# When was the last time a Presidency as scandal free as Obama's. **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [May 8, 2016, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-a-presidency-as-scandal-free-as-obamas/754268 "2016-05-08T04:02:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-a-presidency-as-scandal-free-as-obamas/754268/21 "2016-05-08T14:29:08Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > I didn’t say he had to break the news, just that the process should work. There should be direct lines of communication from the lowest rungs of the bureaucracy all the way to the top. That’s how it works in the corporate world and in the military. Only in the government is it fairly routine to actually keep the President in the dark. No, for huge organizations, it’s extremely routine to not notify the very top about problems that aren’t hugely significant. In my work in the Navy (on a submarine design team), the SecNav and SecDef aren’t going to hear about every million dollars wasted in an incorrect cost estimate, or every potential security breach when a classified document is left out on a desk or emailed on the wrong network. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-a-presidency-as-scandal-free-as-obamas/754268/22 "2016-05-08T15:07:36Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > In my work in the Navy (on a submarine design team), the SecNav and SecDef aren’t going to hear about every million dollars wasted in an incorrect cost estimate, or every potential security breach when a classified document is left out on a desk or emailed on the wrong network. Are the SecNav and SecDef receiving classified info on a personal server in their home bathroom? ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-a-presidency-as-scandal-free-as-obamas/754268/23 "2016-05-08T15:15:46Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > I didn’t say he had to break the news, just that the process should work. There should be direct lines of communication from the lowest rungs of the bureaucracy all the way to the top. That’s how it works in the corporate world and in the military. Only in the government is it fairly routine to actually keep the President in the dark. I don’t know what corporate world you work in, but in the Global 100 companies I have either worked for or worked with, there certainly is NOT an unbroken direct line of communication from the lowest rungs to the CEO. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-a-presidency-as-scandal-free-as-obamas/754268/24 "2016-05-08T15:16:59Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > By all means, please go on. Well, for instance…Obama is not actually a black man. He’s actually white and just passing in order to get the black vote. He’s also not a Muslim pretending to be Christian. He’s actually a Druse pretending to be a Muslim pretending to be a Christian. And then there are the selling of executive influence to the Zeta Reticulans and cheating at golf with Samuel L. Jackson. The list goes on and on. Ultimately, he didn’t run for president to lead the nation; he did it in order to make a demo reel to get a shot at hosting The Daily Show. This entire administration is a scam perpetuated on the American people just so Barack Hussain Obama can get into the entertainment industry. > [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > The lack of evidence is proof. “My ignorance is my cite.” Stranger ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-a-presidency-as-scandal-free-as-obamas/754268/25 "2016-05-08T17:37:41Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Are the SecNav and SecDef receiving classified info on a personal server in their home bathroom? No point in feeding this hijack. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-a-presidency-as-scandal-free-as-obamas/754268/26 "2016-05-08T19:05:33Z")
It is undisputed that I am politically at odds with President Obama, but it is undoubted that he is a great family man, and a man of untouchable character. I have always respected that about him. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-a-presidency-as-scandal-free-as-obamas/754268/27 "2016-05-08T19:08:00Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > The closest to a real scandal was the load to Solyndra as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, and even that loss has been largely offset. And it’s doubtful whether that sort of thing even counts. A mistake or poor judgment in implementation of public policy, not involving corruption, is not a scandal. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-a-presidency-as-scandal-free-as-obamas/754268/28 "2016-05-08T19:34:56Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Of course! The biggest scandal is that nobody knows what any of his scandals are! Your President **Söze** is doing an excellent job. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-a-presidency-as-scandal-free-as-obamas/754268/29 "2016-05-08T20:52:40Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > No point in feeding this hijack. The Secretary of State is the President’s direct report. He is responsible. To say it’s not a scandal is ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-a-presidency-as-scandal-free-as-obamas/754268/30 "2016-05-08T23:19:38Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > To say it’s not a scandal is ridiculous. Your opinion is noted. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-a-presidency-as-scandal-free-as-obamas/754268/31 "2016-05-09T00:04:44Z")
> [@andros](#): > > Your opinion is noted. Thanks! No it’s not. Don’t lie to the man (woman?..IDK and IDC) ---
**Author:** ![Esox\_Lucius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/848f3c/32.png) [@Esox\_Lucius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esox_Lucius)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-a-presidency-as-scandal-free-as-obamas/754268/32 "2016-05-09T00:28:47Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > The Secretary of State is the President’s direct report. He is responsible. To say it’s not a scandal is ridiculous. Still determined to make Obama a one-term president, I see.😃 ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-a-presidency-as-scandal-free-as-obamas/754268/33 "2016-05-09T01:01:48Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > It is undisputed that I am politically at odds with President Obama, but it is undoubted that he is a great family man, and a man of untouchable character. I have always respected that about him. And I have never minded you. As someone who has never annoyed me, I want to say that I appreciate that. Who are you again? ---
**Author:** ![Alex\_from\_CB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/278dde/32.png) [@Alex\_from\_CB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alex_from_CB)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-a-presidency-as-scandal-free-as-obamas/754268/34 "2016-05-09T01:37:58Z")
What scandals occurred during Bill Clinton’s tenure? OK, the hum job. That it? The Hum job causing impeachment prosecuted by Speaker of the House, Newt who was having an affair whilst impeaching followed by his successor, Livingston who was also having an affair followed by Speaker Denny Hassert who was a _kiddie diddler_. So is that it? Hillary killed Vince Foster but she wasn’t part of the administration. What other scandals? ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-a-presidency-as-scandal-free-as-obamas/754268/35 "2016-05-09T02:28:47Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > No, for huge organizations, it’s extremely routine to not notify the very top about problems that aren’t hugely significant. In my work in the Navy (on a submarine design team), the SecNav and SecDef aren’t going to hear about every million dollars wasted in an incorrect cost estimate, or every potential security breach when a classified document is left out on a desk or emailed on the wrong network. Absolutely. The VA scandals certainly should have gone to the top. And if the other scandals are information that should not have gone as far up as the President, then the Mr. Change should have defended himself on those grounds. Instead, he made such issues his problem because of the negative press. Also, his top advisors, who were aware of things like what was going on in the IRS, committed political malpractice by not knowing that it would be a big press story that would damage the President. Yet they didn’t tell him. Or, it could just be that the Presidency is unique in that not knowing about things is a political benefit. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-a-presidency-as-scandal-free-as-obamas/754268/36 "2016-05-09T02:30:17Z")
> [@Alex\_from\_CB](#): > > What scandals occurred during Bill Clinton’s tenure? OK, the hum job. That it? The Hum job causing impeachment prosecuted by Speaker of the House, Newt who was having an affair whilst impeaching followed by his successor, Livingston who was also having an affair followed by Speaker Denny Hassert who was a _kiddie diddler_. So is that it? > > Hillary killed Vince Foster but she wasn’t part of the administration. > > What other scandals? Regardless of how important you think it is, adultery is still regarded as a pretty serious scandal no matter which politician it is. No, it shouldn’t have resulted in impeachment, but it’s no doubt a pretty big scandal. That kind of thing still kills careers. Ask John Edwards. ---
**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:** [May 9, 2016, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-a-presidency-as-scandal-free-as-obamas/754268/37 "2016-05-09T02:36:54Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Regardless of how important you think it is, adultery is still regarded as a pretty serious scandal no matter which politician it is. No, it shouldn’t have resulted in impeachment, but it’s no doubt a pretty big scandal. That kind of thing still kills careers. Ask John Edwards. Didn’t hurt McCain. Gingrich is being considered for Trump’s VP and then there’s Trump himself. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-a-presidency-as-scandal-free-as-obamas/754268/38 "2016-05-09T03:03:50Z")
Getting caught in the act is different from past adultery. Lying about it before you get caught tends to end your career. Clinton is one of the few to survive that, mainly due to Republican overreach. If they’d just let the media do their work for them, he would have been a lame duck and they would have made big gains in the midterms. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-a-presidency-as-scandal-free-as-obamas/754268/39 "2016-05-09T03:12:40Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > And I have never minded you. As someone who has never annoyed me, I want to say that I appreciate that. > > Who are you again? Well, hell. I guess I am not being obnoxious enough with my posts here. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Alex\_from\_CB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/278dde/32.png) [@Alex\_from\_CB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alex_from_CB)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-a-presidency-as-scandal-free-as-obamas/754268/40 "2016-05-09T20:39:20Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Regardless of how important you think it is, adultery is still regarded as a pretty serious scandal no matter which politician it is. No, it shouldn’t have resulted in impeachment, but it’s no doubt a pretty big scandal. That kind of thing still kills careers. Ask John Edwards. So the answer to my question, “other than the hum job, what other scandals occurred during Bill Clinton’s 8 years?”…none. Is that your answer? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-a-presidency-as-scandal-free-as-obamas/754268.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-a-presidency-as-scandal-free-as-obamas/754268.md?page=3)