Vetting Hillary; a Crack in the Legend

National Review Online ^ | February 6, 2008 | Lisa Schiffren

[Parmenio]

Jerry Zeifman, a lifelong Democrat, and lawyer, has written a very troubling piece, here, about his professional experience with the young lawyer, Hillary Rodham, in the course of the Nixon Impeachment hearings. Candidate Hillary Clinton now speaks non-stop about her work at the Children's Defense Fund, after Yale law school. In doing so, she stretches the truth by claiming that she spent her time "fighting for abused women and children" (advocating for larger welfare benefits is more like it). But the job that brought her to the attention of the political universe, to which she no longer refers, was serving as a junior staffer on the House Judiciary Committee's Impeachment Inquiry staff, in 1974, which Mr. Zeifman ran.

Mr. Zeifman writes:

After President Nixon's resignation a young lawyer, who shared an office with Hillary, confided in me that he was dismayed by her erroneous legal opinions and efforts to deny Nixon representation by counsel-as well as an unwillingness to investigate Nixon.

At that time Hillary Rodham was 27 years old. She had obtained a position on our committee staff through the political patronage of her former Yale law school professor Burke Marshall and Senator Ted Kennedy. Eventually, because of a number of her unethical practices I decided that I could not recommend her for any subsequent position of public or private trust.

He goes on to explain that Hillary's efforts to deny Nixon "representation by counsel," a basic right in our system of law, had to do with her patron, Senator Kennedy. It was known that, as part of his defense Nixon would argue that his after the fact knowledge of the Watergate break-in paled in comparison to J.F.K.'s activities, including "using the Mafia to attempt to kill Castro, successfully assassinating both Patrice Lamumba of the Congo, and Diem of South Vietnam." Teddy did not want a sitting president to make that case.

Clinton was also helpful in creating delays, in an attempt to keep Nixon in office and bleeding as long as possible. Apparently Kennedy and (his personal lawyer ) Marshall were convinced that a very liberal Democrat could win in 1976 if Nixon were still in office. They didn't want to see him resign too quickly. Hillary was helpful there, too, in subverting the instructions from her boss, Zeifman, and his boss, Tip O"Neill. O'Neill was especially concerned that no rules be changed and that the law be scrupulously observed. Hillary ignored him.

This story rings so true because we have all seen this behavior from her. Is it characteristic for Hillary to disregard legal niceties in pursuit of her higher personal code of justice/vengeance/personal advantage (and in pursuit of helping abused women and children...)? Did she do that in her First Lady years, with regard to Whitewater; the FBI files of Republicans that ended up in her offices; lucrative commodities deals: the travel office scandal; bimbo erruptions; and all the rest. Does a leopard change her spots?

Because if we believe that Hillary Clinton thinks she is above the law, that the ends justify the means, or that the law is a mere tool which can be ignored as one pursues personal power and wealth and power again — ostensibly in service of a higher agenda, then we should not be surprised when she resumes this behavior in the White House. We know everything we need to know about Hillary Rodham Clinton's character. If you have forgotten, read Zeifman's piece.

Link to Zeifman's article is here:

http://www.aim.org/aim-column/hillarys-crocodile-tears-in-connecticut

[nothingnew]

Because if we believe that Hillary Clinton thinks she is above the law,...

She is. It's been proven over and over again.

FMCDH(BITS)

[RDTF]

I emailed that article to everyone I know

[Earthdweller]

Tell this commie to stay out of my wallet, my bedroom, my relationships,my spiritual life, my gun closet...etc, etc. Stinking mandating, freedom sucking vampire doesn't have the right to tell the American people what to do.

She is as much a threat to Freedom as a wolf is to a hen house. Newly minted moderate? What a laugh.

Go join the space program Hillary, the 60's are over.

[macamadamia]

[The Electrician]

So, is the real back story to this the fact that Hillary Rodham was directly doing the bidding of Ted Kennedy as his personal mole and agent within the House impeachment committee? And, if so, what dark Kennedy secrets will she unveil, whether as president or as also-ran, to get back at the Kennedys for their betrayal?

We know that she is a vindictive shrew. She almost certainly is keeping a detailed catalog of every slight, every double-cross, and every backstabbing statement or act that has been aimed at her - whether by elected officials or by the press/media or by corporate leaders or by unions or by former associates, or by anybody else, for that matter. And everybody knows that payback is a, well, payback is a Hillary...

[rebel_yell2]

Didn’t Anne Coulter (and many of our Freepers) just endorse Billary, if McCain gets our nomination?
What the hell are they thinking . . . ?

[doug from upland]

Thanks. I’ve had a few conversations with Jerry discussing it.