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1577 days ago

Clinton's Chinatown connection

Some presidential campaign donations from New York City's Chinatown community to Sen. Hillary Clinton have come under scrutiny.

NEW YORK (CNN) - Jim Acosta reports on Sen. Hillary Clinton's, D-New York, fundraising in the Asian-American community.

Click here to see CNN's new political portal: CNNPolitics.com


Filed under: Hillary Clinton
soundoff (49 Responses)
  1. Cory, San Diego, CA

    I bet I know where the money is coming from…believe me when I say I’m not normally partial to conspiracy theories, but this one fits just too perfectly. A book called ‘War Beyond Limits’ was published in 1999 by two senior Chinese Colonels. I suggest you both look into its contents on your own. In it they talk about destroying the West through non-military means. One of the ways they sugges is through election manipulation. Think about it…if you have a few hundred well placed operatives you could steer million and millions of Chinese dollars illegally (or pressure citizens to give their own) into certain campaigns. I think Hsu was just one of many. If you have ever listened to a speech by former KGB Gen. Kalugin has spoken extensively about Soviet tactics to fight this type of warfare by doing whatever they could to help spread racial strife within the U.S. They would put swasticas on Jewish gravestones, illegally fund militant groups like the Black Panthers and KKK, etc.

    October 19, 2007 09:46 pm at 9:46 pm |
  2. Liberal Chic

    I really like Hillary Clinton, but this money has to go back to these hard working people. It is not her doing, of course, but she has to make it clear to her Chinatown fundraisers that she can't accept money coerced from poor, uneducated immigrants who don't even speak English.

    October 19, 2007 09:53 pm at 9:53 pm |
  3. sonya, atlanta, ga

    another money laundering scandal. When will she ever learn. It would be so easy for her campaign to set up a program to cross reference donors occupations, amount of donations, and census economic stats per zip code. If Obama received $2,300 from garbageman living in Compton CNN would be all over it. But they can't even list the article in the post.

    Hillary hasnt learned from Bill's chinese problem in 90's or her Hsu problem. If she wasn't bought and paid for by the corporate american her campaign would be floundering. The lastest FEC reports show Obama is beating her in raising money accross all the states and if he accepted PAC/lobbyist money he would be doubling what he already has. But Obama has principles and Hillary again shows us she doesn't.

    Interesting that it took CNN all day to post this when the original article was in this mornings LA Times.

    October 19, 2007 10:06 pm at 10:06 pm |
  4. ronnie knoxville tn

    Both Clintons have a history of shenanigans involving the Chinese community. That's scary.

    October 19, 2007 10:07 pm at 10:07 pm |
  5. Maria, Houston

    "CHINATOWN" connection... you mean that famous movie about corruption, greed and all consuming thirst for power?

    October 19, 2007 10:19 pm at 10:19 pm |
  6. Chris, Middletown, CT

    Now just Hsu on a minute...omg...what will Hillarys supporter say....and at what point do they say "she tacked on a cool million for a Woodstock museum" onto the SCHIP bill....and now she is picking up where Gore left off selling favors to China for campaign money...

    October 19, 2007 10:22 pm at 10:22 pm |
  7. Frank Virginia Beach VA

    Okay, here we go again. Clinton, Asian ties to corrupt money. China town individuals earning $10K giving Hillary $1K donation? Come-on people, where's the outcry here? Clinton's are strong-arming anyone that comes against them, job, house, IRS, etc. She is not fit for president of the United States.

    October 19, 2007 10:23 pm at 10:23 pm |
  8. Frank Virginia Beach VA

    CNN! Are Republicans getting to close to the truth for you? Is that why all their comments are removed? You are pathetic. Try playing fair, you might like it.

    October 19, 2007 10:52 pm at 10:52 pm |
  9. Biggdawg, Chicago, Illinois

    And...? Is the suggestion that Chinese-Americans can't donate to Hillary because... what? Is CNN slamming Asian-Americans as being presumptively suspect characters whose money no politician should accept. CNN never says what the problem is. Is this another reprise of Obama's Hillary Clinton (D-Punjab) slur? Was there another "not-for-attribution" Obama campaign memo behind this mudsling?

    I'm sure given her popularity you'll find she's raised millions among all ethnic groups. So what?!

    I see we now begin the hatchet job during which the media flings innuendo and inference, suggesting something is untoward without identifying exactly what is, all in an effort to keep the race interesting.

    If she did something wrong then say what it is. Otherwise, shut up.

    October 19, 2007 10:52 pm at 10:52 pm |
  10. pam Eugene OR

    Follow the money. I can't understand why her "followers" don't see how dirty she is. It boggles the mind. HRC is so bought and paid for even she can't remember who she owes and what for. Please vote for honor and trust and someone not owned by China.
    Obama 08

    October 19, 2007 10:57 pm at 10:57 pm |
  11. Wesner, Miami Beach, Fl

    This lady cannot be trusted!!!! I'm also surprise at CNN for reporting this. I can see it now, Shrillary political machine is going to start crombleling like a deck of cards...

    OBAMA 08

    October 19, 2007 11:21 pm at 11:21 pm |
  12. dukes james griffin georgia.

    so has everyone been to china town new york city? I mean if you are liked there then that is special-that is really special. how much money could be raised if some-one had a contest for a date with hillary in china town that would really be something the only problem is that it would probally give the secret service a fit-it would be to dangerious I mean the crowd the people traffic no it would not work so hell just give her the money. SHOW HER THE MONEY. do not try to knock what you do not understand. those new yorkers love that woman.

    October 20, 2007 12:07 am at 12:07 am |
  13. John Adkisson, Sacramento, California

    This CNN report was apparently inspired by a report in the Los Angeles Times. Ommitted from this video is the key, shocking statistic reported in the Times. The Clinton campaign collected some $380,000 from a single fundraiser in this low income neighborhood (mostly in $1,000 and $2,000 contributions) in April. This is an area that yielded only $24,000 for John Kerry thoughout his entire 2004 campaign. The checks have continued to pour in from these questionable sources. This is a much bigger story than a few unidentified donors.

    October 20, 2007 01:05 am at 1:05 am |
  14. Brian, Syracuse NY

    It's simple, really. China owns the Clintons.

    October 20, 2007 01:09 am at 1:09 am |
  15. Eli, Marietta Ohio

    I love how the Clinton campaign says that this is only a "Small Problem"..

    Norman Hsu, Peter Paul, now this.. I think this could be just the tip of the iceburg. Clinton's fundraising has been... well, it hasn't exactly lived up to the highest of ethical standards.. The Clinton campaign is taking money wherever they can find it without regard for ethics or even campaign finance law. Money from PAC's, lobbyist, bundlers, and Hedge fund managers doesn't exactly spell "Change" as the Clinton campaign has tried to use as a bumper sticker slogan.

    Now Clinton is facing a lawsuit in California over her involvement in a Senate Race fundraiser. It seems to me Clinton has her work cut out to try to explain away all these "Small Problems"..

    October 20, 2007 03:06 am at 3:06 am |
  16. R. Chang, San Diego

    Could CNN be more racist than by referring to the entire Asian-American population as "Chinatown"? There's more than one nation Asians might be from, there's no excuse for this kind of ignorant racist generalizing anymore.

    October 20, 2007 03:51 am at 3:51 am |
  17. Lou Dobbs, Plano TX

    Democrats pander to minorites and illegals! When will we get a president that will take action against Islam(ists) and illegal immigrants? We need a neo-con hawk like Guliani to make this country bettter!

    October 20, 2007 04:18 am at 4:18 am |
  18. John T. Urban, NYC

    Once again, Hillary gets a pass in most of the media. The Chinese donations took place in NYC, yet the NY Times wouldn't touch it. It took a team of reporters from the LA Times who come to NY and uncovered some of these donors didn't exist, and other's claimed they were pressured by Chinese Associations to donate.
    And thank you CNN for having some journalistic integrityon th ematter as well.

    October 20, 2007 05:11 am at 5:11 am |
  19. Sam, IA

    Sorry Hillary. Everything you do and say will constantly be under scutiny. Your negatives are record breaking and for no good reason. You are and have been the focus of every hate jock and rightwing fox reporter for years and for a very good reason. You are a danger to them and thier livelihood. CNN and the rest of the corperate media will hound you for thier personal gain. Fox and the shills of Clear channel will report the slightest innnuendo as fact because they are simply propogandists. Keep the faith. Do what you do well. I will support you if you are the candidate but i fear that would be a loosing effort. God Bless America and God bless you, Hillary

    October 20, 2007 07:22 am at 7:22 am |
  20. joan

    Did anyone check the graveyard for the address?...Corrupt with a capital C.

    BTW I'm a democrat and I will never vote for this woman

    October 20, 2007 07:54 am at 7:54 am |
  21. mary, sa, tx

    Is this really a surprise???? De de de.

    October 20, 2007 08:19 am at 8:19 am |
  22. Mac, Severn, Md

    Follow the money!!

    The Clinton political machine knows how to hide illegal campaign contributions like no other.

    No crooks for President.

    October 20, 2007 08:23 am at 8:23 am |
  23. laurinda,ny

    Oh, so now we are picking at Hillary's chinatown donations. Is there no end to this madness. I am very worried about where the Republican candidates are getting their donations from. I bet alot of other citizens are too. Maybe people should look deeper into that!

    October 20, 2007 08:46 am at 8:46 am |
  24. Provdence, RI

    Laurinda: I agree with you. The Republican machine begins to spin! Her rivals will pull out a lot of garbage now against her, because they are becoming desperates, and we are getting closer. There were 150 donors from Chinatown-seven of them were unknown, and Hillary campaign said it would return the money from the unknown donors...End the story.

    October 20, 2007 09:51 am at 9:51 am |
  25. Chip Celina OH

    "Her rivals will pull out a lot of garbage now against her, "

    The sad part is it can be pulled out because it is there.

    Do you not wonder how one house in San Francisco, excuse me Daly City, where the bread winner makes $49,000 a year can somehow donate $350,000 over the last ten years or so to a political candidate? All that AND keep up with mortgage, food, utilities.

    There's just too much questioable activity to take any of this seriously. Do we just close our eyes to it and say "well, that's just how the system works", and put our trust in someone that we know is shady?

    For every allegation there is a convoluted explanation and then the fallback position of the vast right wing conspiracy.

    The whole thing just sucks! This next election, I fear, will once again be a vote for the lesser of two evils.

    October 20, 2007 10:58 am at 10:58 am |
  26. Keith, Chicago

    The "Republican machine"? I am a staunch Democrat, and this whole thing REEKS. There are hundreds of people in the same Chinatown neighborhood, making minimum wage in the most expensive city to live in, giving $1,000, $2,000, and $2,300 donations to Clinton. Do you honestly think that dishwashers living in Manhattan can afford to donate that kind of money? I don't know how anyone can say yes to that answer, with a straight face.

    I think it's pretty obvious that a wealthy Clinton supporter(s), such as Hsu or someone else, donated thousands and thousands of dollars under the names of numerous other people – including many minimum wage workers. Whether or not Clinton knew about this and was actively involved is up for debate. At the very least, Clinton and her campaign obviously had to have noticed that they were getting very irregular and suspicious donations, but decided not to do anything about it and just keep the money instead.

    If Clinton gets the Democratic nomination, she will hurt our chances of getting the White House back...the Republicans are going to pounce on this and numerous other shady things she has been doing and has done over the years, and they will really rile up their core base of voters who don't like Clinton – and motivate them to come out to vote (causing Democrats running in some close Congressional races to lose as well).

    October 20, 2007 11:00 am at 11:00 am |
  27. James, Phoenix AZ

    This is just the beginning! Hillary is a flawed candidate. She has such blind ambition for power – anything and everything is acceptable. Get ready for a heartbreak, dems. I just hope the RNC and media can wait to expose the real damaging information until AFTER she has received the nomination!

    October 20, 2007 11:04 am at 11:04 am |
  28. spinstopper

    Once again, Hillary has to return illegal donations..

    October 20, 2007 11:38 am at 11:38 am |
  29. John Adkisson, Sacramento, California

    The notion that these repeated reports of ethical lapses exist, should be vetted before the primary season ends. After that, as democrats, we will be stuck defending this terribly compromised "frontrunner" and the Republican spin machine will have the grist it needs to pull off an upset. Those Clinton supporters who want to ignore these reports are playing into the hands of the RNC which regularly touts Clinton as the inevitable nominee. Don't you get it? That's what they hope for?

    If Clinton were by far the best candidate, it might be worth it. But this year the Democrats can nominate any number of great candidates and avoid this polarizing, old-style campaign.

    October 20, 2007 12:03 pm at 12:03 pm |
  30. Tom Dedham, Mass

    MANY, MANY, MANY chineese dishwashers in NY who make about 12,000 a year tops have the money to donate $1000 to her campaign and that isn't fishy?

    This same BS happened with Billyboy and they had to return money and people got charged and convicted of wrong doing.

    This is just like the Hsu BS where people of very modest means would give thousands of dollars to Hillary.

    They are being used to funnel the money to her. It is dirty now as it was dirty with Hsu and with Billyboy.

    This wasn't started by Republicans by the way, it was a San Francisco newspaper and CNN had a reporter check out some of the addresses last night and THEY DIDN'T EXIST. CNN, not Fox, CNN.

    I give CNN credit for reporting it, other "news" organizations ignored it just like they would of if it was NY dishwashers giving 8-10 percent of their yearly salary to Guiliani.

    Yeah right.

    October 20, 2007 12:06 pm at 12:06 pm |
  31. Mac, Severn, Md

    How can they give money back to unknown donors? If they are unknown....? I don't understand politics! Have a great day. :)

    October 20, 2007 02:11 pm at 2:11 pm |
  32. pam Eugene, Or

    Same old Hillary. She is bought and paid for as was her husband. She will take money from anyone, promise everything to eveyone and in the end she will sevre herselp and tear this country apart. Please support a candidate who will unite and not divide.
    Obama 08

    October 20, 2007 02:21 pm at 2:21 pm |
  33. Dwight, Miami Gardens, Florida

    All you Hillary supporters who are in denial anout her fund raising, why don't you go to Suitably Flip.com and read about her 3rd quarter and other fundraising, and the $125,000 she has not returned. She claimed to out raised Obama, but I don't think so. Senator Clinton previously vowed to return $850,00 in the Norman Hsu-contributiobs to some 260 donors. Her 3rd quarter filing shows refund to no fewer than 487 individuals for a total of $1.24 million. according to Suitably Flip.

    October 20, 2007 02:31 pm at 2:31 pm |
  34. Chris, Chicago, IL

    Hillary. Your days are numbered.

    希拉里。 你的末日到了。

    http://www.golden-lamp.com

    October 20, 2007 02:39 pm at 2:39 pm |
  35. Karlo, Portland, OR

    Praise the next American President: Hillary Rodahm Clinton. Wow, I love this woman. She's smarter than any other American and people will eventually fall in love with her as she gets into her two terms. Get use to her people!!

    October 20, 2007 04:50 pm at 4:50 pm |
  36. Ernie, Provincetown, MA

    Hillary's chop suey club. What's next? Most Chinatown residents are honest, law abiding people. But there is a Chinese mafia there with powerful political connections. The best story is in the LosAngeles Times. This calls for a federal investigation.

    October 20, 2007 04:58 pm at 4:58 pm |
  37. laurinda,ny

    Hillary Rodham Clinton will become our next President. You must take time to know her. HILLARY 08

    October 20, 2007 05:10 pm at 5:10 pm |
  38. bprossersme

    She's a crook and knows no-one can stop her or take her down. The thugs are behind her and her future's secure.

    October 20, 2007 05:29 pm at 5:29 pm |
  39. Ernie, Provincetown, MA

    John of Sacramento has it right. Hillary fans seem to believe that only Republicans distrust their idol. Many of my Democratic friends feel as I do, that another Clinton administration would mean more of the same old corporate culture and corruption. Clinton or a Republican? What an awful choice. It is what the GOP would like to have us face.

    October 20, 2007 05:54 pm at 5:54 pm |
  40. Colin742

    One knows why ENRON and oil companies gave heavily to the GOP and Bush. The price of oil went up 250%. Haliburton and Defense industries got billioms in extra profits. Bush and his friends personal fortunes increased.

    I can't see how, except for a minor increase in campaign funds, which she can eaily do without, she benifits in any way or what she could possibly give back to these donors.

    There is no indication she personally knows these people. Could Republicans be financing this to create a phony scandal.

    October 20, 2007 06:21 pm at 6:21 pm |
  41. Russell NC

    Hillary is the naughty lady of shady lane,

    October 20, 2007 09:08 pm at 9:08 pm |
  42. Garrett Babb Indianapolis, IN

    Ever heard of Peter Paul? Check him out, he's got proof that HRC is a criminal. Criminal with a capital C. Of course, CNN won't tell you about that...

    October 21, 2007 01:33 am at 1:33 am |
  43. Chris, Middletown, CT

    Quick Google search for either John Huang,Johnny Chung or Yah Lin "Charlie" Trie – to see that this pattern is not new....the Democrats are comfortable taking money from anywhere....they seem to believe that they cannot be caught....and maybe thats true....but something stinks....

    http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/08/28/clinton-campaign-will-keep-contributions/

    This was a quote from a news article in 1997 – "It is unlawful for a foreign national to contribute to any political campaign (2 USC 441e). Yet, Al Gore, Ron Brown, Senator Chris Dodd, John Huang, and quite a few others at the Democratic National Committee headquarters knowingly and actively solicited funds from foreign nationals" – and now...we have proven we won't actually do anything to people who solicit funds illegally....so...Clinton is free to take any $$ she wants....how corrupt we have become

    October 21, 2007 09:10 am at 9:10 am |
  44. demwit

    Does anyone else find it unnerving that the ancient Maya doomsday is on the would be end of Hillary's first term, Dec, 2012..

    October 21, 2007 12:55 pm at 12:55 pm |
  45. James, Phoenix AZ

    Hillary's Campaign: (intro the music)

    Na Na Naaa-Naaaa

    Na Na Naaa-Naaaa

    Heyyy Hey Heyyy

    Good byeeeeeeee!!

    October 22, 2007 12:04 pm at 12:04 pm |
  46. JB Boston MA

    In the immortal words of Scooby Doo. . . . ruh roh

    How can anyone that is not legally insane blame the R's for this one.

    This is going to explode, you watch!

    Once, maybe an accident. Twice, you better have learned your lesson. Three times and you have ethics issues!

    October 22, 2007 01:06 pm at 1:06 pm |
  47. Karen,nj

    DEMOCRATS IN 08..WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS MY FRIENDS AND WE KEPT ON FIGHTING TIL THE END.. We STEAM rolled right over the Pubs.

    October 22, 2007 04:07 pm at 4:07 pm |
  48. Tom - Dedham, Mass

    Hey 'dawn" nothing like a little history repeating itself, if it looks like funneling and sounds like funneling... it must be the vast right-wing conpiracy.

    Look up John Huang, Johnny Chung, Hsu and Peter Paul (where's Mary?). Very interesting reading, but no pattern here.

    This is just ONE of the "nice" folks that Chris from CT mentioned, do you care to apologize for the Clintons, actually I meant respond:

    LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas- Yah Lin "Charlie" Trie, President Bill Clinton's longtime friend and a Democratic campaign fund-raiser, pleaded guilty Friday to two charges in his Little Rock, Arkansas trial as part of a plea agreement.
    In exchange for his guilty pleas, and pledge to cooperate with Justice Department's campaign fund-raising investigation, federal prosecutors have agreed to drop indictments pending against Trie in Washington and Arkansas.

    Yah Lin "Charlie" Trie
    Under the agreement, a Washington indictment charging the Democratic fund-raiser with making illegal campaign contributions to the Democratic National Committee will also be dropped. Trie, a Taiwanese American, was accused of acting as a straw donor for Chinese business in an effort to curry favor with the U.S. president.
    Trie is likely to be sentenced to three years' probation as a result of his guilty pleas, though the judge must approve the prosecutors' recommendation. The government agreed not to pursue home detention or electronic monitoring during his probation.
    Trie is a key figure in the campaign scandal involving campaign donations from Asian sources to the 1996 Clinton-Gore re-election effort and other Democratic campaigns.
    Trie became friends with then-Arkansas Gov. Clinton when he frequented a Chinese restaurant Trie owned near the Capitol in Little Rock.
    He was charged in the Arkansas case with obstructing a Senate investigation into Democratic fund-raising activities during the 1996 election cycle.
    While the more serious obstruction charge was dropped, Trie did plead guilty the felony charge of causing false statements and a misdemeanor count of making political contributions in the names of others.
    Under the false statements charge, Trie admitted to causing the DNC's treasurer to submit a report to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) that gave false names for donors. "I know that the DNC had the names of the wrong persons," Trie told the judge.
    Trie also admitted getting other people to make campaign contributions for him - $5,000 worth - on February 19, 1996. "I requested that somebody else give the money for me," he said.
    Clinton's defense fund and the Democratic National Committee have been FORCED to return more than $1 million in funds raised by Trie.

    FORCED – only because they got CAUGHT again.

    October 23, 2007 11:40 am at 11:40 am |
  49. Mary, Maryville, TN

    I attended a planning meeting at UT yesterday for the Obama east TN campaign. I meet 2 interesting people that are around my retirement age. Both have been die-hard TN Republicans that are now hanging their heads in shame having to admit that they cast their vote for GWB in 2000 and 04. One has never been politically active before but will be in 08! She was telling me her reason for being at the Obama meeting was to do everything possible to make certain Obama is on the ticket in 08 because she truly believes he would bring respectability and sanity to Washington. (She is even willing to travel to SC to help Obama win that state’s primary!) She does not want to see a Hillary vs. Rudy ticket – why? – well, she said that if the Dems were to put Hillary on the ticket she knows for certain there will be thousands of Repubs, who are presently planning not to vote for President in ’08 (out of protest to their party), to pull the lever for who ever is on the Repub side of the ticket. Her comment was that she does not think the Dems understand the contempt that the Repubs have for Hillary. She felt strongly that once again Repubs would vote along party lines and let the chips fall where they may. (Anybody but Hillary mentality.) She is scared that Rudy would then become President and said that as bad as she and her husband have found out Bush is as a Prez – Rudy, in her opinion, will be worse – not only bringing us into more wars and deficits, but stepping on our Constitution and laws of the land..

    The funniest comment was when she said that it’s really something to have your 21 year old daughter tell you over the dinner table, “I tried to tell you guys in ’04 and you just wouldn't listen." She also commented that since she and her hubby have had an ‘awakening’ politically the conversations w/the daughter have sure grown in intensity and depth on the values in this country.

    I wonder just many others have had an ‘awakening’ that will cause them to become so politically active?

    October 25, 2007 04:18 pm at 4:18 pm |

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