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Why Are Charities Feeding Bill's Ego?

By Harry Kimball,  Newser Staff

Posted Dec 24, 2008 8:32 AM CST

(Newser) – Forget for a second the Arab oil money that buoys the Clinton Foundation, Marty Peretz writes in the Wall Street Journal—“since when is the Clinton Foundation one of the approved charities of the United Way?” Nonprofits and foundations, from hospitals to universities to opera companies, are lining the former president's coffers, and Peretz can’t figure out why, or where the money goes—other than Bill Clinton's ego. “This information is not in the report.”

The list is long on “charities we all give to generically,” Peretz writes: Feed the Children, the WHO, and the World Bank are there as well. “Why would they give cash to charitable work for which Mr Clinton is at most a matchmaker?” And those irksome donations pale in comparison to $5 million from Citigroup— "Is Treasury now paying up?"—and Citgo. “It is unseemly for an American president to ask the energy company of the Venezuelan dictatorship for spare cash.”

Graphic shows donors who gave more than $5 million to Bill Clinton's foundation.
Graphic shows donors who gave more than $5 million to Bill Clinton's foundation.   (AP Photo)
Former President Bill Clinton, center, arrives to inaugurate the National Pediatric HIV/AIDS Initiative in India.
Former President Bill Clinton, center, arrives to inaugurate the National Pediatric HIV/AIDS Initiative in India.   (AP Photo)
Former President Bill Clinton.
Former President Bill Clinton.   (AP Photo)
A family looks for seating inside a McDonald's.
A family looks for seating inside a McDonald's.   (AP Photo)
Citizens Energy Chairman Joseph P. Kennedy, center, speaks at news conference in Washington.
Citizens Energy Chairman Joseph P. Kennedy, center, speaks at news conference in Washington.   (AP Photo)
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Do these educational institutions have such deep pockets to share with Bill Clinton's ego? - Marty Peretz

Wouldn't you want to know to which philanthropic undertaking the King of Saudi Arabia and the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques committed himself? This information is not in the report.
- Martin Peretz

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COMMENTS
Showing 1 of 1 comment
Sammy
Dec 23, 2008 9:21 PM CST
Please, just get over it. Bill Clinton is yesterdays news. Find something else to write about. This is petty nonsense.
 

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