For a politician who speaks defiantly of the need to “Regulate the Shadow Bankers" and their shady investment instruments, Hillary Clinton sure has spent a lot of time there -- IN THE SHADOWS -- of Private Equity firms, speaking privately to their members-only audiences -- for only recently disclosed Wall Street-sized fees.
Clinton to speak to Carlyle Group
by Maggie Haberman, politico.com -- 08/21/13
Hillary Clinton is set to be the featured attraction at the private equity firm The Carlyle Group’s investor conference next month — the latest in a string of paid speeches the former secretary of state is making in the window she has to decide on a 2016 campaign.
Two sources familiar with the event confirmed Clinton’s attendance at the Sept. 9 event in Washington.
The moderator is the group’s founder, David Rubenstein, a Democrat.
Clinton recently spoke at a conference for the private equity firm KKR, with co-founder Henry Kravis, a longtime Republican donor, acting as the moderator.
In such settings, Clinton has conducted question-and-answer sessions, as opposed to giving a canned address.
Clinton’s speaking fee is roughly $200,000, according to multiple reports. [...]
Maybe it was just “Research”, eh?... you know, the kind research which ordinary reporters and public watchdogs would "never, ever" understand.
A politician does have to earn money afterall. But why does a politician have to maintain a wall secrecy on those fund-raising events?
It could lead the causal observer to conclude, that there are really two very different sets of alliances being cultivated: one replayed mechanically for the voting public (not fans of Wall Street); and another alliance, that never gets recorded, before for another very well-ensconced, well-paying audience:
Clintons' speeches are cozy for Wall Streeters but closed to journalists
by Richard Pollock, washingtonexaminer.com -- 9/15/14
[...]
But journalists won’t be in the room as long as Hillary Clinton relies on the speaking contract used by her agent, the Harry Walker Agency, a copy of which the Washington Examiner obtained from the sponsor of one of the events she addressed.
[...]The contract also ruled out press conferences or statements and bans recordings by anyone, saying, “It is understood and agreed that recording the speaker’s remarks for any purpose, including the sponsor is not permitted.” [...]
It’s not just Wall Street events that are closed by Hillary Clinton. Journalists were also barred when she spoke to the Global Business Travel Association, National Association of Convenience Stores, Vancouver Board of Trade’ Women’s Leadership Circle, and the Society for Human Resource Management.
John Hollon, editor-in-chief of TNLT.com, a human resources trade publication, said he was astonished when he learned reporters were barred from the human resources meeting. “Something like this pops up and makes you wonder, ‘What could they be thinking?’” [...]
There are many reasons you might keep such events "closed doors" -- but none of them are helpful for a 'progressive candidate' committed to the concept of getting "the influence of money out of politics"… if for the sake of “appearances” if nothing else.