THE CLINTON FOUNDATION SAVES LIVES

     After reading the commentary below, please express your own thoughts.  Instructions on how to do so are written at the bottom of this column.  Thank you.

     Donald Trump and the Republicans are doing it again.  And what they are doing...is out of desperation.  For Trump to call for a special prosecutor...to probe the Clinton Foundation...is one more failing attempt by the GOP nominee to discredit Hillary Clinton.

     Trump's latest witch-hunt stems from a not altogether correct report - on Monday, August 22nd, 2016 - by the Associated Press...which claims that more than half the people who met one-on-one with the former Secretary of State...while she was in office...then shelled out cash contributions to the Clinton Foundation.  Subsequently - at a campaign rally in Akron, Ohio the same day - Donald Trump demanded a federal investigation...in to whether foreign donations to the Clinton Foundation...could have possibly swayed Mrs. Clinton's decisions while a Cabinet Member in President Obama's Administration.  According to the AP... representatives from 16 foreign governments...had contributed 170-million dollars to the Clinton Foundation.  And that other individuals - who met with Hillary Clinton - signed checks that collectively totaled another 156-million dollars...with 40 people making donations of more than 100-thousand dollars each...and 20 giving the Clinton Foundation contributions that were in excess of one-million dollars each.  Trump insists that an "expedited investigation by a special prosecutor" must be ordered.

     The AP writes that 85 of 154 non-U.S. government hotshots - which, the AP says, does not include the 16 foreign dignitaries noted above - either donated bundles of bucks to the charity...or pledged commitments to the organization's international programs...after they experienced first-hand access to Secretary Clinton.

     So what?  Big deal.  No money was given to Hillary Clinton herself...or to former President Bill Clinton...or to their daughter, Chelsea Clinton - who is vice chairperson of the Clinton Foundation.  And there were no State Department actions that were ever influenced by the Clinton Foundation...as a result of any contributions made to the charity.

     In a live, on-air telephone interview with Anderson Cooper on his CNN program, Anderson Cooper 360...Secretary Clinton - on Wednesday, August 24th - said, "My work as Secretary of State was not influenced by any outside forces.  There's no evidence of any kind of impropriety at all."

     And Friday, August 26th...Mrs. Clinton - in a live, on-air telephone conversation with Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski on their Morning Joe show on MSNBC - emphasized that "Neither my husband, my daughter, nor I have ever taken a penny of salary from the Foundation." 
 

     Therefore...if I may borrow one of Vice President Joe Biden's favorite words...why then all the "malarky" about Mrs. Clinton's "face to face" with certain high profile bigwigs?  No policies were changed.  As such...there is no proof whatsoever of any quid pro quo.  Besides...the State Department - on Tuesday, August 23rd - made it quite clear that "individuals - including those who have donated to political campaigns, non-profits, or foundations...including the Clinton Foundation... may contact or have meetings with...officials in the Administration."  So, as usual, Donald Trump's blathering is nothing more than his evil nonsense.

     Secretary Clinton met with people that wanted to aid others who were in need of financial assistance.  Nothing inappropriate was done...on anybody's part.  Thus... this is just another scheme cooked-up...to wrongly suggest a scandal that simply does not exist.

     But Trump alleges that "The Clintons made the State Department in to the same kind of pay-to-play operation as the Arkansas government was" when Mr. Clinton was Governor of "The Natural State."  The billionaire businessman's remark is another one of his slanderous slams against the 42nd President and the former First Lady.  However...the AP does not suggest in its report...any "pay-to-play" between the State Department and the Clinton Foundation.  That was something Donald Trump dreamed up in his wickedly warped mind.

     Furthermore...on Friday, August 26th...Hillary For America Press Secretary Brian Fallon, criticized the Associated Press for giving a "distorted portrayal of how she (Secretary Clinton) crossed paths with individuals connected to charitable donations to the Clinton Foundation."  Fallon says the AP did not include - in its published story - more than 1,700 meetings that Mrs. Clinton held with world leaders.  Therefore...instead of the mathematical equation being 85 of 154...it becomes 85 of 1,700...or 5 percent of people Secretary Clinton met with...who might have actually donated money to the Clinton Foundation...NOT..."more than half"...as the Associated Press reported.

     It is undeniably true that the Clinton Foundation helps more than eleven-and-a-half-million people...living in over 70 countries around the globe...who are suffering with HIV/AIDS...to receive lifesaving medication at a price tag that is ninety percent lower than the regular cost.  That excellent work by the Clinton Foundation includes providing affordable drugs to more than 800-thousand children.  Therefore...more than half the adults and three-quarters of the kids on treatment today for HIV/AIDS are being helped by the Clinton Foundation.  

     The Clinton Foundation's charity efforts have been invaluable for 15 years...since being founded as the William J. Clinton Foundation...by the former President... following his two terms behind The Oval Office desk.  However...to be more precise... the foundation's origins actually began in 1997 - while President Clinton was still Commander-In-Chief...but it was - at that time - focused on fundraising for the future Clinton Presidential Center in Little Rock, Arkansas.

     Today, however...the Clinton Foundation also supports educational programs that affect 18-million students in the United States...and that improve physical education...child nutrition...health education...and staff wellness activities in 31-thousand schools nationwide.  The foundation also concentrates on stopping prescription drug addiction.

     Known as "America's most independent, assertive charity watchdog"...Charity Watch says...87.2 percent of the Clinton Foundation's funding is used directly for the purposes of helping people who benefit from the organization's endeavors.  That amount is recognized and acknowledged, worldwide, as a very high percentage by any non-profit charity group.

     Meanwhile...President Clinton - on Monday, August 22nd - announced that if Mrs. Clinton does win The White House on November 8th...which this columnist is confident she will...the Clinton Foundation will no longer accept foreign contributions...but donations only from American citizens...legal residents...and U.S.-based, independent foundations.  Plus...Mr. Clinton will step down from his position on the foundation's board...and he will not be involved in any fundraising.  Chelsea Clinton, however...will remain in her capacity...with the charity that bears her family's name.  And quite frankly...there's nothing wrong with her doing that.

     But what about Donald Trump and his business dealings?  Clinton Campaign chairman John Podesta says, "Trump needs to come clean with voters about his complex network of for-profit businesses that are hundreds of millions of dollars in debt to big banks...including the state-owned Bank of China... and other business groups with ties to The Kremlin."

     Furthermore...the Republican nominee has still not released his tax returns... which is a standard practice for anyone running for President.

     What is Donald Trump hiding?  Why won't he reveal the mysteries of his income?

     The Clinton Foundation is an important and worthwhile asset to not only the United States, but to the entire world.  And Bill, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton should be applauded for all their efforts and for the first-rate, phenomenal performance by the charity as a whole.  The Clinton Foundation is a top-drawer organization of the highest caliber...and it should not be chastised...or castigated...by Donald Trump...or by anybody else.

     The Clinton Foundation saves lives.  When has Donald Trump or the Trump Organization...done that?

     And that's The Controversy for today.

     I'm Gary B. Duglin.

     "We'll talk again."

The Controversy is a publication of GBD Productions.  Founder and Editor-In-Chief of The Controversy is Gary B. Duglin.

One of the chief goals of a blog...one of the major reasons to publish a blog...is to entice others to express their opinions about the subject for which the author is writing.  The Controversy is being read by a tremendous amount of people throughout the United States of America and all around the world.  If you agree or disagree with my commentary...your views are welcomed.  Tell me that you find pleasure in reading what I write...or that it's not your "cup of tea."  Give your name...make up one...or remain anonymous if you prefer.  The Controversy is your outlet to speak your mind and to say what you want about the topics discussed.  Please share The Controversy with others by posting it on Facebook, Twitter and on other social media forums.  Please also pass a link to everyone in your e-mail directories.  The Controversy wants to know your thoughts on the column above or on any other editorial or essay written on this blog.

Now, please express your opinions.  Just click on the word "Comments" below and write your remarks in the box that appears.  Make sure please that when you finish your statement that you click on the word "Publish."  Thank you for your thoughts and thank you for reading The Controversy. 

Photo credits: usatoday.com and gannett-cdn.com (Republican Nominee for President, Donald Trump), hardnoxandfriends.com (Democratic Nominee for President and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton), clintonfoundation.org (Clinton Foundation Logo), slate.com (President Barack Obama), politicususa.com (former President Bill Clinton), abcnews.go.com (Chelsea Clinton), CNN, Anderson Cooper 360 and youtube.com (Anderson Cooper), MSNBC, Morning Joe and rawstory.com (Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski), youtube.com (Vice President Joe Biden), cnn.com and turner.com (Hillary For America Press Secretary Brian Fallon), beforeitsnews.com and ufointernationalproject.com (Clinton Campaign Chairman John Podesta) and usmagazine.com and wennermedia.com (former President Bill Clinton with Democratic Nominee for President and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton plus Chelsea Clinton)

Copyright 2016 Gary B. Duglin and TheControversy.net.  All Rights Reserved.