Why Goldman's CEO Will Not Publicly Endorse Hillary Clinton

[UglyGreed]

He hasn’t directly donated to her campaign either.

Goldman Sachs GS 2.61% CEO Lloyd Blankfein won’t say who he is backing for president. The reason: He thinks his support could be toxic.

In a CNBC interview this morning, Blankfein, who has been a Hillary Clinton supporter in the past, was asked if he is again supporting the Democratic frontrunner, who narrowly won Iowa. Blankfein dodged the question.

“I don’t want to help or hurt anybody by giving them my endorsement,” he said.

{snip}



The reason could be that Blankfein thinks his endorsement could be perceived as a black mark for Clinton. Her neck-and-neck rival Bernie Sanders has made Wall Street greed and breaking up the big banks a key point of his campaign. And he’s said that Clinton is too close to Wall Street to reign in the influence of the financial sector. Last week, Sanders’ campaign ran an ad saying that Wall Street firms are buying off politicians. The spot focused on Goldman Sachs, which has paid Clinton lucrative speaking fees in the past.

So one explanation for Blankfein’s Clinton dodge is because he may think an on-camera endorsement of Clinton could be fodder for Sanders’ next commercial. Nonetheless, according to OpenSecrets.org, Blankfein has yet to make a direct contribution to Clinton’s 2016 campaign. Blankfein made direct donations to both Clinton’s 2000 New York senate race and again in 2007 when she was running for the Democratic nomination for president. Blankfein’s wife, Laura, has donated money to Clinton this time around. And Blankfein could have donated in a number of ways indirectly, once again to shield Clinton from criticism.

http://fortune.com/2016/02/03/goldman-sachs-hillary-clinton-blankfein/

It is what it is.........

[NorthCarolina]

1. Isn't million$ of dollars representative of an endorsement?

I certainly think so. They didn't just fork over the dough because they like her pants suits.

[Jefferson23]

2. He's not fooling anyone nor is Clinton. n/t

[PonyUp]

3. The 1% think the rest of us are stupid. They think having money makes them smart. n/t

[Nanjeanne]

4. Awwwww - he doesn't want to hurt anyone. What a guy. As phony as . . . well I know who

[UglyGreed]

8. Well I would not go that far

[DanTex]

5. Same reason Karl Rove doesn't officially endorse Bernie, despite spending all that money for him?

[UglyGreed]

9. Got lucky

Same reason Karl Rove doesn't officially endorse Bernie, despite spending all that money for him?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1251&pid=1138206

REASON FOR ALERT

This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate.

YOUR COMMENTS

Straight up lie linking a democratic candidate to Karl Rove......

JURY RESULTS

A randomly-selected Jury of DU members completed their review of this alert at Thu Feb 4, 2016, 11:37 AM, and voted 3-4 to LEAVE IT ALONE.

Juror #1 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: No proof, unsubstantiated claim, divisive post.
Juror #2 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #3 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: Just a little over the top for even DanTex.
Juror #4 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #5 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #6 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #7 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given

[DanTex]

10. I wonder who called that a "straight up lie"? Are people really that misinformed?

http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2016/01/20/bernie-sanders-gets-some-outside-help-he-didnt-ask-for/

[Armstead]

12. Just so you know Dan I was on that jury and voted to leave it alone

Even though your point is bogus

[DanTex]

14. Thanks. Bogus or not, I'm surprised it was even 3-4. But it happens.

[Armstead]

20. Merely bogus is not my yardstick for such things

I'm not a big fan of the jury system, except in cases of obvious trollers and attacks that are clearly out of line

[UglyGreed]

21. Well I'm not a fan of slander

but hey we are all allowed to have an opinion

[UglyGreed]

17. You see Lloyd Blankfein

supports Hillary now and in the past that is where you fail. Rove does not support Sanders and never will. BTW Nick seems to be a little bias like the rest of the corporate media but you knew that already.

[in_cog_ni_to]

6. My guess is, HRH told him to steer clear...do NOT donate to my campaign and do NOT endorse me...

You can make it up to me later! *wink*wink*nudge*nudge*

FACADE.

PEACE
LOVE
BERNIE

[earthside]

7. Blankfein's 'un-endorsement' of Sanders is good enough.

If Hillary is pressured to release the transcripts of her paid-for speeches to Goldman-Sachs, we will see where she really stands vis-a-vis regular folks and the banksters.

[frylock]

22. Can't see what you don't want to see.

[FlatBaroque]

13. I pary to live long enough to actually see

his head rolling down Wall street

[jillan]

15. Lol! This is actually quite humorous. Does he want us to think he could support that

one candidate that firmly believes he belongs in jail!?


We already know who you endorse Mr Blankfein. No need to make a public statement.

[LexVegas]

16. Why won't Smith & Wesson's CEO endorse Bernie publicly? nt

[UglyGreed]

18. Which way is the wind blowing today?

Q: Both you and Sen. Obama, in the past, have supported strong gun control measures. But now when I listen to you on the campaign, I hear you emphasizing that you believe in an individual’s right to bear arms. Both of you were strong advocates for licensing of guns. Both of you were strong advocates for the registration of guns. Why don’t you emphasize that now?
CLINTON: I respect the Second Amendment. I respect the rights of lawful gun owners to own guns, to use their guns, but I also believe that most lawful gun owners whom I have spoken with for many years across our country also want to be sure that we keep those guns out of the wrong hands. And as president, I will work to try to bridge this divide, which I think has been polarizing and, frankly, doesn’t reflect the common sense of the American people. We will strike the right balance to protect the constitutional right but to give people the feeling & the reality that they will be protected from guns in the wrong hands.
Source: 2008 Philadelphia primary debate, on eve of PA primary Apr 16, 2008

Hillary Clinton: Let states & cities determine local gun laws

Q: Do you support the DC handgun ban?
A: I want to give local communities the authority over determining how to keep their citizens safe. This case you’re referring to is before the Supreme Court.
Q: But what do you support?
A: I support sensible regulation that is consistent with the constitutional right to own and bear arms.
Q: Is the DC ban consistent with that right?
A: I think a total ban, with no exceptions under any circumstances, might be found by the court not to be. But DC or anybody else [should be able to come up with sensible regulations to protect their people.
Q: But do you still favor licensing and registration of handguns?
A: What I favor is what works in NY. We have one set of rules in NYC and a totally different set of rules in the rest of the state. What might work in NYC is certainly not going to work in Montana. So, for the federal government to be having any kind of blanket rules that they’re going to try to impose, I think doesn’t make sense.
Source: 2008 Philadelphia primary debate, on eve of PA primary Apr 16, 2008

[frylock]

23. Picture of Smith & Wesson's CEO and Bernie palling around.