Dick Morris: Bill Weighed Pardon for Hillary

NewsMax ^ | 6/17/03 | Limbacher

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

Former President Clinton seriously considered issuing a pre-emptive pardon for his wife, Hillary, after he was re-elected in 1996, just a few months after the former first couple's two Whitewater business partners, Jim and Susan McDougal, were convicted for bank fraud.

"[Clinton] had asked my opinion of a blanket Whitewater pardon including all those involved in any aspect of the scandal," Clinton's top political adviser Dick Morris tells NewsMax.com exclusively.

Morris says that Clinton wanted to start his second term with a clean slate and was thinking out loud.

"He speculated that Hillary might be part of such a blanket pardon. He cited the Bush pardon of Casper Weinberger, who was pardoned before any indictment had been rendered."

At the time, rumors swirled that Mrs. Clinton was about to be charged as part of either the Whitewater or Travelgate probes then being run by independent counsel Kenneth Starr. But Morris knew instantly that pardoning Hillary would be a political disaster and he pulled out all the stops to torpedo the plan.

"I told him that I felt that U.S. presidents often misread a re-election mandate and took arrogant actions after their re-election. I cited FDR's court-packing plan, which backfired and screwed up his second term. I said he would 'go down in history right alongside of Jerry Ford' if he tried it."

Just to make sure, the top White House adviser tipped Hillary to the pardon scheme by raising the possibility of coming Whitewater trouble.

"I then called Hillary and speculated that Starr might indict her," Morris reveals. "'He wouldn't dare indict me,' she replied angrily and loudly." Morris said that he reminded Hillary that Bill "would have the power to pardon her if he did."

"She flew into a rage, saying, 'If [Starr] decided to play that way, I will fight it with all that I've got. I don't want any pardon. I won't take any pardon."

The indictment ruse worked so well that, to this day, Mrs. Clinton still believes she was about to be charged, recounting the episode in her memoirs as if Morris was acting as an agent for Starr or "carrying water for his Republican clients."

But Morris explains to NewsMax:

"I wasn't, as she writes, 'carrying water' for the Republicans. I was carrying it for her husband. It is also totally untrue that I was passing along any message from Starr's people. I didn't know anyone close to him and no Republican ever spoke with me about it."

The top consultant adds: "My purpose was to run by her a trial balloon from her husband that I hoped would be shot down. That she thought I was passing on a plea bargain offer is a level of paranoia high even for her."

[Torie]

When in this story, Hillary comes out the heroine, and her hubby the self indulgent cad we all know so well.

[marajade]

Starr wasn't as bad as they made him out to be after all... He He He...

[Alberta's Child]

The indictment ruse worked so well that, to this day, Mrs. Clinton still believes she was about to be charged, recounting the episode in her memoirs as if Morris was acting as an agent for Starr or "carrying water for his Republican clients."

That Morris is a manipulative little SOB, isn't he? He played those two morons like a fiddle.

Grima Wormtongue couldn't have done it any better.

[ladyinred]

Hmmm, if Bubba was contemplating pardoning the little woman, that must mean he knew she was guilty of something doesn't it? Isn't this interesting though.

[ladyinred]

I then called Hillary and speculated that Starr might indict her," Morris reveals. "'He wouldn't dare indict me,' she replied angrily and loudly."

What an arrogant you know what! He darn well should have indicted her, and that he didn't is something I will always wonder about. Just whom did Starr really work for anyway?

[goodnesswins]

Hmmmmm....have the statute of limitations run out on this?

[TheSpottedOwl]

Very interesting. Hill, Bill, and Dick Morris star in the new video release, "When Weasels Attack".

Hey Ron, ping your list. You all are gonna love this article.

[Just mythoughts]

What I find most curious about this article is the fact that Hillary thought Morris was a mole for the Republican clients, talk about paranoia. So Starr was getting really close for Hillary to be this worried.

Morris denying he ever talk to his Republican clients needs a bit more exploring considering how Trent Lott made darn sure there was no senate trial for the impeached one.

[annyokie]

[isthisnickcool]

(Insert "Hillary is the smartest woman in the world comment here")

(Add tons of laughter here)

[TomGuy]

Very interesting. Hill, Bill, and Dick Morris star in the new video release, "When Weasels Attack".

Or that other blockbuster version: "It takes a village of idots to eat their own."

[CyberAnt]

In Rush's magazine, he did a great interview with Starr.

[Paul Atreides]

Dick Morris: Bill Weighed Pardon for Hillary

Dick Morris: Pardon, for Bill Weighed Hillary

[hole_n_one]

I can't believe what those FReepers are saying about me!

[hunter112]

That Morris is a manipulative little SOB, isn't he? He played those two morons like a fiddle.

Well, yes, the way he tells it. Sorry, I can't trust any self-serving comments from that whore.

[Digger]

Something tells me that Bubba was involved with the issue that was to have been pardoned & memory tells me that is not an option.

[Ready4Freddy]

"...that must mean he knew she was guilty of something doesn't it? Isn't this interesting though."

Well, it does make one wonder why GHWB pardoned Cap, doesn't it?

[sine_nomine]

Great comment.

[Terriergal]

Former President Clinton seriously considered issuing a pre-emptive pardon for his wife, Hillary, after he was re-elected in 1996

Oh, my! (although, it's not like it tells us anything we all didn't know...)