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Monday, November 22, 2004

Josh Gerstein has the goods on the foreign money that went into building the Clinton library.
President Clinton's new $165 million library here was funded in part by gifts of $1 million or more each from the Saudi royal family and three Saudi businessmen.

The governments of Dubai, Kuwait, and Qatar and the deputy prime minister of Lebanon all also appear to have donated $1 million or more for the archive and museum that opened last week.

Democrats spent much of the presidential campaign this year accusing President Bush of improperly close ties to Saudi Arabia. The case was made in Michael Moore's film "Fahrenheit 9/11," in a bestselling book by Craig Unger titled "House of Bush, House of Saud," and by the Democratic presidential candidate, Senator Kerry."This administration delayed pressuring the Saudis," Mr. Kerry said on October 20. "I will insist that the Saudis crack down on charities that funnel funds to terrorists... and on anti-American and anti-Israel hate speech."The Media Fund, a Democratic group whose president is a former Clinton White House aide, Harold Ickes, spent millions airing television commercials in swing states with scripts such as, "The Saudi royal family...wealthy...powerful...corrupt. And close Bush family friends."

Perhaps as a result, the Saudi donations to the Clinton library are raising some eyebrows. Mr. Unger said he suspects that the Saudi support may have something to do with a possible presidential bid by Senator Clinton in 2008.

"They want to keep their options open no matter who's in power and whether that's four years from now or whatever," the author said. "Just a few million is nothing to them to keep their options open."
Here's a whole new wrinkle on campaign finance reform. Didn't it raise a stink at all to the Clintons to have foreigners, particularly the Saudis, spending so much money on his library? I doubt their contributions were because they like the trailer-like aspect of the architecture or the Tinky Winky exhibit.

And, of course, the Clinton people are not exactly being open about who gave how much to the library. The article does mention that President George H.W. Bush also got money from the Saudis for his library. If presidents can rake in these sorts of donations, why should the federal government be spending anything to help foot the bill?

posted by Betsy Newmark permalink 5:58 AM

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HOME Betsy neither necessarily uses, nor endorses, the products advertised on this site. Comments from an AP history and government teacher in Raleigh, NC. e-mail betsynewmark AT gmail.com Site Feed Wikio Your Market Research Here		Monday, November 22, 2004 Josh Gerstein has the goods on the foreign money that went into building the Clinton library. President Clinton's new $165 million library here was funded in part by gifts of $1 million or more each from the Saudi royal family and three Saudi businessmen. The governments of Dubai, Kuwait, and Qatar and the deputy prime minister of Lebanon all also appear to have donated $1 million or more for the archive and museum that opened last week. Democrats spent much of the presidential campaign this year accusing President Bush of improperly close ties to Saudi Arabia. The case was made in Michael Moore's film "Fahrenheit 9/11," in a bestselling book by Craig Unger titled "House of Bush, House of Saud," and by the Democratic presidential candidate, Senator Kerry."This administration delayed pressuring the Saudis," Mr. Kerry said on October 20. "I will insist that the Saudis crack down on charities that funnel funds to terrorists... and on anti-American and anti-Israel hate speech."The Media Fund, a Democratic group whose president is a former Clinton White House aide, Harold Ickes, spent millions airing television commercials in swing states with scripts such as, "The Saudi royal family...wealthy...powerful...corrupt. And close Bush family friends." Perhaps as a result, the Saudi donations to the Clinton library are raising some eyebrows. Mr. Unger said he suspects that the Saudi support may have something to do with a possible presidential bid by Senator Clinton in 2008. "They want to keep their options open no matter who's in power and whether that's four years from now or whatever," the author said. "Just a few million is nothing to them to keep their options open." Here's a whole new wrinkle on campaign finance reform. Didn't it raise a stink at all to the Clintons to have foreigners, particularly the Saudis, spending so much money on his library? I doubt their contributions were because they like the trailer-like aspect of the architecture or the Tinky Winky exhibit. And, of course, the Clinton people are not exactly being open about who gave how much to the library. The article does mention that President George H.W. Bush also got money from the Saudis for his library. If presidents can rake in these sorts of donations, why should the federal government be spending anything to help foot the bill? posted by Betsy Newmark permalink 5:58 AM \|

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Monday, November 22, 2004