BACKGROUND: The right wing and certain media outlets have latched onto recent reports of Hillary Clinton’s speaking arrangements and travel logistics as some kind of faux proof she is out of touch. The reality is that Hillary Clinton knows how blessed she is, she’s said that directly, and that helps her fuel her life-long motivation for working hard to make sure the American Dream is a real possibility for every child and every family across our nation.
- Americans are givers. We are a generous nation, coming to the aid of those in need. Americans want to hear from Hillary Clinton and she is crisscrossing the country, sharing her insights and her vision, and raising money for the life-changing programs funded by the Clinton Foundation. This philanthropy reflects Hillary’s belief in doing all she can to ensure everyone has the opportunity to achieve the American Dream.
- The Clinton Foundation is a philanthropic organization that funds programs to help people throughout this great nation and all over the world.
- Here are just a few examples of the life-changing programs funded by the Clinton Foundation:
- Job One: helps young people find jobs.
- Too Small To Fail: helps improve the health and well-being of children ages zero to five.
- No Ceilings: helps encourage the full participation for women and girls in the 21st century.
- Clinton Health Access Initiative: works to expand access to HIV/AIDS medications throughout the world.
- It has already been reported that Hillary Clinton’s speech at a fundraiser for the UNLV Foundation has already helped raise $353,000 for the university’s nonprofit foundation, even though the event is many months away and individual tickets aren’t yet available for sale.
- “The University of Nevada, Las Vegas Foundation can afford Hillary Clinton’s much-debated $225,000 fee to speak at its annual fundraising dinner, having sold out the Oct. 13 event’s best tables at $20,000-a-pop.” [Las Vegas Review-Journal, 7/9/14]
- “The foundation has already sold $353,000 in high-dollar seats and expects to make a profit from the event at Bellagio for only the third time in its history, UNLV spokesman Tony Allen said Wednesday.”[Las Vegas Review-Journal, 7/9/14]
- Secretary Clinton’s speech “has done exactly what the UNLV Foundation hoped it would: generate interest in the dinner and sell tables.” [Steve Sebelius, Las Vegas Review-Journal column, 7/4/14]
- Hillary Clinton has often said how blessed she felt by the success she’s had, noting it’s why she has and continues to focus on giving back so that every child, regardless of their circumstances, has the same opportunity for success.
- That’s why the right wing is so obsessed with Hillary and Bill Clinton’s success. Because unlike leading Republicans, the Clintons recognize that success is a blessing rather than an entitlement. For Hillary Clinton, that blessing is a reason to support and focus on policies that promote and share the opportunity with others, unlike leading Republicans who live beholden to special interests or abuse their power.
- Republicans are launching these disingenuous attacks on Hillary Clinton for a reason. Republicans know that Hillary Clinton connects with Americans struggling for a greater opportunity. She offers ideas about a future that involves helping people. Meanwhile, the majority of would-be GOP front-runners are under investigation, indictment or on trial.
- Hillary came from a middle-class background in middle America and she’s had the chance to live the American Dream. That’s why she has focused her efforts, her life-long labors, to level the playing field of opportunity in our country. As she said herself, the number one threat facing our democracy is a lack of opportunity for people who work hard and play by the rules to live a more prosperous life and provide a better opportunity for their children than what they had.
- “We know how blessed we are. We were neither of us raised with these kinds of opportunities, and we worked really hard for them. …All one has to do is look at my record going back to my time in college and law school to know not only where my heart is, but where my efforts have been. I want to create a level playing field so that once again, you can look a child in the eye and you can tell them the truth, whether they’re born in a wealthy suburb or an inner city or a poor country community; you can point out the realistic possibility that they will have a better life.” [The Hill, 6/25/14]
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Hillary Clinton’s speaking fees are in line with those of other political figures:
- Former Secretary of State Colin Powell collected “up to $200,000 a hit on the speaker circuit.” [Salon, 7/17/13]
- Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has been paid $150,000 to speak. [Minnesota Daily, 4/17/14]
- Rudy Giuliani charged a $270,000 fee for a speech at a private equity firm. [Salon, 7/17/13]
- Former Pres. George W. Bush’s “standard speaking fee is reportedly between $100,000 and $150,000.” [Daily Beast, 5/20/11]
- Former Gov. Jeb Bush’s “corporate speechmaking” – “more than 100 since 2007” – “appears to have generated millions.” [New York Times, 4/20/14]
- Former VP nominee and Gov. Sarah Palin has charged $100,000 for her speaking fee. [Politico, 1/12/10]
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Republicans are only launching these baseless attacks on Hillary Clinton to divert attention from their abuse of taxpayer funds for excessive travel:
- Republican Governor and potential GOP presidential candidate, Chris Christie, has frequently used state police helicopters for his own personal travel, including the time he used a state police helicopter to get to a baseball game. [Asbury Park Press, 5/31/11]
- Marco Rubio, another potential Republican presidential contender, charged non-work travel expenses on the state party’s credit card and double-billed taxpayers and the state party for multiple plane tickets. [St. Petersburg Times, 10/22/10]
- Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker has used taxpayer funds for motorcycle tours throughout Wisconsin and its surrounding states. [The Hotline, 4/6/10]