# Clinton charity quid pro quo **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [August 29, 2016, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-charity-quid-pro-quo/764369 "2016-08-29T04:03:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6bbea6/32.png) [@Johnny\_Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ace)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2016, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-charity-quid-pro-quo/764369/141 "2016-08-30T05:39:49Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > Well, besides the 70 percent or so of people that are ON her side that think she is “untrustworthy”. > > So, are those people who support her crazy or has she done SOMETHING to earn that? Yep, she pissed off the Republican Mud Machine. 25 YEARS of allegations and investigations, and all they’ve been able to come up with is a mistake with an email server, and no charges whatsoever in that entire time. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2016, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-charity-quid-pro-quo/764369/142 "2016-08-30T07:38:42Z")
> [@sleestak](#): > > Or,ya know, we could stop the with the ‘But Billy did it too!’ and ‘So what? Your guy did worse things!’ bullshit rationalization of unethical behavior and expect our politicians to behave with just a little bit moral sense. > > But that would be asking too much, now wouldn’t it? > > Slee Cite that Clinton did anything unethical here rather than run-of-the-mill networking? ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2016, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-charity-quid-pro-quo/764369/143 "2016-08-30T08:07:02Z")
One thing I never see come up in these discussions is the role of hope and fear. If you have business with the State Department, and you want to have a meeting with the Secretary, you’ll do anything you can to get that meeting, and to solicit a positive outcome. If that Secretary’s family is running a charity, and she has been actively involved in it and will be again, then you’ll donate to that charity. It doesn’t matter whether any quid pro quo has been suggested, or whether anyone has ever gotten a meeting by donating; you will give to that charity because you dare not do otherwise. If you don’t give, you have not done everything you can, and so have failed to do your duty. So, of course a lot of the people Clinton’s met donated to the Foundation – what have they got to lose? ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2016, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-charity-quid-pro-quo/764369/144 "2016-08-30T08:30:45Z")
Well, no - Clinton had over 1700 meetings as SoS. I mean, let’s be honest - having meetings is 99% of the SoS’s job. The AP article that started all this only looked at 154 of those 1700 meetings. That’s about 10%-ish. They found that of the 154 meetings they considered, only 85 of them were donors to the Clinton Foundation. That works out to less than 5% of the people who met with her contributed to the Foundation. It’s really not a lot, when you consider that she managed all those meetings throughout her term in office. It doesn’t bear out the idea that many of the people who met with her felt that they needed to donate to get her attention. And any way, there’s no reason to think that all 85 of the donors were desperate with fear. I would bet that some of them were just professional philanthropists donating to be polite or in hopes that the Clintons would reciprocate. That’s how these Foundations stay in business. It’s probably why Donald Trump donated to the Clinton Foundation. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Clintons had donated to Trump’s foundation, just like they went to his wedding. (I don’t know if they did or didn’t, I was just speaking hypothetically.) ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2016, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-charity-quid-pro-quo/764369/145 "2016-08-30T11:17:43Z")
> [@sleestak](#): > > Or,ya know, we could stop the with the ‘But Billy did it too!’ and ‘So what? Your guy did worse things!’ bullshit rationalization of unethical behavior and expect our politicians to behave with just a little bit moral sense. > > But that would be asking too much, now wouldn’t it? My plea would be to stop with the half-baked OPs that are SO FULL OF OUTRAGE and so short on substance. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2016, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-charity-quid-pro-quo/764369/146 "2016-08-30T11:47:11Z")
All we hear is, “WOLF! WOLF! WOLF!” "No, this time I mean it. Really a WOLF! " How is it not self evident that in a world where the opponent is proudly and openly racist, mysoginist, xenophobic and islamaphobic, and clearly doesn’t fully understand either the constitution or how government actually functions, and has exactly zero experience, that no one cares whom she met with. Or who donated money to a charity fighting AIDS and helping Africa! ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2016, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-charity-quid-pro-quo/764369/147 "2016-08-30T12:10:50Z")
I’m wondering how this works… “Gee Bill, I’d love to meet with you about the Gates Foundation’s efforts to eradicate polio. I know we are really close, and yes, there are some doors that the State Department could open, but I can’t talk to you about this because you gave some money to the Clinton Foundation for their malaria efforts. Eradicating polio and fighting malaria are much less important that having the appearance of impropriety, who cares if third world children die, as long as the AP won’t have a story.” ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2016, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-charity-quid-pro-quo/764369/148 "2016-09-01T20:07:20Z")
[Foundation fined by IRS in quid pro quo ‘pay for play’ scandal with Florida Attorney General!](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/09/01/trump-pays-irs-a-penalty-for-his-foundation-violating-rules-with-gift-to-florida-attorney-general/?postshare=7181472757279311&tid=ss_tw) > [@](#): > > Donald Trump paid the IRS a $2,500 penalty this year, an official at Trump’s company said, after it was revealed that Trump’s charitable foundation had violated tax laws by giving a political contribution to a campaign group connected to Florida’s attorney general. > > **The improper donation, a $25,000 gift from the Donald J. Trump Foundation, was made in 2013. At the time, Attorney General Pam Bondi was considering whether to investigate fraud allegations against Trump University. She decided not to pursue the case.** ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2016, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-charity-quid-pro-quo/764369/149 "2016-09-01T21:53:13Z")
Hilarious. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2016, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-charity-quid-pro-quo/764369/150 "2016-09-01T23:13:46Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > Wait. > > The AP’s report of the denominator being 154 IS what they say it is. > > They defined what that number was. > > Wanna argue that isn’t right? Go ahead. That is another thread. I can bench press 2000 pounds, this was the number that was written on the two balloons tied to a stick I lifted. That is the number I defined used to define what I lifted. What to argue that it isn’t right thats for another thread. That has nothing to do with the discussion that I’m the strongest man in the world. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2016, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-charity-quid-pro-quo/764369/151 "2016-09-03T13:51:31Z")
Now that the IRS has made their decision regarding Bondi, news is they are looking into the same transactional pattern involving then-attorney general, now Texas Governor, Greg Abbott. More to follow, I’m sure. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2016, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-charity-quid-pro-quo/764369/152 "2016-09-03T14:36:11Z")
Sure came down _hard_ on Trump! $2,500, a ten percent surcharge on the bribe! They’ll think twice before they do _that_ again! Still do it, of course, but they will definitely think twice! ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2016, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-charity-quid-pro-quo/764369/153 "2016-09-03T15:35:11Z")
IRS levies fines based on the amount of taxes owed, so that’s what they did. ---
**Author:** ![crucible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@crucible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crucible)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2016, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-charity-quid-pro-quo/764369/154 "2016-09-21T07:52:29Z")
It now seems to be factual that Trump paid fines he or his businesses had incurred out of his ‘Foundation’ money, and, at least once, had his ‘Foundation’ buy things from his businesses. Both matters are completely illegal and unethical. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2016, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-charity-quid-pro-quo/764369/155 "2016-09-21T10:40:12Z")
But Clinton has a foundation too. So they both do it. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2016, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-charity-quid-pro-quo/764369/156 "2016-09-21T13:39:00Z")
It seems that Tinyfingers Klepto has been caught using his “charitable foundation” as a personal slush fund yet again: > [@](#): > > [Trump used $258,000 from his charity to settle legal problems](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-used-258000-from-his-charity-to-settle-legal-problems/2016/09/20/adc88f9c-7d11-11e6-ac8e-cf8e0dd91dc7_story.html) > > Donald Trump spent more than a quarter-million dollars from his charitable foundation to settle lawsuits that involved the billionaire’s for-profit businesses, according to interviews and a review of legal documents… > > In one case, from 2007, Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Club faced $120,000 in unpaid fines from the town of Palm Beach, Fla., resulting from a dispute over the height of a flagpole. > > In a settlement, Palm Beach agreed to waive those fines — if Trump’s club made a $100,000 donation to a specific charity for veterans. Instead, Trump sent a check from the Donald J. Trump Foundation, a charity funded almost entirely by other people’s money, according to tax records… > > In another case, court papers say one of Trump’s golf courses in New York agreed to settle a lawsuit by making a donation to the plaintiff’s chosen charity. A $158,000 donation was made by the Trump Foundation, according to tax records… The golf case is particularly sad in its petty Trumpery – the plaintiff had apparently won a $1 million prize for a hole-in-one, only to be told that the rules required the hole to be at least 150 yards, which was – surprise, surprise! – a bit longer than the actual distance from tee to hole. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2016, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-charity-quid-pro-quo/764369/157 "2016-09-21T14:50:38Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > But Clinton has a foundation too. So they both do it. > > :rolleyes: Yes but Trump never made decisions as Sec’y of State based on who contributed to his foundation so there’s that. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2016, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-charity-quid-pro-quo/764369/158 "2016-09-21T14:56:24Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Yes but Trump never made decisions as Sec’y of State based on who contributed to his foundation so there’s that. 😛 There’s no evidence Hillary did either. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2016, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-charity-quid-pro-quo/764369/159 "2016-09-21T15:03:26Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > The golf case is particularly sad in its petty Trumpery – the plaintiff had apparently won a $1 million prize for a hole-in-one, only to be told that the rules required the hole to be at least 150 yards, which was – surprise, surprise! – a bit longer than the actual distance from tee to hole. I think golf tournaments that have that “million dollars for a hole in one” thing usually take out an insurance policy for it. So it might be straight up weaselly, they didn’t take out the insurance and added a rule later. But I think it’s more likely that they did take out the insurance and failed to notice/implement that fine print. So then the insurance company refused to pay up and the tournament was suddenly on the hook so they try to pass along the insurance clause as a contest rule. Not defending it but the payout was probably an expense honestly not factored in. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2016, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-charity-quid-pro-quo/764369/160 "2016-09-21T16:57:47Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > There’s no evidence Hillary did either. I never said she did - but I can guaranty Donald “Soon to be President” Trump did not participate in any State Department corruption. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-charity-quid-pro-quo/764369.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-charity-quid-pro-quo/764369.md?page=9)