DEM VP NOMINEE WOULD PURSUE CRIMINAL CHARGES
In the first of what will likely be many “Joe Biden moments,” the Democratic vice presidential nominee said Wednesday that he and running mate Barack Obama could pursue criminal charges against President Bush, and possibly others in the administration, if they are elected in November.
The story appeared on ABC News before being picked up by The Guardian, but received absolutely no coverage because of Gov. Sarah Palin’s speech at the Republican National Convention. Hot Air posted the above video clip.
From The Guardian’s story:
[H]is statements represent the Democrats’ strongest vow so far this year to investigate alleged misdeeds committed during the Bush years.
“If there has been a basis upon which you can pursue someone for a criminal violation, they will be pursued,” Biden said during a campaign event in Deerfield Beach, Florida, according to ABC.
To say that you would go after a U.S. president for absurd, unfounded claims is not only asinine and juvenile, but it shows a complete lack of respect. And it makes Biden sound like a bitter, arrogant elitist… something I’m sure we’ll see more and more of in the next two months.
In the end, this was probably a gaffe and I expect that if this gains any attention, Biden will step — nay, run — back immediately. Regardless, this is one vindictive something, something.
This entry was posted on Thursday, September 4th, 2008 at 11:48 am and is filed under Democrats, National news. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Did you even watch this video? Biden doesn’t accuse anyone and cautions against “unfounded allegations”. He says members of his party are right now collecting data and testimony on this issue. After this evidence is collected, he says that he’ll act on it if there is a “basis upon which you can pursue someone for a criminal violation”. If there’s no basis for criminal charges, he won’t. How can you disagree with that?
Let’s get this straight- if there really were serious crimes committed by members of an administration (Republican or Democrat), they should be prosecuted. Politicians aren’t above the law, and if they break the law they should be treated like anyone else. A political party that doesn’t value the law or the Constitution should take a long, hard look at what they’re trying to do. I hope the GOP would favor enforcing our laws, particularly on those who we trust to lead us.
This video doesn’t show a gaffe- it shows a commitment to justice.
“Politicians aren’t above the law”
They don’t seem to think so. And they have all the power so good luck trying to do anything about it.
Thank you Rob. I saw the whole thing on C-SPAN and I did not come off with the impression he was out to get anyone. I am with Rob on this, no matter who is in power if they do the crime they should be held accountable.
Rob/Edisto - I’m generally not a huge defender of President Bush, but what “crime” did he commit? And don’t give me the BS liberal talking points and hyperbolic radical leftist rhetoric. Tell me what ACTUAL crime the Bush Administration could be put on trial for in a reasonable court?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contempt_of_Congress
Prosecute all crimes and relieve all victims.
Adam- I actually don’t have any idea what laws Bush has or hasn’t broken. I’m not a lawyer. Fortunately, people who know what they’re doing are looking into it. If they find that something was done illegally, I hope you’d agree that the people responsible should be prosecuted. We simply can’t allow our leaders to break the rules whenever they feel like it- that’s not how democracy survives.
If people don’t find a basis for prosecuting members of the Bush Administration, I’m fine with that. I don’t think this should be a witch hunt- I just think someone should be willing to look into it and do something if there’s been a breach of the law.
IMHO, refusing to go to a special emergency court to get a warrant to wiretap domestically shows a disregard for the law, and the authorization of torture is against everything we stand for. But if Bush’s team followed the law while doing these things, we shouldn’t press criminal charges. It’s clear to me that is what Biden is saying.
Rob beat me to it but I think the point is that Biden actually gave a smart, responsible, answer.
There is a small group of people in the Democratic party that do want to see Bush and Cheney sent to jail, they are not afraid to come up with all sorts of elaborate theories and conclusions that all seem to end in that there needs to be a criminal trial. Knowing some of these types I can tell you they are usually a mixture of slightly misinformed and highly overzealous. The GOP has these types as well; talk radio seems to be a magnet for them. Anyway, they exist and they expect whoever is in power to go after the supposed crimes. Biden rationally stated that he is willing to pursue it if there is evidence and a case can be made; as he should. What he declined to do is pursue a wild goose chase (and forgive me, a la Ken Starr).
Personally I take the accusations with a grain of salt usually; I believe arrogance, which there is plenty of, is often confused with open disregard to the law. Missing files and deleted emails are suspicious but to jump to some of the conclusions that a small faction of the party has jumped to is irresponsible. However, for Biden to say he is not giving anyone a free pass is completely fair and probably the right thing to do for America.
This should not be a Democrat vs Republican debate, it is simply about open and clean governing. I think you do a great job with the site by the way.