CLINTON REGRETS RICH PARDON

UPI ^ | 4/1/02

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

Former President Clinton says he regrets the pardon he gave to fugitive financier Marc Rich as he was leaving the White House, because it was "terrible politics" that damaged his reputation.

In an interview with Newsweek magazine, Clinton said if he had the chance to do it over, he would "probably not" grant the pardon to Rich.

"It was terrible politics," he said. "It wasn't worth the damage to my reputation. But that doesn't mean the attacks were true."

Federal prosecutors and congressional investigators have been looking into the 177 pardons and clemencies announced by the White House within the last few hours of Clinton's presidency.

Clinton told Newsweek that being investigated made him "angry that after I worked so hard and after all that money had been spent proving that I never did anything wrong for money, that I'd get mugged one more time on the way out the door."

Rich was living abroad when he was named in a federal indictment in 1983 on charges of evading more than $48 million in income taxes and illegally buying oil from Iran during the 1979 hostage crisis. He never returned to the United States, and he lives in Switzerland.

The House Government Reform Committee issued a report earlier this year saying that the Rich pardon raised "substantial questions of direct corruption, primarily whether pardons were issued in exchange for political and other financial contributions."

"People are free to say that they disagreed with this or that part of the decisions I made," Clinton told Newsweek, "but there wasn't a shred of evidence that it had been done for any improper motive. In fact, there is a lot of evidence to the contrary."

[isthisnickcool]

damaged his reputation

LOL!

[ladtx]

"It was terrible politics," he said. "It wasn't worth the damage to my reputation.

Tsk tsk. Isn't it terrible how only one small mistake can ruin such a highly regarded reputation and stellar eight years. Oh woe is me. I feel his pain.

[Gophack]

The mark of a true self-centered whore: Clinton regrets the Rich pardon -- not because he now thinks that Rich is guilty or should be prosecuted -- but because it made him, CLINTON, look bad.

This proved Clinton never had an ideology, never had a core set of beliefs, and would just do whatever he wanted based on money and power.

[fporretto]

How sad. The problem with the pardon was that it damaged his reputation. And his case for his stainless purity is based on lack of evidence to the contrary.

Is there any possibililty this is an April Fool's joke? If not, it's a self-parody of the first water.

Freedom, Wealth, and Peace,
Francis W. Porretto
Visit The Palace Of Reason: http://palaceofreason.com

[vrwinger]

Clinton told Newsweek, "...there wasn't a shred of evidence that it had been done for any improper motive. In fact, there is a lot of evidence to the contrary."

Sure, just ask Roger Clinton, and Big Hugh Rodham... They'll tell you Bill did nothing wrong...

The revision of history used to take decades... With this clown it takes just months...

[Elle Bee]

will he give the money back?

Click on Clinton's latest stained lady and go to: That's Rich - Will Mary Jo White find out if Clinton took cash for pardons? ~ WSJ.

Mary Jo White ~ Janet Reno's MiniMe

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[TADSLOS]

You know, I truly believe Clinton will deny his sins before God on Judgement Day.

[steve-b]

Former President Clinton says he regrets the pardon he gave to fugitive financier Marc Rich as he was leaving the White House,

Why -- did the check bounce?

because it was "terrible politics" that damaged his reputation.

It figures. As always, Clinton is a hollow man whose entire life revolves around gaining the approval of others.

[Texbob]

His only regret is he did not demand more money for the pardon.

[Stand Watch Listen]

Clinton told Newsweek that being investigated made him "angry that after I worked so hard and after all that money had been spent proving that I never did anything wrong for money, that I'd get mugged one more time on the way out the door."

Sorry Bill, but it was America that got mugged for your eight years of graft, corruption and scandals. It was America that received the 'black eye' for your lack of a cohesive foreign policy, a poll driven domestic policy.

[nicmarlo]

damage to my reputation

Nope.....just confirmed what we all know and believe....he's a pig and traitor to all Americans.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

I "regret" his entire Presidency.

[Tacis]

I guessing that he's not getting a chunk of Denise anymore. She has probably cut him off and not willing to participate in those threesomes with Willie and Danny's mother anymore.

[1Old Pro]

Clintoon need not worry that the pardon ruined his reputation. He accomplished that all by himself years earlier.

[Lost Highway]

Clinton told Newsweek that being investigated made him "angry that after I worked so hard and after all that money had been spent proving that I never did anything wrong for money, that I'd get mugged one more time on the way out the door."

That just made my morning :-)

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

The mark of a true self-centered whore: Clinton regrets the Rich pardon -- not because he now thinks that Rich is guilty or should be prosecuted -- but because it made him, CLINTON, look bad.

Exactly.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Its only a matter of time before some new Clintonoid excess, an unreported criminal act or sexual predation comes to light. Publishers are paying some pretty hefty advances...

[KC_Conspirator]

You are spot on. This man is a total sociopath. He is upset that he did the Rich pardon because it made him look bad? Not because he once again soiled the office of the presidency? Not because he abused the powers of the White House? Notice how he did not apologize because he does not think he did anything wrong.