# Comey is playing Democrats **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 7, 2016, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-is-playing-democrats/759329 "2016-07-07T19:36:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-is-playing-democrats/759329/21 "2016-07-08T18:55:33Z")
> [@Snnipe\_70E](#): > > You mean pesky little facts Like “his report of things she told the FBI directly contradicts her prior statement”. Who is ignoring the pesky little facts. > > The director’s statement also contained the fact that if someone else does this they may be prosecuted. That is another pesky little fact. Or did I miss hear what he said? So what crime should Republicans charge her with? She didn’t make those previous statements under any kind of oath, they were just public statements. For a politician, lying to the public is practically a job requirement. Would there be anyone left in Congress if we applied that standard to everyone? It certainly is not prosecuted by the FBI as a criminal offense for anyone else. And don’t mistake me as any great supporter of Hillary’s. (In fact, normally I’d be voting Republican if they weren’t working overtime making fools of themselves). The bottom line for me is that Comey’s statement is the simple truth - despite all the things she did wrong, the evidence does not support a conclusion that this was a criminal act. The Republicans got their investigation, now they need to shut up and abide by the conclusions of the investigation. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-is-playing-democrats/759329/22 "2016-07-08T19:42:55Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > One of the things that has surprised me is that no Democrats have gone after Comey for his public statement, which he really didn’t have to make and which was damaging to Clinton. I think you’ve gotten used to thinking that politicians have often used Donald Trump’s strategy of denouncing everyone as being stupid, biased, or ugly. In reality, only Donald Trump does that. ---
**Author:** ![Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/do_not_taunt/32/2968_2.png) [@Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Do_Not_Taunt)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-is-playing-democrats/759329/23 "2016-07-08T19:48:26Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > What would be the possible upside to going after him for that? > > Best outcome for the Democratic side is that this now is considered a done to overdone issue and is left behind. “Wah wah, you called extra attention to the reality that she was extremely careless and minimally made some public statements that were less than completely truthful!” Really, that is a smart play? > > […] > > Never get in the way of your opponents shooting themselves in the foot instead of being satisfied with the win they had. No, it’s not the smart play. That’s the thing: what Comey did was completely inappropriate - lending his office for the character assassination of an opposite-party presumptive Presidential nominee who violated no laws - but the Democrats effectively can’t criticize him for it in the larger context. It actually makes me agree with the title of this thread, though for completely different reasons than outlined in the OP. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-is-playing-democrats/759329/24 "2016-07-08T20:30:09Z")
> [@Do\_Not\_Taunt](#): > > No, it’s not the smart play. That’s the thing: what Comey did was completely inappropriate - lending his office for the character assassination of an **opposite-party** presumptive Presidential nominee who violated no laws - but the Democrats effectively can’t criticize him for it in the larger context. It actually makes me agree with the title of this thread, though for completely different reasons than outlined in the OP. The FBI is non partisan. [Comey’s statement.](https://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releases/statement-by-fbi-director-james-b.-comey-on-the-investigation-of-secretary-hillary-clintons-use-of-a-personal-e-mail-system) > [@](#): > > Our investigation looked at whether there is evidence classified information was improperly stored or transmitted on that personal system, in violation of a\*\* federal statute\*\* making it a felony to mishandle classified information either intentionally or in a grossly negligent way, or a **second statute** making it a misdemeanor to knowingly remove classified information from appropriate systems or storage facilities. ---
**Author:** ![Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/do_not_taunt/32/2968_2.png) [@Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Do_Not_Taunt)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-is-playing-democrats/759329/25 "2016-07-08T21:13:20Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > The FBI is non partisan. > [Comey’s statement.](https://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releases/statement-by-fbi-director-james-b.-comey-on-the-investigation-of-secretary-hillary-clintons-use-of-a-personal-e-mail-system) I’m not sure your point. The FBI is non-partisan, but Comey is a Republican, and used his statement to bash Clinton even though they found Clinton had not violated those statutes. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-is-playing-democrats/759329/26 "2016-07-08T21:21:10Z")
> [@Do\_Not\_Taunt](#): > > I’m not sure your point. The FBI is non-partisan, but Comey is a Republican, and used his statement to bash Clinton even though they found Clinton had not violated those statutes. Then why didn’t he recommend charges? The GOP was quite pissed that he didn’t keep to the party line that she was guilty of many varied and horrid felonies and even went so far as to imply that he had been bribed or otherwise influenced to favor the despicable Democrats. ---
**Author:** ![Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/do_not_taunt/32/2968_2.png) [@Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Do_Not_Taunt)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-is-playing-democrats/759329/27 "2016-07-08T21:42:32Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Then why didn’t he recommend charges? The GOP was quite pissed that he didn’t keep to the party line that she was guilty of many varied and horrid felonies and even went so far as to imply that he had been bribed or otherwise influenced to favor the despicable Democrats. First of all, I doubt he cares about the GOP wingnuts. He’s enough of an adult to go where the facts lead (no charges), but not quite enough to honor the non-partisan nature of his office an lay off the character assassination of a partisan foe. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-is-playing-democrats/759329/28 "2016-07-08T21:51:25Z")
> [@Do\_Not\_Taunt](#): > > First of all, I doubt he cares about the GOP wingnuts. He’s enough of an adult to go where the facts lead (no charges), but not quite enough to honor the non-partisan nature of his office an lay off the **character assassination of a partisan foe**. I don’t believe he thinks of her as a foe. She did a very fucking stupid thing and she deserved the savaging she received Not only could national security have been jeopardized, she could have ruined her chances this election and turned over the country to the GOP. She’s _lucky_ she’s up against Trump. ---
**Author:** ![Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/do_not_taunt/32/2968_2.png) [@Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Do_Not_Taunt)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-is-playing-democrats/759329/29 "2016-07-08T22:08:55Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > I don’t believe he thinks of her as a foe. She did a very fucking stupid thing and she deserved the savaging she received Not only could national security have been jeopardized, she could have ruined her chances this election and turned over the country to the GOP. She’s _lucky_ she’s up against Trump. You can think that all you want, and there are parts I agree with. It’s not Comey’s place to say things like that when speaking as the head of the FBI. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-is-playing-democrats/759329/30 "2016-07-08T23:31:59Z")
> [@dracoi](#): > > Well… it’s kind of a fine point. While Comey said that Clinton didn’t lie _to the FBI_, his report of things she told the FBI directly contradicts her prior statements _to the public_. Since when is that a crime that the Director of the FBI needs to recommend prosecution? Congressman Jason Chaffetz asked Comey in his testimony if the FBI had looked into whether or not Hillary lied to Congress during her testimony to them, and he said that he did not, because nobody had asked him to. So Chaffetz said that he would put in the paperwork for an FBI investigation of whether she lied to Congress. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2016, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-is-playing-democrats/759329/31 "2016-07-09T05:18:09Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Which is why the State Dept is looking into whether anyone still at State should be sanctioned. > > One of the things that has surprised me is that no Democrats have gone after Comey for his public statement, which he really didn’t have to make and which was damaging to Clinton. The FBI usually just issues a terse statement about whether or not they will prosecute. Comey actually held a press conference and took the time to refute Clinton’s lies one by one. PRetty harsh stuff. I guess they are so relieved she’s not being prosecuted that they decided not to push their luck. As a Democrat and someone who voted for HRC, I found Comey’s findings pretty fair. All he did was confirm what we already knew. She did screw up. She didn’t commit a crime. Her screw-ups have been long acknowledged and there was nothing new found. Time to move on. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2016, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-is-playing-democrats/759329/32 "2016-07-10T17:54:31Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > [Comey’s statement.](https://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releases/statement-by-fbi-director-james-b.-comey-on-the-investigation-of-secretary-hillary-clintons-use-of-a-personal-e-mail-system) > > This is assuming the person is still employed in that or a similar position that requires a security clearance. > > Since Hillary is no longer the SecofSt. and no longer is in a position that requires clearance, there are no sanctions possible. I would think being President of the United States is a position that requires clearance. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2016, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-is-playing-democrats/759329/33 "2016-07-10T17:56:36Z")
> [@Yookeroo](#): > > As a Democrat and someone who voted for HRC, I found Comey’s findings pretty fair. All he did was confirm what we already knew. She did screw up. She didn’t commit a crime. Her screw-ups have been long acknowledged and there was nothing new found. Time to move on. How did she screw up? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2016, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-is-playing-democrats/759329/34 "2016-07-10T18:00:58Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > I would think being President of the United States is a position that requires clearance. Since she wasn’t convicted(or even suspected of espionage), a lost clearance can be restored. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2016, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-is-playing-democrats/759329/35 "2016-07-10T18:01:19Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > I would think being President of the United States is a position that requires clearance. As a matter of fact, it does not. Presidents do not hold security clearances. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2016, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-is-playing-democrats/759329/36 "2016-07-10T19:15:45Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > As a matter of fact, it does not. Presidents do not hold security clearances. If that’s true then it’s even more important that trust be established. The higher the officer, the higher level of importance. ---
**Author:** ![sinjin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@sinjin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sinjin)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2016, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-is-playing-democrats/759329/37 "2016-07-11T23:39:54Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > If that’s true then it’s even more important that trust be established. The higher the officer, the higher level of importance. Unfortunately, I, a Democrat, loath HRC less than I am terrified by Trump. ---
**Author:** ![wevets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9a140/32.png) [@wevets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wevets)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2016, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-is-playing-democrats/759329/38 "2016-07-11T23:55:55Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > I would think being President of the United States is a position that requires clearance. It is impossible for Congress to pass a security clearance law that would supercede Article II of the Constitution. It would have to be a Constitutional Amendment. Even section 4 of Article II doesn’t allow for the trial of a person before they’re elected to the Presidency. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Parker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/35a633/32.png) [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2016, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-is-playing-democrats/759329/39 "2016-07-12T00:47:03Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > One of the things that has surprised me is that no Democrats have gone after Comey for his public statement, which he really didn’t have to make and which was damaging to Clinton. . I wish they had. It is a terrible precedent for prosecutors to give this kind of “why I’m not charging you but you’re totally a bad person” press conferences. Some people have indeed [criticized](https://www.lawfareblog.com/comeys-testimony-precedent)it, though I wouldn’t describe them as political operators, and more often than not they have been conservatives. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-is-playing-democrats/759329.md?page=1)