# Oh looky...there was Clinton-Gore lawbreaking after all. **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 21, 2002, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-looky-there-was-clinton-gore-lawbreaking-after-all/129030 "2002-09-21T21:21:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2002, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-looky-there-was-clinton-gore-lawbreaking-after-all/129030/1 "2002-09-21T21:21:29Z")
[1996 Democratic campaign fined more than $700,000.](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A46452-2002Sep20.html) Oh but, these were personal matters. This is just an effort to tear the party down. It’s a vast right wing conspiracy. :wally The Democrat party broke the law, corrupting the political system further with cash from foreign interests. Since this is pretty clear guilt, I’m curious how the Democrats of the board will respond. Protestations of innocense are ludicrous; saying the Republicans are just as bad is merely a distraction. This further tells me that reform of the process is useless if corrupt pols will break existing laws to keep power. The corrupt pols in question did this time and time again. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2002, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-looky-there-was-clinton-gore-lawbreaking-after-all/129030/2 "2002-09-21T21:23:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr. Moto \* > **saying the Republicans are just as bad is merely a distraction.** The Republicans are just as bad. ---
**Author:** ![Tars\_Tarkas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tars\_Tarkas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tars_Tarkas)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2002, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-looky-there-was-clinton-gore-lawbreaking-after-all/129030/3 "2002-09-21T21:34:55Z")
A thread attacking Clinton? How original!!! ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2002, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-looky-there-was-clinton-gore-lawbreaking-after-all/129030/4 "2002-09-21T22:12:01Z")
Got a non-subscription cite, please? IIRC this story is about a year old, and the GOP was fined a similar amount. And it happens every campaign cycle. The issue is whether ‘soft’ money is spent to benefit specific candidates (illegal) or for party building (legal). Both the pubs and dems push the limits and get caught and spanked every year. So, **Moto** , since soft money is going to be banned, wouldn’t you say that that ‘reform process’ would help curtail misuse of soft money, since it won’t exist any longer? (And I’m sure any fine to the GOP has nothing to do with GWB, but a fine to the dems absolutely must, must be the work of the dastardly ClintonGores. Feh.) ---
**Author:** ![minty\_green](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@minty\_green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minty_green)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2002, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-looky-there-was-clinton-gore-lawbreaking-after-all/129030/5 "2002-09-21T22:15:11Z")
Would somebody explain to me what half-wit decided it was witty to refer to the Democratic Party as the “Democrat Party”? Other than that, I’m passing through only to observe that rants belong in the Pit. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2002, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-looky-there-was-clinton-gore-lawbreaking-after-all/129030/6 "2002-09-21T22:37:50Z")
Give you one guess, **Minty**. Just the one. Fat, vicious, maybe still deaf, not sure. Proof positive that rabies is not invariably fatal. Go ahead, take a wild stab at it. ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2002, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-looky-there-was-clinton-gore-lawbreaking-after-all/129030/7 "2002-09-21T22:41:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by elucidator \* > \*\*Go ahead, take a wild stab at it. \*\* Come on, we don’t advocate violence here… ---
**Author:** ![zen101](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c68b51/32.png) [@zen101](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zen101)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2002, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-looky-there-was-clinton-gore-lawbreaking-after-all/129030/8 "2002-09-21T22:52:00Z")
I’m pretty sure it was illegal to have Vince Foster killed too. [ducks and runs away] ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2002, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-looky-there-was-clinton-gore-lawbreaking-after-all/129030/9 "2002-09-21T22:52:11Z")
We don’t? ---
**Author:** ![december](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/838e76/32.png) [@december](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/december)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2002, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-looky-there-was-clinton-gore-lawbreaking-after-all/129030/10 "2002-09-21T23:29:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by squeegee \*IIRC this story is about a year old, and the GOP was fined a similar amount. And it happens every campaign cycle. Actually the story was in today’s paper. And, the Democratic fine was called a “record” in the article, so the GOP wasn’t fined the same amount. > [@](#): > > The issue is whether ‘soft’ money is spent to benefit specific candidates (illegal) or for party building (legal). Both the pubs and dems push the limits and get caught and spanked every year. In this case, a big part of the problem was donations from abroad, which have long been illegal. And, the Democrats were [lucky](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A46452-2002Sep20.html) that the fine wasn’t significantly higher: > [@](#): > > The total in fines would have been significantly higher except that some of the corporations have folded and others were dummy operations, with no assets, set up as conduits for money from China, Venezuela, Canada and other countries. Foreign individuals and organizations are barred from contributing to federal elections. In some cases, foreigners who would have been subject to fines could not be located and served with papers. In other cases, the individuals pleaded guilty in criminal cases and are bankrupt. This wasn’t pushing the envelope on what constitutes soft money. This was dummy operations to get blatantly illegal contributions. Heaven only knows what the Democrats did to reward these foreign donors. > [@](#): > > So, **Moto** , since soft money is going to be banned, wouldn’t you say that that ‘reform process’ would help curtail misuse of soft money, since it won’t exist any longer? As I said, this was blatant law-breaking, and the penalty was rather small – financially and Public Relations-wise. People who broke the current laws with impunity will break the new laws with impunity. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2002, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-looky-there-was-clinton-gore-lawbreaking-after-all/129030/11 "2002-09-21T23:59:13Z")
You’re right. It’s much better when bankrupt companies such as Enron give money legally to political parties. It’s the American way. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2002, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-looky-there-was-clinton-gore-lawbreaking-after-all/129030/12 "2002-09-22T00:21:31Z")
Whatever, **december**. I’m still waiting for a non-subscription cite for all these assertions. ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2002, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-looky-there-was-clinton-gore-lawbreaking-after-all/129030/13 "2002-09-22T00:29:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by squeegee \* > \*\*Whatever, **december**. I’m still waiting for a non-subscription cite for all these assertions. \*\* God forbid that you go to [any major news site](http://msnbc.com/news/810892.asp) and take a look. That would almost be like real work, and why bother doing that when you can just sit here and whine for cites? ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2002, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-looky-there-was-clinton-gore-lawbreaking-after-all/129030/14 "2002-09-22T00:47:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Brutus \* > God forbid that you go to [any major news site](http://msnbc.com/news/810892.asp) and take a look. That would almost be like real work, and why bother doing that when you can just sit here and whine for cites? Because it’s not my thread. The person who starts the thread and makes assertions is responsible for cites. God forbid the person who started this rant should at least follow common courtesy (although quite obviously courtesy, common or otherwise, is not a procedure you’re familiar with). ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2002, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-looky-there-was-clinton-gore-lawbreaking-after-all/129030/15 "2002-09-22T00:57:07Z")
He provided a cite to site with free registration. Don’t be so cheap, and register. ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2002, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-looky-there-was-clinton-gore-lawbreaking-after-all/129030/16 "2002-09-22T00:59:05Z")
**Brutus** not everyone **wants** to register on cites, it’s a valid criticsm. Frankly I prefer it when folks indicate it, too “sorry you have to register”, 'cause then I don’t bother to click on it. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2002, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-looky-there-was-clinton-gore-lawbreaking-after-all/129030/17 "2002-09-22T01:21:27Z")
Hopefully, you don’t need to register for this site: [http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=513&ncid=703&e=8&u=/ap/20020921/ap\_on\_go\_ot/fund\_raising\_fines](http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=513&ncid=703&e=8&u=/ap/20020921/ap_on_go_ot/fund_raising_fines) ---
**Author:** ![december](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/838e76/32.png) [@december](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/december)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2002, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-looky-there-was-clinton-gore-lawbreaking-after-all/129030/18 "2002-09-22T01:21:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by squeegee \* > \*\*Because it’s not my thread. The person who starts the thread and makes assertions is responsible for cites. God forbid the person who started this rant should at least follow common courtesy (although quite obviously courtesy, common or otherwise, is not a procedure you’re familiar with). \*\* So, why are you jumping all over _me_? I didn’t start the thread. I was simply repeating the OP’s cite. BTW are you sure that WaPo requires free registration? Maybe I registered and forgot doing so. I recommend that you take the bit of effort to register. It’s a very good paper, with the best editorial page of any (liberal) newspaper in the country. Participating in GD wihtout access to WaPo is like fighting with one hand tied behind your back. While you at it, I recommend you get your free registration for the NY Times. Maybe the real reason you served this fine whine about the cite is to distract the SDMB from Clinton’s illegal fund-raising. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2002, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-looky-there-was-clinton-gore-lawbreaking-after-all/129030/19 "2002-09-22T01:24:56Z")
**december** said > [@](#): > > Maybe the real reason you served this fine whine about the cite is to distract the SDMB from Clinton’s illegal fund-raising. Now, now. They didn’t indict **Clinton**. They fined the party, et al. NOtice that Bill wasn’t fined. Just the facts, ma’m. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2002, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-looky-there-was-clinton-gore-lawbreaking-after-all/129030/20 "2002-09-22T01:27:54Z")
[This should be better.](http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=513&ncid=703&e=8&u=/ap/20020921/ap_on_go_ot/fund_raising_fines) Also, for the record, this includes a $2000 fine to the Clinton/Gore campaign itself. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-looky-there-was-clinton-gore-lawbreaking-after-all/129030.md?page=2)