Some Republicans have now been using the talking point that it's no big deal that Bush fired the eight prosecutors at the Justice Department -- because Bill Clinton fired 93 prosecutors when he came into office. This point is completely disingenuous. And the people making it are smart enough to know that it is.
For policy reasons every president replaces all of the prosecutors at the Justice Department in the beginning of their term. George H. W. Bush did, Bill Clinton did and so did George W. Bush. And when George Bush did this in 2001 it was not a scandal or a problem. It was completely normal.
This case is different because he fired the prosecutors for political rather than policy reasons. He was punishing some of them for going after Republican legislators and not going after Democrats before the elections, right or wrong. While this might be legal because the prosecutors serve at the discretion of the president, is it really what you want your president to do?
If Hillary Clinton wins, do you want her firing any prosecutor who goes after corrupt Democrats in the middle of her term? Or coercing her Justice Department to pursue cases against Republicans, whether it's justified or not?
This is a terrible precedent of allowing politics to corrupt the Justice Department. That's why so many Republicans as well as Democrats are furious. Remember almost all of the prosecutors fired were Republicans and originally appointed by the Bush administration. But they had principles and believed in doing their job rather than being hatchet man for Karl Rove and Alberto Gonzales.
In a perverse kind of way, it actually gives me faith that we haven't lost all the Republicans in the country. There are still some that have not been tainted by this administration and that still have strong principles left. Karl Rove and Alberto Gonzales are certainly not among them.
The Young Turks
Mo Rocca has appeared on a bunch of shows, including 'The Daily Show,' 'I Love the 80s,'...
Mo's Blog Roll
Resources
A Dishonest Republican Talking Point on the Prosecutor Scandal
Posted Mar 15th 2007 3:27PM by Cenk Uygur
Filed under: Scandal, George Bush, Young Turks, Republicans, GOP, Hillary Clinton, U.S. Attorneys
Mo's Video
The Sound of a Smoke-Free Barack...Almost two years ago we speculated on how Barack Obama's voice would change if he stopped smoking. ...
Most Popular Stories
- Don't Like Goodbyes...
- Pittsburgh Steelers: Is it Time to get some Cheerleaders?
- How NOT to give an Oscar Acceptance Speech
- Could Jim Belushi Win the Nobel Peace Prize?
- Spring Break Sexy T-Shirt Removal Training!
- Quest for the Crown 5: Plastic Wrap to Make you Less Fat!
- Quest for the Crown 4: Work Those Heels!
Most Commented On
-
Coming Soon
Recent Comments
- Saint Brian the Godless on Obama and the Reagan Doctrine
- Saint Brian the Godless on Obama and the Reagan Doctrine
- Saint Brian the Godless on Obama and the Reagan Doctrine
- mac on Obama and the Reagan Doctrine
- Roert Dean on General Clark is Absolutely Right!
- Ryan Anderson on Obama and the Reagan Doctrine
- MI on Obama and the Reagan Doctrine
Mo's Bio
Mo Rocca appears on a bunch of shows, including CBS News Sunday Morning (with the indescribably wonderful Charles Osgood), The Tonight Show on NBC, and NPR's Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! He's a sometime judge on Iron Chef and was featured on Telemundo's Amore Descarado. Last year he starred on Broadway in the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. His expose "All the President's Pets" was published by Crown in 2004.
Top News Headlines
Political Machine Blog
- Michelle Obama Viewed Favorably by 68 Percent in Marist Poll
- Obama Presses Banks to Lend, Accept New Regulations
- Obama Picks Illinois Prison to House Guantanamo Detainees
- Washington in 60 Seconds: Pelosi Finalist for Time's 'Person of the Year.' Discuss.
- Of Black Girls and Princess Dreams, Disney Style
- In Copenhagen, Waiting for Obama
- New York Times Gift Guide for 'People of Color'
Reader Comments ( Page 3 of 5)
31. Let it Be is a Beatles song. There ain't no way that the Dems are going to assume the passive position after years of being forced to take up the....
You can bet your bottom dollar--right or wrong--that W's final years will be a living hell. I wouldn't be suprised if he did us all a big favor and started drinking again.
Bill Olmsted at 2:47PM on Mar 16th 2007
32. Claiming that the Republican "talking point" about Clinton firing all 93 prosecutors is "disingenious" is a intellectually bankrupt claim. Janet Reno canned them to stop the Whitewater case. Webster Hubbell was part of that deal and, fortunately, he served jail time. The prosecutors were fired because they were dragging their heals on voter fraud cases. A hypothesis I will put forth is that the Democrats are upset because the subjects committing the voting fraud fall on the Democrat's side of the political spectrum. Especially appalling is Senator Clinton calling the Reno prosecutor firing a "red herring"/ Wrong, the only thing "fishy" is the Clinton history of lying and having a very corrupt adminisration.
Keith at 4:16PM on Mar 16th 2007
33. Imagine 93 people losing their jobs because of "free Willy"!! I thought Democrats were in favor of saving jobs. Whoops!!! I forgot, they gave them to their friends.
I can hardly wait for Hillary!!!!!
Dennis at 6:44PM on Mar 16th 2007
34. The President can fire these attorneys anytime he wants to and it is LEGAL. I REPEAT LEGAL. He does not have to answer to anyone on this issue. It is true that President Clinton is the only one to fire all of them at the beginning of his term. He did what he wanted to do. All other Presidents have kept some attorneys from the previous administration and gradually replaced them over time. I know that those of you on the left remember the 2000 election. It was not finalized until early 2001. In an effort to heal the country and to make the transition go easier, Bush left many Clinton attorneys in place. I think he left a cabinet member in place also. It seems to me that this President can not do what he is allowed to do without someone throwing their stones from the left. Political fighting will destroy this country. If this keeps up nothing will get done and Bush will look even worse. Is this not the intent of the left? I believe it is. The only problem is there will be payback. We will start all over again. Pick your issues carefully.
Jim at 7:38PM on Mar 16th 2007
35. Well, I see good old Slick Willy is getting blamed for this fiasco.
Am I the only one that seems to think the Neocons are now blaming him for everything the White House Simpleton does?
The latest one is to blame Willy for the Iraq debacle. Simpleton's apologists say "Well Clinton bombed Iraq. Georgie was just following his example". WHAT?????? Cant't the Simp think for himself? Just more coverups over lack of WMD!!!!
IMPEACH BUSH'S AND CHENEY'S ASSES NOW!!!!!!!!
Dudley A. Fudpucker Sr.
President
Fudpucker & Son - Specialists in Polish Sausage, Flyswatters, Whiffletrees, and Pig Manure. We can also arrange riots at a reasonable price.
Dudley A. Fudpucker Sr. at 8:21PM on Mar 16th 2007
36. I reside in a majority republican area.although the state is BLUE. I was just wondering where the heck
all those displays of proud GOP have gone?(bumper stickers on hummers for grocery store runs.Those
four more years cheers.The now that we have control
of the house we will rule the country, the work place,the unions,THE WORLD.I sure hope you all
have not lost that thriving, exuberant,need to let
everyone you see know that you too are big part of the success of your political party.
Greedy selfish sheep!When Your party wins an election it's treated like your alma mater has won
the national championship.Or your church which is the right church the true church the only god biding churchhas finally raised enough monies for that trip to self righteousness.It's referred to as a race but it's not a horse race.Or a car race.
It's a human race! We are all in this
race!
"Besides Republicans and Democrats are both crooks.The difference is that republicans
won't share the spoils.They want it all and they want it always."
joe at 3:12AM on Mar 17th 2007
37. Its not what Dubya(the pinhead)done, its how he done it. Hiding everything like the sneak he is. Dubya and his cronies are all liars and everyone knows it. And Congress is making the case now. Clinton fired them up front and Dubya is trying to hide everything,like hes done all along. When are we all gonna open our eyes, and make things right? We, the poor and the middle class are fead up with being mislead and ripped off by this administration. We need a government that is just a bit more honest and not near as greedy as this government. Lets Wake Up People, Please
John Davis at 7:38AM on Mar 17th 2007
38. On Valerie Plame, someone is missing the fact that she traveled every day to work to the CIA Building. Opperatives from other contries that she visited on businness knew who she was and what she did. Where is the secret, Valerie??
JEC at 8:46AM on Mar 17th 2007
39. The comment about White Water being an empty sack is as wrong as saying that Clinton merely exercised an executive privilege when he dumped all 93 US attorneys. Starr came up with numerous convictions and jail time for participants, including an Arkansas judge, related to the White Water matter. It would have been pretty stupid to only fire the prosecutor investigating that issue. Better to throw out all of them. It is a great cover story.
Jim at 10:14AM on Mar 17th 2007
40. what clinton did was unprecedented.
if this is such a big story to you, then where is your story about what clinton did.
typical liberal with those rose colored socialized glasses. only sees one side of the story, the one that is generated by HATE.
you guys are like a parent at their kids sporting game. with no knowledge of the game or the rules of the game you just belittle the refs because the call was against your team.
no wonder our kids have no discipline, personal responsibility, and the understandings that there are consequences for their actions
Jim at 11:00AM on Mar 17th 2007
41. come on pepsistar
you are telling me that clinton fired all 93 of them because he didnt trust them, any of them. and you are trying to get us to believe non of them were for political reasons. you are high on something more then caffine.
Jim at 10:59AM on Mar 17th 2007
42. Charles Anonymous
good spin job. you must be a defense attorney the kind that defend the scum of this earth
how is OJ these days
Jim at 10:59AM on Mar 17th 2007
43. this blog shows your bias. just because they are republicans they are wrong, get a clue.
and most everything does point to clinton and yes it is tiresom but those are the facts and the caca stream is still running down the hill to clinton but non of you what to see that, it is those rose colored glasses again or just what you are all taking or smoking
Jim at 10:59AM on Mar 17th 2007
44. Politics Politics Politics. That's all that it is it takes place in every administration, better said, " Dirty Politics ". All Politicians Republican or Democrat have their own agenda's But anyone with a medium level of inteligence who can forget that you are Republican or Democrat [If that is possible] for just a moment a bright light will come on so that you can see that yes, all Politicians are mean and vicious and must satisfy their ego's. This would include all President's some for personal reasons, and some for what they would consider Good For The Country Reasons, And if you are really open minded and wear your prescription glasses, you will see that this Administration is by far the most Vicious and greedy group that this country has ever put in office???????????, "So much so, It is bringing this country down. If you disagree, then justify: The Irag War, then justify all of Halliburton's no bid contracts, then justify all the deaths Our military, civilians, Irag's, British so on so on and so on have suffered, then justify the firings of Attorney's, then justify the Billions in profits by the Oil Industry, then justify Mr Cheney's association with Halliburton, then justify a leader of the this country and World using the term " Dead or Alive " then, justify why so many people in the World now hate us. I could go on but I somehow feel I would be wasting my time, so I will conclude by saying if you can sincerely justify all of this, then when you face your God, maybe with his superior and supreme knowledge he will understand and agree with you and if he does, then I pray that he helps me to understand because as of this moment I don't. This Administration is leading us to doomsday and are the most arrogent and evil to ever head this country
AMEN
rrm12 at 11:25AM on Mar 17th 2007
45. Why do we always try to read more into everything, when a simple explanation is most often the correct one.
Hasn't anyone ever heard of Job Evaluations?? Don't most of us (with a job) get at least one a year?
This group of 'employees' finally received theirs and because of their work 'productivity and quality' were released because basically they weren't doing their job!!
And what's a better use of tax payers money??
Firing all of them and having to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to replace them - or to just hold the few lousy ones accountable and replace them??
I'll take the 2nd choice please....
Beth at 12:09PM on Mar 17th 2007