Andrew Sullivan: THE LEWINSKY PATH

andrewsullivan.com ^ | 02/12/04 | Andrew Sullivan

[Pokey78]

I'm beginning to worry that the Republicans might be behind this smear-job on Kerry. So does a reader:

"Well, this may be it. As a life-long Republican, I have defended my party and its leaders through thick and thin over the years, but I don't know if I can do it any longer. I voted for Reagan in 1984 (my first Presidential election), despite my misgivings about the rising influence of the Religious Right and my displeasure at the ludicrous budget deficits, because of his moral clarity on the issue of Communism. I voted for Bush Sr. in '88 and '92, and for Dole in '96. Both were serious men, deserving of respect. Nevertheless, I was disgusted by the conduct of my party in the 1990s, vis-a-vis the Clinton scandals. That man has no moral compass, in my opinion, but the debased and lurid tone of the Republican attacks was reprehensible. The further intrusion of the Religious Right into the private lives of the American people, including the President, was not what I signed on for when I joined the Republican party.

When 2000 rolled around, and the "Clinton Wars" finally seemed to be behind us, I breathed an enormous sigh of relief. I was not overly impressed with George W. Bush (I voted for McCain in the primaries), but I was confident that the "grown ups" in the party would steer a responsible course for the ship of state. That has obviously not happened. The budget deficits are nigh unforgivable, and though I agree entirely with the vision of the President's foreign policy, the diplomatic execution has been, shall we say, somewhat less impressive than his father's. Further, the proposal to reverse the course of history and once again enshrine discrimination in our Constitution via the Gay Marriage Amendment, about which you have spoken quite eloquently, almost makes me embarassed to admit I'm a Republican. This is what the party of Lincoln has come to?

Now, after all this, it appears that the conservative/Republican diaspora is preparing yet another round of peeping-tom character assassination rather than a substantive debate on the very important issues our country actually faces, using Drudge as its point-man. I just can't take it anymore. I realize the feelings of one person are irrelevant in political calculations at this level, but if the Republicans really do take us back down the Lewinsky path, this is one vote they will most assuredly be losing in November."

I agree. If the Republicans are behind this, they deserve to be trashed. This is absolutely not something that deserves to be a factor in our current debate.

[JOE6PAK]

Let the SPIN begin!

[wimpycat]

OK, got it!

[diotima]

Didn't we already learn this came from Weasley Clark, with corroboration from reporters who heard him talk about this "off the record?"

What is this guy talking about?

[McGavin999]

Uh, yeah Andrew. Somehow we republicans managed to get into the Clark campaign, infiltrate LeHanes mind and get hime to give proof to his candidate so he could tell a dozen A list reporters about it.

Sheesh, it's bad enough fighting the democrats without having to guard your back against repulicans. How about a little loyalty Andrew, just try it, you might actually like it.

[GeronL]

I'm beginning to worry that the Republicans might be behind this smear-job on Kerry

Of course the allegations can't be reported... but the AWOL story... now thats been vetted 3 times already in past campaigns but we need it on page One daily!

[Dr. Frank fan]

Exactly on what basis would one come to the conclusion that Republicans are behind this?

Assuming Republicans had this information, and intended to use it, it would have made much more sense to wait till *after* Kerry's actual nomination.

[Howlin]

I just him a NASTY email about this on his server; Craig Crawford from The Hotline (??) sent out a memo this very day saying that this story is the same one Chris Lehane has been shopping around for weeks.

Damnit, Diotima, I am TIRED of us knowing more than they do.

Can you get us a talkshow? :-)

[Damagro]

When someone starts off with "I'm a lifelong republican" , you can bet the house that it is a liberal democrat. The funny part is, only a democrat could be stupid enough to blame Weasely Clarks off the record comment on the republicans. This is hillarious

[Timesink]

One thing I find quite interesting about Sullivan's links today is that they're all of thing that people on FR, as well as other places around the web, came up with hours earlier. Of course, Sullivan either puts them out there as if he found them himself or else credits them to other elitist bloggers, but that's neither here nor there. The real point is that Sullivan's rapidly becoming just a regurgitator of outdated information, a place to grab a few links if you've been asleep while big news has been breaking. For this he wants donations?

[thucydides]

The "I was a lifelong republican..." line is a standard feature of leftwing seminar callers to the C Span morning shows.

[Howlin]

I thought the same thing.

[depresso]

why did she flee to africa?

[Howlin]

One thing I find quite interesting about Sullivan's links today is that they're all of thing that people on FR, as well as other places around the web, came up with hours earlier.

Out in the car yesterday, I was listening to Rush; every single word he said, I had read on FR BEFORE I left to run errands.

[VRWC_minion]

The logical explanation is that Kerry is behind the release. Doing so right after he cinched the nomination is the best timing to pre-empt later disclosures. Blaming it on the GOP is icing on the cake.

[js1138]

Republicans are definitely not behind this. Dick Morris referrs to the roach spray principle.

Never spray your opponents during their primary. You will kill off the weaker ones and get stuck running against the strongest.

[diotima]

LOL! If it bleeds, it leads..ya'know? Gotta make waves, I'm sure that wasn't news to him. Just stirring the pot...

[Williams]

I sadly am friends with some liberals. Their only source of the story today was ME. After as usual saying they want to see it from a reputable source, not my crazy Internet sources, they quickly moved into saying Karl Rove cooked this up in the White House! I mean, what do you think the VRWC was all about? Clinton got caught w his pants down. It immediately became a Republican plot. He admitted to it and lying, and it was STILL a Republican plot. Ken Starr became an extremist kook in a flash. So fasten your seatbelts.

[thoughtomator]

Sullivan is clueless. Chris Lehane (a Clintonite) is the source of this story. This is an internectine Democrat fight, not a GOP vs. Dem fight. The GOP doesn't want to torpedo Kerry before he's got the nomination wrapped up.

[nutmeg]

bump

[Huck]

and once again enshrine discrimination in our Constitution via the Gay Marriage Amendment

What a bunch of bull. For one, it's not TRUE. With that amendment, whether you are a gay man or a hetero man, you would have the same equal right to marry a woman. And whether you were a dyke or a regular woman, you would have the same equal right to marry a man. No discrimination involved.

And for another thing, discrimination is not of itself bad. We discriminate against murderers, don't we? And kings, too. America definitely is anti-king. So this guy can go stuff it. Thank you.