Posted on 12/16/2005 6:49:49 AM PST by doesnt suffer fools gladly
Report Could Torpedo Hillary Clinton's Prez Plans
Two Washington pundits are warning that Hillary Clinton's 2008 presidential plans may depend on whether congressional Democrats can continue to keep Independent Counsel David Barrett's final report on IRS abuses during the 1990s under wraps.
"Prominent Democrats in Congress have spent much of the last decade in a campaign to suppress Barrett's report," columnist Robert Novak reported yesterday. "Its disclosures could dig deeply into concealed Clinton administration scandals."
Notes Fox News Radio's Tony Snow: "By all accounts, the 400-page Barrett report is a bombshell, capable possibly of wiping out Hillary Rodham Clinton's presidential prospects. At the very least, it would bring to public attention a scandal that would make the Valerie Plame affair vanish into comical insignificance."
When he launched his probe in 1994, Mr. Barrett's initial focus was former Clinton Housing Secretary Henry Cisneros. But his investigation quickly zeroed in on allegations that the Clintons were using the IRS to persecute their political enemies - including scandal witnesses against them.
Reports Novak: "An IRS whistleblower told Barrett of an unprecedented coverup. The informant said a regional IRS official had formulated a new rule enabling him to transfer an investigation of Cisneros to Washington to be buried by the Justice Department. Barrett's investigators found Lee Radek, head of Justice's public integrity office, determined to protect President Bill Clinton."
Though the Clinton White House dismissed it as "coincidental," one witness after another against the then-first couple found themselves under IRS scrutiny - with a particular focus on Mr. Clinton's female accusers.
Before the 1990's were over, Gennifer Flowers, Paula Jones, Juanita Broddrick and Elizabeth Ward Gracen had all been targeted by audits. Mrs. Jones, whose sexual harassment lawsuit led to Mr. Clinton's impeachment, even had her confidential tax returns leaked to the press in 1997.
At the time of the Jones audit, Clinton press secretary Mike McCurry insisted that it was crazy to suspect any political connection.
"We may do dumb things from time to time," he told reporters, "but we're not certifiably insane."
Advance word on the Barrett report, however, suggests suspicions at the time were right on the mark - and that would mean that the Clinton White House had perpetrated one of the worst abuses of power in presidential history.
Hillary is said to be particularly vulnerable to the Barrett report's exposure, since her old college chum, Margaret Milner Richardson, ran the IRS at the time.
But Novak reports that "hardly any of Barrett's allegations will remain" in the report when the final version is released, thanks to maneuvering by Senate Democrats - despite a previous agreement to the contrary.
Longtime IRS critic Sen. Charles Grassley had hammered out a deal with Sen. Byron Dorgan to amend a Treasury appropriations bill that would have closed down Barrett's office - as long as "all portions of the final report" were made public.
But the Senate-House appropriations conference slipped through a critical change that authorized the three judge panel overseeing Barrett's probe to keep most of his findings under wraps.
Sen. Grassley, says Novak, is the last hope to get critical information that could change the course of the next presidential race into the public domain.
"A stubborn Iowa farmer who often drives the White House and Republican leaders to distraction, he has said that if the Barrett report finally emerges as a mutilated remnant in order to protect the IRS, he will press for legislation to change that."
Republicans have build an entire industry (talk radio) on opposing the Clintons.
The Republicans in DC in that last three weeks are growing spines (with the Iraqi pullout vote that screwed the Dems), lets not stop that with baseless negative comments.
Sure thing: Slim to none and Slim just left town. Hope that is what you meant. ;)
One more reason for a simple flat tax or a consumption tax. No government agency should have that kind of power.
"...and that would mean that the Clinton White House had perpetrated one of the worst abuses of power in presidential history."
Of course they did. And THAT'S what Bill should have been impeached over - forget the lying about sex.
Those file are over a decade old. Even IRS audids don't go that far back (audid usually go five years back at the most).
Even most crimes expire within ten to 16 years of the crime being committed.
Those FBI/IRS files have pasted there expiration date.
Hillary was probably behind it all. Remember it was she who hired Craig Livingstone.
We're not talking evidence of crimes in those FBI files. These files have information on issues that would be the political death penalty for these politicians at election time, including personal details from dirty divorce fights, in-the-closet homosexuals, etc. Much of it is uncorroborated gossip gleaned from interviews during background checks...but many people will take it as gospel if leaked to the press by Hillary.
Actually the dem/press cut their thoats on this in that they throw so much forged dirt at the republicans that if they told the true, the voters would not know the difference and still think that they are lying.
Oh really? Ask Senator Jack Ryan about it. Better yet, ask Senator Obama. Jack Ryan lost his Senate bid because details from his divorce fight were published, including unsubstantiated allegations made by his estranged wife.
Why can't thsi be leaked, like so much other stuff?
Those were current events, we're talking about FBI/IRS files that are over a decade old.
look at those eyes. wow....scary
Yeah sure, just like Sandy Bergerlar was torpedoed into obscurity! I wish I could believe Hitlary would be shamed into obsecurity...IT AIN'T GONNA HAPPEN! The media SHE-DEVIL worshipers will sweep it under the rug! Instead of wishing and hoping we have to start our campaign against her NOW!
Yes they did make a deal to make sure the full report goes public.
Here is the statement from the top article.
Longtime IRS critic Sen. Charles Grassley had hammered out a deal with Sen. Byron Dorgan to amend a Treasury appropriations bill that would have closed down Barrett's office - as long as "all portions of the final report" were made public.
Pelosi = poster-child for Prozac
Chickens coming home to roost.
I know. They are really scary looking.
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