In the U.S., why are Democrats and Republicans held to different legal standards?

Question

If a Democrat politician commits crime X, he gets a lesser punishment than a Republican doing the same thing.

Answer 1

I don't think they are. Maybe Republicans are a bit defensive now that we have congressional oversght. Lots of things are coming to light that happened on their watch. Maybe it just feels that way.

Answer 2

Democrats are generally more outspoken and make more noise about anything that displeases them, so the Republican Party is usually on the receiving end of a lot of criticism. Democrats are also generally the ones who believe that everything from healthcare to cigarettes should be regulated by the government. So there is a lack of personal responsibility which is implied. "People don't know better for themselves, so this law will force them to do the right thing. No one is to blame for their own actions and politicians on the democratic side are more prone to pointing the finger at someone else or trying to confuse the issue. (Example: Bill Clinton)

In contrast, the Republican Party is big on taking responsibility for their own actions. So when someone on the republican side is guilty of some wrongdoing, they will be more likely to accept the blame and try to move on. Outspoken democrats will leap on these opportunities and crucify them or call for their removal from office. If things get really bad, a republican is more likely to step down, like Nixon or Newt Gingrich, because it's better for the country to not have it's leadership weakened by attacks against their character.

Democratic politicians are more likely to stubbornly cling to their station, no matter what they've done, or been accused of doing because, to them, it doesn't seem to matter if they are actually right or wrong. In this country, you are innocent until proven guilty. So, unless someone can prove that they are guilty of something, they will stay right where they are. (See: Sen. Edward Kennedy)

Answer 3

I have no idea where you obtained the information for such a claim.

Justice is blind unless you have a lot of money and can buy a legal team that can defend you from almost anything this side of murder.

And there is the simple reality that some so-called crimes are based on bad legal precedent. In other words, people are being harassed for accusations that have no moral justification.

On the other hand, some criminals are allowed to go scott free because there are no laws to govern their outrageous excesses. The gasoline producers of the US come to mind.

Rather than focus on what political party is benefiting from legal deliberation, focus on who is hurt by the process: the people of the United States.

Answer 4

The idiots screaming for examples just have to look at recent history. ( Scooter Libby vs. Sandy Berger )
I mean, get real, Libby is entrapped into committing perjury. The prosecutor KNEW that Dick Armitage had leaked Valerie Plame's name to the press before he ever questioned Libby. (Prosecutor is a democrat) Libby was never convicted for outing Plame. Why? Hummmmm!
Sandy Berger steals documents from the national archives by stuffing them into his pants (unbelievable) and, his fellow democrats in the FBI refuse to investigate the crime. Talk about a real cover-up. More fellow democrats in the press refuse to cover the real story and report the alibi that it was a mistake.
Yeah, I've made that mistake too, stuffing classified documents into my pants and smuggle them out of the national archives. Oops! How did those get there?

GET REAL !!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 5

People are not treated differently under the law based on political affiliation. People who know those in power might be treated differently based on real or perceived pressure from their politically appointed bosses though.

If you believe someone has been given political favor in sentencing, you should report it to your state attorney general, or if this is unlikely to result in an investigation due to political alliance, then report it to the FBI or the US attorney general. They are charged with investigating this type of behavior.

Answer 6

Ted Kennedy- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Kennedy_Chappaquiddick_incident
i.e. murder or at least involuntary manslaughter, leaving the scene
charge-none

Michael Moore
incident- violating embargo to Cuba by going there
charge- probe into the incident but nothing will come of it

Al Sharpton
Incident- about a hundred counts of defamation of character, possibly charges relating to the murder of the employees of Freddy's fashion mart
Charge- none

Jesse Jackson
again defamation of character
charge- nothing

Answer 7

Perhaps the perceived "crimes" were not actually the same. Perception is important. Perspective is also important when looking at issues. One who is predisposed to a particular view point is likely to taint one's views.

Answer 8

Examples?

Answer 9

Because the media is liberal, so most of the media outlets will portray the Democrat in a better light.

Answer 10

Well over half the federal judges (district court, appeals court, supreme court) on the bench today were appointed during the Reagan administration. That Reagan...what a liberal!