BACKGROUND: The Clinton Foundation is a global non-profit organization dedicated to increasing opportunity for women and girls, improving global health, and creating economic opportunity and growth around the world. The right wing has been attacking the Clinton Foundation for accepting foreign donations, even though the foundation goes above and beyond the requirements to ensure transparency. The work of the Clinton Foundation has received high praise, from a wide array of individuals.
- The right-wing spin machine is at it again, attacking the Clintons with an article in the press that shows how they went above and beyond the call of duty to ensure President Clinton’s activities with the Clinton Foundation did not pose any conflicts of interest while Hillary Clinton was Secretary of State.
- The story details the extensive vetting process for President Clinton’s activities with the Clinton Foundation, proving what the State Department has already said – that the Clintons went above and beyond the legal and ethical requirements.
- The high ethical standards put in place at the Clinton Foundation were instituted directly and proactively by the Clintons, thus allowing the Foundation to continue its good work across the globe during Hillary Clinton’s tenure as Secretary of State.
PRAISE FOR THE CLINTON FOUNDATION: The Clinton Foundation has received enormous praise from people all over the political spectrum. Here are just a few examples:
- Christopher Ruddy, the chief executive of Newsmax: “There’s a good reason why he pledged a seven-figure donation to the Clinton Foundation. ‘I really like what he does,’ says Ruddy, referring to Clinton Foundation name partner and former president Bill Clinton…In a phone call with the ex-president last week, Ruddy says he explained, ‘I’m proud of what you’re doing, and I don’t care what they say on Fox News.’” [Washington Post, 2/23/15]
- John McCain: “Let me also congratulate you, Mr. President, on the great work of the Clinton Global Initiative. It says a lot about a man that after 12 years as a governor, and another eight years at the Resolute desk, he is still working hard in service to others.” [McCain remarks, 9/25/08; video]
- Mitt Romney: “The Clinton Global Initiative has also demonstrated the effectiveness of entrepreneurship and social enterprise. You endeavor to not only comfort the afflicted, but to also change lives [through] freedom, free enterprise, and the incomparable dignity of work.” [Romney remarks to CGI, Wall Street Journal, 9/25/12; Video]
- Fox News’ Doug Schoen: Speaking about the Bill, Hillary, & Chelsea Clinton Foundation, Schoen said, “A lot of very good work has been done. I helped in Ukraine with the health initiative…that has literally saved thousands of lives.” [Fox News’ Fox Report Sunday, 2/22/15]
- Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers: Referring to Hillary Clinton’s work with the Clinton Foundation, she said, “They have done a whole lot of good work. In fact, they’ve actually done real job creation with union pension funds where we have worked together to try to rebuild our infrastructure, try to create jobs, and try to have good, you know, returns on the money. And she’s also done a lot of work in terms of early childhood.” [MSNBC’s The Ed Show, 2/23/15]
- Elizabeth Warren: “Earlier this month, Warren sent out a fundraising email on behalf of the Clinton Foundation, the philanthropic foundation run by former President Bill Clinton.” [MassLive, 12/24/12]