Is this the pot calling the kettle black?

Question

Clinton slams Bush over Libby maneuver
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070704/ap_on_el_pr/clinton_interview;_ylt=Apa3pDaL3wFiBUhsBVx3e5.yFz4D
KEOKUK, Iowa - Democratic presidential contender Hillary Rodham Clinton drew a distinction between President Bush's decision to commute the sentence of White House aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby — which she has harshly criticized — and her husband's 140 pardons in his closing hours in office.
As she campaigns with her husband for Iowa's leadoff precinct caucuses, Clinton has joined other Democrats in ripping Bush's decision. In the interview, she said it was "one more example" of the Bush administration thinking "it is above the rule of law."

Her husband's pardons, issued in the closing hours of his presidency, were simply routine exercise in the use of the pardon power, and none were aimed at protecting the Clinton presidency or legacy, she said.

Answer 1

She's absolutely right, there's a huge difference between what President Bush did in commuting Libby's jail sentence and what Billybob Clinton did in the last day of his administration. President Bush had absolutely nothing to gain from his clemency, and opened himself up to a whole lot of criticism, and Billybob was just raking in the dough like he always does. It's no secret that Hugh Rodham and Roger Clinton were selling those pardons out the back door of the White House, and harry Tomlinson was a part of it too. Denise Rich stated flatly that her husband, Marc was pardoned in return for about a half million bucks in donations to Hillary's campaign chest and Billybob's library. After all, Marc Rich was only an international fugitive who embezzled $60 million. Rightly or wrongly, President Bush acted on his principles while Billybob sold his office and his legacy for his version of 30 pieces of silver, like he always did. Scoundrels do not change.

Answer 2

Bill pardoned people that had done much worse things than anything Libby did. The simple fact is that it is the right of every President to pardon people,and to commute sentences,and if they're bothered by how Bush used that power so what. I know that when some pointed out some of the people Clinton pardoned I saw a few I didn't agree with,and so did everybody else,but that is the power of the President and if people don't like it then work on amending the Constitution to take away that power,otherwise get over it.

AD

Answer 3

hillary is a lying hypocrite as proven by her husbands own words.

"First, I want to make some general comments about pardons and commutations of sentences. Article II of the Constitution gives the president broad and unreviewable power to grant "Reprieves and Pardons" for all offenses against the United States. The Supreme Court has ruled that the pardon power is granted "[t]o the [president] . . ., and it is granted without limit" (United States v. Klein). Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes declared that "[a] pardon . . . is . . . the determination of the ultimate authority that the public welfare will be better served by [the pardon] . . ." (Biddle v. Perovich). A president may conclude a pardon or commutation is warranted for several reasons: the desire to restore full citizenship rights, including voting, to people who have served their sentences and lived within the law since; a belief that a sentence was excessive or unjust; personal circumstances that warrant compassion; or other unique circumstances.

The exercise of executive clemency is inherently controversial. The reason the framers of our Constitution vested this broad power in the Executive Branch was to assure that the president would have the freedom to do what he deemed to be the right thing, regardless of how unpopular a decision might be. Some of the uses of the power have been extremely controversial, such as President Washington's pardons of leaders of the Whiskey Rebellion, President Harding's commutation of the sentence of Eugene Debs, President Nixon's commutation of the sentence of James Hoffa, President Ford's pardon of former President Nixon, President Carter's pardon of Vietnam War draft resisters, and President Bush's 1992 pardon of six Iran-contra defendants, including former Defense Secretary Weinberger, which assured the end of that investigation."

William Jefferson Clinton.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/02/18/opinio...

Answer 4

Pardons serve two purposes, one being political, the other a justification of combined facts. ALL presidents use pardons as it is with in their legal rights. Weather one looks at Bush's pardon as unacceptable or acceptable, it definitely pales in comparison when held up to the light of president Bush's predecessor!

Answer 5

George W. Bush
Main article: List of people pardoned by George W. Bush
I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, Jr. - President Bush commuted Libby's prison sentence while leaving the other terms unchanged.

Bill Clinton
Main article: List of people pardoned by Bill Clinton
Roger Clinton, Jr. - Roger was arrested for cocaine possession served a year in federal prison
Patricia Campbell Hearst - sentence commuted on condition by Jimmy Carter, pardoned by Clinton
Marc Rich - Fled the US while being prosecuted on charges of tax evasion and illegally making oil deals with Iran during the hostage crisis.
Dan Rostenkowski - United States Representative Democratic Party
Archie Schaffer - Tyson Foods executive was convicted for bribery, see Mike Espy
Susan McDougal - partners with Bill Clinton and Hillary Rodham Clinton in the failed Whitewater deal
Henry Cisneros - Clinton's Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of lying to the FBI, and was fined $10,000.
Pincus Green - Green fled the US with Marc Rich indicted by U.S. Attorney on charges of tax evasion and illegal trading with Iran
Mel Reynolds - Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives

Answer 6

This would have been a wonderful time for Willy's Wife to sit down and shut up. Apparently, she thinks the public is not only ignorant, but is afflicted with amnesia as well. In spite of national news reports, she was in the midwest within a twenty minute drive of my home, with Willy, and though this is a very populated area, she only drew a crowd of two thousand. I'd like to think it was because us regular folk here in the Heartland have better sense.

Answer 7

Libby's commute is to benefit the executive office while it's still it power.
Reagan pardoned 400, on his way out.
Ford pardoned Nixon.
Yes, Clinton pardoned 300 and something, on his way out.
This is expected of presidents when they leave office. I'm not agreeing with the prat ice but I expect it of them.
I think most people expected Bush to pardon Libby when Bush left office. But to commute his sentence while still in office to protect his sorry @ss or Cheney's is wrong.
It may be legal but it's wrong.
If there is an investigation, Libby will get a full pardon.
Now, if this had been a democrat he would have been nailed to a tree and neutered on the spot!
Try and reverse the party and try and understand. You would have thought this was ok if it had been Clinton? Be honest.
You should not stand by your party, right or wrong. You should be a good american first!

Answer 8

I guess they believe the public is too stupid to remember that far back.

It's all part of the chameleon act. They are counting on fooling everyone.


A skunk by any other name is still a skunk. Just stinks worse the second time around.

Answer 9

hearing hillary speak out against this controversy is like ted kennedy speaking out against the dangers and imorality of heavy drinking. i think the sentence was politically motivated and unfair, but it's the law, by the same token, bush has the legal right to do what he did, right or wrong, it was his perogative. it is futile to get aggravated with his or clintons pardons. learn from our mistakes, seek out public officials who are better people than the current or previous holders of these offices. it's all we can do.

Answer 10

Hillary started all of the criticism last week with Fred Thompson..she will constantly drive the debate..by
taking shots at everyone else..for the same things she's
guilty of..it's the same old Clintonian bull..that was the
most sickening part of these racketeer's operating style.

and the press knows just how to run with it too..
why do you think she wants an end to talk radio criticism?
that is the only real...equal time.