Posted on 07/22/2004 3:36:01 PM PDT by Libertarianize the GOP
Respect for government and a free society
A free society can only function when most citizens obey the laws and cooperate with their government out a sense of respect for the rules and their government. A police state exits when citizens follow the rules only out of a fear of punishment. When a politician acts as if he is above the law and demonstrates a lack of respect for the rules he undermines an essential foundation of a free society. To disregard a law that you actively and publicly oppose might be acceptable because the contempt shown would be for one particular law, not the whole system of laws.
For a politician to actively support specific laws except when those laws are applied to him is worse than hypocrisy. Such a politician has shown that he values himself more than he values our Country and that he has reversed the idea of being a public servant.
Impeached Ex-President Clinton actively supported the sexual harassment laws that Paula Jones used to sue him and even to this day has never spoken out against such laws except as applied to himself. Clinton signed into law the Independent Council law on the assumption that the law would only be used against Republicans like Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan and President Bush (41). Only after the Independent Council Law was used to look into Clinton’s own corruption did he finally come out in opposition. Clinton as a lawyer, a governor and a Democrat has supported an expansive use of depositions to in essence go on fishing expedition looking into things only tangentially related to the original lawsuit. Other than claiming that he should never have been asked about Monica, Clinton has never voiced any opposition to the wide ranging questions currently allowed in depositions.
Clinton’s decision to lie to the court and to solicit others to also lie is an example considering himself to be above the rules he applies to us mere citizens.
No one has offered on explanation for why such deliberate misconduct was acceptable behavior except to say that what Clinton did was no big deal or that since the Constitution didn’t mention perjury he shouldn’t have been impeached. If such behavior is not acceptable then there is no explanation for not impeaching and removing Clinton from office. Citizens are supposedly the masters and their elected representatives are the servants. If such behavior on the part of an elected servant is acceptable then why should any citizen obey any rule that conflicts with their personal desires?
This is a response to the movie "The Hunting of the President" and the recent interviews of Susan McDougall and the movies producer.
Former President Clinton's actions undermined one of the most important and fundamental aspects of our society and our constitution.
There was a time when it was inconceivable to lie under oath - this perjury is the foundation of our justice system. Without the belief that when called to place our hand on the bible we, along with our fellow citizens, will tell the truth, (the whole truth, and nothing but the truth,) the system fails and there is no hope for a fair trial, weather you are the accused or the accuser.
For the top law enforcement officer of the nation and the leader of the free world to violate this most basic of trusts is tantamount to willfully and actively tearing down our system of justice from its very foundations. In addition it is a clear violation of his oath of office.
The failure of the Senate to remove him from office was a violation of their oath as well.
DKK
Absolutely, it still deeply bothers me or I wouldn't have felt a need to write more on the subject. The way the Democrats rallied around their corrupt leader is the reason that it is extremely unlikely that any one who could even consider running as a Democrat will ever get my vote again. Because such corruption was so easily tolerated is a reason why Mr. Berger showed no hesitation in stealing documents that might embarrass or worse the Clinton administration. I have found the argument about lack of respect to be effective on my delusional liberal friends, at least it leaves them silent.
bump
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.