Hillary Contest 'Winner' Hand-Picked for 'Views, Backgrounds, and Interests'

     Hillary Clinton is offering a chance for one lucky person and a guest to join her for dinner. The campaign is inviting supporters to "chip in" to be automatically entered in the contest, although no contribution is required:

     However, it's not all luck and "chance." In the end, the Hillary for America (the "Sponsor") campaign will hand-pick the winner from a pool of 100 "potential winners" based on "views, backgrounds, and interests." A look at the contest fine print (which in reality is not that fine, but must be accessed on a separate webpage) reveals the following paragraph:

One hundred (100) potential winners will be selected by a random drawing from all eligible entries received during the Promotion Period to be held at Hillary for America Headquarters no later than August 3, 2015...  Sponsor will, in its sole discretion, then select one winner from the list of eligible potential winners from the Promotion Period on the basis of criteria determined and applied by Sponsor to provide for an appropriate range of views, backgrounds, and interests among the winners selected.

     It is unclear from the rules how the campaign will determine what the "views, backgrounds, and interests" of the potential winners are. The rules do, however, allow for a background check on potential winners, although that check presumably has more to do with security than anything else:

Sponsor may, at its option, conduct a background check on each potential winner. Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify any potential winner from receiving any prize based on such background check if Sponsor determines, in its sole discretion that awarding any prize to such potential winner could result in a safety or security risk to any person or persons or could result in the disruption of any event associated with the Promotion... Winner must then identify potential guest to Sponsor, and Sponsor may, at its option, conduct the same background check and process applicable to potential winners.

     The Clinton campaign did not respond to a request for an explanation of the process to determine the "views, backgrounds, and interests" of the potential winners.

Note: A version of this post first appeared at The Weekly Standard.

Clintons' Caribbean Vacation Cost Taxpayers At Least $211K

     Bill and Hillary Clinton vacationed in the Dominican Republic around New Years, visiting at least two exclusive resorts, Punta Cana and the Casa de Campo. The once-and-possibly-future first couple spent the week, of course, under the watchful eye of the U.S. Secret Service, but the security required for the trip didn't come cheap. Five contracts for the Secret Service for lodging and vehicles totaled more than $211,000, not including food or transportation to and from the island for the agents on duty.
    The trip was first reported by THE WEEKLY STANDARD in April, but since that time more contracts have come to light, one as recently as June. The initial contract for hotels rooms for SS agents was $104,093, as shown in this composite screenshot of contract details:

     However, a second contract was subsequently posted, this one for $87,786.  This contract specifically mentions the hotel at Punta Cana, one of the resorts where the Clintons stayed:

     Besides the hotel contracts, there were three separate contracts for vehicles, one for $1,430, a second for $5,530, and a third for $12,560, bringing the vehicle total to $19,520. The description for each of the vehicle contracts reads "VEHICLE RENTAL FOR US SECRET SERVICE (FPOTUS/ FFLOTUS CLINTON)". Total hotel and vehicle costs came to $211,399.
     The Clintons each appeared in some photos during the trip, Mrs. Clinton at Punta Cana and Mr. Clinton at Casa de Campo:

     Mrs. Clinton reportedly discussed her decision to run for president during the Clintons' Caribbean vacation during a meal with sugar tycoons the Fanjul brothers and businessman Rolando Bunster, friends of the Clintons and participants (Alonso Fanjul and Bunster) in the Clinton Foundation’s Future of the Americas conference in New York in December 2014.


Note: A version of this post first appeared at The Weekly Standard.

Feds Spend $150K to 'Embed' Russian Journalists in U.S. Newsrooms

     Even as diplomatic relations between the US and Russia remain decidedly chilly over the Ukrainian conflict, the State Department is reaching out to "up-and-coming" Russian journalists. A recent $150,000 grant offering from the US Embassy in Moscow seeks to establish a program to give Russian journalists an "intensive professional exchange experience in American newsrooms," plus "cultural experiences that allow them to learn more about the United States in general."
     Although the program is tentatively named the "Russian Journalist Exchange Program," it involves only the placement of Russian journalists in American newsrooms and not vice versa. Although the State Department wishes to focus on relatively new journalists who are "showing promise" in their careers, grant recipients are reminded that "[e]very effort should be made to attract a large and diverse participant pool, including persons with disabilities, minorities, a balanced mix of male and female participants, etc." Grant recipients will carry out recruitment, but the US Embassy in Moscow reserves the right of final approval of all participants, as well as approval of the US newsrooms where the visiting journalists will be working.
     In addition to being "embedded" for a minimum a two-weeks in "reputable American newsrooms," participants are to be housed with American families to enhance their cultural experiences. While the Russians are expected to "work alongside American reporters" and interact with host families to get "a first-hand view of American family life with all its diversity," the State Department doesn't want the visitors to get too comfortable. Grant recipients are reminded they are not only responsible for arranging an American work, cultural, and family-life experience for the journalists, but also for "ensuring their return to Russia." All participating journalists must "[c]ommit to returning to Russian Federation after completion of the program."
     However, the State Department has plans for a continuing relationship with the Russian journalists who participate in the program. One of the elements required of grant recipients is to "plan for post-program participant engagement that includes an outline of any proposed follow-on activities or initiatives and an articulated plan for utilizing Department of State and other alumni tools and social media outlets to provide continued support to program alumni." [emphasis added] A post-program evaluation is also desired using a now-familiar State Department metric: "The more that outcomes are “SMART” (specific, measurable, attainable, results-oriented, and placed in a reasonable timeframe, the easier it will be to conduct the evaluation."
     Development of the program, recruitment of participants (both Russian journalists and American news organizations), and selection of host families is expected to take until March 2016. The actual exchange experiences are then to take place from March through August 2016.

Note: A version of this post first appeared at The Weekly Standard.

D.C. Officials Stole $110K From Children's Program To Fund 2009 Presidential Inaugural Ball

     Neil S. Rodgers, a former D.C. government official, was sentenced Tuesday for his role in the misappropriation of $110,000 earmarked for D.C.'s Children at Risk and Drug Prevention Fund to cover a deficit for the 51st State Inaugural Ball for President Obama's inauguration in 2009. Rodgers, found guilty of fraud in March, was sentenced to 36 days (served on weekends) plus two years of probation. Rodgers must also repay the entire $110,000 as restitution for his crime.
     In 2008, as arrangements were underway for inauguration celebrations, the Washington City Paper reported on former Council Member Harry Thomas, Jr.'s early plans for the 51st State Inaugural Ball, noting that "there would have to be a plan to raise funds for the event, and security and cleanup concerns would also have to dealt with. Thomas says all that will be taken care of; he says he plans to seek private donations to cover the difference between the event's cost and the revenues raised by the $51 ticket cost." Donations, however, came up short. Justice Department officials described Rodgers's role in the misappropriation scheme in a Tuesday press release:

            “Neil Rodgers worked with former D.C. Council member Harry Thomas to perpetrate a fraud that diverted money from at-risk children to throw a black-tie ball for adults,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Cohen. “His conviction at trial brings to seven the number of people convicted as part of Harry Thomas’s chronic abuse of the public trust.  Neil Rodgers refused to acknowledge that there was anything wrong in the cavalier way that he and Harry Thomas stole from a program for children. He now will be required to pay back every penny he stole from the children of the District. Those children, who were most harmed by this, deserve better from our public officials.” 

            “Today, Mr. Rodgers accepted his penalty for illegally steering money meant to fund District of Columbia government programs to pay for a Presidential inauguration party,” said Assistant Director in Charge McCabe. “The FBI and our partners at the IRS have worked countless hours to investigate the trail of money that was intended to help youth in the District and how the corrupt actions of a public servant resulted in a loss to the community he served.”

          Thomas and Rodgers mischaracterized the ball as a youth event to convince the private-public partnership organization in charge of funding the ball to cover the approximate $100,000 shortfall. That organization used the Children at Risk and Drug Prevention Fund to pay off creditors. The conspirators used "multiple copies of budgets and supporting narratives" to fool the organization into approving use of that fund to pay the remaining bills.
     Six others have already pled guilty in cases involving the activities of Thomas, who himself pled guilty to misuse of $375,000 in taxpayer dollars intended for arts and youth programs. Thomas was forced to resign his seat and served 38-months in prison.
     According to the Washington City Paper, Thomas said of the ball's location at the John A. Wilson Building, the D.C. government seat, "Why not use the people's building for a people's purpose?" But in the end, both Thomas and Rodgers used the people's money for their own purposes, a decision that ultimately landed both men in jail.


Note: A version of this post first appeared at The Weekly Standard.

The Clinton Campaign Wants Your Couch: Seeking Housing for Supporters

     The Hillary Clinton campaign is looking for some Everyday Americans willing to open up their homes to strangers. On a webpage entitled "Host a Hillary for America Volunteer", the campaign asks for name, email address, phone number and home address for those willing to host a fellow Clinton supporter.
     The site asks, "Got a spare room (or couch!) that another supporter could sleep on for a few days? Sign up today and an organizer will be in touch."

     Those who sign up receive an email inviting them to become volunteers as well:

     There are no other details regarding how the arrangements are made, if any payment or reimbursement is involved, or how hosts and guests are vetted. An email to the campaign seeking comment was not immediately returned.


Note: A version of this post first appeared at The Weekly Standard.

Clinton Foundation Meeting in Morocco Last Month Cost Taxpayers $21K

   Bill Clinton, no stranger to controversy, raised eyebrows again with a Clinton Global Initiative gathering earlier in May, as ABC News put it, "at a five-star luxury hotel in Morocco [hosted] by one of the world's most controversial mining companies, criticized for 'serious human rights violations' by the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice." And as is the case with every trip a former president takes (and President Clinton takes a lot of trips), the U.S. taxpayer is on the hook for security expenses. For the Morocco trip, the hotel costs alone for the Secret Service came to $21,165:

     Other expenses related to the Morocco trip could not be located on the government spending website, but vehicle expenses likely ran into the thousands of dollars. Last Christmas/New Years, as THE WEEKLY STANDARD reported, a vacation for the Clintons in the Dominican Republic cost the taxpayers over $104,000 in hotel costs alone for the Secret Service. Three contracts discovered after that article was published show that vehicles for the Secret Service for the Clintons' Dominican vacation cost almost $20,000.


Note: A version of this post first appeared at The Weekly Standard.

Hillary Clinton Campaign Fundraises With Reception After Tony Bennett-Lady Gaga Concert... in London

     Here's an opportunity for Everyday Americans from the Hillary Clinton campaign: a reception with Tony Bennett after his upcoming concert with Lady Gaga on June 9th. But have your passport handy. The concert is at Royal Albert Hall in London, and you'll need your "US Passport Number or Green Card Number" in order to sign up:

     The good news is that there doesn't seem to be a minimum donation: at least I got passed the first screen with $1.25. The bad news is you still have to spring for airfare to the U.K. (That minimum wage increase can't come soon enough!)
    By the way, from the wording of the announcement, apparently Lady Gaga is otherwise occupied and only Bennett will be at the reception. As a matter of fact, it's not even clear whether or not Mrs. Clinton will be there (the campaign did not respond to an email inquiry.) But on the other hand, she's a busy woman. After all, just four days after the concert, she's got a campaign to (re)launch.

Update: Using the Washington Post's Hillary Clinton font generator, I made this:

In case you missed it above, that's the name of the Bennett-Gaga tour. The campaign can thank me later.


UPDATE: This article originally said "Fund Raises" in the headline instead of "Fundraises". That was probably a mistake.