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> You don't think that eventually, the cumulative tens of millions of dollars might have an effect on their thinking and decisions? And I'm sure all these dono
by pdabbadabba 11y ago
> You don't think that eventually, the cumulative tens of millions of dollars might have an effect on their thinking and decisions?
And I'm sure all these donors' interests are aligned, right?
And, to be a little less flippant, I do think that the company a person keeps affects a person's thinking. So if a company can buy their way into Hillary Clinton's circle, I accept that they have managed to buy some amount of influence. But I think this influence is negligible compared to Clinton's formal advisers and organic professional network. You also have to remember that most of these companies have far more effective ways of influencing government than paying for some lousy speeches, none of which is Clinton's doing.
- jordanb 11y ago> And I'm sure all these donors' interests are aligned, right? Eh? I think they're broadly aligned. They're aligned when it comes to how corporations and executives should be treated by the courts and regulatory agencies. They're aligned on the extent and structure of free trade pacts. They're aligned on corporate taxation. They're aligned with Bill Clinton's claim that the only thing wrong with the American economy is a "skills gap." Sure there's going to be disagreement (often severe) on particular points here and there but the broad thrust the economic "Washington Consensus" that Bill Clinton championed is a point of alignment among Clinton's donor class.