Andrew Sullivan: THE LEWINSKY PATH

andrewsullivan.com ^ | 02/12/04 | Andrew Sullivan

[Pokey78]

I'm beginning to worry that the Republicans might be behind this smear-job on Kerry. So does a reader:

"Well, this may be it. As a life-long Republican, I have defended my party and its leaders through thick and thin over the years, but I don't know if I can do it any longer. I voted for Reagan in 1984 (my first Presidential election), despite my misgivings about the rising influence of the Religious Right and my displeasure at the ludicrous budget deficits, because of his moral clarity on the issue of Communism. I voted for Bush Sr. in '88 and '92, and for Dole in '96. Both were serious men, deserving of respect. Nevertheless, I was disgusted by the conduct of my party in the 1990s, vis-a-vis the Clinton scandals. That man has no moral compass, in my opinion, but the debased and lurid tone of the Republican attacks was reprehensible. The further intrusion of the Religious Right into the private lives of the American people, including the President, was not what I signed on for when I joined the Republican party.

When 2000 rolled around, and the "Clinton Wars" finally seemed to be behind us, I breathed an enormous sigh of relief. I was not overly impressed with George W. Bush (I voted for McCain in the primaries), but I was confident that the "grown ups" in the party would steer a responsible course for the ship of state. That has obviously not happened. The budget deficits are nigh unforgivable, and though I agree entirely with the vision of the President's foreign policy, the diplomatic execution has been, shall we say, somewhat less impressive than his father's. Further, the proposal to reverse the course of history and once again enshrine discrimination in our Constitution via the Gay Marriage Amendment, about which you have spoken quite eloquently, almost makes me embarassed to admit I'm a Republican. This is what the party of Lincoln has come to?

Now, after all this, it appears that the conservative/Republican diaspora is preparing yet another round of peeping-tom character assassination rather than a substantive debate on the very important issues our country actually faces, using Drudge as its point-man. I just can't take it anymore. I realize the feelings of one person are irrelevant in political calculations at this level, but if the Republicans really do take us back down the Lewinsky path, this is one vote they will most assuredly be losing in November."

I agree. If the Republicans are behind this, they deserve to be trashed. This is absolutely not something that deserves to be a factor in our current debate.

[raloxk]

MOBY must be writing letters to Andrew Sullivan now.

[tet68]

Andrew, anyone who begins by saying, "I was a life long republican But.... is jerking your chain.

The Lewinsky effect is problematical of broken morals and
deceit, and was not the path almost all republicans would have prefered to take, it was the Media's and the democrat's chosen path.

Why on earth would we want as President a man who could not even be trusted by his own wife.

Frankly there are more and bigger issues for J.F'n Kerry ADVV. to fall over. Not the least of which is his behaviour
after his return from his four month tour of Vietnam, then
his term as Sentator certainly deserves very close scrutiny!

[Amelia]

link?

[per loin]

Apparently he thinks that Chris Lehane and Wesley Clark are Republicans.

[Uncle Hal]

I enjoy reading Andrew's blog every day, but he is dead wrong on this. This goes to character and moral values. This is very important to me and to a lot of other people. If this is true it does not matter who brought in up. Whether he was faithful to his wife is a very serious issue as far as I am concerned.

[PISANO]

Wonderful. Now the "REVELATION" of J.fing K's marital infidelity will NOT be the issue. The issue will be DID THE GOP reveal this OR didn't they. Even though everyone KNOWS that General "Ripper" Clark spilled the beans!! Amazing the way these leftists operate.

[section9]

Jonah says as much in his blog. Sullivan got suckered. He's backpedaling already.

Be Seeing You,

Chris

[Ditter]

The writer professes to be a life long Republican but he blames the GOP for outing Kerry. I wish some one would out him.

[independentmind]

What? No link?

[VRWC_minion]

The reader sounds like 1/4 of the Freepers who say they will never voter for Bush again every day.

[jackbill]

Jonah Goldberg's rebuttal to Sullivan, over at the NRO site, is crushing and (IMHO) irrefutable.

Got a link?

[areafiftyone]

This is bullcrap. The GOP is not behind it. Kerry developed a reputation for himself when he was dating movie starletts and divorcing his first wife. This story has been out a long time long before Bush was in office. They can blame whoever they want but put the blame on the person who wanted a reputation for himself John FATHEAD Kerry.

[gooleyman]

A "VAST RIGHT WING CONSPIRACY".

We all know that Bush leaked it.

It's not the doing of a few interns that is bad, it's the exposing it that is terrible.

[cyncooper]

It was being shopped by Chris Lehane.

Andrew Sullivan needs to be smacked, he's been so off base lately.

[Rodney King]

If the GOP were behind it, they would have waited until AFTER Kerry got the nomination

Anybody who can't see that is an idiot.

[Theresawithanh]

Sullivan's blog used to be a must for me to read, but now, all he seems to care about is the gay marriage, gay rights issue, and I'm tired of hearing about it.

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

Sorry. :) Here it is: Jonah Slaps Andy

[McBuff]

BULLSH*T, MR. HAN MAN!!!!

You fake punk-a** pseudo-Republican lurker. Not Fooled!!Not Fooled!!You dems are sucking it pal. . .Continue to shake in your boots and conjure up more of your feckless ruses. . .Bush is AWOL, Bush lied, No WMD's. . .now its. . we forced Kerry to pork his intern and send her to Europe. . .right. . .it's warmed over right wing conspiracy. . .PLEASE DON'T HATE US. . PLEASE. . .we'll shut-up, Please don't leave our party. . PLEASE OH PLEASE. . .WE'LL DO ANYTHING IF YOU JUST PROMISE ME YOU'LL STAY!!!

GET READY FOR DOOMS-DAY FIRST TUESDAY IN NOVEMBER, VERMIN!!!

[Steven W.]

Interesting take because it was EXACTLY my thinking when I read it earlier today on his site and e-mailed him the following:

Andrew,
It's getting to the point where I often wonder why I'm reading you anymore - but, before I jump ship, please allow me to put your conspiratorial mind to rest and advise you simply read Craig Crawford's assessment of how Chris LaHane, DNC strategist, and Wesley Clark, former Democrat Candidate, have both been funnelling this story to the media. Not the RNC! repeat after me - D-E-M-O-C-R-A-T-S ... now take a deep breath and get a break. seriously!

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

FWIW, Andrew Sullivan didn't write that...

Yeah, I know.....I read the first line.