Wow, this is serious, the betrayal of Bill Clinton. Damage to the Presidency. Never mind that Clinton has spent his entire adult life betraying his staff, family, country and, of course, the rule of law. Never mind that perjury, obstruction of justice and rape might hurt the Presidency.
Stephanopoulos, who received an advance of $2.7 million, provides a “behind the scenes” look at the amoral Clinton, but little of historical significance. The only real lesson that I can see is that there is no honor among Clintonites.
But this weighty “loyalty” issue commands more attention than Juanita Broaddrick. She is the woman who provided a credible account on NBC of being forcibly raped by Clinton 20 years ago. The story was aired in mid-February only after Clinton’s impeachment trial was safely over, minus some of the worst details. (For instance, that Clinton assaulted her not once, but twice.)
When asked about Broaddrick’s allegations, Patricia Ireland, head of the National Organization for Women (NOW), replied, “I think we are going to have to watch this unfold.”
Bill Clinton may be a rapist, but feminist leaders will remain his ally as long as millions of tax dollars flow to their pet projects and causes.
Where Are Feminists?
Feminist leaders are also on the spot when it comes to Hillary. “The
feminist movement has always been about women’s ability to make their own
choices,” declares the same Patricia Ireland on why it is ok for Hillary
to stay with Bill. Never mind that a bedrock article of feminist faith
is that women cannot command respect outside the family until they command
it within.
Actually, Ireland’s new tact sounds familiar. In fact, I believe it is a perversion of the theme of Marilyn Quayle’s 1992 GOP National Convention speech in which she argued that women are entitled to make choices, and those choices, whether to pursue a career or to be a homemaker, are entitled to respect. The speech was a response to Hillary, and her “cookies and tea” comment, derisive of stay-at-home moms.
It looks to me as if Hillary is the prisoner of her past lousy choice. As I describe in my book The First Lady: A Comprehensive View of Hillary Rodham Clinton, Bill was unfaithful to her even while they were engaged. In 1974, when Bill was a candidate for Congress, she became aware of his infidelity but went ahead with the wedding anyway. The prestige that came with being a Congressman’s wife trumped Bill’s obvious character flaw.
Liberals no longer adhere to even a pretense of principle or consistency. The exercise and preservation of power is more important. The media will crusade for anything except taking out a liberal Democrat President. The liberal activists will engage in ever-greater hypocrisy as long as their grip on America’s institutions holds. Hillary will endure humiliation and degradation as long as it allows her to be First Lady.
The only truly admirable people in Washington right now are the House Republicans who pushed and voted for impeachment. They acted on principle and did what was right, even if it was not popular or expedient. Of course, for doing so they are now the objects of scorn from the powers they sought to upset.
I believe that history will judge House Republicans kindly, certainly more kindly than Bill Clinton. The Broaddrick allegations will not knock Clinton out of office, but I believe they are the beginning of an inevitable erosion of Clinton’s place in history.
Hollow Ideology
The real problem is not so much that Clinton gets to finish his term.
It is the continued liberal dominance of our institutions that made Clinton’s
survival possible. We cannot prevent another Clinton until this stranglehold
is broken. NLPC will carry on the fight to do just that.
Through our two major projects, the Organized
Labor Accountability Project and the Legal
Services Accountability Project, we venture into the belly of the beast.
Labor unions and the federal legal services program are both essential
to the exercise of liberal political power. And because they are bulwarks
of a now-hollow ideology, they are corrupt.
In his book, Stephanopoulos asks, “How could a president so intelligent,
so compassionate, so public-spirited, and so conscious of his place in
history act in such a stupid, selfish, and self destructive manner?” It’s
easy George. When your ideology is based on moral relativism, and objective
codes of morality are abandoned, anything goes.
EW