PAC Rat.
We all have heard about Hillary's huge political action committee, how she has the biggest federal PAC of any Democrat in Congress. Everyone assumed that she formed her PAC to spread her financial largesse to Democratic candidates across the country, in order to build goodwill for a future presidential bid. For example, some of HILLPAC's biggest donations seem rather presidential-such as $30,000 to Democrats in Iowa, whose early caucuses are the first presidential test. Well, it turns out that, for the most part, Hillary has been splurging on herself. Although HILLPAC spent $3.3 million last year, only 31% of it-$1 million-went to other candidates. The rest was spent on her own staff, office, travel, direct mail and political consultants, according Federal Election Commission (FEC) reports examined by the Hill newspaper. By contrast, House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) spent a bit more than half as much-$1.7 million-but gave a far bigger share, 70%-$1.2 million-to other candidates. Interestingly, Hillary's spending is in line with other 2004 Democratic presidential candidates (although she is undeclared) such as Rep. Dick Gephardt (Mo.), Sen. Joe Lieberman (Conn.) and Sen. John Edwards (N.C.), all of whose PACs are gave a small share to other candidates. Sen. Edwards gave just 7% to other Democratic candidates. HILLPAC director Patty Solis Doyle said overhead costs are high because it's a new PAC and needed equipment such as phones, desks and computers. She denied it's a pre-presidential committee, saying that "HILLPAC was founded to elect other Democrats." Miss Doyle added that Sen. Clinton gave more money to other candidates from a separate, far smaller New York PAC, HILLPAC NY, which raised $305,000 and gave away 86% of it. Critics say personal PACs like HILLPAC let lawmakers "double-dip" and effectively circumvent legal limits by raising funds twice from the same source-once for their own campaign and once for the PAC-then using both stashes to boost themselves. The FEC is considering tightening the rules on leadership PACs.
First in Their Hearts.
In the first poll released since all the major Democratic candidates officially announced, a CNN survey found that Democratic voters aren't very happy with their party's presidential field. Only two candidates are in double digits, Joe Lieberman at 16% and Dick Gephardt at 13%, and there are only three candidates most Democrats even have an opinion of: Lieberman, Gephardt and Al Sharpton.. When presented with a list of nine contenders, an incredible 37% of Democrats say they're not sure, or that they would prefer someone else. And who may that someone else be? The Democrat with the highest favorability in the poll is Lieberman at 49%, but that doesn't even come close to Sen. Hillary Clinton's whopping 72%. In addition, at a recent Democratic National Committee event, Mary Stanley, a vendor of political memorabilia, noticed a pattern when delegates bought candidate buttons, priced at two for $5. "If you like John Kerry, you get a Kerry button and a Hillary button," she told the Washington Post. "If you like John Edwards, you get an Edwards button and a Hillary button. If you like Howard Dean, you get a Dean button and a Hillary button."
Win Some, Lose Some.
Hillary's controversial measure to prevent the deportation of spouses and children of September 11 victims who also happened to be illegal immigrants (see Michelle Malkin column, HUMAN EVENTS, February 17) was dropped from a bill recently passed by Congress. At the same time, thousands of New York City cops will get gas masks, thanks to a $4-million federal grant procured by Sen. Clinton. About half the NYPD, or 20,000 cops, will be issued the masks. In an event put with police unions, Sen. Clinton said the masks will allow cops to help in the event of a chemical or biological attack. "Sending our first responders out without gas masks is like sending the Coast Guard out without life preservers," she said. "One of the best ways for leaders in Washington to show our gratitude for the service and dedication of our first responders is to make sure they have the right equipment and resources to do the job," she continued. "If, heaven forbid, a chemical or biological attack were to occur in New York, our first responders must be prepared so they can do their jobs."
