Is it wrong for politicians to their influence to bail family members out

[NNguyenMD]

of trouble? Be it financial or legal?

I was not angry with Bill Clinton for using the presidency to pardon his half-brother Roger. And I don't think that in the same position, that most people could sit back and do nothing in the interest of preserving a healthy public image. So in my opinion, I can understand if a prominent politician, Dem or Rep, uses their power to help a troubled loved one.

However, using your political power to advance the career of a loved one undeservingly is entirely different, hend HW Bush using every political poker chip he had to get his boy elected president.

[Book Lover]

1. Yes in every way

including your Clinton reference.

[Jamastiene]

10. Of course it is

We are supposed to have a society here in America that is free of favortism and aristocracy, but I see aristocracy is winning out. For shame for shame...

[EST]

2. Well, if you do it-of course it's wrong!

But, now, if I do it...well, that's different. This is one of those questions wherein the value derives not from the answers you get, or give, but from pondering the question.

[imenja]

3. JFK and RK?

[ultraist]

4. Nepotism

Clinton did not come from a blueblood line, he was the first to make it big from his family, so I'm not sure helping his half bro out qualifies as nepotism. Now, if he got Chelsea a job, that would be.

[neweurope]

5. Let me tell you about James Lynch:

Judge of Galway/Ireland in the 15th century. The Lynch's were the most influential family in town. His son Walter murdered Gonsalvo Gomez, a Spanish guest of the city. He was sentenced to death - but out of fear of the Lynch family no executioner dared carry out the sentence. So James Lynch with his son went on the balcony of his house before the folks of Galway and personally put the rope around his son's neck.

I admire him immensely.

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Remember Fallujah

Bush to The Hague!

[NNguyenMD]

6. maybe I've just got different values, but I can understand when

someone in power uses their influence to save a family member. You ask the parents of murderers why they still stand by their guilty children, their reaction is as quick as it is instinctive, it is because that is their child. Same goes with brothers, sisters, wives, and grandparents.

Bill Clinton spent years protecting his smaller half brother Roger from his abusive, alcoholic stepfather, and I'm not surprised nor sorry that he used the power of the presidency to protect Roger once more from jail time, they are brothers after all.

[neweurope]

7. When someone in power uses his influence for personal gain -

and defending a famlily member is personal gain - he is ABUSING HIS INFLUENCE.

If somebody doesn't get punished exactly like the next person only because he knows somebody influential the law itself is damaged. James Lynch knew this. He defended the law.

-------------------

Remember Fallujah

Bush to The Hague!

[NNguyenMD]

8. Clinton defended his brother, his only living brother meant more to him

than the propriety of presidential powers.

As a brother myself, I can't say that I disagree with what he did. Is there a point to where nepotism, or family perks becomes unacceptable, of course there is. But at the same time I think its important to consider the relationships involved when powerful people do these types of things, i.e. between parents and children, siblings, and spouses.

[ISUGRADIA]

11. Apparently Clinton couldn't recognize the gravity of his office

and instead chose to exploit it at the last moment on his brother's behalf. That was sad and wrong. He can stand by him personally but when he used his office to elevate family above others in the eyes of the law that's deplorable.

[rman]

9. representing all people is why they have the influence they have

so using that influence to help out only a few people, isn't what they're supposed to do.

[burn the bush]

12. it's wrong but most of us would do it if given the chance