Agreement With Pardon Falls Exactly On Party Line

The Associated Press today reports the statements given by various elected, and previously elected officials. Perhaps not so curiously, the stand taken reflects, to the person, the party affiliation of the respondent.

Those opposed:

“When it comes to the law, there should not be two sets of rules — one for President Bush and Vice President Cheney and another for the rest of America. Even Paris Hilton had to go to jail. No one in this administration should be above the law.” — Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill.

“Accountability has been in short supply in the Bush administration, and this commutation fits that pattern.” — Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt.

“This is exactly the kind of politics we must change so we can begin restoring the American people’s faith in a government that puts the country’s progress ahead of the bitter partisanship of recent years.” — Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.

“Only a president clinically incapable of understanding that mistakes have consequences could take the action he did today. President Bush has just sent exactly the wrong signal to the country and the world.” — former Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C.

“The Constitution gives President Bush the power to commute sentences, but history will judge him harshly for using that power to benefit his own vice president’s chief of staff who was convicted of such a serious violation of law.” — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.

“The president said he would hold accountable anyone involved in the Valerie Plame leak case. By his action today, the president shows his word is not to be believed.” — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.

“This commutation sends the clear signal that in this administration, cronyism and ideology trump competence and justice.” — Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y.

“By commuting Scooter Libby’s sentence, the president continues to abdicate responsibility for the actions of his administration. The only ones paying the price for this administration’s actions are the American people.” — Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn.

“This decision sends the wrong message about the rule of law in the United States, just as the president is meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. How can we hold the line against injustices in other countries when our own executive branch deliberately sets out to smear its critics, lies about it and then wriggles away without having to pay the price in prison?” — Rep. Tom Lantos, D-Calif.

“The arrogance of this administration’s disdain for the law and its belief it operates with impunity are breathtaking. Will the president also commute the sentences of others who obstructed justice and lied to grand juries, or only those who act to protect President Bush and Vice President Cheney?” — New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson.

Those for:

“While for a long time I have urged a pardon for Scooter, I respect the president’s decision. This will allow a good American, who has done a lot for his country, to resume his life.” — Former Sen. Fred Thompson, R-Tenn.

“President Bush did the right thing today in commuting the prison term for Scooter Libby. The prison sentence was overly harsh and the punishment did not fit the crime.” — House Republican Whip Roy Blunt of Missouri.

“After evaluating the facts, the president came to a reasonable decision and I believe the decision was correct.” — former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani.

Although it is easy to see that, at least in public, the Republicans must fall in line with their congratulation of the president on this action, it would be very interesting to be that ‘fly on the wall’ hearing what is said privately in each Republican candidate’s camp.

[tags] pardon, Scooter Libby, Valerie Plame incident, George W. Bush, Republican party, Democratic party, get-out-of-jail-free card [/tags]