BACKSTORY Clinton Defends Rich Pardon in New York Times Op-Ed (February 17, 2001)

REUTERS ^ | February 17, 2001 | Andrea Shalal-Esa

[Liz]

When the Heaven's Gaters committed mass suicide to rendezvous with the Hale-Bopp comet, then-President Clinton, wishing to miss no opportunity to show off his foreign-policy prowess, immediately ordered Madeleine Albright to establish diplomatic relations with the Hale-Bopp UFO.

[Liz]

CLINTON "...high-ranking Israeli officials of both major political parties and leaders of Jewish communities in America and Europe urged the pardon of Mr. Rich because of his contributions and services to Israeli charitable causes..."

The last refuge of a scoundrel.....Clinton's blaming Jews, and scapegoating them b/c he was in hot water.

[Liz]

Heheh....... cute, very cute.

[Liz]

We're connecting the dots.

[Jim Noble]

"There was absolutely no quid pro quo,'' wrote the former president, who has been dogged by questions about the Rich pardon since he left office on Jan. 20.

That depends on what you mean by "quid", "pro", and "quo".

Interesting that the Clinton PR firm on W. 43rd Street chose now to put this out, when everyone had forgotten it.

Perhaps the wheels of justice are grinding a little too close for comfort?

[moose2004]

Clinton will do anything for a buck.

[Liz]

This is backstory. Not from Clinton.

[Liz]

Heheh....nice zinger.

[SCALEMAN]

CLINTON "...high-ranking Israeli officials of both major political parties and leaders of Jewish communities in America and Europe urged the pardon of Mr. Rich because of his contributions and services to Israeli charitable causes..."

And Hillary needed loads of Jewish support for her Senate run

[JesseHousman]

"i'm not a liar, thief, traitor, rapist, murderer by proxy and proof of it lies in my BIG NEW LIEBERRY IN ARKANCIDE.

[anniegetyourgun]

Try as he might, he'll never be able to fix his legacy.....

BTW, ever notice how he always denies, but never really provides any evidence to prove his case?

[VisualizeSmallerGovernment]

"It had nothing to do with donations from Mr. Rich's wife. It was the sex that convinced me."

[OXENinFLA]

``There was absolutely no quid pro quo,''

Oh yeah suuuuuuuuuuuure there wasn't.

This from the same man that said this.

[Route101]

Amen.....

[Boot Hill]

Nice going Liz, this is good background info on a developing story.

--Boot Hill

[elli1]

Clinton cited eight ``legal and foreign policy reasons'' for his decision to pardon Rich and Green...

And so, bubba, if it was a matter of ''foreign policy'', then why didn't you pardon them 7 years & 364 days before you did? And while you were attaching 'conditions' to the pardon, why didn't you tack on the condition that Green & Rich pay the US Treasury the back taxes they are supposed to owe?

[PigRigger]

As time goes by it becomes more and more obvious what a wasted opportunity the Clinton rein really was. So many potential positives were squander due to his lack of character and inept leadership.

President Clinton served during a time of peace and great prosperity; and he did nothing to make the world a better place.

His need to always explain and/or defend himself speaks volumes too his knowledge that he let great possibilities slip through his hands.

[PGalt]

Thanks for the "connect the dots" post.

[ILS21R]

"The suggestion that I granted the pardons because Mr. Rich's former wife, Denise, made political contributions and contributed to the Clinton library foundation is utterly false"

Creepy liar.

[rabidralph]

Or, where was she on 9/11--in her Manhattan apartment or safely away from flying debris?