"Democrats.com Launches Enrongate Web Site and Internet Advertising Campaign for Special Prosecutor "
don't they ever get "sick of this....:) Audio
Posted on 01/15/2002 5:11:10 AM PST by Brian Mosely
Suddenly, literally overnight, the 'Enron affair' has transmogrified from 'White House scandal' to Democrat pickle -- major-league pickle, actually. The breakneck turn of the tables, politically, has been nothing short of stunning -- even by Washington standards.The Democrats, who only days ago could barely contain their glee -- champing at the bit to tar and feather Bush with the ghastly Enron debacle -- are abruptly succumbing to a surprising case of cold feet. The haters are discovering, much to their chagrin, that the Enron affair -- should they pursue it -- could boomerang right back on them, and in more ways than they might imagine -- or want to bargain for.
A Sunday Washington Post piece, "Enron Also Courted Democrats", by senior writer Dan Morgan, told the story. The cryptic message between-the-lines: Dems, be careful what you wish for....
Washington's flagship liberal newspaper was worried, alright -- and for good reason.
From company documents and former employees, the tapestry of influence-peddling and money-for-favors the Post had unearthed, ironically enough, could prove hugely embarrassing to Democrats, including the party's most prominent members.
Indeed, in the last campaign cycle alone, Enron Corp. poured more than a half of million greenbacks into Democrat coffers -- $532,000 to be exact. That's a scant less than the figure the company reportedly gave Republicans: $623,000. One out of 2 members of the House and nearly 3 out of 4 members of the Senate have, at one time or another, received campaign contributions from Enron.
Clearly, this undercuts the basic tenet of the Democrats' "case", namely that Enron and Republicans are merely two heads of the same evil monster. By lavishing both parties with company largess, Enron was wisely hedging its bets. Politically, the bipartisan nature of its "beneficence" means Democrats have no moral leg to stand on: If accepting a donation from Enron 'taints' the recipient somehow, then Senator Joseph Lieberman, who has pocketed Enron* gratuity himself, should immediately recuse his position as chair of one of several committees probing the affair.
It does not suffice when Sen. Lieberman asserts, as he did last Sunday on CBS' Face the Nation, that since the donation in question dates several years back, he sees no conflict-of-interests. Not only is this self-serving excuse wholly inconsistent, it is morally bankrupt.
Sen. Lieberman should not exempt himself from the very standards he sets for others, for what is good for the Goose is good for the Gander. By refusing to recuse himself, he undercuts his already frail credibility -- and that of the committee he chairs. By practicing such double standards, Democrats expose themselves for the partisan hypocrites they are. Their primary intention, obviously enough, isn't to probe Enron, per se, as much as to score cheap political points and, ultimately, bring down the President.
Yet, for reasons aforementioned, they will fulfill neither intent. If anything, their rabid campaign of smear and innuendo contains the seeds of a mighty public backlash.
Thus, neither side on Capitol Hill stands to gain politically from the Enron debacle.
Complicating things further for Democrats, it's been widely reported that former Clinton Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin last November lobbied a senior ranking Treasury official on behalf of Citigroup, whose executive committee he chairs. Enron's debt ratings were about to be slashed, and Mr. Rubin improperly urged Undersecretary Peter Fisher to intercede with credit agencies on Enron's behalf. Citigroup holds approximately $3 billion of Enron's debt.
But beyond opening Democrats up to charges of rancid hypocrisy, some of the shenanigans reported by the Post appear to cross the rubicon of criminality.
The Clinton administration had provided Enron with massive public funding for many of its overseas projects, but one in particular stands out as a clear case of 'quid-pro-quo'. In June of '96, Clinton golfing buddy and Enron chief Kenneth Lay cut a check totaling $100,000 to the DNC just four days prior to winning final approval from India of a major Enron development there -- one which Clinton had moved heaven and earth to secure. In fact, as the Post points out, Clinton took such a keen interest in this one undertaking, he "deputized" as project overseer his own chief-of-staff, Thomas 'Mack' McLarty III. But the sleaziness didn't end there: Enron later hired McLarty as a full time advisor.
Oh, and did I mention what Jack Quinn, Elizabeth Moler and Linda Robertson all share in common? This: All three were Clinton administration big-wigs, and all three went to work for Enron.
Interesting, eh?
Bottom line: Mr. Lay's ties with the Clinton administration, and with Clinton personally, were exceedingly close, and mutally profitable.
Yet, despite generous campaign contributions, Mr Lay has receieved zip-zero-nada from the Bush administration. In fact, Bush officials wisely rebuffed pressure from Enron -- and Enron's main creditor -- to intercede on the troubled company's behalf.
Ironically enough, it is the nexus between the Clinton administration, Enron and campaign contributions which cries out for a thorough investigation. Accordingly, watch the media frenzy over this 'story' disappear after some initial fireworks from Capitol Hill later this month as hearings gear up. The 'hearings' will go no where, it's easy to predict.
The underlying moral of this story is especially interesting, one which, unsurprisingly, totally escapes the attention of a cynical press. From it we learn how, even in politics, good character will trump money -- every time. Ken Lay was able to buy off the Clinton administration lock, stock and barrel (garnering endless favors-for-cash, at taxpayers' expense)-- but Mr. Lay got nothing -- absolutely nothing -- from President George W. Bush, notwithstanding his lavish campaign donations. The reason? It's as simple and clear as it gets: This President is not for sale. Not now, not ever -- not at any price. His administration is a textbook example of good government. All the campaign finance laws in the world will never substitute for exemplary character and moral integrity -- the qualities this President exudes.
Honor, probity, personal rectitude -- these are Bush's defining traits, and give this President his special appeal.
President George W. Bush is living testimony to why we don't need McCain-Feingold to have honest government -- the kind of government Americans can trust.
And that, my friends, is the real moral of the story.
*Raising more thorny 'conflict-of-interests' questions, Sen. Lieberman reportedly accepted lavish campaign contributions from Citigroup, to the tune of $112,546. According to Enron court filings, Citigroup happens to be the company's largest creditor, with outstanding loans totaling $3 billion. In other words, insofar as appearances go, Mr. Rubin may as well chair Lieberman's committee. The notion that Lieberman can lead an "impartial" investigation of a company which burned his top campaign contributor is laughable on its face. I rest my case.
My two cents...
"JohnHuang2"
Amazing, isn't it? How these people can hold a straight face while mouthing off the most blatant, shameless lies...
I think both sides are afraid to go after these Enron and Anderson crooks, who are they protecting, the crooks or themselves?
don't they ever get "sick of this....:) Audio
Pickering stated that the American government was obviously convinced that the contracts awarded to the two companies which were later cancelled by the Nigerian Government were negotiated in good faith.
He said that he discussed the issue of the contract's cancellation with the President and hoped that the issues would receive fair and direct treatment from the government with a view of being reviewed.”
anyone got some extra time? you might find the demonRATS mired in "fraud" @this site:
http://www.opic.gov/
But of course, polls will show the American people are in no mood for their President to be under attack from those of the left lusting for revenge.
And every mistake the democrats make hurts them. # 1 mistake is Henry Waxman, fast on his way to becoming the Dan Burton of the new millineum.
Let's apply that tortured logic to everyday life. TruthShallSetYouFree (for those of you in West Palm Beach, that would be me) has a brother-in-law. Let's call him LieCheatSteal (LCS for short.) LCS has a big gambling problem. He's into the bookies for about 20 grand. He is desperate. He comes to visit his beloved brother-in-law. I listen to his sad tale of woe and tell him that I can't help him. Off he goes into the night. The next day, I read that he robbed a jewelry store and was caught red-handed. Story would read:"After TruthShallSetYouFree denied any involvement in jewelry heist, Americans learned this weekend that LieCheatSteal did, in fact, discuss his financial crisis with his brother-in-law."
This guilt by innuendo from the media that didn't convict Clinton of lying under oath with DNA evidence to prove it.
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