Clinton and your money

Posted: Friday, April 04, 2008 12:06 PM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC's Domenico Montanaro

How exactly do you want Hillary Clinton to spend YOUR money?

Below is a fundraising e-mail from Clinton, in which she writes of a new Web program where supporters can direct how their money is allocated in Pennsylvania: to TV, online or radio ads, lawn signs, vans or door hangers.

Clinton also talks about how she's being outspent by Obama "by as much as 4 to 1 -- I need your help now."

The Clinton campaign also announced in a statement that of the $20 million raised in March, $15 million of it was raised online.)

Here's the e-mail:

Dear ,

We need yard signs to show our campaign's strength.

We need vans to get Pennsylvania voters to the polls on April 22.

We need ads on the air and online to compete against the Obama campaign.

And starting today, you can decide just how your contributions will help us win Pennsylvania.

MyPA, our new online effort dedicated to winning the Pennsylvania primary on April 22, allows you to designate exactly where you want your money to go.

This campaign is your campaign. Every single day I think about how much I owe to your generosity and hard work. I wouldn't be where I am now without your support. So, I want to make sure you have a say in how your money is spent. We face an opponent who is outspending us by as much as 4 to 1 -- I need your help now.

Click here to visit MyPA, make a contribution, and tell us where to put your dollars in our campaign to win Pennsylvania!

I need your help to win in Pennsylvania and the races beyond. Your commitment and your investment are absolutely critical. I cannot win without your help.

I hope you'll show your support now and tell us exactly where you want your money spent in our Pennsylvania campaign.

I appreciate all your input, all your support, and all the hard work you do.

Sincerely,
Hillary Rodham Clinton

EMAIL THIS

Comments

Hillary has proved to be a 'mismanager'. Why waste our money on such a dishonest and corrupt compaign.
Donate your money to Obama for a better reward.

Banko (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 12:51 PM)

Question for First Read: Can we please hear about someone other than Bill, Hillary or Chelsea Clintonfor a change? In case you haven't noticed, they are no longer the First Family (and aren't going to be).

There are 2 other candidates in this race that I, for one, and I think other people would like to hear about!!

This is getting ridiculous!!!

Fed Up With the ClintonsNY (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 12:53 PM)

Where are the options for dunkin donuts, parking tickes, luxury hotel rooms in Vegas, pizza, and $6,000 worth of flowers?

Is this another example of Hillary not telling the whole truth again?

Mister Anderson (The Matrix) (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 12:54 PM)

Hmm. Obama is able to outspend because he RAISES more and is more diligent about how his money is spent. GO OBAMA ~ From FLORIDA ~ (not everyone here is a hillary fan!

Old White Woman for OBAMA, Jacksonville, FL (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 12:54 PM)

You might as well donate to Hillary now. Your money going to Obama is not gonna be any good. Hillary is going to beat him up in the next contests, win the popular vote and win the nomination. She has the only chance to beat McCain. Obama is tooooooo liberal to be our Pres.

kevin (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 12:54 PM)

"..your campaign..".

What a sham. What a copy-cat. She should have had sincere reverence for her donor's money long before this. It's too late to pretend you will be thrifty now. The time for showing respect for people's hard earned cash was upon the event of the first dollar donated. Poor spendiong habits die a whole lot harder than she'd have folks believe.

Hillary supporters have heard of the dreaded, and highly contagious 'wasted donut disease', infecting her campaign. Understandably they're keeping their cash at a safe distance.

Obama's supporters were invited from the beginning to hold part ownership of his campaign. He has proven himself a worthy steward over our investment. Thank you Barack. We love you.

Pulling for Obama '08

donna, pgh., pa. (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 12:54 PM)

Dirk wrote,
Who'd I rather drink a beer with? Obama or McCain? Of course, McCain.
Who'd I rather have on TV in my living room over the next four years? Obama or McCain? Of course, McCain.
I'm a lunch-bucket Democrat. If not Hillary, McCain in '08.
______________________________________________________
Yeah Dirk, Let's forget about issues cuz im sure, Hilary will be able to talk tractors and Georgia football with you over a nice cold one, right? And by the way, we saw what happened when we voted in 2000 based on who we'd rather have a beer with. Are we prepared to go down that road again? If that's what it's about then Larry the Cable guy should be president!!!

Charles, Santa Monica Ca (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 12:54 PM)

What, no option to donate money to pay down her campaign debt?

Pete - Albany, NY (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 12:55 PM)

I'd want a refund if I gave her any money.

adam/Brooklyn New York City (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 12:55 PM)

How about paying the middle class vendors that provided services for your campaign, but your campaign refuses to return their phone calls when they are looking for payment. Shame on you, Hillary Clinton - I won't give you a dime!

Colleen, Lafayette Hill, PA (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 12:55 PM)

People will not give money knowing that if she bow out, she will pay what they are now giving will go against repaying her loan back(with interest). She is trying to start anew by saying what you give is for the future. Her experience in government taught her this. She needs to show her March reports before anybody gives her a susan b anthony.

rc, dallas (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 12:55 PM)

The really sad thing is that if you go to Hillary's site, a lot of those people are giving up lunch and eating ramen for dinner or worse charging donations they can't afford on their credit cards because they fall for stuff like this. You can tell just by reading the blogs that these are a lot of older women on fixed incomes and they say sad things like "Hillary just wrote to me". I used to go to the website just for a laugh. Now it's just so sad. And that's why I believe Hillary should drop out.

Sue, Bloomington, IN (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 12:55 PM)

I would like to know why sen. Clinton is so determine to get Fl and MI delegates seated but at the same time saying that pledged delegates can change their mind during the convention.

Since each pledged delegate represents thousands of people, is it right for Clinton to try to disenfranchise the whole of the United States?

Isn't this like saying that our votes does not count. And why is the media not calling her out on this?

carol g (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 1:00 PM)

Senator Clinton's e-mail smacks of desperation. It's all she has left.

Isn't this how campaigns typically wind down? It's when the public realizes that this cannot continue and decides to NOT waste their hard-earned money on a sure loss.

Don't get me wrong. I think Hillary should continue fighting to the bitter end. Only this will prove without a doubt who the winner is. The Democratic party can move on.

However, what do you think the results will realistically be? Every day reveals a subtle misstatement from her. Her already low credibility crawls lower and lower. Slinging oh-so-much mud (Hillary's last resort) just makes things worse for everyone. Any chance for Clinton to win less likely every day.

sg, michigan (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 1:01 PM)

I just contributed to Hillary online!!

This Archie Bunker Democrat will not be voting for Obama!

Archie Bunker Democrat (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 1:01 PM)

If a candidate starts a campaign January with a $19mm fundraising advantage over the closest competitor, and then exhibits reckless spending habits that consume vast sums of money to little effect, why should we trust their "experience" will make them effective at managing the world's largest economy? Clinton is asking supporters how to spend money because they clearly have no idea what constitutes efficient spending. When you cannot demonstrate leadership managing a campaign's resources, you don't deserve to manage the country's resources.

KD, San Francisco (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 1:02 PM)

I agree with Independent in Tenn. She has all the characteristics of what we already have...a president who lies and doesn't listen to the people. Why would we want more of the same.

Obama Mama

Lisa from Tennessee (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 1:06 PM)

I'm in Ohio and I thought the 88 counties in 88 hours was a brilliant idea and it paid off. I would send my donations to TRANSPORTATION COSTS so she (and Bill and Chelsea) can get more face-to-face time with potential voters.

Margaret, Columbus, Ohio (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 1:13 PM)

When Hillary wanted the big home in New York, she had no money so she borrowed it from a famous person called McAuliffe who loaned her 1.3 million dollars for her home in high-bourgeois Chappaqua, in Westchester County, just north of Manhatten. Cost:1.7 million. The Clintons could not afford it as Bill had just been ordered to pay a 90,00 fine, levied by a federal judge, for lying under oath in the Paul Jones case, on top of almost a million dollars he had to pay Jones herself, as well as the money owed, at least on paper, to all the lawyers who represented them in all the myriad scandals. Do you know how they got money to pay back McAuliffe? A man dreamed up the idea of paying off party donors with a free night in the White House bedroom where Abraham Lincoln slept for money. The GovernmentEthics committe looked into this to see if it passed muster. It ruled a narrow question of whether the loan must be reported as a gift. A public interest group announced it would go to court to stop the MAuliffe loan. Hey Clinton's I would never trust you with any of my money. I make less than 20,000 a year but managed to give 25.00 for the man I beleive in,Obama.

karen bourland overland park ks (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 1:15 PM)

It is interesting to note that Barack has never run a company, yet he is doing so now (his campaign) to the tune of $200 million and seems to do a fine job.

He also has remained very calm and contrlled through out the campaign despite the mud being slung at him.

Compare that to Hillary.

Money problems...staff problems...PR problems...unpaid bills, etc. is how her $150 million "company" is being run.

And she whines about the "boys" pushing her out, that she is sleep deprived, bad media, etc. when she talks during her campaign. How will that translate if she was elected President?

Scary!

Mandy, California (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 1:17 PM)

Only in America can a person with such a scandal ridden life could even run in this country. I think she needs to spend her money on attorney fees for the Ron Paul trial, or she just may be in jail by the election.

Arlene (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 1:23 PM)

Hmmmm......Barry a better manager? Yet, he's raised and spent more money than HRC but HE CAN'T CLOSE THE DEAL. Guess it just proves some people can't be bought. That would be like the Gov of MT who said on the radio the other day he pledged to Obama after being promised by Barry he wouldn't allow drill for oil in MT. Of course, FIRST READ, couldn't have possibly had that in the headline; that Barry buys votes. Shouldn't be surprised. Barry has bragged he knows how to play "Chicago-style" politics. The money flows pretty good in elections there; just ask Barry how much Rezko had to spend to get Barry elected.

NO-bama (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 1:23 PM)

She has the nerve to go on Jay Leno show and joke about the sniper fire, doen't this woman have any class? After all the dangerous countries and war zone that she has traveled, I wonder how come she is still alive. This woman is like a bad dream and I cannot wait for campaing to end!!!

Hillary is a bad dream, (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 1:24 PM)

Shame on you Clinton supporters for financing her sub-prime mortgage.

I can't manage $100 mil, but I can manage a couple tril (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 1:26 PM)

The only reason Obama CAN outspend Clinton is because more people are supporting him and the funds that she had initially raised, she wasted on spurious ventures.

To me, this both points to Obama knowing how to raise and manage money better.

wolf (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 1:27 PM)

I just contributed to Obama online!!!!!

Thanks Hillary for the incentive (not that I needed any) to donate to our Democratic nominee and the future President of the United States.

The only way you will get any of my money Hillary is for a 1 way ticket home.

Obama '08

Woman Supporter for Obama, NY (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 1:29 PM)

Signs of a failing campaign:

1) Lose 2/3 of the primary states
2) Steady trickle of superdelegates endorsing your opponent
3) Having to beg for money

Hillary, I don't mind you - I really don't. But the allocation choices you give to your donors should include "The Obama General Election Campaign Fund" and "gas money for my bus ride back to New York." THEN you'd get some contributions.

KJ, CR, IA (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 1:31 PM)

Woman Supporter for Obama, NY (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 1:32 PM)

Considering how badly her campaign has been "managed" financially, I'm not sure I'd trust her to spend my donation according to my wishes. She's really been all over the place, trying this, trying that, and not really making a mark. At least Obama's been consistent in his campaign management. Kinda gives you a clue how the country would be run with Hillary at the helm as opposed to Obama at the helm.

voter in Amherst, MA (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 1:33 PM)

Reality check, do one on yourself. I never said all men are insecure and won't vote for a female. I just meant men like you. I thought you Obama folks were highly educated. Read it again.

j fl (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 1:35 PM)

Hillary has not disclosed her own financial history to voter's and she wants our money? Where are her 2000 thru 2006 tax returns and why is she so afraid of disclosing her 'investments'. This is a real issue not slander towards Hillary.

shirley, san jose (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 1:35 PM)

I started supporting Obama just lately. For one reason. Clinton's TAX RETURNS. How can I vote for someone. I don't even know where there money comes from. Is she bought and paid for, by the muslim countries. If so. Is there not a law, No money from outside countries. Yes only in the fundraisers. To me most importantly. Personal money!! "Here is a check for 25 million dollars, from the bank of dubai! just tell the people of America you work for me!!!" OKAY!!!! SHOW YOUR TAXES CLINTON!!!!!!

SoCal La Habra Heights Ca (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 1:40 PM)

Why doesn't Hillary just use her own money like Romney did, she afraid she won't get it back ? For someone who left the White House with millions in legal fees, voted for a war where we are spending 150 million a month on fuel in Iraq and hd 5 million to "lend" her campaign, she seems to be doing a lot better than most Americans who are trying to decide whether to buy a gallon of gas or a gallon of milk.

John Regan (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 1:48 PM)

I just don't understand why raising so much money admirable? I know MY vote cannot be bought and I don't let advertising tell me what to think about a candidate.

Seems to me that the USA needs a President/government who can demonstrate financially responsiblity.

Harriet Weaver, Fort Worth, Texas (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 1:51 PM)

I think paying the $8+ million in bills already incurred would be the thing to do. Is that an option on the list? I'm sure small business owners along the campaign trail, including her former high school, would appreciate the payment.

Lynne, Bedford, IN (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 1:59 PM)

I don't want HRC TOUCHING ANY of my money!!!

And I would suggest that all of you supporters of HRC tell her to STOP SPENDING YOUR MONEY on MARK PENN!!!!

Jessica (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 2:02 PM)

Dear Hillary,

Please send the $200 j fl just sent you to help pay the middle class working people in Ohio who supplied her campaign with stages, food, etc., so they can buy groceries for their families......you know, the people she's in this race to help.

Diane from Illinois (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 2:05 PM)

HERE IS MY SUGGESTION:

Transfer the money to the Obama campaign so we can get on with this general election against McCain.

C A, Tuscaloosa, AL (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 2:07 PM)

I have been driven away from MSNBC because most of the people on air are more than a little biased in favor of Obama. I know this has been said over and over but I am one more former viewer if your advertisers even care. I'm gone and so are all my kids who used to watch. Even worse, they are anit Hillary. It is not the candidates that are causing the rifts between the common voters-it is MSNBC and the like.

4latte, Moses Lake, Washington (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 2:09 PM)

Sen. Clinton I do wish you well in your fundraising efforts. But why put such a financial burden on the PA voters? Your campaign should have been prepared. John Quincy Adams stated, "If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader." Obviously, those supporting Sen. Obama's campaign are also supporting his leadership.

Barbara Gray, Bowie, MD (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 2:12 PM)

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