Parsing.  The Kennedys played touch football.  The Clintons parse words.

“I did not have sexual relations with that woman.”  Is that the truth?  That depends on what the meaning of “is” is.  Haven’t we been down this road?

Bill Clinton said on May 4, 2015,  "I don't think that I did anything that was against the interest of the United States."  Now that is a curious statement.  Crafted in such a way, it means nothing.  It is Bill’s “opinion.”  And what subjectivity can be used to determine if past actions were “against the interest of the United States”?

Now let us parse some things.  When you receive $500,000 for a speech, double your fee prior to your wife being secretary of state, how much is for the content of your speech, and how much of that $500K is for “other things”?

And may we parse a bit more?  When your wife represents the United States as secretary of state,  and when a country receives tens of millions a year in foreign aid, does it seem proper to have some of that foreign aid sent to your family’s foundation?

Fox News reports, “[O]ver half of the donors giving $5 million or more are foreign, including foreign governments.”  So let us look at those “interests” of the United States, Bill.

The United States gives foreign aid to a host of countries.  In fact, the United States spills about $50 billion a year around the world.  The intent of this foreign aid is debatable, but most would agree that the foreign aid is to be used by that country for its benefit.  If a chunk of that money given as foreign aid to a country is turned around and dropped into the Clinton Foundation, that will reduce the intended impact of the foreign aid given by the United States to that specific country.

The Washington Post reported:

In one instance, foundation officials acknowledged they should have sought approval in 2010 from the State Department ethics office, as required by the agreement for new government donors, before accepting a $500,000 donation from the Algerian government.  [The United States gives Algeria about $150 million each year.]

The money was given to assist with earthquake relief in Haiti, the foundation said.  At the time, Algeria, which has sought a closer relationship with Washington, was spending heavily to lobby the State Department on human rights issues.

Now, is that “against the interest of the United States”?  Bill, that is a very clever statement you made.  Who can judge that one?  In fact, you defend only yourself in that statement, not your wife.  Why wasn’t it “we didn’t” do anything against the interests of the United States?  Is that separation a legal distinction?