Hypocrisy Over Libby's Commute

President Bush has used his powers to commute the sentence of I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby but has no power to commute the hypocrisy of Democratic presidential candidates.

“Today’s decision is yet another example that this administration simply considers itself above the law,” said Hillary Clinton of the president’s action.

“Above the law?” The New York senator and former First Lady seems to forget that her husband didn’t commute but pardoned those with far more serious charges. But let’s keep that list short? We have:

First there is Marc Rich. We all remember him. He’s former President Bill Clinton’s friend, who was not only a fugitive but was found guilty of evading more than $48 million in taxes. And let’s not forget that he was involved with the oil-for-food scandal between the U.N. and former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, plus dealings with Iran.

Of course, Bill Clinton pardoned him. Interestingly enough, Rich’s ex-wife, Denise, gave a nice donation to a certain, current Democratic presidential candidate when she was running for senator in New York.

Interesting to note that both Rich and Libby share an almost eerie fate: Libby was Rich’s lawyer from 1985 to 2000. Makes one wonder what Hillary Clinton thought of Libby at that time.

And then we have Susan McDougal. She’s another person that former President Bill Clinton pardoned. He pardoned her for her involvement in the infamous Whitewater scandal. Susan McDougal and her husband, James McDougal, never paid a $300,000 federally backed loan.

Sadly, Hillary Clinton does not allow bothersome facts like that get in the way of slamming the president.

But getting back to Libby, he never disclosed the identity of former CIA operative Valerie Plame’s identity to reporters but he was found guilty of deceiving investigators and a grand jury during the investigation. Should he have served the 2 ½-prison sentence? Yes. But at this time, President Bush did not erase the $250,000 fine or the two years probation, making Libby the first highest-ranking White House official convicted of a crime in this century.

The real question is this: Was justice done for Plame?

The simple answer is no, justice was not done. No one has been convicted of leaking Plame’s identity, although there are a number of good guesses flying around as to who did. No one should escape justice for leaking a former CIA operative’s identity and placing Plame and those who secretly serve and protect our country in mortal danger.