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Former President Bill Clinton speaks to Harrah’s employees at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas Monday, Feb. 22, 2010.
By J. Patrick Coolican (contact) 
Monday, Feb. 22, 2010 | 11:17 p.m.
Harrah's Gives $1 Million to Clinton Foundation
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The Harrah's Foundation presented former President Bill Clinton with a $1 million donation to the William J. Clinton Foundation Monday at Caesars Palace. Clinton then gave a speech to Harrah's employees and others about his work in Haiti, why individual charity and volunteering can make a difference, and his belief that Nevada will make it out of the economic downturn even stronger than before.
Former President Bill Clinton spoke expansively Monday night on the challenges facing America and the world from the stage of the Colosseum at Caesars Palace.
The 42nd president looked tired after a recent procedure to put two stents in a coronary artery, although the crowd still took to his conversational speaking style.
He drew on themes that have become his post-presidential life's work: the growing interdependence of humanity, and how to build on the best aspects of that interdependence while dismantling the worst.
In describing that new interdependence, he noted rapid technological change -- there were fewer than 50 sites on the Web and cell phones weighed 5 pounds when he was elected president in 1992.
Now, many people in the developed world have access to information and communication at their fingertips, binding us together whether we like it or not. But the flow of goods, people, money and armaments also carries extreme risks, in the form of terrorism or financial panics that spread the world over, Clinton said.
Regardless, it isn't changing.
"We can't get divorced," he said. "You can't put the walls back up."
Clinton played an integral part in his wife's failed presidential campaign, including helping her win the Nevada Democratic presidential caucus when he hustled for votes on the Strip. But after swimming again in the tumultuous waters of partisan politics in 2007 and 2008, "The Big Dog," as Democrats like to call him, seems to have moved past the disappointment of the campaign.
Instead, he's returned to a life that had grown on him after leaving office -- speaking around the world, usually for six figures, about themes that often cross ideological boundaries; responding rapidly to mass tragedies, such as the Haitian earthquake; and working with his foundation on issues that have always animated him, including climate change and access to health care and education.
There are three key challenges facing both the United States and the world, Clinton said.
The first challenge is inequality. A billion humans survive on $2 per day; a billion more survive on $1 per day. And, 100 million children don't go to school.
In the United States, the top 10 percent of wealthiest Americans got 90 percent of all the wealth created during the first decade of the new century, he said. Meanwhile, he noted, job growth and incomes stalled for poorer and middle-class Americans, while college tuition increased 75 percent after inflation and health care costs doubled, further pulling down the middle classes.
The second problem, Clinton said, is instability. One small event can lead to catastrophe. For instance, a wave of foreclosures hits Nevada, and the government of Iceland goes bankrupt. The ability to move money and weapons around the world with ease gives terrorist power to terrorize. The failure to establish protection against these dangers is a failure of modern society, he said.
Finally, the way that humans produce and consume energy is unsustainable, Clinton said, gently mocking climate change denialists.
He called the failure to fundamentally change our energy portfolio during the past decade a great environmental and economic mistake -- and singled out Nevada in particular.
"If Nevada had taken up my challenge four or five years ago to become the first energy-independent state, you wouldn't have the unemployment you have today," he said.
(In fact, solar plants require little ongoing labor, so it's not clear what effect a massive investment in solar energy would have had in the long run.)
The challenges in solving these three problems are different in rich and poor countries, Clinton said. Poor countries don't have enough capacity.
"They don't have systems that guarantee predictable results," he said.
He added: "Think about this encounter we're having: You'd be shocked if the lights went off. I've spent time in places where you can't take that for granted."
He said he's kept up at night fearing that Haiti will have heavy rainfall before sanitation systems are built in time to deal with it.
Rich countries, while having enough capacity, are too rigid and unable to change to respond to new challenges, Clinton said.
In his only foray during the speech into what could be called partisan politics, he chided Republicans, though not by name, expressing bafflement at America's refusal to learn from health care systems of other advanced countries.
Switzerland, for instance, has a private insurance system like that in the United States but spends just 11.5 percent of its national income on health care, compared to more than 17 percent in the United States. The difference is $1 trillion dollars.
"I don't understand it. And I am bewildered why we think this is the one area where the rest of the world has nothing to teach us," he said.
The same rigidity -- or "partisan gridlock" in Washington parlance -- could prevent reform of the financial system, leading to disastrous effects, he said.
Clinton challenged the audience to serve, to fill in the gaps where neither the private sector nor government are willing or able to solve problems.
Despite the challenges ahead, Clinton said America would continue to lead the world.
"People that predict America's demise ought to read a little history. George Washington was derided as a mediocre surveyor with bad false teeth who never won a battle in his life. He turned out to be a pretty good general."
A tiger doesn't change his stripes. "there were fewer than 50 sites on the Web and cell phones weighed 5 pounds when he was elected president in 1992." Really? Really? It is amazing to me how people are drawn to a born liar. "Partisan gridlock" in Washington...really? Someone needs to check the medication levels he is on.
Comment removed by moderator. Comment contained name-calling.
You really have to admit. The kid cleans up nice don't he?
Bubba...is the king of spin doctors.Then again Harrahs the one with the union and monopoly issues has Mr.Left Wing speak but fails to mention his past views on organized labor or big biz...thats funny then again $$$ does talk!
Do not fear Obama is here. With his plans to redistribute the wealth the would will become a Utopian society. With taxes raising on all and the government now providing all you need there will be no worry.
With a carbon tax on everything you use enough wealth will be redistributed to the poor counties like China and India so no one will want and we will all receive according to our need. Hail Comrade.
like birdie always says...
there is but one statistic americans need to know...
the top 1% own as much wealth as the bottom 90%...
that is wrong...
dead wrong...
we need to make those top 1% to pay off the national debt and the budget deficit...
period...
end of story...
oh yeah...
hello stevie wynn...
hello shelly adelson...
what's cookin fellas...
We should be concerned about the inequalities of wealth when Clinton-Gore can make so much spewing utter nonsense. Pass the squeegee and wash the solar panel.
I will not ever patronize a Harrah's property again. $1 million dollars for a speech? Something is not right with that picture.
To Fossimans Under the Clinton great years which party was the majority in the senate and Congress? Their the ones that should be credited not your pal Bubba!
Why would Nevada be better off if they had become energy independent?
They would have developed the manufacturing capability to build solar panels and sell those to other states and countries.
there is a huge market for this equipment outside the US. The US is just run by oil companies.
And rich people.
Ogopolistic Plutocracy. The new 3rd world US!
"The man had 8 excellent years as President and left our country in great shape."
fosimmons -- you forgot to mention Clinton's REAL legacy, the citizens put under siege in their own homes by his federal agents then killed @ Waco and Ruby Ridge. And he was disbarred as an attorney for deceit.
"Fear is the foundation of most governments." - John Adams, 1776 "Thoughts on Government"
The problem with super-concentration of wealth is that it leads to stagnation and depression. It happened in the 20's-30's and is happening again now. You can attack the man, but that's an ad-hominem argument. Maybe that's because you can't come up with an argument against his points.
Clinton is a 33rd degree Freemason. Look up Freemasons, they are part of the destruction of society. Their god is Lucifer and almost every single president we ever had was a Freemason. The Freemasons are behind the New World Order and that includes the Republicans and Democrats. Both political parties play the people against eachother so well, its called Divide and Conquer. We the People must first understand who these people are so we may take back our country from these people that are hellbent on our destruction. Clinton, Bushes are both part of the NEW WORLD ORDER(NWO). In Clinton's speech why does he care about the inequality in pay between the american citizens and other countries??? Because part of the NWO plan is the destruction of the American Dream to bring us more in line with the poor countries in the world so that one day all non rich citizens will be completly enslaved to the ultra rich in the New World Order. I remember just a few years ago almost everybody would call you a conspiracy theorist and a nut job for talking about the NWO... Well it's seems that more people are starting to understand it's actually happening. I mean how can you not see it when EVERY PRESIDENT since Reagan have given speeches calling for a New World Order! Even Obama has talked about a need for a New World Order. If anyone would like to learn more about everything going on in this world then go visit www.freepressinternational.com . Since most people dont believe anything unless the main stream media says it then go to this site cause they tell you exactly whats going on and they reference a lot of main stream news media for those that refuse to believe whats right in front of their faces. Remember we dont have to accept a New World Order.
They removed my comment which was not offensive in ANY way. All I said was a vague comment to Mr. Clinton's womanizing ways, and that strangely we miss him on the scene.. THIS GETS REMOVED BY THE STAFF? Gimme a break!!
Clinton treated women with great harm.
He would have sex with them.
Even did this in the oval office.
He promoted an intern to offical staff person to keep her quiet then he tried to arrange a high paying job in the private sector to keep her quiet.
That is a clear violation of the sexual harrassment civil laws.
Then the ladies would attempt to go public about it and his goons would attacked them and destroy them.
One woman has accused him of rape.
He lied about it under oath in a Federal court of law and under a plea agreement he gave up his right to practice law.
He struggles with the meaning of words like "is".
He some poor things policy, too.
He signed into laws that deregulated financial institutions and he placed great pressures on lenders to lower their standards so that minorities could get into homes. He appointed people to the FRB that artically made interest rates very low. That contributed to the mess that we are in now.
He had several attempts to either kill or capture Bin Laden that he messed up on.
He allowed terrorists to sneak into this country and take flight lessons.
He allowed a terrorist base in Afghanistan to grow a terror army that we are still dealing with to this day.
He did do some good things.
With a Republican Congress, he signed budgets that were passed by Republicans that balanced the budgets.
With a Republican Congress, he reformed welfare.
Clinton had the chance to take out Bin Laden,but he was too busy pardoning his buddies and trashing the white house and steeling everything out of Air Force 1 that was not bolted down. How soon everyone forgets.
I knew stgnancerockappleslices321717 would come along to bash Bill. stgrock is SO MORAL!
And his Republican pals, ESPECIALLY IN NEVADA are SO MORAL!
Bill Clinton is smart as a whip, enjoyable to listen to, and respected as a fine ex-President.
Leave it at that, Rock.
If only the "bimbo erruption squad" was sent after bin laden we wouldn't be having these problems.
"In the United States, the top 10 percent of wealthiest Americans got 90 percent of all the wealth created during the first decade of the new century, he said."
And what tax bracket does Mr. Clinton fall into?
What was his fee for this speech???
And he wants to lecture us about inequality....I don't think so.
All you need to do is print something about Bill I-did-not-have-sex-with-that-woman Clinton and look at all the comments that the Sun had to remove (mine included).
I don't get it - you can't call Clinton a jack@ss but the Sun can print pictures of Hillary or Michelle O. Which is more appalling?
All I forgot some good stuff that Bill did for America.
He got a lot Republicans elected to the House, Senate, Governorships, etc.
He helped G. Bush get elected too.
Yea....he was a great President.
stgrock is RIGHT!
Bill Clinton should have had a THIRD TERM!
Just THINK of all the trouble that would have saved the United States of America. That darn constitution.
fosimmons,
Bill did not leave it in great shape. However I appreciate that Clinton did not ignore the people when they said no to Universal Health Care in the 90s.
Gmag, its not the morality thing that bothered me about Bill, (although I do frown a bit at but he is merely a human like the rest of us) it is that he decided to lie under oath.
Bill was certainly no Obama or Jimmy Carter but every president has created their sets of problems. I also don't want to hear Bill talk about the wealth divide just like I don't want to hear Ensign talk about morality. I lived in a country where people made the minuscule amounts that the President Clinton mentioned. It's a wonderful world where the government printed money and did not pay down their deficits to find a year on year inflation rate of 51%.
Let's focus on what can be fixed now!
After his pal AL Gore created the Internet; Clinton presided over and was ever present during the rise & fall of the dot*com era. Clinton admin also created a mountain out of a molehill with regards to the Y2K rollover scare that generated millions of dollars for US tech companies and provided his government with a surplus carried on the backs of the US taxpayers.
Like all high-level Liberals, they just can't grasp capitalism and it's benefits to our society, our way of life and the way we need to keep our future intact. They hide the fact that they're nuevo-rich and like most current DEM leaders never earned an honest dime in the private sector other than to take from the GOV what they thought they were entitled too.
There is no reason to apologize for being wealthy, none what so ever! For every entrepreneur and/or investor that made an honest buck...there are several that failed. That's the way it works. As for Clinton the man, well, that's a whole other issue for him, his wife and several unfinshed flings...flings that kept Hillary out of the WH! Funny how the DEM's can say "they" won the race in '09 by tying Bush to McCain but Hillary lost the primary mainly due to Bubba's mouth and his past...Thats not much of a boost from the former Leader of The (Freemason) World!
In the story Bill stated:
"In the United States, the top 10 percent of wealthiest Americans got 90 percent of all the wealth created during the first decade of the new century, he said."
How true.
Bill ought to know. If you could put a line graph of his net worth increase on a wall chart from the time he left office as Gov. of AR until now, you would need to cut a hole in the ceiling to the next floor to chart it. His Foundation and his Library in Little Rock, Arkansas do not have to worry about being forclosed either.
he is in bed with al gore on this climate change bull
I never voted for him, but he was and still is someone we should listen to. Just look at the good he has done since he left office compared to every single ex-pres we have seen in the past 40 years.
Is he giving away all of his ill gotten gains to the have nots? Where does the line start?
@fosimmons
Remember one important fact. This recession would not have happened if Clinton had not repealed the Glass-Steagle Act, which deregulated the banks.
Clinton who left the white house with a worth of 100 million dollars is a great one to discuss the wealth divide. Can anyone name a politician who doesn't have money?
There were many things President Clinton said in his speech that, for the sake of concise reporting, were left out. He mentioned that when he took office that the country was in a recession and in debt. When he left office 2.5 million jobs had been created, we had a budget surplus and a balanced budget. There are people here that are saying some nasty things here about him personally that are inappropriate in this discussion, but whether you like him or not, he was an excellent President, world leader and humanitarian. The reason for his visit was to raise money and awareness for people in need of help. He gives his time and money to these causes and when he raises money at these events he doesn't keep any of it for himself.
The most important idea he wanted to leave with the people in the audience was the concept that we all need to look at how we interact with the world. He said to look at the decisions you make and think "Will this help people or will this hurt people?" If it's going to help people, you do it. If it's going to hurt people, you don't. It's that simple.
I was proud to have been there and heard him. We need more people willing to help others. Former President Clinton is a hero.
Remember another important fact NoMore.
The bill that ultimately repealed the the Glass-Steagle Act was introduced in the Senate by Phil Gramm (Republican of Texas) and in the House of Representatives by Jim Leach (R-Iowa) in 1999. The bills were passed by a Republican majority, basically following party lines by a 54--44 vote in the Senate and by a bi-partisan 343--86 vote in the House of Representatives. Many believe Pres. Clinton signed the bill under the pressure of impending impeachment.
MikeJino... Just trot down to Haiti. I'm sure you'll find the line you're looking for there. Just tell the folks there you're looking for a handout from Bill Clinton and I'm sure they'll treat you the way you deserve.
Americanman,
Bill Clinton left in a surplus but it was not his doing. It was the republican house and the leadership of Newt Gingrich.
I guess you could credit Hillary because it was her failed health plan that gave republicans the power to make the changes that created the change.
NoLongerADemo... But of course you failed to mention Pres. G. H. Bush, who went in with a nest egg of about 30 mil. and left with over 300 mil. while the rest of the country was in a recession. Or how Dick Chaney was still getting a 25 mil/yr paycheck from Halaburton while he was VP?
I think is wrong for politicians to leave office with tons of money, but it happens. Do you think any elected official is going to put a stop to it? If there was one I'd vote for that person, Republican, Democrat or Other.
Well Bill knows a thing or two about making money!
He has more big paydays from shady characters than the Sicilean Mafia.
I read in the new book 'Game Change' how Hillary had her team do an investigation on Bill's current affairs and found him to be very 'active'.
I forgot to warn Bubba about not eating dinner at Hanks at Green Valley Ranch, even though his best buddy Brian Greenspun is buying.
The meat at Hanks is really terrible according to their recent lawsuit against Station Casinos.
Huh, that's odd. I always thought the President set the budget. Ah yes, the good old days when one party didn't act like a cry-baby when they didn't get their way and try to filibuster any and all legislation that came their way.
And just imagine Pres. Clinton saw there was a problem with the cost of health care almost 20 years ago. But even then Republicans believed that there was no problem. They're never going to believe that the cost of health care has doubled in the last few years. Just think of how much better off all of us would be if we didn't have to spend so much of our income on health care.
"In the United States, the top 10 percent of wealthiest Americans got 90 percent of all the wealth created during the first decade of the new century"
BILLY PLEASE!!
You make 250,000 for an 1 hour lecture,and you want to tell us 99% that Financial Inequality is a problem
Please give us Yeehaws some credit
peace out
Yes i know youre pushing all this world peace agenda,but we all know why,Billy!
oxford educated at 64,000 a year,and wealth distribution is a problem.Surprising coming from a democrat
This guy deserves a massive MI. In Arkansas, real men play football. Bubba played the sax (with Monica, he played the sex).
I don't see edgewise,ksand,teamster,willietonner,mred commenting on Bubba's appearence but mention Palin and they fly of the deep end.
"The same rigidity -- or "partisan gridlock" in Washington parlance -- could prevent reform of the financial system, leading to disastrous effects, he said."
Seriously??? Hmmmm.....he musta forgot about his role in NAFTA(epic fail) and his John Hancock on the repeal of the Glass--Steagall act. He had direct involvement in these events that more than helped to create the current crisis. Hey thanks Bill, no really thanks a lot.
When bush stole the office of president, in
2000, we went from the smartest president in
history to the dumbest president in history.
The rest is history.
Scorpiogal, The wonderful thing about the internet is the ability to look up facts... Like this little snip-it about NAFTA.
"In the U.S., Bush, who had worked to "fast track" the signing prior to the end of his term, ran out of time and had to pass the required ratification and signing into law to incoming president Bill Clinton. Prior to sending it to the House of Representatives, Clinton introduced clauses to protect American workers and allay the concerns of many House members. It also required U.S. partners to adhere to environmental practices and regulations similar to its own. The ability to enforce these clauses, especially with Mexico, and with much consideration and emotional discussion the House of Representatives approved NAFTA on November 17, 1993, by a vote of 234 to 200. The agreement's supporters included 132 Republicans and 102 Democrats. NAFTA passed the Senate 61-38. Clinton signed it into law on December 8, 1993; it went into effect on January 1, 1994."
Oh yeah... and there's no such thing as "Death Panels". Take that Palin.
BluBld how about a few little things called FACTS?
"With the aid of scholarships, Clinton attended the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., receiving a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service (B.S. F.S.) degree in 1968. Upon graduation he won a Rhodes Scholarship to University College, Oxford where he studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics."
And how about the FACT that President Clinton's speaking fees go directly to his foundation? But it doesn't seem to bother you that Shara Palin gets $100,000 a pop for her speaking engagements and pockets the money?
"Please give us Yeehaws some credit"
Sorry BluBld, "Yeehaws" like you don't deserve any credit.
Teamster,
Good one. I never saw that coming. Did Bush tell you he didn't like you that and you just never let it go?
Bush was not the brightest but don't forget that legislation is usually created by congress. Today it looks like SEIU is the group that passes legislation. Obama speaks with Andy Stern on a daily basis and received millions in campaign contributions from SEIU. Andy spews garbage like SEIU cares about there workers when the pension promise that they made was not being fully funded (average chapters funded pension programs at 65%). One the other hand, the executives of SEIU have been funding the executive pension program 103%.
Look at the health care bill people!!!!
States are collapsing because of unfunded unions pensions and because of labor and government cost. The health care is simply life raft of the SEIU.
Call Bush The Dumb One, but give Obama the title as The Deceiver.
The Teamster is a "BUSHWACKER!"
The Teamster opined: "When bush stole the office of president, in 2000, we went from the smartest president in history to the dumbest president in history."
WAIT A MINUTE there teamster. You have been espousing for months that Obama was the smartest President in history...
@ American Man,
Do you want fries with that?
No scorpiogal, I don't. But you better get back to the drive-thru window, the cars are getting backed up and your 19 year old manager is looking to cut you loose as a cost-saving measure. I bet if you loose your medical coverage and get sick, you'll look at the Obama in a whole new light.