It is axiomatic in the public relations field that if you have to release bad news you do it at 4 PM on a Friday afternoon.

The Clinton’s reported this afternoon that during the past seven years, between their departure from the White House in early 2001 through 2007, they collectively earned $109 million in income.

This breaks down to income for the Clinton’s of $41, 849 per day and the announcement comes on a day when Sen. Clinton, speaking in memory of Martin Luther King Jr., said that she would appoint a cabinet-level position “fully devoted to ending poverty as we know it in America.”

Kate Obenshain, of the conservative Clare Boothe Luce Policy Institute, told Fox News: “There is an irony of putting this out on the day that you announce a cabinet-level position for poverty czar.”

Hillary and Bill Clinton paid $33.8 million in federal taxes from 2000 through 2007.  They listed $10.25 million in charitable contributions during that period.  All charitable donations in 06 were to the Clinton Foundation.

Most of the Clinton’s money, $51.9 million came from Bill Clinton’s speech income.  Earnings from his two books — “My Life” and “Giving” — totaled $29.6 million.

Hillary Clinton had $10.5 million in income from her book “Living History.”  She earned about $1 million through her Senate salary and her husband earned a little over $1 million through his presidential pension.

The smoking gun within the release of the Clinton’s income comes from Bill Clinton’s biggest single business income from his partnership with Yucaipa Global Opportunities Fund, a Los Angeles-based investment firm founded by longtime Clinton fundraiser Ron Burkle.  The returns for this period show income to Bill Clinton of $12.5 million.

Bill Clinton was one of three owners of the global fund’s general partner.  The others included Burkle, who was the managing member, and an entity connected to the ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum.

Exactly how Bill Clinton earned this sum might be in a document which was part of the Clinton’s income tax filings, but undisclosed to the media.  The other question the media will have is what quid pro quo is included in the $51.9 million Bill Clinton earned in making speeches?

It will take the media some time to work through the income numbers released by the Clinton’s today, but you can count on this story having legs, despite the timing of its release and the campaign’s intent to down play the story.