This is shaping up for another bad week for Hillary Clinton with stories on another undisclosed and unofficial email account that was used during tenure as Secretary of State as well as a New York Times story on the role of Sidney Blumenthal in seeking business with the State Department while continuing as an unofficial and controversial adviser to Clinton. However, the story that I found most interesting is a report that unions have been pouring significant money into the Clinton Foundation. The Foundation has been accused of being a conduit for donors and foreign governments to give money to the Clinton, who have used the Foundation to hire loyalists (like Blumenthal) and pay for luxury travel for the Clinton family. While some have denounced the Clinton Foundation a “slush fund,” the New York Times has offered a more tempered criticism of the Foundation for its business dealings and advancement of Clinton’s political interests. Yet, Clinton supporters insist that the Foundation has done important work around the world. The use of union funds to support the Foundation would in my view be the most serious of the past disclosures, though it has received less attention than the huge sums paid by corporate and foreign figures trying to influence Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State.
The report appears to have been generated by a union watchdog group, the National Institute for Labor Relations Research (NILRR). I am unfamiliar with the group and it is likely viewed by the unions as a conservative political organization. However, the group has made specific and documented allegations that should be addressed. If it is falsifying information, both individuals and unions may be able to sue. However, at the moment, the allegations have not been refuted from what I can see.
The group says that
“U.S. Department of Labor’s union financial disclosure reports reveal that Big Labor gave at least $2,034,500 in union general treasury funds to Clinton Foundations. Union treasuries are funded mostly by compulsory union dues or fees collected from workers who would be fired for refusing to pay. . . As Mrs. Clinton became closer to her current run for president, donations amounts appear to have increased.”
Here is the most disturbing allegation: “Some of these ‘donations’ are categorized by the unions as ‘political’ on their financial disclosure report. One such union, United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices, a national plumbers union, is listed as giving nearly $200,000 through two contributions in 2013; each of those donations was classified as a political activity. Such a designation would seem to confirm the view of many that giving to the Clinton Foundation was viewed as a circumvention of federal laws in supporting the Clintons and particularly Hillary Clinton.
I was surprised to see little mainstream coverage of this allegation. It is not enough to dismiss a source when that source is quoting from actual federal filings. There should be some response. I find it highly troubling to think of union dues being given to such a Foundation. I have also become increasingly concerned over the use of the Foundation to hire Clinton stalwarts who seem to have moved freely between the State Department (as with Blumenthal) or the campaign staff like a shadow campaign structure. The view of foreign government or unions that the Foundation was a facade for the Clintons themselves was obvious.
What disturbs me is that I could not find a single rebuttal to the story. Perhaps some of our readers can find a response and share it with us. I may also be missing something as to why this is not a major story. Union funds are largely dues generated and should be used to advance the interests of the union. As the grandson of a coal miner and one of the early UMW organizers in Ohio, I have always been highly sympathetic to unions and their need to organize. However, using such funds to support the Clinton Foundation strikes me as problematic. Perhaps there was a union initiative at the Foundation that I am not aware of that would justify over $2 million in contributions.
Has anyone seen a response to this allegation? I would really like the read the opposing view.
Ed, wrong. I don’t defend Clinton, never have. I’ve said numerous times that I, a Democrat won’t vote for her. If we are bringing up quid pro quo schemes, let’s bring all of them to light in candidates for the Presidency. Not a squirrel, it smells like a rat.
Here’s the problem: Compulsory union dues or fees collected from workers would be fired for refusing to pay.
The Clintons have turned their foundation into a lucrative “slush fund,” according to one charity watchdog group,
and have received hundreds of millions of dollars from notable businesses, media personalities, and political luminaries.
Gigi
Money runs the country, buys the politicians, elects our leaders, and pulls their strings, so your question is moot. Money does not want a good, honest, and trust worthy candidate anywhere in America, on either side of the political arena. You can look and you may find one, but money will not back them. This goes for both sides but predominantly the GOP.
Look at these pathetic defenses we have of Mrs. Clinton so far: at least it was disclosed by the unions…omg, look over there, it’s Scott Walker!… so what… it’s not Clinton, it’s “the system”….
Unions don’t have far more money than corporations and the billionaires who love them. As a result, they cannot give more money! Unions have to disclose their contributions; corporations and billionaires have found ways not to disclose. One more point, as the power of unions has diminished so has the income of the middle and working class. As the power of unions has diminished the ability to move from working to middle class has slowed. Unions are key to the economic health and stability of the working and middle class. But of course the powers that be don’t want a stable working or middle class because that is how humans took control of their government in the first place. Keep the humans in a subsistence posture and everything else is easy for corproate interests.
As to teachers unions being toxic, I’d say the Chamber of Commerce and its foreign wing are pretty toxic to our democracy and well as the conservative dark pools.
The very party that accused Romney of being out of touch with the American public for being so rich and part of the corporate world, now can see that the RICH Clinton’s, who claimed poverty after leaving the white house, are still throwing their political crap around–they’ve just perfumed it heavily to deceive the progressives.
$30,000,000 in less than 1 1/2 years ain’t shabby. And now we are seeing who the American contributors are–unions, George Stephanopoulos, and probably others with conflicting interests.
Is there a good, honest, and trust worthy candidate out there in America Land,on either side of the political arena…I don’t know, but we must keep looking.
By the way, neither the Clinton’s, Stephanopoulos, or the unions disclosed anything, until now–when they were found out.
FogdogSF
1, May 19, 2015 at 9:22 am
So what. It is a free country.
Union contributions are the giveaway because Unions have no interest in the supposed other philanthropical interests of the Clinton Foundation. Why would Unions give to help the poor in Africa when opening a plant there (something they are absolutely against) would be far more effective? How could this spending be to the advantage of union members if it is not political?
So, what’s your point, JT?
How about the oligarchy of the US, the opposite of what Americans think exists, the puppet masters, the spine removal process of our leaders, the cancer that is still growing, the ‘for sale’ sign a candidate puts out when he or she runs for office, the archaic and dysfunctional system of American politics, etc, etc, etc.
JT – “I was surprised to see little mainstream coverage of this allegation.” Really?
George S is a shill for the Clintons and ABC does what? Perhaps it is a bit early but his “forgetfulness” and his lame questions to the Clinton Cash author should yell loud and clear who ABC wants as their next Prez. Foreign Governments give $millions to Clinton and the news media does what? Yawn. As Sec of State, Hillary uses a private email server, deletes and destroys the server that hosted the email server, releases what “she” says was relevant and the news media does what? Loves her.
And oh yes, Big business gives money so why can’t unions? Fine, I get that, but how about a news media that actually reported news instead of poll results that everyone knows are skewed.
Paul – you are forgetting all the foreign governments who have given to the Clinton Foundation.
At least Hillary’s unfavorables have been going up. BTW, Inga we are only talking about Hillary and her problems here. Once we finish with that we can switch to another subject.
Justice Holmes
1, May 19, 2015 at 9:02 am
I’m sorry but every time I read one of these “unions did this or that stories” I cannot help think about the billions corporations and billionaires are literally pouring into the coffers of GOP candidates Super Pacs and dark money pools.
Unions give far more money than “corporations”. That’s one of the prime reasons we know the left’s supposed concern over money influencing politics is a distraction (along with the existence of George Soros and Tom Steyer).
Every dollar I give to a political candidate or organizations is recorded and reported but corporations and billionaires and foreign governments and interests get a pass.
Donation disclosure rules are determined by the recipient’s circumstances. If those rules require an individual to disclose they also require a corporation to disclose.
I think it says something that those who pretend this issue is so meaningful are the least knowledgeable about it.
I’m surprised there isn’t more coverage of the story that Wisconsin Democrats have asked the Feds to step in and investigate a potential GOP candidate for the Presidency, Scott Walker, for his shady WEDC dealings. Talk about dark money, Walker is King of the Dark Money schemes. And he just might get the nomination from the GOP.
http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/scott-walker-seeks-to-downplay-questions-over-job-agency-b99502337z1-304123551.html?ipad=y
Oh my word, Justice. “at least they were disclosed” Uhh, yeah, by the unions, not the Clintons. smh.
Arepresentative of the SEIU, speaking at the podium to the City Council of San Diego, said that “We got you elected, and we can throw you out.” The statement did not raise an eyebrow, and was simply accepted as true.
As far as an opposing view, Eleanor Clift is working on it as we speak. I did not know you were the grandson of a union family. I am the son of a union family. We have different views. Maybe because your views go back to when unions were needed and legit. My history is more recent and comports w/ the fat cat plumbers union bosses sending hard earned money to a Foundation that sends a sexual sociopath around the world screwing teenagers, along w/ convicted sex offenders.
The Clintons get people to do things that end up destroying the giver. They may have trashed little George Stephanoplous career.
So what. It is a free country.
I’m surprised that you are surprised that there is so little coverage of this. You are an intelligent man and should know what is up by now. There will be little questioning and no consequences for Mrs. Clinton at this point. The Democrats have already chosen who they want for president and therefore this stuff shall all be declared as as much ado about nothing, attacks by right-wing kooks, ignored until it can be belittled as “old news”… I’m pretty sure they cover all this in Clinton Strategy 101. The loyal lapdog “media” is there to protect Mrs. Clinton (see Stephanopolus, George), not to question her.
The lack of mainstream coverage is not too surprising if the mainsteam media have decided that “It’s time for Hillary”.
It remains to be seen if she is “their ” candidate, and ” gets a pass” on news that would stick to other candidates.
I’m going to try to find the sources of these donations. I think the column mentioned $200, 000 from an apprentice union….
I’d be particularly interested in possible NEA/Teachers Union donations.
Yes, unions and their money really are the BIG problem in our
Political system today. I’m sorry but every time I read one of these “unions did this or that stories” I cannot help think about the billions corporations and billionaires are literally pouring into the coffers of GOP candidates Super Pacs and dark money pools. Every dollar I give to a political candidate or organizations is recorded and reported but corporations and billionaires and foreign governments and interests get a pass.
Is there an issue here with union contributions to the Clinton Foundation? At least they were disclosed! I don’t know but talk about running after pennies.
When will people just leave the Queen alone as she ascends to her thrown??