need info to refute wingnut regarding Clinton WH

[themaguffin]

Someone brought Clinton playing politics with the FBI by requesting a lot of FBI files on "enemies." I didn't recall this one ( I remember well many trumped up attacked on the Clintons in the 90s, but this one I can't recall). Anyway a search just gives me wingnut sites.

[AJ9000]

1. Then ask THEM to supply references to back their claim. nm

[truedelphi]

2. The Clinton administration blocked my calling the W House

during their time there.

So far, the Bush people have not done this. (This is the single example of how the Bushes are an improvement over the Clintons. It does not make up for much, of course.)

Could not tell you about the FBI - I did not get the sense that the Clinton admin. went after people - even in my case, I always felt that they were just trying to get rid of the pest that would be calling their staff telling the staff how awful depleted uranium and its use in the Balkans would be in terms of health effects there.

[proud2BlibKansan]

3. Clinton is no longer in charge of the FBI

Don't let them suck you into useless debates about Clinton. It's a dodge to keep you from talking about the FBI problems TODAY, under dubya. Bring them back to the present by reminding them that the FBI spent more money investigating Clinton's sex life than investigating 9/11.

[Warpy]

4. There were 90 FBI files found in offices there

a few months into his first term. They were on GOPs. After the right wing kicked up an enormous fuss about it, an investigation determined the files had been left there by the previous administration, Poppy's.

It is normal to have FBI dossiers on anyone who has frequent access to the White House. They are generally particular to the administration in power.

Poppy's team was just plain sloppy in leaving those files behind. They should have been returned during the transition period.

That's the big scandal. I can't believe these dumb right wingers are still buying this one.

(The names on those files were never released and in no way constituted any sort of enemies list. Clinton had no idea at that time who his enemies were at that time, more's the pity)

[napi21]

5. If I recall this story correctly, FBI files are automatically given to

every new occupant of the WH on every employee there. Cooks, maids, and all other staff personel. It seems the idea is to give the new occupant, especially if they are from adifferent Party than the last residents, a comfort levelwiththe people they will be spending the next four years with. I don't remember the results of the file revues, except they fired the WH travel office personel.

Of courst the Pubs grabbed anything they thought they might be able to get a little mileage from and blew the whole thing out of proportion.

i'dbeshocked if the Bushies didn't fire a lot more of the staff than just the travel office, since they detested the Clintons so much. In fact, the one firing that comes to mind was the chef who had been at the WH through a number of different Presidents, but apparently wasn't good enough for Shrub!

[GainesT1958]

6. It was another trumped-up "scandal"...

By the "Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy" known as "Filegate". They claimed Hillary asked for the FBI files, supposedly on potential and/or real "enemies" of the Clintons.

Just as with Whitewater, Madison Guaranty S&L, "Troopergate" and "Travelgate", it was completely fabricated by critics/opponents of the Clintons, many of whom had been on them since Bill's days of running for governor. Ken Starr spent $40 million of our money just to A) find out all of this was untrue, and B) recommend impeachment of Clinton for lying about an affair with Monica.

No one has wasted our hard-earned money over the last fifteen years more than the "Party of Fiscal Responsibility"!:mad:

[gratuitous]

7. Ask your wingnut friend

How did that investigation into Socks' Christmas list go? Spent thousands of taxpayer dollars checking up on a cat's mailings? Was there anything the GOP wouldn't waste time and money on, as long as they thought some political hay could be made? Like Terri Schiavo? How'd that flag burning amendment go?

Now, what were you bleating about a non-scandal involving, what was it -- FBI files?

[Erika]

8. Excuse me but W has been in charge for 6 years

Why would anyone care about Clinton in veiw of Iraq and Afghanistan and W's ineptness?

[ThoughtCriminal]

9. It was one of the zillion things that Ken Starr investigated

"Filegate". In the end, he found nothing but a lie about a stained dress.

[oasis]

10. Just more Jeff Christie b.s..

:puke:

[ThoughtCriminal]

11. Here's a link that should help

Independent Counsel: No 'substantial and credible' evidence of Clinton involvement in 'Filegate'

http://archives.cnn.com/2000/ALLPOLITICS/stories/03/16/files.report/index.html