Archive for the ‘Hillary Clinton’ Category

Yes, Cash Flowed to Clinton Foundation Amid US Russian Uranium Deal – Huffington Post

My latest Counter Propa article highlights the U.S. Russia uranium deal that sent 20% uranium capacity to Russia. In 2015, The New York Times stated As the Russians gradually assumed control of Uranium One in three separate transactions from 2009 to 2013, Canadian records show, a flow of cash made its way to the Clinton Foundation.

Has Vox or POLITIFACT analyzed this quote?

Or just Trumps wild accusations?

The next paragraph in this New York Times piece states And shortly after the Russians announced their intention to acquire a majority stake in Uranium One, Mr. Clinton received $500,000 for a Moscow speech from a Russian investment bank with links to the Kremlin that was promoting Uranium One stock.

Vox, POLITIFACT, and others havent commented on the two quotes above and have only pontificated against President Trumps awkwardly worded claims.

Hillary Clinton didnt give up 20% of U.S. uranium to Russia, but Uranium One donations to the Clinton Foundation might have influenced the State Department and Obamas administration to approve the deal.

Was it merely coincidence that Uranium One officials were Clinton Foundation donors, or is there legitimate conflict of interest?

Also, did the FBI tape Bill Clintons speech at a Moscow bank?

Theres absolutely no way for Vox or any other Clinton public relations firm to spin the fact Bill Clinton received $500,000 from a Moscow bank with ties to the Kremlin.

Also, nothing said at Trumps press conference refutes the fact Uranium One officials donated millions to the Clinton Foundation amid the sale of U.S. uranium to Russia.

After Trumps recent press conference, millions of Clinton loyalists gleefully read a POLITIFACT piece titled Donald Trump repeats his Mostly False claim about Hillary Clinton, Russia and uranium.

That POLITIFACT piece references another POLITIFACT article titled In a nuclear claim, Donald Trump says Hillary Clinton gave up one-fifth of U.S. uranium to Russia.

Both articles rate the truthfulness of Trumps accusation that Clinton gave up (or was solely responsible) for the uranium sale.

As with all Clinton scandals, the entire story is far more complicated (with defenders focusing on semantics and plausible deniability more than possible foul play), and leads to a major conflict of interest; especially in todays neo-McCarthy Democratic Party.

Frist, Clinton didnt even intentionally use a private server, so she didnt give up 20% of U.S. uranium all by herself.

The issue POLITIFACT, Vox and others conveniently circumvent is the New York Times quote stating As the Russians gradually assumed control of Uranium One in three separate transactions from 2009 to 2013, Canadian records show, a flow of cash made its way to the Clinton Foundation.

Did millions of dollars to her Foundation influence Clinton?

Furthermore, three FBI field offices wanted to investigate the Clinton Foundation. The Clinton Foundation has been the subject of quid pro quo controversies, from an AP report to weapons deals. Last years AP Report states millions in donations correlated with access to Americas Secretary of State:

This story (if Trump were the subject) would spark outrage today. Instead, Vox and others defended Clinton and denied any possible conflict to interest.

As for the uranium deal (approved under an Obama administration that eventually sanctioned Russia for alleged election tampering), its similar to Clintons weapons deal scandal reported by the International Business Times. Read the International Business Times article titled Clinton Foundation Donors Got Weapons Deals From Hillary Clintons State Department.

This all gets back to the POLITIFACT articles.

POLITIFACT states The State Department did approve the Uranium One deal, but it didnt act unilaterally.

And this is supposed to be a good thing?

The New York Times states The deal made Rosatom one of the worlds largest uranium producers and brought Mr. Putin closer to his goal of controlling much of the global uranium supply chain.

Vox recently called Trump a Russian stooge, yet it was Clintons State Department that approved a deal bringing Mr. Putin closer to his goal of controlling much of the global uranium supply chain.

President Obamas administration approved a uranium deal that motivated Pravda to write Russian Nuclear Energy Conquers the World.

If Putin is Americas great adversary, why did Clintons State Department and eight other agencies approve the deal?

Why didnt President Obama veto the deal?

Why did Uranium One officials feel the need to donate millions to the Clinton Foundation amid the sale?

This blind spot within American media is the reason Trump won the White House. Clinton engages in an overt controversy, and the American press focuses solely on the semantics within Trumps accusation. With Clinton, its never using a private server to hide information. Everything is merely a coincidence, or theres enough semantic leeway for plausible deniability. Yoga emails were deleted, not Clinton Foundation emails.

As for the billions lost in Haiti linked to Bill and Hillary Clinton, Hatian-born journalist Daddy Cherry demands the Clintons Return Haitis Earthquake Billions.

Congratulations, vigilant and daring American press, whose only goal is to defeat Trump. Youve again focused on Trumps wild accusations, while ignoring the giant elephant in the room.

Once again, America is playing Trumps game (fact checking based on semantics, as opposed to the overall picture) and refusing to hold Hillary Clinton accountable for a genuine conflict of interest. This paved the way for Trumps recent conflicts of interest.

Sure, Hillary Clinton didnt give up 20% of U.S. uranium.

Trump is wrong about Clinton giving the uranium to Putin.

Also, its 20% of U.S. uranium capacity, thats true.

There, feel better now DNC?

You shouldnt if you think Russia influenced the election and fear the implications of General Flynns phone calls, or Trumps contacts with Russia.

I highlight the impact of the Obama administrations uranium deal with Russia in the following segment on H. A. Goodman YouTube:

In the McCarthy era atmosphere of todays Democratic Party, what if Trump approved the sale of 20% of U.S. uranium capacity to Russia, as his foundation received millions?

For every fact-checking piece mocking Trumps claims, simply reread the original NYT story. The New York Times explains the possible quid pro quo arrangement in a now legendary piece by Jo Becker and Mike McIntire titled Cash Flowed to Clinton Foundation Amid Russian Uranium Deal:

Again, would this be condoned if Trumps foundation had accepted millions from uranium one?

Also, why were Uranium One donations not publicly disclosed by the Clintons, despite an agreement Mrs. Clinton had struck with the Obama White House to publicly identify all donors?

Thered be widespread calls for impeachment if this happened with Trump, and people would be right.

The Clinton Foundation received millions of dollars, as the Podesta Group lobbied on behalf of Uranium One. Uranium One was already owned by the Kremlin, while the Podesta Group was lobbying on behalf of Uranium One. The Obama administration sold U.S. uranium to a company that was essentially owned by Putin.

The fact 9 agencies had to sign off on the deal is irrelevant. If Clintons State Department, under Obama approved the deal, this shows Hillary Clinton was never worried about Russian aggression or influence.

Uranium One officials felt the need to donate to Clintons Foundation during the uranium deal, and that brings up the question of Clintons influence on Obamas administration.

Most importantly, the Clinton Foundation coincidentally shut down its Global Initiative, shortly after Clinton lost, and no longer accepts foreign donations.

Why did Bill and Hillary shut down the Clinton Global Initiative?

Could it be that the Clintons no longer have access to give to donors?

Or is it only Trump who has conflicts of interest?

The Clinton Foundation did accept millions of dollars from Uranium One during the sale, approved under Obamas administration, while the Podesta Group lobbied on behalf of company owned by Russia. In addition, the Panama Papers reveal Clintons ties to the Kremlin. Therefore, its a fact Clinton and President Obama presided over the sale of 20% of U.S. uranium capacity to Russia. If the fact Uranium One officials donated millions amid the deal doesnt bother you, then theres a job waiting for you at Vox.

H. A. Goodman is the creator of Counter Propa and the thoughts above are inspired by his new publication.

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Yes, Cash Flowed to Clinton Foundation Amid US Russian Uranium Deal - Huffington Post

Opinion: From San Jose council to Clinton to Trump, transparency matters – Milpitas Post

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton came under fire for conducting government business on her personal email account, on a private device, via a private server. She later deleted thousands of emails without an independent review as to whether the deleted emails pertained to the publics business.

The concern in both of these cases is that the publics business is being conducted in the shadows, in breach of the ethical obligation that all public servants have to be transparent and accountable.

Both Clinton and White House staff may have violated federal public records laws if they deleted electronic documents required to be preserved. However, because they deleted communications on their own accord we cant know.

This is not just a problem on the national stage. San Francisco supervisors have been criticized for using a messaging app called Telegram that also deletes messages immediately.

After San Jose city council members conducted public business on private email, the city of San Jose was taken to court for refusal to turn over those private communications in a response to a Public Records Act request.

The citys stance is that it would be too burdensome on city resources to monitor the private emails of public officialsnot to mention the invasion of privacy that would result. The San Jose case is currently before the California Supreme Court.

Transparency in government is an ethical virtue. For the public to retain its trust in government, it must have confidence that those in public service are at all times acting in the best interest of the public. As stewards of the public trust, government leaders and employees have a fiduciary responsibility to act in a manner that is accountable to the public.

The California Constitution actually mandates that the publics ability to know what government is doing is a fundamental right. The preamble to the Brown Act-Californias open meeting law- makes a clear case as to why:

The people of this State do not yield their sovereignty to the agencies which serve them. The people, in delegating authority, do not give their public servants the right to decide what is good for the people to know and what is not good for them to know. The people insist on remaining informed so that they may retain control over the instruments they have created.

Open government policies such as public record regulations and open meeting laws ensure that those in government are acting for the common good, and they help keep a check on corruption.

All these noble concepts are for naught, however, if we do not stand up for our rights and require that the peoples business be conducted in the open. There are obvious exceptions for national security and personnel matters, but for the most part those in government have a responsibility to govern in a transparent manner.

The president should sign an executive order requiring that digital communications between executive branch employees be transmitted in such a way as to allow retention for the public record. Likewise, the State of California should update its open government laws to prohibit the use of private email accounts and devices to conduct public business.

To quote President Ronald Reagan, If we are to guard against ignorance and remain free, as Jefferson cautioned, it is the responsibility of every American to be informed. It is up to us to assert our right to government in the light, not the shadows.

Hana Callaghan directs the government ethics program at the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University in California. The opinions expressed are her own. She wrote this for The Mercury News.

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Opinion: From San Jose council to Clinton to Trump, transparency matters - Milpitas Post

Hillary Clinton’s staffers are keeping up the fight – CNN

Then his boss, Hillary Clinton, lost.

Within 48 hours -- infuriated by the Cabinet prospects being floated by Donald Trump's transition team, like Wisconsin sheriff David Clarke for homeland security secretary -- Petkanas had decided he couldn't change careers yet.

"Tuesday was the election. Wednesday I was sleepless and tired and very sad," he said. "And Thursday I got extremely angry."

Petkanas quickly transitioned from Clinton's director of rapid response -- a role that made him the campaign's chief Trump hit man -- to director of the Democratic National Committee's war room, where he'd lead the party's resistance to Trump's actions.

"The signals that were coming out of the White House lit a fire under a lot of people," Petkanas said. "He re-engaged a whole slew of people, talented people, driven people, to stay in the fight."

But many of her former staffers -- especially mid-level Brooklyn veterans -- are now on the front lines of the left's anti-Trump resistance.

Some ex-Clinton staffers have moved into Democratic organizations that are shifting their focus to opposing Trump -- such as Clinton press secretary Brian Fallon, now a senior adviser to Priorities USA; policy adviser Corey Ciorciari, now helming the Center for American Progress war room's policy and research efforts; and Cristobal Alex, Clinton's national deputy director of voter outreach and mobilization, who is now the president of the Latino Victory Fund.

Others are racing to fill the holes in the Democratic Party exposed by November's results, in an effort to help activists newly energized by Trump's victory strike back in upcoming elections, at congressional town halls and more.

One example many Clinton veterans point to: Run for Something, which launched on Trump's Inauguration Day with the goal of recruiting, training and funding first-time candidates for office.

It was co-founded by Amanda Litman, the Clinton campaign's email director, who said in the immediate aftermath of the election, she was looking for a new challenge after several years in online fundraising.

After the election, though, she said she and other Clinton staffers felt like they had failed.

"Once we got over the shock and the sadness and the heavy drinking -- catching up on sleep, cleaning my apartment for the first time in six months -- a bunch of us were talking about different things," she said. "Do you stay in politics because it's incredibly important? Do you leave because you're so cynical and jaded and feel like the work we've been doing doesn't matter?"

Once Litman chose the first option, she leaned heavily on Clinton campaign staffers.

She said Run for Something was built through volunteer efforts of Clinton veterans: The campaign's website director built Run for Something's website for free; Clinton's finance team helped Litman figure out how to raise money. Many of its 1,000 operatives who have volunteered to help future candidates are Clinton alumni.

Litman said friends asked her why she wasn't spending more time going out and relaxing after the election. But she came to feel like she had two options: working, or yelling at the television as news of Trump's transition moves came in.

"One is productive and one scares my dog," she said.

Litman met her co-founder, Ross Morales Rocketto, through his wife, former Clinton digital staffer Jess Morales Rocketto -- who is now organizing airport protests and consulting for United We Dream and the National Domestic Workers Alliance in fighting Trump's executive order banning immigration from seven majority Muslim countries.

Other Clinton staffers are filling out the offices of rising Democratic stars like California Sen. Kamala Harris -- who hired ex-Clinton aides Lily Adams and Tyrone Gayle to lead her communications shop. Washington Rep. Pramila Jayapal hired Clinton veteran Omer Farooque as communications director.

Clinton campaign rapid response team veteran Jesse Lehrich is leading communications for Organizing for Action, while Clinton rapid response spokeswoman Adrienne Watson is the Democratic National Committee's national press secretary.

Another former Clinton communications staffer, Xochitl Hinojosa, is advising former Labor Secretary Tom Perez -- who has called on party members to treat Trump as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell treated Obama, opposing him at every turn -- in his bid for Democratic National Committee chairman.

Jimmy Dahman, a Clinton field organizer in Iowa and then Ohio, has launched TownHallProject.com -- where he and a team of volunteers have made a point of tracking every town hall, coffee meeting or other opportunity for constituents to reach their congressional delegation.

His site's database of upcoming meetings has served as a crucial tool for progressives to identify upcoming events to attend and protest.

Dahman decided to launch the volunteer-driven project after watching a crowd of 100 spontaneously show up at a town hall held by Rep. Mike Coffman, R-Colorado, to protest his support for repealing Obamacare.

"I thought, I wonder how many people feel the same way but didn't know the event exists," he said.

Former Clinton deputy national press secretary Jesse Ferguson, senior adviser Leslie Dach and communications department chief of staff Lori Lodes are all consulting for Protect Our Care, the coalition fighting Trump and congressional Republicans over the future of the Affordable Care Act.

Ferguson cited Clinton's oft-repeated Methodist creed -- "do all the good you can, for all the people you can, in all the ways you can, as long as ever you can."

"It's one that many of us took to heart," he said. "There's no better example for the idea that you get knocked down, you have to pick yourself back up. She taught us that and, for a lot of the staff, they're going to go and live that idea."

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Hillary Clinton's staffers are keeping up the fight - CNN

Hillary Clinton reemerges from loss to ovations in safe NYC bubble – USA TODAY

Hillary Clinton praises Oscar de la Renta as an inspiration to striving immigrants, at an event honoring the late fashion designer with a series of commemorative stamps. (Feb. 16) AP

HIllary Clinton at the Oscar de la Renta Forever Stamp dedication ceremony at Grand Central Terminal on Feb.16, 2017 in New York City.(Photo: Noam Galai, WireImage)

She may have been the loser but Hillary Clinton is still getting the ovations, especially in her town, New York.

After a devastating loss, Clinton is recovering her New York state of mindwith the help of the Big Apple's fashion, entertainment and theater crowds, who always supported herand now have embraced her back into thefold.

It turns out that many New Yorkers loud, opinionated, even obnoxious on occasion have a soft spot for the ex-first lady, ex-senator, ex-secretary of state, ex-Democratic presidential nominee who has become one of them, even more so than native-born Donald Trump. He couldn't even win his childhood district in Queens (she got 85% of the vote; he got less than 14%).

Hillary Clinton and Anna Wintour, editor in chief of 'Vogue,' on stage during a ceremony to unveil US postal service issued Oscar de la Renta Forever stamp in New York on Feb.16, 2017. The USPS unveiled 11 stamps to commemorate Dominican-born fashion designer Oscar de la Renta, who died in October 2014, at the end of a New York fashion week. / AFP PHOTO / Jewel SAMADJEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images ORG XMIT: Hillary C ORIG FILE ID: AFP_LR7S8(Photo: JEWEL SAMAD, AFP/Getty Images)

Thus, it was Clinton who got the crowd on its feet Thursday when she appeared atGrand Central Terminal for a U.S. Postal Service ceremony unveiling a collection of 11 stamps featuring the late Oscar de la Rentaand his designs long favored by Clinton (and Ivanka Trump during her father's inaugural festivities).

Anderson Cooperwas the emcee. Vogue's fashion doyenne Anna Wintourwas there. Former Mayor Mike Bloomberg,a bigger billionaire than Trump, was there. But it was Clinton who stirred with a rousing paean to de la Renta's fashion savvy and his immigrant roots in the Dominican Republic. The pointed jab at the anti-immigration policies of the man who beat her was not lost on her audience.

"What a fitting person to be chosen by our Postal Service, mentioned, by the way, in the Constitution, something we should all read and re-read in todays times, and its choice of this immigrant, who did so much for our country, his country," she said. "And let there be many, many more immigrants with the love of America that Oscar de la Renta exemplified every single day.

Kate McKinnon, left, portraying Hillary Rodham Clinton, and Clinton, right, portraying Val, in 'Bar Talk' on 'Saturday Night Live' in October 2015.(Photo: Dana Edelson, AP)

Then there was her fun dinner with her SNL doppelganger, Kate McKinnon, at Orso Wednesday night, where much laughter was heard emanating from the table, according to The New York Post(not a fan),which tweeted a picture that was then retweeted.

And don't forget the repeated ovations when she takes her seat in an audience before showtime on Broadway; thelatest roar of cheers was on Wednesday night after the McKinnon dinner, when she turned up for the musical Sunset Boulevard at the Palace Theater, a moment documented by scores of tweets and selfies.

And it wasn't the only one. With more time for relaxing and entertainment these days,Clinton has been taking in multiple shows in New York, according to Playbill.

On Feb. 1, when she and husband Bill Clinton attended In Transit, they started chanting her name.

Earlier, on Jan. 8, when she and her husband and daughter Chelsea Clinton, showed up for the final performance of the Broadway revivalThe Color Purple, she gotseveral ovations from the sold-out audience, and another round of applause when she was acknowledged by the cast after the show, according to the New York Times.

Hillary Clinton receives standing ovation at 'The Color Purple' on Broadway

There is even talk, drummed up by the likes of the New York Postand conservative news sites such as Rightwingnews.com(definitely not fans), that Clinton would run for mayor of New York this year, challenging Democrat incumbent Bill de Blasio and possibly becoming the firstfemale mayor of the city she won with nearly 80%of its presidential vote.

So far, the scoffing about this exceeds the cheering. "Unlikely," concludesErrol Louis,host of Inside City Hallon NY1, in an essay on CNN. "It's safe to assume that nobody in her right mind certainlynobody as familiar with the workings of government and politics as Clinton would lightly take on the headaches of the nation's largest city for such nakedly political reasons."

Andif she did run, one thing is likely: The ovations would stop.

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Hillary Clinton reemerges from loss to ovations in safe NYC bubble - USA TODAY

Bill And Hillary Clinton Honor Maya Angelou: ‘We Are All In Her Debt’ – Huffington Post

President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton were in Harlem, New York on Thursday to honor the legendary Dr. Maya Angelou days before the release of a new documentary on the late poets life and legacy.

The Clintons spoke onstage at The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, which was recently designated a national historic museum, at an event celebratingrelease of the documentary, American Masters Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise. The film, which debuts on PBS on Tuesday, delivers a remarkable inside look at who Angelou was as well as her impact and influence prior to and long after her May 2014 passing. Watch their remarks below:

The Clintons have been friends of Angelous for decades and are featured in the documentary. They were recognized at the event on Thursday by Colin Johnson, Angelous grandson, who praised the Clintons for their support and love for her over the years.

Johnson also presented the Clintons with a plaque of Angelous iconic poem, On The Pulse of Morning, which she presented at Bill Clintons presidential inauguration in 1993 upon his request she deliver remarks at the ceremony. Angelou made history in that moment, becoming the first black and the first female poet to share their work on the inaugural stage.

[Maya Angelou] was a gift to all of us who knew her, President Clinton said as he accepted the honor. Her friendship more precious than any medal or jewel and she was a true friend to Hillary in sunshine and storm. In ways large and small, public and intensely private. I treasure every encounter either one of us ever had. We are all in her debt.

Bill Clinton spoke about the impact Angelous historic book I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings and said the book riveted him because much of it was set in Stamps, Arkansas which is where Angelou spent much of her childhood and just 24 miles from where he was born. Both he and Hillary revisited unforgettable memories like these in the documentary and praised Angelou for the incredible legacy she left behind.

Maya Angelou lived enough lives for five people so she spent the second half of her life writing books about the first half, Bill Clinton joked onstage at the event. I thank you for this documentary and for giving us a chance to be a part of it.

Joseph Sinnott/2017 WNET

He then ceded the microphone to secretary Clinton, who discussed how Angelou has empowered her over the years and some of the unforgettable moments they shared together.

I was so personally grateful for her advice and support to me for a number of years and experiences, Hillary said onstage as she stood beside Bill. She and I had a wonderful time at Wake Forest in 2008. We did more laughing than talking, which I think conveyed to the students something about the resilience and enthusiasm for life that she wanted them to understand.

She the closed her remarks by reciting a few timely quotes, as she described them, from Angelous inaugural poem.

Lift up your hearts. Each new hour holds new chances. For new beginnings.Do not be wedded forever. To fear, yoked eternally to brutishness, she recited before pausing for a moment and moving to another line. The horizon leans forward, offering you space to place new steps of change.

And then it ends: Here on the pulse of this new day, you may have the grace to look up and out and into your sisters eyes, into your brothers face, your country and say simply, very simply, with hope, good morning, Clinton added. Thank you Dr. Angelou.

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Bill And Hillary Clinton Honor Maya Angelou: 'We Are All In Her Debt' - Huffington Post