Clinton's biggest political sin

[sidwill]

Was lying to us.

It wasn't his Grand Jury testimony, it wasn't his affair, it wasn't any of the false charges leveled at him by the right wing echo chamber, it was simply that he went on national TV and said "I did not have sexual relations with that woman".

Think about how things would have been different if Clinton had gone on TV that night and said "I acknowledge that I have made some mistakes in my personal life, In doing so I have hurt my wife and my family."

Think about it, that action alone would have:

Greatly undermined the Right's ongoing campaign against Clinton and Democrats in general.

It would have made him even more of a sympathetic figure.

It would have set a new standard in honesty and accountability, the average American would have respected him even more.

These points would have in turn resulted in Gore using Clinton's legacy more in his campaign.

AG would have won.

etc.....

Don't get me wrong I'm not blaming Bill for GWB but I think if he had been honest with us, we would have had an Al Gore campaigning on the basis of EXTENDING the Clinton dynasty, instead of running from it.

[Jabbery]

1. No - it was being a charismatic, effective Democrat

He could have lied all day long about sex, I don't care. Neither do most people.

Clinton's biggest "crime" was being a Democrat.

[sidwill]

3. I disagree

Regardless of the petty, BS, partisan witch hunt that was Starr's investigation, when Bill was caught with Lewinsky he should have just told the truth.

[Borknagar]

4. hmm

Did he have sex with her or did she give him a BJ? If there was no penetration then there was no sex.

[Bridget Burke]

2. If he'd "been honest with us" they would have kept attacking.....

There really is a Vast Right Wing Conspiracy, you know.

[VolcanoJen]

5. GACK!!!!

Enough already with The Clenis!!

I don't give a flying football field if you respect Clinton, or if you think he lied, or if you feel he's the reason Al Gore lost.

There isn't a damn thing Clinton could have done to earn the respect he deserved for leading his country well. The Republicans were sore at him, because he beat the stuffing out of 'em every single chance he got.

The Starr Report, and the multitude of phony "scandals" cooked up by the right wing were nothing more than an attempt to overturn the results of two legitimate elections.

In 2000, they finally succeeded. And it had nothing to do with Bill Clinton either.

Enough with this garbage-talk. Clinton is still respected, and a "sympathetic figure" to Democrats, and Al Gore still won.

Nothing can change that... but, nice try.

[sidwill]

6. He should have simply told the truth

Like I said I never gave a flying F%&* about Starr investigation but when Cklinton went on National TV and LIED TO US! Remember?

Right now we are all beside ourselves because of an administration that lies on a daily basis, we demand the truth, we demand that they hold themselves ACCOUNTABLE TO US.

What price should any leader of this country pay if they willfully lie to the very people they represent?



As a president, Clinton had few peers but he lied TO US and for that alone he should have resigned. Just like Bush should resign for not only lying repeatedly TO US but for being incompetant to boot.

[ArkDem]

8. beat them?

During Clinton's administration, the Democrats lost:
- 48 seats in the House
- 8 seats in the Senate
- 11 governorships
- 1,254 state legislative seats
- Control of 9 legislatures
In addition 439 elected Democrats joined the Republican Party while only three Republican officeholders went the other way.
While Democrats had been losing state legislative seats on the state level for 25 years, the loss during the Clinton years was striking. In 1992, the Democrats controlled 17 more state legislatures than the Republicans. After November 2000, the Republicans controlled one more than the Democrats. It was the first time since 1954 that the GOP had controlled more state legislatures than the Democrats (they tied in 1968). Among other things, this gave the Republican more control over redistricting.
In fact, no Democratic president since the 19th century suffered such an electoral disintegration of his party as did Clinton.

[AntiCoup2K4]

7. I think Clinton should have given honest answers to TWO questions.

1) During the campaign, when he was asked about smoking dope, he should have said "Hell yes I inhaled, and I enjoyed it!"

2) When asked about Monica, he should have said "Hell yes she swallows, and SHE enjoyed it!"