Hillary Clinton at Center of Consulting Fee Controversy

Is Hillary Clinton buying endorsements in South Carolina? She, and the South Carolina lawmakers she has been soliciting endorsements from say no, but news from this week has some people wondering.

Over the past week, allegation after allegation has dogged the Senator from New York. On Monday, it was revealed that Darrell Jackson, an African-American state legislator from South Carolina who had recently given Hillary Clinton his endorsement over John Edwards and Barack Obama, may have had financial reasons to do so.

The legislator, seen as one of South Carolina's most influential black politicians, was given a $10,000 per month consulting fee, although both parties denied any improprieties.

"Senator Jackson was someone who was involved in my husband's campaigns," Senator Clinton stated in an interview with the Associated Press. "He was someone we turned to for political advice and counsel and I'm proud to have him on my team." Likewise, Jackson, in acknowledging the fee his consulting firm had negotiated, made it clear that his allegiance had not been purchased. He also stated that he has turned down more lucrative contract offers from other candidates.

Some have commented that with the election more than 20 months away, assuming the South Carolina politician is kept on as an adviser, he will have made a neat sum of over $200,000 by the time November 2008 rolls around. Ed Morrissey of Captain's Quarters blog wonders if something else isn't going on. "It doesn't take a $10,000 per month consultancy to advise Hillary on political matters in South Carolina," he says. "It looks and smells like a payoff, and given the history of the Clintons in politics, it smells particularly bad.

This might have been the end of the story, however more information has come out recently that only adds to the situation. To more lawmakers from South Carolina, Representatives David J. Mack III of North Charleston and Terry Alexander of Florence, it has been revealed, also have ties to a media consulting firm. Both have endorsed Hillary for president, her campaign announced.