Phil Ammann
Blaise Ingoglia, newly elected Republican Party of Florida chairman, has a question for state Democrats:
“Are you ready for Hillary Clinton, as foreign governments seem to be?”
Ingoglia refers to statements made by several leading Republicans saying the William J. Clinton Foundation took donations from foreign governments, even while Hillary — the prospective Democratic presidential candidate for 2016 — served as Secretary of State.
“I wonder what Florida Democrats and Chairwoman Allison Tant have to say about this obviously ethically corrupt practice employed by the Clinton Foundation of taking money from foreign governments.”
Ingoglia joins conservatives across the country in raising concerns made in a video released by American Crossroads this week. The 30-second clip has Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren‘s voiceover warn, “Powerful interests have tried to capture Washington and rig the system in their favor.”
The video — actually stitched from two separate speeches by Warren, a liberal favorite — also alleges the Clinton Foundation took “millions from foreign governments” and “up to $5 million” from the United Arab Emirates as well as “up to $25 million” from Saudi Arabia.
It is important to note that the contributions are not illegal. Federal law prohibits candidates for office from accepting campaign contributions from foreign governments; foundations have no such restrictions.
Republicans also point to ethical issues for Clinton when she was a presidential candidate in 2008, as well as her time as Secretary of State. During that time, Clinton’s husband — former President Bill Clinton — was head of the foundation.
“One has to ask, is the Florida Democratic Party ready to make Hillary their nominee and signal to America, like Hillary already has, that it’s acceptable to corrupt America’s political process by accepting donations from foreign treasuries?” said Ingoglia, a first-term state representative from Hernando County.
“Are Florida Democrats ready to say ‘yes, you can buy the presidency, political favors and so much more with foreign money,’” he said. “I hope the answer is no, and that they reject Hillary as their nominee.
“But it’s only a question that Chairwoman Tant and the Florida Democratic Party can answer.”
