Marc Mezvinsky, Hillary Clinton, Chelsea
Clinton and former President Bill
Clinton after the wedding ceremony in Rhinebeck, New York, July 31.
Yangtze Daily
News, China
Chelsea Clinton's
Wedding a Lesson for China's Anti-Corruption Officials
What can the multi-million dollar
wedding of Chelsea Clinton teach Chinese officials about corruption? According
to columnist Zhang Dong Yang of the state-controlled Yangtze Daily News, the
fact that former President Clinton could pay for such extravagance without having
to hide it shows that he made his money honorably and with public knowledge -
as opposed to public officials in China, who need never divulge their assets
and wouldn’t dare be so openly ostentatious, for fear that their ill-gotten
wealth would be exposed.
Marc Mezvinsky and Chelsea Clinton get married: Who would have imagined that their extravagently expensive wedding would hold a lesson for Chinese anti-corruption officials?
BEIJING: On July 31, America’s
former president, Bill Clinton, spent something like 30 million Renminbi [$4.4
million] on his daughter’s extravagant wedding.
Let us try and imagine what
would happen if a retired public official of China held such an extravagant
wedding for his daughter? He would be challenged by the media, which would attempt
to expose any scandal, the public would vehemently denounce the former official
and higher authorities would have no choice but to investigate. After doing so,
they would undoubtedly find several problematic items. Not only would such an
extravagant wedding or funeral be considered “showing off,” but it would be seen
as opportunistic to use such an occasion to unfairly accumulate wealth. Related
departments have repeatedly issued orders on this issue. It’s a pain in the
neck for the country. There are even some places with regulations stating that
government cadres aren’t allowed to have more than ten tables at a banquet; and
some localities have established offices specifically dedicated to the prohibition
of extravagant events. So do Americans think Clinton’s extravagant wedding should have
been banned?
Not a word of suspicion has
been heard from the American public. On the contrary, the American people have treated
Chelsea’s wedding as if it were their own daughter getting married. Even in the
little town where the ceremony was conducted, everyone was captivated by the
joyous event, as if the Olympics Games had come to town. Several shops in town
displayed signs with the words, “Congratulations Mark and Chelsea!” There were
even stores displaying a family picture of the Clintons!
I don’t mean to overindulge
Mr. Clinton; I just want highlight that in the United States, the system for
declaring the wealth of a public official is very strict and detailed. Government
oversight and public opinion are the central methods of supervision. All government
workers must declare their personal assets before assuming office - and after taking
up office, they must issue reports monthly. Not only do they have to declare their
personal assets, but those of their spouses, sons and daughters as well. Moreover,
all financial records are open to the public and are under society’s
supervision. For example, in November 2002, Bill Clinton was paid $400,000 to
give a speech in Japan - and this was clearly recorded in the "itemized account
books."
Therefore, the public knew
that former President Clinton and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have earned
ample amounts of money. After Clinton left the White House, he relied on speeches
made around the world and book writing to make money, which earned him six
figures. He's known as the richest American president in four decades. The
family assets exceed $37 million. As secretary of state, Hillary Clinton earns over
$185,000 a year [$191,300]. Moreover, she has written the best selling book Living History, which has sold well
throughout the world.
Can you imagine our public
officials having all of their financial assets open for public viewing and
monitored by the government and the people? Only then can the unfair
accumulation of wealth be effectively prevented. We hope our country’s related
departments, which are beefing up anti-corruption rules to ensure a clean
government, become inspired by the fact that without public accusation, the daughter
of the Clintons dared marry in such extravagant circumstances.
