Former president Bill Clinton campaiging for wife Hillary Rodham Clinton in Indiana this week. AP Photo by Daniel R. Patmore.
by Frank James
If it's true to say that the Clintons, indisputably two smart lawyers, sacrificed their ability to make mega millions during their years of government service in Arkansas through the Clinton presidency, they obviously have been making up for the lean years with a vengeance since President Bill Clinton left office.
We knew that from their book deals and his speech fees, even before the Clintons were goaded into publicly disclosing their tax returns recently that showed that they made $111 million since leaving the White House in 2001. To be fair, they've also donated a tremendous amount of money to charity.
Now comes the Politico story that President Bill Clinton has had $8 million in official ex-president expenses.
As Politico reports:
The price tag for Clinton’s federal retirement allowance from 2001 through the end of this year will run $8 million, compared to $5.5 million for George H. W. Bush’s and $4 million for Jimmy Carter’s during the same period.
Since 2001, Clinton has received more of almost every benefit available to former presidents — from his pension to his staff’s salaries and benefits to supplies. His $420,000 phone bill and $3.2 million office rent tab both nearly surpassed the totals rung up for those purposes by Bush, Carter and the late former presidents Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan combined. As a group, they spent $484,000 on telephone service and $3.8 million on rent in the same span.
When I read this I thought that a lot of Clinton's higher expenses could be explained by his being a two-termer and the higher cost of New York City real estate. Politico anticipated that a lot of readers would have the same thought. So they provided this:
Some of Clinton’s greater spending stems from the fact that he served eight years in office, qualifying him for a federal health insurance plan unavailable to one-term presidents, and that he selected office space in the high-priced Manhattan market.
By the way, the headline on this item -- "Taxpayers fund Bill Clinton spending" -- isn't really on target. As the story itself says, taxpayers fund the expenses of ex-presidents generally. "Bill Clinton is top ex-prez spender'" seems more on point.
Anyway, this is the kind of story that is something of a Rorschach for people. Those predisposed to the Clintons won't be troubled by the $8 million in expenses.
Meanwhile, Clinton haters will point to this as yet another example of alleged Clinton greed. Chalk it up to the irreconcilable differences between Republicans and Democrats.
All in all, the Clintons and we have come a long way since the days when we discussed tax deductions they took in earlier days for donating their used underwear, haven't we?
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Comments
What is he spending $8 million on? Can we get a full accounting? I thought the Harlem office was supposed to be cheaper?
Posted by: Jeff | April 11, 2008 10:49 AM
This is news to me. If they're not in office anymore, why are we paying for their office, staff (?) and phone bills? And this isn't even counting the costs of Secret Service protection. How on earth can one person (even with staff) run up half a mill in phone calls? Campaigning for his wife perhaps?
Posted by: DD | April 11, 2008 11:05 AM
The question is: how can we blame Obama, Hillary, Gore, or Kerry for this?
Posted by: Paul | April 11, 2008 11:14 AM
It is too bad we don't get the information on all of the former Presidents and their expenses, in the middle of an election! Cherry-picking the news for the benefit of controversy is hardly right, but I guess it is the nature of the beast, corporate America and all that!!! Maybe, next, you might consider all the gaffes, flip-flops and misstatements of Senator McCain and discuss their ramifications, might he get elected, God forbid!!!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, Chicago | April 11, 2008 11:23 AM
Oh BFD already.
Bush gave us a multi trillion dollar deficit, so of course bill must be chastised for costing us 8 million.
Which part of the 90s do you miss
Get over it already.
Posted by: golden oldie | April 11, 2008 11:25 AM
No matter how you try to slice and dice the guy, his lies did not lead to the death of 4000 Americans soldiers or the maiming and disfigurement of an additional tens of thousands of warriors.
Posted by: janet | April 11, 2008 11:36 AM
We hire these people for 4 years or 8 years. IMHO, NONE of the former Presidents should get another cent from the taxpayer after they leave office. But, typical Washington greed and politics.
Posted by: Daniel P. From Long Island, N.Y. | April 11, 2008 11:56 AM
What Frank James doesn't say in this report is that about $8 million of the $10 million donated to charity went to the Clinton Foundation. Gee, could I donate to my own "charity" too? What Frank James doesn't say is that the Clintons do not provide information regarding the spending habits of the Clinton Foundation either.
Then Frank says they are "indisputably" two "smart" lawyers. By who's account, Frank? And they "sacrificed" making big bucks? Sorry, Frank, but Clinton was governor of a state with the whole idea that position would help catapult him to the presidency. Power is more important than income. Anyway, while his salary as governor was not great, the perks of the job, their land and cattle investments, all seem to get them pretty nice money during those "lean" years.
As usual, Frank shows a clear inability to report responsibly and honestly. Frank James is blatantly corrupt as a "journalist."
Posted by: John D | April 11, 2008 11:59 AM
"RAPPERS DELIGHT SPEAKS"
15 MILLION A YEAR IS PEANUTS.
15 MILLION A YEAR, DOESN'T BY MY JOCK!
15 MILLION A YEAR DOESN'T PUT NEW 20'S ON MY CAR.
15 MILLION A YEAR DOESN'T PAY MY CHILD SUPPORT.
15 MILLION A YEAR DOESN'T BUY ME "BLING BLING, JUST FLING BLING"
15 MILLION A YEAR DOESN'T BY PAY MY MORTGAGE INSURANCE PAYMENT.
15 MILLION A YEAR DOESN'T EVEN PAY MY OVERDUE TAXES A YEAR.
15 MILLION A YEAR, IS FOOD STAMPS TO THE RICH.
15 MILLION A YEAR COULDN'T OPEN ME A CHECKING ACCOUNT AT "WALMART"
15 MILLION YEAR COULDN'T BY ME A HOUSE NEXT TO "HUGH HEF" OR THE "GIRLS NEXT DOOR"
15 MILLION A YEAR COULDN'T COVER MICHAEL VICK'S ATTORNEYS FEES.
15 MILLION A YEAR, COULDN'T KEEP O.J. OFF OF TRIAL LIVE ON "FOX" MSNBC ALL DAY, EVERY DAY.
BUT A 128 MILLION A MONTH FOR "HALLIBURTON" OIL IN IRAQ FROM THE "TAX PAYERS OF AMERICA"
NOW THAT IS JUST MO MONEY, MO MONEY, MO MONEY, YO MONEY, MO MONEY, YO GRANDAUGHTERS, MONEY, AND MO MONEY AFTER YOUR GRANDAUGHTER HAS A DAUGHTER, AND HER DAUGHTER, HAS A DAUGHTER.
BILL DID IT, SO CAN WE, IF BILL DID WHY CAN'T WE.
"TO THE LEAN YEARS"
Posted by: Roger Morris | April 11, 2008 2:35 PM
Roger--you live in chicago?
Maybe if you go around the back door, Michelle will get the kids to throw something out there for ya.
Maybe a nice pork chop after Rezko's done nibbling on it.
Posted by: golden oldie | April 11, 2008 4:03 PM
"GOLDIE OLDIE SPEAKS"
No I would rather go to the Whitehouse and get me some Condi Testifries to go with my impeachment K Street Pie.
I would rather Play bingo with Rick Re nzi, Re nzi and THE Choctaw Indians. I hear he still has a 4 million dollar (GET OUT OF JAIL memo) with John McCain's name on the dinner plate.
I would rather, be the CONSTITUTIONAL SCHOLAR that my Mama wanted me to be.
At least someone in America isn't buying Hans Colo Solo from Latin America I am a 'NATURAL BORN CITIZEN" MOVIE MADE FOR FOX TELEVISION.
Actually Michelle Obama would open the back door, because I got ideas, yes I do, i got ideas, How about you.
Instead of YOUR FAVORITE "K" Street pie that not even you can afford now!
SO IF YOU MUST BE CORRECTED ON THE SPELLING, IT'S
RE NZI, RE NZI AND BINGO WAS HIS GAME. I THINK HE HAS A BINGO CARD WITH YOUR NAME ON IT.
REZKO, RE NZI, RE ZKO, RE NZI, AND DON'T YOU FIND IT AMAZING HOW ONE CRIMINAL IS ON TRIAL BUT NOT THE OTHER ONE.
"WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS TO BE SELF-EVIDENT"
SO IF OBAMA IS PRESIDENT, YOU TOO CAN KNOCK ON THE BACK DOOR IN HOPES THAT MICHELE OBAMA HAS A RE NZI RE NZI BINGO CARD FOR YOU.
JUST BRING 4 MILLION DOLLARS AND WEAR YOUR BRIBERY BLING BLING!
I CAN SEE YOU NOW CALLING THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO FIND OUT WHAT IS GOING ON WITH RICK (COILPRO) RE NZI, RE NZI.
I ROGER MORRIS APROVE THIS MESSAGE.!
Posted by: Roger Morris | April 11, 2008 7:51 PM
How fair is it to compare WJC's expenses to Ford or Reagan's. Ford's only expense was lunch that was served at his office on the deck at the country club and Reagan was so inflicted with Alzheimer's even I can't poke fun at him. Clinton is working in his retirement. He is constantly working to correct social ills across the globe and the job has only been made more difficult by the current President. The work WJC is doing is well worth every penny he spends.
Posted by: Michael | April 13, 2008 1:32 AM