Raising the Bar for Hypocrisy

George Bush commuted Scooter Libby’s prison sentence yesterday. He did not pardon Libby, just commuted his sentence. The conviction and fines stay intact.

If there is one subject that Hillary Clinton should not make a statement about, it is the Scooter Libby sentence commutation. But she made a statement anyway and she had this to say about it:

“This commutation sends the clear signal that in this administration, cronyism and ideology trump competence and justice.” – Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y.

Now lets put that statement into context. She wants to take equal credit for the Clinton administration’s achievements during the two terms , but only if it is positive. If it is negative she was just the First Lady. To separate Hillary Clinton from anything that happened during the Clinton administration would be patently and historically inaccurate.

The Clinton administration issued 140 pardons and 36 commutations on January 20, 2001. This is in one day. The total for the administration during the two terms was 450. To further manifest the context of her statement , several high profile pardons were bought and paid for-Marc Rich, etc. Hillary Clinton’s brother Anthony Rodham was also embroiled in an federal investigation involving his selling pardons. Hillary’s other brother Hugh Rodham received nearly $400,000 for lobbying for the these two men that Clinton pardoned: Almon Glenn Braswell of his mail fraud and perjury convictions, and commuted the sentence of cocaine trafficker Carlos Vignali.

As to be expected there is wholesale outrage and chest thumping by the left over the commuting of Libby’s sentence. That is typical, but where were these liberals when the Clinton’s made their 450 pardons and involvement of her brothers in the pardon scheme? To further show how deep the lack of character that runs on the left, Hillary Clinton packed up and moved to New York and was elected to the Senate.

It’s circumstances like this that also brings about the ignorance of the people elected to Congress. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Chicago) stated, ”Since the president has intervened in this process, it is now the Congress’ obligation and responsibility to intervene in the executive process and begin an inquiry into these very serious crimes against the constitution of the United States.” He plans to call for Bush’s impeachment. Maybe Jesse Jackson’s more informed colleagues should point out Article 2 Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution:

The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States; he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices, and he shall have Power to Grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offenses against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.

Then maybe while his more informed colleagues are pointing this out to him they may also want to take note about the only one Commander in Chief part.