February 07, 2008

Clinton vs. Obama on Peltier

Bringing Leonard Peltier to Iowa and New HampshireThe Clintons are running for a third term in the White House. As expected, their first eight years in office are being given thorough scrutiny. Everything from NAFTA to Bosnia, from Monica to health care, are going rightfully under the microscope.

The disagreements are deep and generally predictable. But it is equally predictable that there is one issue—one man— being totally ignored by the mainstream media. His case marks the moral low point of the Clinton Era. He deserves to be a part of the primary process.

His name is Leonard Peltier.

There is incontrovertible evidence that Bill Clinton was—and remains—fully aware of the circumstances of the Peltier case. But because of his cowardice, this esteemed Native American activist and spiritual leader was imprisoned not only for every day of Clinton’s eight years in office, but now all the way through George W. Bush’s.
Why David Geffen Dislikes the Clintons--Meet Leonard Peltier

President Bill Clinton's Decision Not to Pardon Leonard Peltier Lost His Wife a Key Supporter--and Helped Gain Barack Obama a Friend"The disappointment was so huge," he said. "People didn't forget and many even resolved to redouble their efforts."

That was clearly the case in comments made by Geffen in a lightning rod New York Times column Wednesday.

"Marc Rich getting pardoned? An oil-profiteer expatriate who left the country rather than pay taxes or face justice?" Geffen told Times' columnist Maureen Dowd.

And then, referring to the Peltier case, Geffen continued, "Yet another time when the Clintons were unwilling to stand for the things that they genuinely believe in.

"Everybody in politics lies, but they do it with such ease, it's troubling," Geffen said.

The column, which ran a day after Geffen hosted a California fundraiser for Obama that fetched $1.3 million and drew celebrities including Jennifer Aniston and Morgan Freeman, set off a day of bitter back-and-forth between the Obama and Clinton camps.
Quote on Peltier's MySpace page:"I will free Leonard Peltier" --B. Obama's Latest Blog EntryComment:  The quote could be from Barney Obama, Barack Obama's evil twin.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

No Doubt that the Barack comment came from the Clinton Camp.