were paid, like any other "model" would be. Having to pay someone to be in a print literature piece is unheard of in Iowa. When "actors" are hired for commercials, it is a story. No one thought to question Sarah's support of Hillary, but there were a lot of surprised people caucus night at Washington HS.

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