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ABC's Donaldson: Enron Dwarfs Lewinsky and Whitewater
NewsMax.com ^ | Friday Jan. 11, 2001; 11:35 a.m. EST | Carl Limbacher and NewsMax.com Staff

Posted on 01/11/2002 7:46:13 AM PST by Jean S

It didn't take very long for reporters to get over the scandal fatigue they claimed they were all suffering after covering the most ethical administration is history for eight years.

But now that there's a Republican in the White House, the investigative juices are flowing once again.

During a radio interview Friday morning ABC newsman Sam Donaldson explained that he was ready to go after the Enron scandal hammer and tong.

How does the energy giant's financial collapse stack up against Bill and Hillary Clinton's Whitewater and Sexgate imbroglios?

"I think this scandal is going to dwarf the the two of them," Donaldson told WABC Radio morning hosts Curtis & Kuby.

"Nobody could understand Whitewater," the newsman explained. And while Americans could understand the Clinton-Lewinsky White House sexcapades, nobody cared, Donaldson insisted.

Ironically, the former White House correspondent was the only reporter who managed to rise above the feigned ennui of his colleagues long enough to ask President Clinton about Juanita Broaddrick's rape accusation, to which Clinton replied, see my lawyer.

Still, the senior ABC newsman sounded on Friday as if he really believed the Enron bankruptcy would be far more intruiging to the public than presidential rape charges and Whitewater lawyers found shot to death in out-of-the-way parks.

Meanwhile on ABC's "Good Morning America," Donaldson's colleague, former Clinton scandal spinmeister George Stephanopoulos, confirmed that their Sunday show "This Week" would be devoted entirely to Enron.


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: michaeldobbs
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1 posted on 01/11/2002 7:46:14 AM PST by Jean S
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To: JeanS
You're being illogical, Spock.
2 posted on 01/11/2002 7:48:55 AM PST by dead
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To: JeanS
Poor Sam, almost time for the dog track..
3 posted on 01/11/2002 7:49:08 AM PST by codebreaker
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To: JeanS
I read somewhere (wish I could remember) that Enron has also made contributions to the Democrats.
4 posted on 01/11/2002 7:50:37 AM PST by 3catsanadog
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To: JeanS
Sam may be right, the Clinton administrations involvement with Enron, particularly extorting contracts from third world countries for Enron, the connection with the Lippo group, could dwarf Whitewater. But when the dirt leads to the rats door the press will drop it.
5 posted on 01/11/2002 7:51:50 AM PST by Leto
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To: JeanS
Stated by Donaldson: "I think this scandal is going to dwarf the the two of them..."
Not stated by Donaldson: "In the ratings game. It's gonna be huge."
Vulcan weenie.


6 posted on 01/11/2002 7:52:13 AM PST by Bloody Sam Roberts
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To: 3catsanadog
Enron making contributions to Enron? You read that.....EVERYWHERE!!
7 posted on 01/11/2002 7:52:33 AM PST by goodnesswins
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To: JeanS
He's kidding, right? Almost everyone over age 12 can understand what's wrong with an intern performing a sex act on the President in the Oval Office. A good many MBAs can't explain what was wrong about Enron's use of off the balance sheet partnerships to hide its true debt burden. In fact, can Sam himself explain it in a 15 second sound bite.
8 posted on 01/11/2002 7:54:15 AM PST by The Iron Duke
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Comment #9 Removed by Moderator

To: JeanS
It's the SEC's job to make sure public companies "do the right thing".
10 posted on 01/11/2002 7:57:34 AM PST by Johnny_Apollo
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To: JeanS
It will only be bigger if the media make it bigger. The head of Enron was Clinton's golfing buddy, and contributed financially, as well. There is no honest way to tar Bush with this scandal, but the press will use innuendo whenever possible.

They will harp on the fact that employees weren't able to pull out money from the retirement accounts. But that was, I believe, a problem resulting from federal rules, not from the actions of Enron management.

11 posted on 01/11/2002 7:57:56 AM PST by lady lawyer
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To: JeanS
Meanwhile on ABC's "Good Morning America," Donaldson's colleague, former Clinton scandal spinmeister George Stephanopoulos, confirmed that their Sunday show "This Week" would be devoted entirely to Enron

Hmmm. Does anyone think 'Steffie' will go into how much influence Enron had with x42's White House? I only ask because it doesn't seem like Dubya's folks did ANYTHING for Enron except take a couple of phone calls near the end. Yes, there were some Enron people at Cheney's discussions about energy policy, but so were representatives of other energy companies. I guess they are just desparate to pin ANYTHING they can on Bush to try to lower his popularity quickly, after all, it is only 10 months until the congressional elections, and they need to pump up the Democrat party so they can try to take back the house!

As I said on another thread, I would like to see some info on the amount of money Enron gave to x42 and the Democrats during the same time frame he and folks in his company gave money to Dubya. Corporations ALWAYS hedge their bets as far as supporting politicians, and x42 was in more of a position to do stuff for Ken Lay and Enron over the last 8 yrs. than Dubya was.

12 posted on 01/11/2002 7:58:32 AM PST by SuziQ
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To: JeanS
Great investigative journalism there:
Donaldson: Mr. President, tell us if there's any truth to Juanita Broaddrick's accusation that you raped her.
President Clinton: Ask my lawyer.
Story over.
13 posted on 01/11/2002 7:58:42 AM PST by ValerieUSA
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To: Leto
Sam may be right, the Clinton administration's involvement with Enron, particularly extorting contracts from third world countries for Enron, the connection with the Lippo group, could dwarf Whitewater. But when the dirt leads to the rats door the press will drop it.

bingo

14 posted on 01/11/2002 7:58:48 AM PST by CROSSHIGHWAYMAN
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To: JeanS
And while Americans could understand the Clinton-Lewinsky White House sexcapades, nobody cared, Donaldson insisted

Dream on and insist all you like Donaldson, but it still doesn't make it fact. Ask albore if he agrees.

15 posted on 01/11/2002 7:59:09 AM PST by StarFan
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To: JeanS
Sounds like this has gotten Old Sammy so excited he is having to use extra glue to keep his toupee on these days.
16 posted on 01/11/2002 8:00:24 AM PST by nhoward14
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To: 3catsanadog
I read somewhere (wish I could remember) that Enron has also made contributions to the Democrats.

I think its hilarious watching people from both beltway parties looking back over their shoulder, while running as fast as they can away from Enron.

17 posted on 01/11/2002 8:01:42 AM PST by Joe Hadenuf
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To: JeanS
"Nobody could understand Whitewater"

What a LIAR!

18 posted on 01/11/2002 8:02:33 AM PST by jungleboy
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To: JeanS
Sunday show "This Week" would be devoted entirely to Enron

The only dwarf here will be Sam and ABC when all of a sudden the Dims and Bush will call a draw with all the Clinton history exposed. I expect Congress's investigation will only try to remedy the suffering 401k's and ignore the past Clinton involvement in deals for Enron - India, Indonesia, etc.

A contained backfire, to maintain continuity.

19 posted on 01/11/2002 8:03:20 AM PST by flamefront
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To: Leto
. But when the dirt leads to the rats door the press will drop it. 5 posted on 1/11/02 8:51 AM Pacific by Leto [ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies | Report Abuse ] yep yep, they will drop it like a hot potato when they find all the links to DemonCraps!! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
20 posted on 01/11/2002 8:03:31 AM PST by timestax
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