‘I’m guilty’…president who promised ‘most ethical administration’ leaves in cloud of scandal

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CLINTON'S ERA ENDS WITH THIS WHIMPER: 'I'M GUILTY' Saturday,January 20,2001

By DEBORAH ORIN

WASHINGTON.

WHAT a way to leave the White House - trailing clouds of scandal instead of glory.

But then, scandal trailed Bill Clinton from the start of his presidency, so it's fitting the Clinton era's final headline is the president's belated admission that he "knowingly" hid the truth.

In effect, Clinton copped a plea - and that gives the nation just what it needed to close the Sexgate chapter with a public "shaming" of Monica Lewinsky's ex-boyfriend, said political analyst Bill Schneider.

Of course it's the last thing Clinton wanted - he angled desperately for a Mideast peace deal so he could leave office in triumph, then tried in vain to delay copping his plea until he left the spotlight.

Instead, Clinton was forced to remind Americans of the worst of his presidency on its final day - perfect timing for George W. Bush, who is offering himself as "a fresh start" at today's inauguration.

For historians, Clinton's exit will underscore his link with another politician he despises - Richard Nixon - as two scandal-marred presidents who escaped prosecution by legal deals.

"This is an equivalent of a pardon [like Nixon's] because it shuts off the potential of any prosecution. It is a natural linkage. He will be in history linked to Nixon because of wrongdoing in office," said presidential scholar Charles O. Jones.

Jones said it's reinforced by the fact that Clinton's lawyers instantly began quibbling over precisely what he'd admitted, just as he once played word games over what "is" means.

"It tells us what we all knew - that he is an artful dodger," Jones said.

The deal is great news for Bush because it exorcises the ghosts of scandals past - and spares him from facing the messy potential distraction of whether to pardon Clinton.

But it also shows Bush was smart to take a tough stand and resist pressure to offer Clinton a freebie pre-emptive pardon without even waiting to see if he got indicted.

If Bush had proffered a pardon, Clinton would have been spared the need to 'fess up, yield his law license and leave office branded with a scarlet "L" for liar, thus validating Bush's criticism of his character.

And that's a reminder that Bush can be a pretty tough, street-smart guy - and that opponents underestimate his toughness and street smarts at their peril.

Some press pundits speculated Clinton was outplaying Bush in the game of chicken over a presidential pardon - but actually, Bush won, making him the first Republican in memory to best Clinton.

And while aides say Bush knew nothing of the deal, he seemed to be sending signals last week he wanted something like that when he said he'd like to stop focusing on the past and see Clinton "move on."

The deal also marks some sort of validation of the controversial impeachment process and lets independent prosecutor Robert Ray leave office in triumph.

"I'm glad we finally have an independent counsel with good judgment . . . [an indictment] would have prolonged the country's national nightmare," said Rep. Pete King (R-L.I.) - one of the few Republicans to vote against impeachment.

Democrats were quick to say Ray's deal shows former prosecutor Ken Starr went too far. Republicans argued it validated Starr: without his probe, Clinton would never have admitted anything.

[A HREF="http://www.newyorkpost.com/news/nationalnews/21758.htm">‘I’m guilty’…president who promised ‘most ethical administration’ leaves in cloud of scandal

-- Ain't Gonna Happen (Not Here Not@ever.com), January 22, 2001

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Response to ‘I’m guilty’…president who promised ‘most ethical administration’ leaves in cloud of scandal

‘I’m guilty’…president who promised ‘most ethical administration’ leaves in cloud of scandal

-- Ain't Gonna Happen (Not Here Not@ever.com), January 22, 2001.

Response to Â?IÂ?m guiltyÂ?Â?president who promised Â?most ethical administrationÂ? leaves in cloud of scandal

"...one of the few Republicans to vote against impeachment."

Yes. How true.

We just finished an election. You may have noticed just how often Republican incumbents mentioned their impeachment votes during the recent campaign. You will recall how they proudly and forthrightly stood on their record of voting for Clinton's impeachment and his conviction. You will notice how they lost seats in both houses of Congress even while running away from that record as fast as they could.

-- The Republican Party: (the_party_@_of.impeachment), January 22, 2001.


Response to ‘I’m guilty’…president who promised ‘most ethical administration’ leaves in cloud of scandal

One thing liberals have a hard time dealing with is hard and fast right and wrong. Situational ethics is a lie!

Whether or not someone is reelected has NOTHING to do with what is right or wrong.

What 'Bubba' did was WRONG regardless of who ran away from whom and for what reason!

Truth does not change, but people can and do twist it to suit their needs.

-- Ain't Gonna Happen (Not Here Not@ever.com), January 22, 2001.


Response to ‘I’m guilty’…president who promised ‘most ethical administration’ leaves in cloud of scandal

Ain't,

You truly are a hysterical nutcase. So upset because Clinton lied about where he puts his dick. Really, you must have a pathetic life to worry about such things. Very, very pathetic.

-- Ain't (quite@the.looney.tune), January 23, 2001.


Response to ‘I’m guilty’…president who promised ‘most ethical administration’ leaves in cloud of scandal

"What 'Bubba' did was WRONG regardless of who ran away from whom and for what reason!"

I guess what I think is immoral and WRONG is people who moralize about the sex lives of other people like they know right from wrong in all cases, and like they have some kind of final answer to all problems of life. Why do they do this? Just because they're so- called "Christians," and hypocritically judge others?

Cast the first stone at yourself Ain't.

-- Pathetic "Christian" Righteousness (christians@judge.others), January 23, 2001.



Response to ‘I’m guilty’…president who promised ‘most ethical administration’ leaves in cloud of scandal

Pathetic, how nice of you to put this on the hands of "Christian" right. So by your view the corollary is that atheists don't judge people. Geez, so nice of you to place people into little boxes that you created. If you can't see right from wrong only God can help you. Clinton by his own words admitted to wrongdoing and now you still defend his actions. Yes you are pathetic.

-- Wish I could (stop@watching.the.scumball), January 23, 2001.

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