How Dumb Do the Clintons Think We Are?

In a memorable episode of Seinfeld, Jerry sought advice from George on how to beat a polygraph test. George had a unique “gift”, he was an incredible liar. From the little white fibs to the earth-shattering whoppers, no one could spin yarn like George Costanza. Jerry was desperate, he had to pass this polygraph exam, and George, the master of deception, was his only hope. George had one bit of wisdom to pass on to Jerry in this time of need: “It’s not a lie, if you believe it.”

I’m reminded of this fictional exchange in the wake of the recent reaction to the Scooter Libby commutation. Predictably, media members worked tirelessly to parrot DNC talking points on the matter, distorting facts and learning all the wrong lessons from this farcical trial. Meanwhile, some reporters thought it might be interesting to get some perspective from a former U.S. President, one who may have come across a similar dilemma to the one President Bush faced earlier this week. Bill Clinton, President Bush’s direct predecessor was asked to shed some light on the subject. Did he think that President Bush made the correct decision? Clinton, who pardoned about 450 people, including an unprecedented 140 on his last day in office, said no. Then he attempted to make distinctions between his pardons and the Libby commutation in an on-air interview with Iowa radio host, David Yepsen.

“Yeah, but I think the facts were different. I think there are guidelines for what happens when somebody is convicted. You’ve got to understand, this is consistent with their philosophy; they believe that they should be able to do what they want to do, and that the law is a minor obstacle.”

Typically, when splitting hairs, one highlights specific details and explains why one act should be seen differently from the other. Clinton has perfected the art of splitting hairs without making any distinctions. In his radio response, Clinton claims that the “facts were different”. But he doesn’t bother to explain which facts were, in fact, different. From there, he slithers into some lame, non-specific, ad hominem attack of the Bush Administration. Clinton has brought the classic “stick and move” technique from the boxing ring to the political arena. You might call it “attack and change the subject”. And Clinton makes sure that he never has to face a legitimate media opponent. Clinton’s promoters always match him up against some third-rate tomato can, so he can stay off the ropes and keep his bloated record intact. True to form, David Yepsen doesn’t lay a glove on him.

In a February 18, 2001 editorial in the New York Times, Clinton discusses some of the controversial pardons and commutations he ordered on his last day as President. In one sentence, Clinton, while attempting to give himself cover for some of his pardons, inadvertently gives future justification for President Bush’s commutation of Scooter Libby’s prison sentence.

“In some cases, I granted pardons because I felt the individuals had been unfairly treated and punished pursuant to the Independent Counsel statute then in existence.”

No doubt, President Bush properly felt that Mr. Libby had been “unfairly treated and punished pursuant to the Independent Counsel statute then in existence”. As a result, he commuted the prison sentence, leaving open the door for a full pardon should Libby fail to clear his name through the court system.

Beyond the cynical and dishonest nature of Clinton’s partisan attack, it’s the corruption he tolerated, pardoned and participated in that bothers me. To put it bluntly, this guy has a lot of nerve criticizing President Bush when his own brazen acts of corruption are there for all to see.

Bill Clinton
-Committed and suborned perjury as President of the United States
-Pardoned 16 members of the FALN terrorist group responsible for 6 bombing deaths in the United States. He did this in 1999 to curry favor with New York’s Puerto Rican community for his wife’s 2000 Senatorial campaign
-Pardoned Marc Rich, a tax fugitive after receiving over $1 million in contributions and gifts from Rich’s ex-wife, Denise
-Pardoned Edgar and Vonna Jo Gregory, who were convicted of bank fraud. This pardon was secured by Hillary’s brother, Tony Rodham, who had received more than $100,000 from the Gregorys as a “loan” that, suspiciously has never been paid back
-Pardoned former HUD Secretary Henry Cisneros, who lied to the FBI during a background check. Cisneros was trying to cover up that he had paid an ex-mistress $250,000 in “hush money”. The ex-mistress eventually got busted for bank fraud in an attempt to cover up the fact that Cisneros was the source of the money
-And, if all that wasn’t bad enough, Clinton sent Sandy Berger to the National Archives to destroy documents relating to his Administration’s failure to prevent the terrorist attacks of 9/11/01. Berger was fined $10,000 and will get his security clearance back in time for another Clinton Administration in 2009…and Clinton dares complain about Libby not going to prison?

Noted Hollywood liberal and one-time Clinton apologist David Geffen said it best, “everybody in politics lies, but [the Clintons] do it with such ease it’s troubling”. It’s disgraceful when an utter failure of a human being (not to mention a President) like Bill Clinton is given the opportunity to lie so publicly without the hint of a challenge. His was the most frivolous presidency in the history of the United States. When a man so completely devoid of dignity casts judgment on someone as honorable as President Bush, it’s profoundly sad. One can only hope he’s significantly less successful getting his wife elected as President as he was successful getting himself the job. One thing I’ll say for Bill Clinton though: I doubt you could find a person who’s better equipped to help you beat a polygraph test.