The Democratic and Republican presidential campaigns came under heavy fire over the past few days as a new batch of scandals surfaced: Donald Trump's misogynistic remarks on an outtake of a talk show and excerpts of Hillary's speeches to numerous financial institutions, in which she expresses indignation at the American people for blaming the 2008 financial crisis on the big banks. Trump's comments are getting much more news coverage but the information about Hillary's speeches, which she has been withholding, represent a much more important issue; they highlight her close ties to the sharks of Wall Street and confirms her untrustworthy nature.
To add insult to injury, The New York Times concludes that had this information been made public during the primaries, Hillary's campaign would have been in severe trouble. "The tone and language of the excerpts clash with the fiery liberal approach she used later in her bitter primary battle with Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont and could have undermined her candidacy had they become public," writes Amy Chozick.
The speeches detail how cozy Hillary is to many top Wall Street executives, such as Lloyd Blankfein, CEO of Goldman Sachs; they also show how she defends big bankers from criticism about their role in the 2008 meltdown. The New York Times also reports that "The Clintons have made more than $120 million in speeches to Wall Street and special interests since Bill Clinton left the White House in 2001. Mrs. Clinton typically earned $225,000 for speeches."
A speech of hers, made in 2013 to Goldman employees, stated that it was an "oversimplification" to blame the 2008 financial crisis on the big banks, a completely absurd comment. She later tells Mr. Blankfein, "There is such a bias against people who have led successful and/or complicated lives.” The requirement that government officials sell or divest their assets in order to serve, she added, had become “...very onerous and unnecessary.” Wrong! Officials get an enormous tax break when they sell their assets, making the requirement anything but onerous and often beneficial.
These private remarks and facts starkly contradict the image that she has presented to the public; a warrior out to protect and serve the American working class. “I believe strongly that we need to make sure that Wall Street never wrecks Main Street again," Hillary stated in a campaign speech. “No bank is too big to fail, and no executive is too powerful to jail.” She also expresses appreciation for how “...anxiety and even anger in the country over the feeling that the game is rigged.”
Her behind-the-scenes comments in her speeches also contrast with her claim to stand with Main Street. Hillary describes herself as “far removed” from average Americans and their finances.
So, the democratic nominee set to become the first woman president says one thing to voters and a completely different thing to her big money contributors.
To voters who understand that the big banks are part of our country's financial troubles and for anyone who does not want a repeat of the 2008 crisis, the message is clear: Hillary is not the answer. Instead, I heartily endorse the campaigns of Gary Johnson and Jill Stein.
