Bill Clinton's Skeleton Closet
White House tries to suppress this web site -- Favors for big campaign contributors -- Mena, Arkansas -- contra arms & drugs smuggling? -- Links to comprehensive Clinton scandal pages -- Quotes -- Sources
The frustrating thing about Clinton's scandals is that the press focuses on two-bit scandals of little importance, such as Whitewater and this ridiculous travel office "scandal", while ignoring much more significant dirt, such as the Mena, Arkansas contra supply and drug operation, Hillary's $100,000 commodity profit from a $1,000 investment, and a new charge -- that a federally funded educational operation in New York paid her $100,000, for who knows what.
And no one (save a few voices on the left) are protesting Clinton's hugely successful fundraising and favors for people who have provided it, including the Tyson Chicken empire. Running against Bob Dole, this isn't likely to be an issue, but it is a major fault of the President.
The White House official involved, David Lytel, was in charge of creating the popular Clinton White House web site. He recently left the White House, and is working for a private web page consultant. At a conference, he attacked Netizen for being cynical and unfair, citing the Skeleton Closet link. Meeks, in response, noted that Hotwired had removed the link after receiving official pressure from the White House. In Hotwired's "Threads" discussion, another Hotwired employee admitted that they had been "intimidated" by receiving email from the "whitehouse.gov" domain early in Netizen's infancy, and said she regretted that they caved in.
Lytel's argument -- that it was "dishonest" to link Clinton's name to a page criticizing him -- is silly of course. Apparently, he thinks the only "honest" link is one that goes to a person's own web page, no matter how self- serving it is. More to the point, this is a terrible precedent. As far as we know, it is the first attempt by any American government to squelch part of the Internet for nakedly political reasons. (The attack on adult material online, while obviously political, has legitimate issues -- or at least a reasonable excuse -- behind it.) And doing it privately, behind closed doors, makes it even worse.
If we were simply seeking publicity, we'd run to Republican politicians (who desperately need an issue) and hope they try to use it. But that would be hypocritical. It's exactly that kind of partisan misuse of legitimate scandals that we are trying to make obsolete here -- because it muddles legitimate issues (like White House censorship of critics) in stupid, partisan manipulation. We're trying to contact the White House directly, to get them to disavow Lytel's actions. We'll let you know what happens.
Within two days, they replied as follows:
"Date: Fri, 03 May 1996 17:06:49 -0400 (EDT)
From: WEBMASTER (WEBMASTER@a1.eop.gov)
Subject: RE: White House WWW Comments
To: webmaster (webmaster@realchange.org)
Posting-Date: Fri, 03 May 1996 17:09:00 -0400 (EDT)
It is our policy not to interfere with the content of other WEB sites."
We'll take that as an admission that Lytel was out of line, and a solid commitment to doing the right thing in the future. Of course, they didn't live up to that policy before, and words are cheap.
What can we say about Bill and Hillary that hasn't been said before? Clinton's scandals are covered in such loving detail by his enemies that we are providing you with links to various Clinton scandal pages. At one point I thought I would have time to sift through ALL of the stuff on Clinton and scandals and sort out the solid stuff from partisan attacks. HA! It would take years. So enjoy the links, take them with a grain of salt, and email us any better links you know of.
I'd love to explain it all for you, but I sure haven't unraveled the whole mess, and I don't think anyone really has. The best I can do is give you links to as many of the respectable sources (ie newspaper articles) on the subject as possible.
Most of these came from Dave Feustel's page of links on CIA involvement in drug smuggling, and were taken from repostings on USENET by a couple named Larry and Jennie, who insert their personal opinions before each article -- be sure to scroll down before you give up on a link.
I sure appreciate the work of these three, and have no reason to doubt the accuracy of their quotes of these articles, though I'd rather get the info straight up. Feustel's page also has several, much less solid links, including conspiracy publications like Media Bypass and just rants from USENET. I'm linking directly to the articles to provide the facts as directly as possible, but the dedicated or conspiratorial Mena watcher will want to go straight to Dave's page.
The San Jose Mercury News' series proves CIA involvement in drug smuggling
Wall Street Journal editorial
Oliver North connection: AP article, June 17, 1994
An interesting overview by right-wing leader Paul Weyrich's NET website
Washington Post article, October 22, 1994
Clinton's statement on Mena, Arkansas Gazette, September 11, 1991
Sally Denton and Roger Morris story, spiked at the Washington Post, ran in Penthouse, July 1995
Mena & Bobby Seal: Arkansas Gazette, December 22, 1990
Demo Congressman vows to find answers, Arkansas Gazette, December 22, 1990
Mena overview, Associated Press, September 24, 1991
First Wall Street Journal article on Mena, April 22, 1987
House hearings, Arkansas Gazette, July 25, 1991
Lots of Barry Seal details, Baton Rouge Sunday Advocate, April 10, 1988
Jack Anderson column, SF Chronicle, 2/2/89
Jack Anderson - changes after Seal's death, SF Chronicle, 3/1/89
SF Chronicle, IRS involvement, July 28, 1989
Hasenfus plane once owned by Seal, Baton Rouge Morning Advocate, October 10, 1986
Jack Anderson - changes after Seal's death, SF Chronicle, 3/1/89
Life of Barry Seal, Arkansas Gazette, 6/27/88 (1/2)
Life of Barry Seal, Arkansas Gazette, 6/27/88 (2/2)
Overview, Arkansas Gazette, June 26, 1987 (1/2)
Overview, Arkansas Gazette, June 26, 1987 (2/2)
Nick Chase's Mena, Arkansas
And some contributors seem to think their money is well spent. For example, Clinton raised over a quarter million dollars from ADM, Bob Dole's major benefactor, and pushed through a regulation benefiting them mightily.
On the other hand, 2 Arkansas firms that formerly bankrolled Clinton (and received help from his administration) have switched their support to Dole -- both Tyson Chicken and Stephens investment brokers apparently figure Dole gives a better return per contribution dollar, or is more likely to win.
Archer Daniels makes 60% of US ethanol for gas, and none of the methanol. Bob Dole, who receives even more money from Archer Daniels and its president, actually supported the Clinton Administration's mandate, even while arguing against Clinton's health care proposal for nearly identical federal mandates. (Courts have block Clinton's 30% rule, saying he lacked power to favor ethanol over methanol.)
Hillary was on their board, as were Mario Cuomo and Ira Magaziner, but no other board members were paid. The justification is that Hillary was paid to carry out some programs. When this story came out a month ago, Vacco announced he was asking for contracts with Hillary or the Rose Law Firm and a description of any work she actually did. Nothing more has come of it, which -- in an election year - indicates that nothing substantial has turned up.
The Unofficial Clinton Page This is an excellent, nonpartisan page.
Arkansas Times newspaper's Whitewater archive Really, it's there -- just scroll down past the "remembering summer" link.
Disgraced Clinton Administration Officials
Nick Chase's Whitewaterpage
Clinton Expose page scandals section
Yahoo's Whitewater Scandal Page
AllPolitics "Clinton Skeletons" Page Catchy name -- wonder where they got it?
Prosecutor Starr has some scandals of his own
"I'm someone who has a deep emotional attachment to 'Starsky and Hutch.' " -- Bill Clinton, 1996
"I don't think [Bill Clinton] is fooling around anymore. Nor do I think he will. I read that Hillary threw a lamp at him. ... You know something? I think she did." -- Ann Landers
"Primary Colors", by 'Anonymous', 1996
Wall Street Journal, in general, and in particular:
....January 12, 1996 pA14
....January 8, 1996 pA1
....December 18, 1995 pA16
....December 29, 1995 pA1
....March 23, 1995 p A1
....February 22, 1995 p A1
....January 13, 1995 p A12
"The Mena Coverup", Micah Morrison, Wall Street Journal, October 18, 1994 p A18
"The Real Cost of Ethanol" and "Dwayne's World", Dan Carney, Mother Jones, January, 1995
"Aides Saw Political Threat In Clinton Loans From '90", Jeff Gerth, New York Times, May 6, 1995 p7
"Ann Landers Repents For Slurring The Pope", Associated Press, December 1, 1995
"Blocking the Box", Rick Marin, Newsweek, March 11, 1996
"NY Official Probes Payment to Mrs. Clinton", Associated Press, January 12, 1996
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