GOP changes tune on perjury

[struggle4progress]

WASHINGTON — Even before Vice President Cheney’s chief aide, Lewis “Scooter” Libby, was indicted, Republican leaders began to argue that being charged with perjury was a no big deal, but rather a “technicality” that proved that Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald hadn’t found evidence of a serious crime. But that isn’t what they were saying in the 1990s when the accused was Democratic Pres. Bill Clinton.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-TN, called perjury and obstruction of justice — both alleged in the Libby indictment — “public crimes threatening the administration of justice." House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-IL, described Clinton’s lies about sex as a serious enough violation of public trust to warrant impeachment.

Calling on Clinton to resign, Former House Majority Leader Rep. Tom DeLay, R-TX, now under indictment himself for money laundering, told the Los Angeles Times that his reason was “based solely on the fact that the president lied," while Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-UT, called lying under oath “very serious indeed.” Sen. Arlen Specter, R-PA, said "perjury and obstruction of justice are serious offenses which must not be tolerated by anyone in our society." <snip>

Conservative TV personalities eager to diminish the importance of the charges against Libby were equally convinced that similar charges against Clinton called for his removal from office. "Certainly, perjury is a felony, the last time I checked," said Sean Hannity, and Bill O'Reilly called it “abuse of power.” Describing perjury as “pretty important,” CNN’s Ann Coulter noted that, along with making false statements and objecting justice, it had made Clinton’s misdeeds a “much bigger deal."

http://www.vermontguardian.com/dailies/112005/1102.shtml

[ThoughtCriminal]

1. GOP point - if Obstruction of Justice is done right

and successfully prevents prosecutors from finding the crime, then lying to the FBI and the Grand Jury is not a crime.

Crime is legal as long as you get away with it. It's brilliant enough to get the support of oh - say - 35%?

[PurityOfEssence]

4. IOKIYAR

(It's okay if you're a Republican.)

Seriously, though, you touch upon something that's a big recurring theme for me: getting away with something is a big part of the American character and especially among conservatives. Many reactionaries are thrilled to make financial gains by breaking or twisting the law; it's more fun than making money legally. The law is a big game to be used to smash one's adversaries and fleece one's vicims. Getting one's way is the heart of selfishness, which is the driving force behind much of conservatism.

It's like the old anecdote of the rich gangster taking his wife out for an expensive anniversary dinner and paying for it with a stolen credit card; he could easily afford the dinner, but the fun of the crime is the real joy.

[Martin Eden]

5. Law is Government

and Government is the Problem!

[AussieDave]

2. Rank hypocrisy is normally not a pretty thing to see

but when it comes to Repukes it is 24-carat gold........

[kestrel91316]

3. Children, can we say "hypocrisy"???