The Ford and the Hillary Pardons

When President NIxon resigned and was under the possibility of criminal indictment his successor President Ford pardoned him under the auspices that it would “heal “ the country. That act may have “healed’ the country but it also sealed President Ford’s fate as a short term President. And the American people desperate for justice ended up electing Jimmy Carter which proved to be very poor compensation. The question now becomes, “ Is there any outcry and need for the same justice when dealing with Bill Clinton and his national disgrace?” If not, why not? Both Presidents lied to the American people. Both Presidents disgraced the nation. Nixon had the decency to resign realizing the gravity of his deceit. Bill Clinton was drug through the impeachment process and saved by lock step Democratic Senators. And what did a would be president ( his wife ) have to say?

Here was a clear cut case of a President disgracing the nation, lying to the American people and embarrassing his wife. But was he remorseful ( who knows?) ? Nixon may not have been remorseful but he demonstrated some remorse by taking the appropriate action and resigning. Bill Clinton , when asked if he would resign , replied, “ I’ll stay to the very last minute”. In other words, “ no matter what I’ve done I will not leave office unless I get thrown out”. And the lackey Democratic Senators bowed their heads and said, “ okay boss?”

But what of the wronged wife who would have political aspirations of her own? Was she more concerned with the disgrace of the country and her personal embarrassment or with her ties to a possible power reign? The answer has become evident. This is the kind of choices a power hungry politician makes. Principle be damned, get elected.

When Hillary pardoned Bill she gave the country the same message Gerald Ford gave when he pardoned Richard Nixon. “Let’s get this behind us and go on with our lives”. The American people responded to this message from President Ford by deciding to not reelect him. Perhaps the surge of Obama has a flavor of this disgust for forgiveness by Hillary. As surely as if she had been the succeeding President she pardoned the unpardonable. Who was she standing up to ? No one. Just as the lock step Democratic Senators refused to punish he who deserved it, so too did Hillary. She determined that she was willing to live with the disgrace in the hopes that she might in the end wield power. And now her campaign shouts she is ready. Ready to forgive a lout? Ready to condone embarrassment. Ready to respond to injustice by turning her head? Ready to set an example of being dumped on and living with it? This is hardly the kind of “ready” the American people have demonstrated they are ready for. Who knows who may appear for undeserved forgiveness and receive it?

To be ready for something one must have demonstrated and practiced and prepared. Power lust is hardly preparation for anything. Looking the other way and pretending the past doesn’t exist demonstrates a lack of readiness. Change would have been a better message but that one is already taken and no one can claim change is in their heart if they cling to injustice.