Wednesday February 21 1:28 AM ET Carter: Rich Pardon `Disgraceful'

AMERICUS, Ga. (AP) - Former President Carter said Tuesday that Bill Clinton abused his power and brought disgrace to the White House with his last-minute pardon of fugitive Marc Rich.

``I think President Clinton (news - web sites) made one of his most serious mistakes in the way he handled the pardon situation the last few hours he was in office,'' Carter said during a speech at Georgia Southwestern State University. ``A number of them were quite questionable, including about 40 not recommended by the Justice Department (news - web sites).''

Of the Rich pardon, Carter said: ``I don't think there is any doubt that some of the factors in his pardon were attributable to his large gifts. In my opinion, that was disgraceful.''

Clinton has insisted there was nothing wrong with his pardon of Rich, who until then had been wanted by the Justice Department for allegedly evading more than $48 million in taxes, fraud and illegal oil deals with Iran.

The pardon is the subject of U.S. congressional hearings and a criminal investigation by federal prosecutors in New York.

Carter, who left office in 1981, said he pardoned about 500 people during his four years in the White House, most of those in the first three years, and none during the final weeks of his term.

``I never pardoned anyone whose pardon was not recommended to me after a complete investigation by the Justice Department,'' Carter said.

[A HREF="http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/20010221/us/carter_rich_1.html">Carter: Clinton abused his power - Jimmy doesn't doubt large gifts among factors for 'disgraceful' pardon

-- Ain't Gonna Happen (Not Here Not@ever.com), February 21, 2001

Answers

Carter: Clinton abused his power - Jimmy doesn't doubt large gifts among factors for 'disgraceful' pardon

-- Ain't Gonna Happen (Not Here Not@ever.com), February 21, 2001.

Carter broke the unwritten rule: no bad talk about former or present presidents. He must really feel this way and willing to take the hit for breaking the rule.

And the dominoes are falling one by one. Now that Clinton has no power, he can't buy his friendship and support. Wonder why that is?

I know, I know. Most people don't like to smell his shit. I wonder when Cherri will start to smell something in the state of denmark?

-- Maria (anon@ymous.com), February 21, 2001.

I have a great admiration for Jimmy Carter - the man. He's set a fine example for politicians, former presidents specifically, of what living an ethical life entails. For him to bust on Clinton is remarkable, IMO.

-- Rich (howe9@shentel.net), February 21, 2001.

The pardons Clinton gave Rich and Green were wrong. The pardon Bush Sr. gave Cap Weinberger was wrong. Waco was wrong. Trading arms for hostages was wrong. Covering it all up was wrong. Tell me I'm wrong.

-- Miserable SOB (misery@misery.com), February 21, 2001.

Vince Fosters Death was wrong. Jennifer Flowers, Kathleen Wiley, Monica Lewinski, et. al were wrong. Filegate was wrong. Whitewatergate was wrong. Waco was wrong . Ruby Ridge was wrong. The definition of "is" was wrong. Signing as those last minute executive orders was wrong. Pardoning all those people without Justice Department clearance was wrong. Comparing a few at the least, very questionable decisions by recent presidents while overlooking an almost DAILY barrage of White House Clinton scandals to somehow justify this 'scumbag' loser, Bill Clinton's actions while in office is even MORE WRONG!

-- Ain't Gonna Happen (Not Here Not@ever.com), February 21, 2001.

Excuse me, but I don't see why trading arms for American hostages is wrong. I'm sure the hostages did not think so. And I believe Nicaragua is doing just fine right now NOT being under the control of the leftist Cuban-fed government that was overthrown by the Contras.

-- contra was wrong?, why? (moreinterpretation@ugly.com), February 22, 2001.

Two reasons, anon:

1) As I recall, trading arms for American hostages was strictly against our government's stated policy.

2) Theoretically, giving in to their demands encourages the practice of hostage-taking. This theory has not panned out.

3) Congress forbid giving support to the Contras. Entiendes?

-- Rich (howe9@shentel.net), February 22, 2001.