Hillary Clinton Raises Big Bucks In The Hamptons

The Clintons, as in Hillary and Bill, have adopted the Hamptons as their summer home for the last 16 years. They are practically locals as almost every waiter, waitress and shop employee has had a Bill Clinton moment. There are so many “selfies” of folks with the couple all over Facebook. Bill and Hillary have favorite places like Jason Weiner’s (yes Anthony Weiner’s brother) Almond in Bridgehampton or Bon Jovi’s and Ronnie Perlman’s Blue Parrott in East Hampton, to name just a few.

Eight years ago the Clintons flipped pancakes in the Hamptons for $1,000 a family but times have changed. Now it costs much bigger bucks to attend a “private” Clinton fundraiser with the prize being the Jimmy Buffett, Jon Bon Jovi $50,000 a head event at Jimmy’s compound in North Haven. Believe it or not, nine fundraising events are all sold out.

Summer in the Hamptons means the crowds, the traffic and the fun are all at a feverish pitch. If Hillary Clinton becomes the next President all that madness will definitely change. Be prepared once again for roadblocks, backed up traffic, closed roads and other inconveniences.

From 1976 to 1992, Kennebunkport, Maine was my summer locale of choice. Kennebunkport was dramatically altered when George H.W. Bush became President. Before President Bush was elected, I would play tennis at the River Tennis Club in Kennebunkport. He could be seen playing on one court, while, believe it or not, Barbara Bush would be playing doubles on another.

That casual scene changed when George H.B. Bush became President in 1988, and not for the better. The area attracted a new class of tourist who arrived daily just in the hopes of a Bush spotting. Local roads had checkpoints with the Secret Service stopping/blocking traffic if the President was in town, which was nearly the entire summer.

This is just a look into the future should Hillary Clinton defeat Republican challenger Donald Trump in November, although some people believe they may go to back to Martha’s Vineyard like they did during Bill’s Presidency. Let’s hope so.

As for the tennis aspect, Scott Rubenstein, Managing Partner of East Hampton Indoor Tennis Club has stated he will make court time “always available” for the Clintons while they are out here raising funds.