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Debt Be Not Proud

March 31, 2008 6:04 PM

The $8.7 million in debts owed by Sen. Hillary Clinton's campaign as of her last Federal Election Commission filing deadline are staggering for their breadth and range.

The debts date back to last Fall, to states long ago decided -- an October 10 event in New Hampshire,for instance, for which the Boston Symphony Orchestra is listed as being owed $29,617.70.

Iowa Hy-Vee supermarkets are owed $14,956.24.

Seemingly every facet of human existence is represented in Clinton's unpaid bills. Atlanta's Catering with a Flair, Inc. -- owed $10,250.00. The Texas portapotties of A Clean Portoco -- owed $1,851.08.

Aetna Healthcare - owed $228,841.30. CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield - owed $62,744.52.

Schools and universities seem particularly hard-hit, as they were frequent locations for events, and often offer catering.

Southern New Hampshire Univ. Athletic Department - $9,542.80. San Diego State University - $10,000.00. Cuyahoga Community College $3,540.00. Dartmouth College - $2,489.00.

Clinton owes $3,161 to Maine South High School in Park Ridge, Illinois.

That's her own alma mater!

Neighborhood House in St. Paul, Minn., is owed $580. “Neighborhood House is a multicultural, multilingual community center with programming for all ages and open doors for all people and is often a first stop for new immigrants and refugees."

The Politico reports that "word is getting around that Clinton’s campaign does not promptly pay those who labor to make her events look good, said an employee of the event production company Forty Two of Youngstown, Ohio. 'I feel insulted by the way that the campaign treated this company and treated us personally,' said the employee, who did not want to be named talking about a client. ...the employee said the campaign has stopped returning phone calls, e-mails and didn’t respond to a certified letter. 'We worked very hard to put together these events on a moment’s notice and do absolutely everything to a ‘t’ to make it look perfect on television for her and for her campaign,' said the employee. 'Sen. Clinton talks about helping working families, people in unions and small businesses. But when it comes down to actually doing something that shows that she can back up her words with action, she fails.'"

Ouch.

The Clinton campaign's Jay Carson emails that "The campaign pays its bills regularly and in the normal course of business, and pays all of its bills. Sometimes invoices are not paid immediately because we need additional information for our records, or to verify expenses."

Carson adds that "While the FEC refers to what you are asking about as 'debt' these are not true debts accruing by the campaign, but simply invoices that were unpaid at the end of the filing period. The committee had more cash on hand than 'debt' (or unpaid invoices) at the end of Feb. The FEC requires a campaign to disclose as 'debt' any unpaid bill it had in hand by the closing day of the reporting period, even if the bill was received on the last day of a reporting period.  For instance, if a $250,000 invoice was received on Feb 29, then paid on March 2, it would still be reported as a $250,000 'debt' on the year-end FEC report even though the bill was paid promptly and in the normal course of business, and even if by the year end filing date of Feb 29 (when the report is actually due), the invoice had been paid in full."

Carson adds that the Boston Symphony Orchestra bill was paid earlier this month.

No matter how you slice it, though, $8.7 million is an immense amount of debt.

- jpt

March 31, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (145)

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Awesome blog post title!

Posted by: Clyde | Apr 1, 2008 7:35:55 AM

Well, JoseyJJ and Cali... it's your decision how you want to spend your money. But I think your financial advisors will tell you you've made poor investment choices!!

Posted by: Martin in PA | Apr 1, 2008 7:28:42 AM

Hmmm. So by the outrage of the Obama people over this story, does that mean his campaign just pays every bill received immediately without verifying the amount due and the services rendered? Now that he's in Indiana, I'll send him a nice big invoice and see if I can scam a little of his war chest. I won't try that with Hillary though - she's too smart to fall for that!

P.S. I'm sending a donation too! Go Hillary!!

Posted by: HoosierSue | Apr 1, 2008 6:37:38 AM

Obama has raised twice as much money as Clinton. He outspends her 2 to 1, 3 to 1, even 4 to 1. Shouldn't he be a LOT further ahead than he is? Shouldn't he have wrapped this up long ago? Why can't he seal the deal?

Posted by: HoosierSue | Apr 1, 2008 6:28:57 AM

Hey, WCM!!!

Are you behind the times, or what?!? The U came out with a release noting that Obama was, in fact, a professor, noting that Senior Lecturer was the same thing!!!

Get with the program!

Obama 2008 -- Yes, WE CAN!!!

Posted by: Jackt51 | Apr 1, 2008 2:05:58 AM

Well, she might as well declare bankruptsy, since her campaign is already morally bankrupt!!!

Interesting how the Clintonistas attempt to rationalize this!!! John Edwards wanted to stay in until the convention, too, but realized he could not afford to do it!!! Maybe he should have hired Hillabean's Accountants!!!

Obama 2008 -- Yes, WE CAN!!

Posted by: Jackt51 | Apr 1, 2008 2:02:00 AM

TGC is a stand-up guy to come clean like this. Please give credit where credit is due, to all the women in his life, for without them, he would be just another loudmouth guy. Instead, he's a loudmouth guy surrounded by women that should be given the Congressional Medal of Honor for having to endure the man.

Posted by: WestCoastMessenger | Apr 1, 2008 1:57:37 AM

"These are not true debts accruing by the campaign, but simply invoices that were unpaid at the end of the filing period". Some of those bills dating back to October are in a pretty long payment cycle aren't they. Gotta say...it sounds like an $8.7 million debt to me and I bet it sure does to those business owners too.

You people just continue sending your hard earned money to her. But, I'm telling you no one with half a brain will vote for this woman knowing all this.

The Republicans are just gonna love all this on top of what they already have.

Posted by: Just the Average Person | Apr 1, 2008 12:23:11 AM

This article seems to stop people voting for Hillary.
Today obama got 2 endorsements and Hillary got some also but all medias only mention Obama's .
The only media mention about Hillary's endorsements is PBS.

TV stations a few days ago aired a list about candidates' blood relations.
Obama got more than 10 related to some politicians, movie stars including Brad Pitt ,Hillary got only 3 , Mc Cain got only 1.
Who make up this story?

Posted by: crisis08 | Apr 1, 2008 12:21:55 AM

It is All about Judgment and Leadership!

In this tough economic time, when dollar is very weak, mortgage crisis, sky rock Oil price, inflation and country is in recession or close to depression. This country has 3 candidates,

1)One Senator from Arizona, time after time told the American public, “ I do not know enough about economy.”

2)Another Senator from NY, cannot even manage her own campaign, after raising more then 100 million she is in 8.7 million dollar debt (After lending her campaign $5 million(still no tax record to back, how she got such money). If she cannot Manage her own campaign, how can She handle this country’s economy?

3)Choice is Clear Barak Obama, excellent leader and organizer, managed a multi-million dollar campaign with vision and responsibility.

We trust Obama’s judgment and I trust he can handle our country’s economy very best as well. That is why Smart Americans are voting for him in a large number!!

OBAMA08!! YES WE CAN!! WE TRUST YOUR LEADERSHIP !!

Posted by: RC | Apr 1, 2008 12:13:14 AM

I truely believe Hillary will take care of us.
Her campaign ran out of money does not mean she will not take care of us.
I also wonder why Obama has so much donation for his campaign. Where those money come from?
No wonder he refuses to do public finance in general election.

PS. Oprah show off to give million $ to people on ABC show and it's coming to Portland, Oregon which coincidently prior to Oregon vote in May.

Posted by: crisis08 | Apr 1, 2008 12:01:35 AM

Why is it that Rev Wright hasn't really hurt Obama. Because most people don't care about his church. They are just tired of the same old politics. Tired of the Bush and Clintons running this country. But I know some of you are too paranoid to take that chance. Why is it that a lot of Obama supporters are very educated. Are you saying they are drinking the kool aid as well. They see something in him that obvioulsy you Hillary supporters don't see.

Posted by: moe | Mar 31, 2008 10:37:45 PM

Ken,
Yeah, right, the presidential candidate is busy examining all the bills.

Posted by: WestCoastMessenger | Mar 31, 2008 10:36:44 PM

BKMC,
So if called to head up the Department of Zombies you would take the job so long as you are allowed to continue to do your research? That's a riot dude.

Posted by: WestCoastMessenger | Mar 31, 2008 9:17:11 PM

good night all . its been fun . and educational in some ways. People can some times be blind to what is starring then in the eyes. .Hill supporters dont send in to much of your savings account. When you lose your job you will need it to survive on. She outsources quite a few jobs for contributions. donate wisely

Posted by: Lauren | Mar 31, 2008 9:15:50 PM

how is hilary going to be prez when she cant go first? maybe she can call obama in the middle of the night and ask him to go first! when she wakes up she can claim to have saved america from a huge sniper attack...

Posted by: melissa | Mar 31, 2008 9:07:53 PM

Lauren,
That's odd. You're from New York and you say Hillary doesn't deliver, and yet she has almost a 70 per cent approval rating from New Yorkers. I guess you are part of the smarter 30 percentile. Is that the bottom 30 per cent or the top? My guess it is the Republican 30 per cent.

Posted by: WestCoastMessenger | Mar 31, 2008 8:42:52 PM

West "Cost" Messenger poser,
You know, I'm tempted to crank up a sniffer and locate your IP if you pull that crap on one other person.

Posted by: WestCoastMessenger | Mar 31, 2008 8:35:20 PM

no shock to me! im sure the next thing people will say this is because she is a woman! lol

Posted by: melissa | Mar 31, 2008 8:34:07 PM

Let's see you guys are making fun of a woman who you say is broke and still is winning in Pa. You mean you are braging about your guy who has money and the media and still he is going to have to use affirmative action to win! He out spent her 4to1 in Tx and lost,3to1 in Ohio and lost. He will out spend her in Pa and still she will win. So you see it ain't all about the money working class people will never vote for him no matter how much he spends!

Posted by: russell | Mar 31, 2008 8:33:21 PM

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