Clinton Rips Starr, Media on Prosecution

[Khephra]

By JAMES JEFFERSON, Associated Press Writer

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - In a prime-time television outburst, Bill Clinton (news - web sites) ripped old nemesis Kenneth Starr and what the former president portrayed as a gullible media eager to report every "sleazy thing" leaked from a prosecutor bent on bringing him down.

"No other president ever had to endure someone like Ken Starr," Clinton said. "No one ever had to try to save people from ethnic cleansing in the Balkans, and people in Haiti from a military dictator that was murdering them, and all the other problems I dealt with, while every day an entire apparatus was devoted to destroying him."


The former president said he would go to his grave at peace that, while he had personal failings, he never lied to the American people about his job as president.


Clinton added that he doesn't care about what his detractors think about him. Jennings then said it seemed to him that Clinton did care.


The former president responded, "You don't want to go here, Peter. You don't want to go here. Not after what you people did and the way you, your network, what you did with Kenneth Starr. The way your people repeated every, little sleazy thing he leaked. No one has any idea what that's like."

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=519&ncid=703&e=1&u=/ap/20041120/ap_on_re_us/clinton_starr

[coloradodem2005]

1. Outburst?

It didn't sound like an outburst. He stated what was on his mind. Plain and simple. What he stated was true. He certainly did not yell at Peter Jennings. Give me a fucking break.


On another note, I have never respected President William J. Clinton more than at that moment. They really cannot stand that he stuck it to them once again. Media, give up. Clinton is too smart for you. Way out of your league.

[jjanpundt]

4. Can you imagine how fast Bush and Cheney would

have melted down if they'd been subjected to that kind of scrutiny? If only...

[Fovea]

13. I suspect that Bush and Cheney

spend more to keep investigators off their trails than Starr/Scaife spent trying to bring Clinton down.

[spanone]

49. Bush* & Cheney would have had Starr 'taken out'

[candy331]

7. Have to repeat it Howard Dean is correct the media has to be brought under

control, when the masses finally wake up and find they don't need the lying pos media it will be a great day. I never saw an outburst from Clinton but here we read "In a prime-time television outburst" If he was to have an outburst it would have come before now.

[coloradodem2005]

8. I fully agree with Howard Dean.

THe media is a fucked up piece of shit. What did Dean call the media? "A failed Institution"?

[WorseBeforeBetter]

32. "Screw the facts"

Exactly. This from Salon not too long ago:

"Forget DNC chair or 2008 presidential candidate. Perhaps Howard Dean should be national media ombudsman. Here's what "Howard Dean '71" had to say about the "failing" media, from the Yale Daily News:

"'The media is a failing institution in this country,' Dean said. 'They are not maintaining their responsibility to maintain democracy.'

One of the major problems Dean focused on during the talk is the media's increased focus on entertainment at the expense of investigative journalism. 'The Monica Lewinsky scandal exploded,' Dean said, 'and suddenly the way to get to the top was salacious gossip and sex scandals. There is no investigative journalism worthy of the name.'

The television networks, especially Fox News, are most to blame for the increased focus in journalism on flash and entertainment, Dean said. Dean said these networks aim to entertain because 'entertainment sells better than news.' The infamous 'scream speech,' often blamed for Dean's loss to Sen. John Kerry '66 in the Democratic primaries, was partially a media fabrication because it was appealing for its entertainment value rather than its newsworthiness, Dean said.

'The media is trained to get the entertainment value and screw the facts,' he said."

[BrainRants]

40. Kick!

[jwirr]

64. We also need a breakdown of the types of media

because some forms still allow diversity. It is obvious that television has very few good news programing but there are some that ate better than others. Likewise, newspapers, magazines, radio, movies, etc. We should be very careful that we do not kill our own when we go to war against the form of media that have forgotten their role in democracy.

[barb162]

95. "when the masses finally wake up" it won't happen because if it

hasn't happened yet, it never will.

[coeur_de_lion]

76. It was no outburst!

If anything I thought Clinton was very polite considering how Jennings treated him. He didn't loose his cool, far from it. He never raised his voice, his tone was measured and courteous. He even smiled at one point.

Typical media reaction, to paint him as angry or try to make him look like foolish. Jennings is the one who looked ridiculous.

Jennings brought up that 58 historians did this analysis of Clinton's presidency for CSPAN. They ranked him 21st in "General Terms," 5th in "Public Persuasion and Economic Management." Then Jennings said that these historians ranked him 41st in "Moral Authority." After President Nixon. Clinton reminded him that only one of his staffers was ever convicted of any wrong-doing, while 29 were convicted during the Reagan and Bush years. Said, "I bet those historians didn't know that."

Jennings quickly glossed over the "5th in public persuasion and economic mgt." and started giving Clinton a hard time about the moral authority deal. So Clinton set him straight. It was as simple as that. He was much more civil than Jennings deserved. Jennings was trying to get his goat, saying that it bothered him a lot that he was ranked 41st. Clinton smiled and said "you don't want to go here, Peter, you don't want to go here. Not after what you people did." I was glad to see that he didn't let Jennings walk all over him -- he put him right in his place. Jennings thought he was being clever, trying to get Clinton upset and aggravated. Didn't work.

Outburst my ass.:evilgrin:

[mrdmk]

90. I guess we get to hear about angry liberals

That is it, we are a bunch of angry liberals. Everyone on the left have lost their collective heads.

[coeur_de_lion]

92. Idiots. They voted in a criminal, let them laugh now. They will be

crying before long. When their brothers, sons, fathers go to war. When they have no rights, when they lose their jobs, and their health insurance. When this crooked administration gets done with them they won't recognize their own country.

They will wish Clinton were still president then.

Nah, I'm not bitter!

[ZanZaBar]

118. Nah

Even after all the shit has hit the fan, these idiots will STILL be chanting: "Thank you sir, may I have another."

ANYTHING to keep a LIBRULL outta office. They don't like to be reminded of the good times, anyway. And if they *WERE* good, it was all thanks to Reagan's BRILLIANT economic strategy..

Once a friggin' tard, always a friggin' tard.

[depakid]

2. F*** you Peter Jennings

You don't have one shred of honor and decency... your children and grandchildren will be deeply ashamed of you

That's what Clinton wanted to say- and maybe should have.

[madison2000]

22. Amen

Peter has become so arrogant- he deserved to have Clinton rip into him like that! :evilfrown:

[trueblew]

3. It is the truth...

more than you can get from the current anti-president. Even in his youth Bush was stupid.

[tuvor]

5. Is there a link to the video of this interview?

There was some discussion about this last night.

[VolcanoJen]

78. So far, only available at ABCNEWS.com with RealPlayer Subscription

Someone will likely post it for free soon...

[Greylyn58]

80. You Can Listen on Randi Rhodes' Web Site

here's the link. It's right on the front page. It's awesome.

http://www.therandirhodesshow.com/

Enjoy!

[tjdee]

6. Oh, he should have let him go there.

I like Peter Jennings, and don't think there was anything wrong with his comment.

But oh yeah, Bill should have let him take it there, and he should have said whatever he wanted to say about it.

Too bad I missed it. :(

[caligirl]

9. Why did we have to wait 4 years for this? Do it again Bill, this time let

[caligirl]

12. This time let it really rip!

When I was supporting Dean I wrote lots of letters to the media, tv and print, about their poor quality and low standards. Nothing seemed to change.

They let schrub get away with war crimes and Bill got roasted for 8 years over non Presidential business.

WHEN CLINTON LIED, NO ONE DIED!

Elections are really decided by those who count the votes, and the media whores ignore it.

[jbnow]

10. Wolf Blitzer talked about it tonight

And he was defending the press, how they are bound to report things and if Clinton gets angry about that then he doesn't understand the press works. Journalistic duty.

THAT made me so mad I sent him an e-mail asking how the press does work because this was a bad time to say that. Yes, Clinton was stupid but how do the sex lies of a president affect us in comparison the many, many reasons we had to question the reasons we went to war. What about the glaring dangers of electronic voting or the hundreds of voting irregularities that affect our very democracy? Or what about the wild spikes in stocks, 5 year bonds and so in the days and hours preceding 9/11? You all reported it initially and it was a relief to know we’d be able to learn who had prior knowledge of the attack. Then it was dropped. Or what about post war Afghanistan?

So how DOES the press work? What does that even mean? Whatis journalistic responsibility if we are ignoring things that matter most? That is a simmering resentment...but hearing tonight’s comments brought the level way above simmer.

The press talks about how angry he was/ I'm angry and I'd have sounded like it. He just sounded honest.

[Riddler]

14. Blitzer doesn't have the brains to realize he is part of the problem,

not part of the solution. He, like all the other CNN whores is nothing but garbage, and has to resort to his type of reporting because he has absolutely zero journalistic standards or ability to fall back on. If it weren't for CNN, Blitzer would be manning the drive through at Dairy Queen. The ONLY reason I don't write him and tell him what a jerk he is is because I've done it so many times before that I don't want to give him the pleasure of thinking I waste a minute of my time watching the vast wasteland that CNN has become. My suggestion to everyone is to turn CNN off and forget about them. All watching them accomplishes is pissing those of us with brains in our heads off. They're not going to change, so it's up to us to change and forget they exist. I'm going into my 3rd month of being CNN-free and I've noticed my blood pressure has gone down and I don't get as upset anymore! If it weren't part of the package deal with my cable provider, I would unsubscribe from it.

[aprillcm]

16. I feel like I am at an AA meeting when I say this but..

I am going on 2 months CNN free and feel great. I used to be a faithful watcher then before the debates my husband asked me why I listened if I was just gonna shout at the TV, and made me a bet the bet is over and I still refuse to watch :) It has been a very freeing experience to be away from the Major "NEWS" Networks.

[Mend]

19. We watched a movie tonight

the tv has been off since black tuesday and for most of the last four years except leading up to the "election" when we watched Kerry/Edwards rallies. I was amazed at how good it was to see Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell in "Groundhog Day". I'd as soon as watch a toilet emptying as see whore jennings or any of his fellow creeps.

[TahitiNut]

27. I love "Groundhog Day".

There's a lot in that movie. and it's subtle. It's no accident that Bill Murray plays "Phil" (prognosticator) Conners ... and sees his shadow. Harold Ramis is truly a comedy genius, and the script and direction show it, imho.

[yardwork]

84. We watched "OutFoxed" last night!

So you can imagine the kind of mood I'm in today to read Peter Jennings accuse Bill Clinton (That's "President Clinton" to you, Pete) of an outburst.

Good for you, Bill Clinton! Do it again!

I haven't watched CNN in months. I wrote them a letter last summer during the swift boat liars lovefest, telling them how disgusted I was with their so-called news coverage. I told them I was sorry to see a once well-respected news outlet sink so low. Told them I would never watch their network again and I never have.

[housewolf]

89. Watched "Am American President"

My cable network has been showing "Am American President" with Michael Douglas, Annette Benning, Michael J. Fox & Martin Sheen lately. What a great movie! We need Andrew Shepherd for president NOW!

[olddad56]

23. thats it, we need a 12 step program for recovering CNN junkies.

[BlkAces16]

117. Blinded by the Light??

After 5 months of being a peeping tomette here at DU. I've decided that its now time for me to moveon to another fetish of mine. I will now be a flasher...teehee :loveya:]


Since all these so-called journalist from Fox and CNN (and all the other millions of reporters) seem to be so far up Bush's ass (and let's not forget Cheney's ass, Rove's ass, or Ms Condi's ass). Isn't it about time that we start up a collection fund and buy these "reporters" a flashlight?
Like one of those really big nice ones, Mag lights I think they are called.

Maybe with a flashlight they would FINALLY see their way out of Bush ass?

Nah, can't see it happening. And it won't happen. Maybe after Bush is out of office, but thats still highly doubtful.

They've been so far up Bush's ass and swimming in his shit :hurts: that they no longer know the difference between whats real and what is shit.
They call themselves reporters and journalist, I call them shit shovelers.

But hey, they can at least say they got it straight from the ass's mouth? Oops, meant to say horse's mouth. O8)

Bush enjoys having the press so far up his ass.
Its a nice way to control them. Kind of like how Hitler and gang controlled the German press, right?
Or maybe Bush just likes the idea of having someone like Wolf stuck up his ass 24/7?
Better yet, maybe he's a Hannity kind of guy?
(this could also prove my suspicions about Ms. Karly Rove and Mr. Adams Apple Coulter being more than just friends) No matter what, these are all pretty horrific mental pictures. And i think I may have scarred myself for life now. :scared:

Maybe Rove has the negatives of Hannity and Bush together? Or Blitzer and Bush together? Oh well, I'll save this idea for another post later.

Anyhoos, i'm tired of the shit that these so-called reporters are trying to force us to buy. And now i can add CNN to the list of news channels that I refuse to watch.

[DrZeeLit]

51. I agree. I am going on 3 years of NO T.V. and I feel GREAT -- much more

informed by the way. I read a wide range of newspapers and listen to NPR (even though I realize the problem inherent in that coverage of late -- at least I still get Daniel Shorr, ha ha). I also have time to read a range of fiction and non-fiction books. I have time to do projects, volunteer, and even work on my writing. I haven't been as involved in a political campaign as I was this time, since I was very young. The release of t.v. has given me a new lease on my time and my life.

I don't miss the sleazy stuff that used to make me livid to the point of yelling at the screen. I can yell at the headlines and the stuff reported here, but it's not so "in my face."

I also do not miss what passes as programming -- reality shows and idiotic sit-coms that just suck the braincells out of my head while I get nothing accomplished.

I don't think I'm going to be on my deathbed saying, "Ooh, wish I had watched more t.v." Nope.

[Pretty_in_CodePink]

110. It is a very freeing experience.

I went on a news fast at the end of John Kerry's concession speech. I just couldn't take the chance of seeing * face. Then slowly some news got in via e-mail from friends and a few minutes on DU. What is the point in spending time on network tv when most of the news that is relevant is not even being reported. Perhaps if they ever start telling the story of the war by showing the devastating photos and returning coffins they will regain some credibility.

BTW a local TV station actually showed up at a CODEPINK peace vigil we held last week. It was fun to see the disbelieving look on the reporters face when my response to his question about seeing the video of the marine shooting the wounded man was "I didn't see it. I'm on a news fast." They just don't get how irrelevant they are.

I never watch the news and am one of the best informed people I know. You smart folks at DU with your wonderful links make it sooooo easy for me. Thanks.

[muse]

21. I agree. Turn off CNN permanently and your life will be better for it.

I have not really watched CNN in months. Every once in a while I'll land on it as I cruise around the stations. It's always amusing to peek in on their circus sideshow acts. Jeff Greenfield is a particularly amusing little fellow. Their election night wall-o-monitors caught my eye for a moment. Like being in Best Buy's TV section. Someone's very bad idea.
Blitzer - boring delivery, nothing profound to say EVER. Yawn.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

34. Nofacts is still gainfully employed...

by CNN/Crossfire after outing a CIA operative. That's reason enough to boycott CNN FOREVER. You're right, they're not going to change and there will only be greater corporate ownership/consolidation if Powell has his way. The RWers have set out to destroy the "liberal" media and they've done so, quite successfully. How do we get it back? Hell, forget any sort of labels. I just want TRUTHFUL. Gawd, it makes me want to puke when I think back on the summer before 9/11. NOTHING but 24/7 shark attacks and Gary Condit/Chandra Levy and the masses lapped it up, no questions asked.

[flaminbats]

37. Why employ facts?

If no facts are needed to cut taxes or wage war, why should they be necessary to prosecute the guilty or innocent? Accuracy doesn't matter to reporters as much as accusations or a conviction. If an innocent man is found guilty, reporters don't care if he had a fair trial..only that he has been proved guilty of a crime. If a guilty person has been found innocent, reporters don't care if the innocent are treated as criminals..only that a criminal is really innocent.

Remember the fundraising scandal of 1996? The press doesn't care if the RNC's crimes are worse, just that the DNC may be guilty. The press doesn't care that Tom Delay is guilty of bribery, just if a Democrat is guilty of accusing him!

After we win Congress in 2006, it doesn't matter that Democrats have videos of wrongdoing at RNC fundraisers or facts to prove Tom Delay's guilt. They only care if Tom Delay and this administration will pay for these crimes.

[mrdmk]

91. Nofacts = Novak, Robert n/t

[sixfive]

98. the douchebag of freedom

:spank:

[Protect The Vote]

106. That's exactly when I stopped watching CNN

I won't watch it until Novacks is held accountable for his felony.

[dennis4868]

56. Hey Blitzer......

If Clinton outed a CIA agent for political reasons would you be as quiet about it as you are right now? FUCK YOU BLITZER AND ALL THE OTHER WHORES OUT THERE!

[pretzel4gore]

93. can you subscribe again, then unsubscribe?

i wish there was a way to hurt the vile mediawhore traitors....the orgs that employ them.....maybe fukk up their subscription service somehow (?)

[patomime]

115. Riddler couldn't have said it better ....

..... it's time we turn mainstream media off. They're whores who turn on a dime when this administration says so. As for Wolfie === the last time I listened to him (about three months ago) was when he said he would stand by Gallup Poll numbers. ... yeah right!!!! He's such a repug, it's awful!

Quit listening to mainstream media, with notable exceptions of Dan Rather (CBS) and Keith Olbermann (MSNBC). Other than this -- I get my news from NPR, PBS and internet and independent media. I love it -- no more throwing things at the TV!:bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[Kurovski]

15. Apparently "journalistic duty" means ignoring nation-wide voting anomolies

Wolfy is a hairy, nasty, self-serving little whore.

The only duty he performs is on his pale knobby knees.

[rodeodance]

65. I saw Blizer and then emailed him.

you are right==he defended the media and 'how it works" What a joke!!

[ooglymoogly]

86. when you email wolf blitzer no matter what you say goes to his popularity

no. of emails extrapolates into no. of viewers. i used to hit the feedback which gives you a list of anchors and casters and you can hit positive or negative and type a flaming message. but i no longer watch cnn unless something important happens. and i never write them.
since we all have started watching olbermann and writing he has become wildly popular and thats a good thing.

[shuffnew]

61. CNN .... needs to merge with Fox News or Sinclair Broadcasting...

jbnow: good note to Wolf Blitzer. CNN instead has now taken the "faith of the far right extremes as their "focus" now... giving these Dominion Theologists as much "free" air time as they can. They may as well merge with Fox News or Sinclair Broadcasting. Paula, Woodruff, Lou... they have all jumped onto to the unmeaningful agenda of promoting the far right extremes (reportedly less than 20% of the population of the "knowing" cult members) that are trying to distroy our founding documents and our country... kill social security, kill health care (medicare and private sector's corporate theives - promoting a bill to eliminate tax breaks for employers to provide employer-sponsored health care, giving them the excuse they need to drop it), education, etc.
Sickening...

[Bullshot]

62. Wolf Blitzer lecturing on how the media work

is like Hitler lecturing on humanity and tolerance.

Geez, whatta dumfuck!

[NicRic]

68. One of the worst =Wolf Blitzer

His head is so far up the bush teams ass ,he would'nt know a real news story if it hit him in the head. Whats really disgusting is his income ,to make that kind of $ ,for being a complete failure at your profession. When I hear the words that here is no justice in this world , what the bushes have gotten away with and will continue to get away with, make that statement ring so true ! Its useless media whores like Wolfman Blitz , that enable this White House to give the American people the screwing we are getting ,and apprently will continue to get over the next four years. To bad we dont have more Dem leaders with the smarts that our last great President Clinton has, then perhaps the Dem party would'nt be a doormat for the repugs time and time again ! Deeply depressed Dem !:-(

[ooglymoogly]

82. wolf blitzer gets high on bushfarts directly from the donkeys ass

wolf asked john stuart i think it was if he was a republican or a democrat and john smartly turned the question on wolf. wolf was pulllucked. finaly "i am a serious journalst". no joke. other great quotes from wolf. "he 'shrub' is the real deal, don't you think he is the real deal?" if any one journalist {i use the word loosely} is responsible for the comming to power of bushit and the tarnishing of clinton by trumpeting every utterand of ken star, over and over ad infinitum it is wolf blitzer. he is deadly and dumb and caring not one whit for this great democracy, sharing the same traits as his idol bushit

[talk hard]

114. duty of the press? pahleeeeeze

I've about had it with the sanctimonious nature of the US media. They act like they're actually doing an admirable job. They aren't doing anything within a block of an admirable job. Bubba is right, they did report everything sleazy lie leaked from the GOP'ers.

In comparison, the press gives BushCo smoochy kisses on a regular basis. Where's the outrage about the Valerie Plame leak? Quickly buried. Where's the outrage about Abu Ghraib? Quickly buried. Buried at the behest of the his nazi administration.

Doesn't matter though. To this day the R's hammer Clinton about Whitewater, Travelgate, etc., even though Starr did an exhaustive and expensive - on our dime - investigation.

I would much rather my president do what Clinton did -lie about a personal issue that was none of our business anyway - than conduct a presidency as bereft of integrity as this one.

Up yours Peter Jennings. And the Wolf Blitzer you rode in on.

[The Backlash Cometh]

11. That's my president.

Kick the media in the teeth. They helped bring this country down.

[The Zanti Regent]

17. It's a shame Clinton didn't punch Peter Jackoff in the face

lord knows that liar deserves it!

[Riddler]

18. Absolutely!!!

Jennings is as big a whore as anyone on the cable networks, not to mention being an arrogant SOB. The only news I watch anymore is BBC World news. Makes me remember the good old days when the US had a free and press. Now all we have is the Government News Agency FOX. Everybody else (with the exception of Olberman) can be divided into 2 groups, the FOX-lites, and the FOX-wannabes.

[The Backlash Cometh]

20. If I had known Clinton had such a disregard for Jennings before,

I would have stopped watching his network sooner.

[aprillcm]

24. There is a reason Curic got an exclusive with the Edwards

It was a reward for at least making an attempt to be fair during the campaign, I used to Blog at the Kerry blog that it was funny that Katie Curic was the hardest hitting Journalist on TV, She did not give republicans a pass, she wasnt always easy on Dems but she was the only one I saw trying to be fair to both sides, to me this said alot about the state of the Media alls Clinton did was say it loud and clear, I hope he continues. There are very few News people who worked to stay fair I hope Democrats talk to them and ignore the idiots Like Jennings unless they intend to do as Clinton did then I encourage them to go on every show and, Have a slam the media to their faces fest!!

[Riddler]

28. The "news" media loves to dish it out but whine like stuck piglets

when it comes time for them to take it. Remember how defensive they got, and the attack mode they went into, when Jon Stewart gave Crossfire their comeuppance? Today's lot is a disgrace to the memories of the Edward R. Murrows, Walter Cronkites, Howard K. Smiths, etc. of days past.

[Arkana]

111. Agreed

Jon Stewart has more fucking journalistic integrity than all of the CNN "journalists" put together, and his news show is fake for chrissakes.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

31. We may see Curic get "talked" into towing the GOP line....

now that they have Hitler-Like Control over the system.

[chadk]

53. Peter Jackoff... LMAO... this is my first ever post on DU...

and I dedicate it you, TZR! :D :toast:

[connecticut yankee]

57. Welcome to DU

we're happy to have you join our "family."

:hi:

[The Zanti Regent]

63. Don't forget Petey's pals

Tom Blowhard, Dan Blather and Jim Liar!

[muchacho]

73. welcome to the thunderdome

[Kimber Scott]

25. That's it. The media is full of crackheads. Outburst? Zell Miller had

an outburst. Clinton never once raised his voice, but was very clear in his intentions - to rebuke the media for forcing us and our children to live, over and over, a private, sexual encounter in graphic detail, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, during prime-time and cartoon time. And as if they didn't get enough of it then, they're dragging it out again as Clinton unveils his library. How appropriate.

[cilla4progress]

59. Attention please!

You know, maybe if "the media" hadn't wasted so much time on the Lewinsky affair, they would have had a heads up about Al Quaeda. Ya think?

[sparrowhawk]

75. I remember thinking that at the time.

Why did the media spend so much time on the "affair" and so little time on Bin Laden and other critical situations in the world? I remember thinking Bin Laden seemed different and more dangerous than any terrorist leader I had seen up to that time. But I had trouble finding much information about him. The media (and Republicans in Congress) were distracting everyone with the Lewinsky affair and what seemed like a hundred other ridiculous investigations.

[pretzel4gore]

103. the media also inspired tim mcveigh...

to kill 168 innocents....but the righteous punks never got called on it; tim mcveigh went quietly to his death (knowing he had made a terrible mistake) and the mediawhores? look at them, pigs in a sty

[rodeodance]

66. wasn't it the Repugs who put in on the Internet at the time?

at least that is what I recall. I did not read it at the time--just could not do it. Has anyone? Someone said it lots of sexual details--you know the kind that Repugs don't want available to kids.

[Dover]

26. Public protests should be at the media's front doors.......

they are 100% complicit in this, as are their corporate backers.

[Riddler]

29. And not once did Jennings say anything about was a disgusting,

slime infested piece of gutter garbage imbibing cockroach Ken Starr was.

[grasswire]

30. here's the Blitzer transcript

BLITZER: The former president says he never lied to the American people about his job as president.

Joining us here in Washington is Lanny Davis. He was the White House special counsel during the Clinton administration and during the impeachment process, the Monica Lewinsky investigation, as we all remember.

Were you surprised at how angry he got when Peter Jennings was grilling him on that?

LANNY DAVIS, FORMER WHITE HOUSE COUNSEL: Actually, I had left the White House and was a volunteer when I appeared on programs like yours.

But I was not surprised. You have to understand the depth of feeling for those of us who saw this all begin with Whitewater, which never went anywhere. Ken Starr himself, after $70 million, never found any wrongdoing about a 20-year-old land deal. The chain of events from Whitewater to travel office to Filegate, to all of the gates generated by Republican investigations never went anywhere.

BLITZER: Lanny, let me interrupt you for a second. Take a look. But he is still parsing words so specifically. You have to listen so carefully to that exchange with Peter Jennings. He said he never lied to the American people about his job as president.

Now, he lied to the American people about his relationship with Monica Lewinsky.

DAVIS: Yes.

And he has always distinguished. And I would say, Wolf, it's not really parsing with words. It's a distinction the American people fundamentally made at the time...

BLITZER: But lying about...

(CROSSTALK)

DAVIS: ... saved his presidency was the distinction between his job and his private conduct. What he didn't tell the truth about was an embarrassing episode involving private conduct, which the American people understood the reason for that lie. But they also gave him credit for his job.

BLITZER: But Bill Clinton is such a smart guy. And you are so smart. If there's an independent counsel who is investigating the president of the United States, those of us in the news media, what, are we supposed to ignore that investigation, not report about it?

DAVIS: No, but it's the predecessor investigations.

How much time was spent by the national media on Whitewater? And how much time was spent when Ken Starr found no wrongdoing by the Clintons? We had the D'Amato hearings. We had constant calling for an independent counsel. Ken Starr was appointed because of a zero issue involving Whitewater. (CROSSTALK)

BLITZER: Who appointed Ken Starr? Do you remember who appointed Ken Starr?

DAVIS: It was under a great deal of pressure that President Clinton...

BLITZER: Was it Janet Reno, the Democratic attorney general of the United States?

DAVIS: Well, actually, it was President Clinton, defying some advice among some of his advisers, including his White House counsel, who chose to ask for Ken Starr or at least an independent counsel.

BLITZER: But Janet Reno was the one who said, go for it. Have an independent counsel named by this three-judge panel.

DAVIS: But, look, you're asking me the president to this day, President Clinton, and lots of us still feel angry. It's because the original independent counsel, Robert Fiske, was replaced by a more partisan process that led to Ken Starr. And after all was said and done, the only thing they had left was about private conduct, not about Whitewater, not about all of the -- what he calls innuendo and leaks that led to all of those so-called scandals that were ending up in zero of wrongdoing, other than what happened with Monica Lewinsky.

BLITZER: I can understand he is angry, angry, at Ken Starr for the investigation. But if he is angry at the news media for covering that investigation, he does not understand how the news media in this country works.

DAVIS: Well, look, I think that anger with the news media in coverage cuts both ways. Reporters have to do their jobs.

BLITZER: Well, and that's what they were doing.

DAVIS: In some cases, they were doing. In other cases, not good reporters were reporting innuendo without fact. And if you go back to the reporting about Whitewater and you...

(CROSSTALK)

BLITZER: And yet the serious news organizations, the mainstream press, the elite press, they were reporting all the information. And you know what? When the independent counsel's report and all the information came out, almost all of those sleazy details were confirmed in that report, weren't they?

DAVIS: In the Whitewater investigation?

(CROSSTALK)

BLITZER: No, I'm talking about his personal relationship with Monica Lewinsky, including the red dress and all that, the blue dress.

DAVIS: The blue dress.

BLITZER: With the stain.

DAVIS: There is no question that the private conduct episode ended up with President Clinton having been put into a room where he chose to testify falsely in a civil case that was thrown out on the merits.

But if you look at the reasons for the appointment of an independent counsel, the firing of Robert Fiske and the replacement by Ken Starr, and what he is referring to in that interview, Susan McDougal consistently trying to tell the truth, put into irons and handcuffs because she refused to lie. As she said, she was asked to lie by Ken Starr's prosecutors. It still holds a lot of anger for those of us who were in the middle of it.

BLITZER: I'm sure, although you're still not as angry as the president, for good reason.

(LAUGHTER)

DAVIS: Well, I'm glad I wasn't in his spot.

BLITZER: Well, he was in a tough spot, no doubt about it. And he still` feels it, clearly, on this day. Thanks very much, Lanny.

DAVIS: Thanks, Wolf.

BLITZER: Down and out. They lost the election, so where do the Democrats go from here? Our Carlos Watson has "The Inside Edge" on that and more. He's standing by to join us live next.

[mrdmk]

36. This is CNN, what a joke

Blitzer was asking to be put onto his heals, this Davis person just acted on the defense for the most part, trying to be polite I guess. This interview does not sound good for CNN.

[robbedvoter]

42. Media was mum on the exoneration from Whitewater (Pillsbury report)

Clinton had a press conference on it, the whores were not even bothering to take notes. "You are not going to report any of this, aren't you?" he asked. Silence followed.

[partisan to truth]

67. that's so messed up... not even trying to hide the inherent bias eom.

[dbravo]

100. Y'all are wonderful -- adore the passion! Now, email Jennings and CNN

I'm new here and LOVE it. After reading the posted Blitzer/Davis transcript, I went to http://www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form4.html?2 and sent CNN the following:

We haven't watched CNN for months but read the transcript of Wolf Blitzer's interview with Lanny Davis regarding Bill Clinton.

My family and I won't be watching CNN again any time soon. Mr. Blitzer and your other "reporters" should demonstrate some journalistic skill by reporting news instead of interviewing pundits, arguing over titillating bits and intimating insults at great people like Bill Clinton.

CNN, in general, should be able to figure out that pandering to the Republicans is Fox News' territory and splitting an audience that, at best, is only half of the electorate. The other half is turning off these right-wing biased programs wondering if TV news will someday again employ real journalists reporting important news.

Mr. Blitzer reminds me of a nasty little rat gnawing on a dessicated turd. Fire him. He can find a job at Fox.

[juliagoolia]

120. Good for you..

I DID IT TOO>. thanks for the mail list

[DeepGreen]

33. Go Bill !

It's about time you let it out. Give'm hell !

:mad:

[Princess Turandot]

35. The Media never reconciled to the fact that their immediate predictions..

went nowhere..all of the network anchormen ran back to the US when the Lewinsky story broke, announcing that President Clinton would have to resign because of the affair. (They were all in the Caribbean waiting for JPII's visit to Cuba.) I wasn't working at the time and saw a lot of the cable coverage. When he not only didn't resign, but went into a State of the Union address without missing a beat, they were practically apoplectic. Even better, his ever increasing popularity rating had them all stuttering. They were determined to create the news and they just couldn't do it. That's stuck in their craw ever since.

[moondust]

38. I remember the day

that Clinton's videotaped deposition was made public. Media hounds were frothing at the mouth in anticipation, giddily counting the minutes until it hit the airwaves, ejaculating at the notion that it would be seen on every media outlet known to mankind. They resembled a pack of starving dogs.

Meanwhile, Osama bin Laden was quietly planning to change the world.

[cilla4progress]

60. My thoughts...

Exactly!

[wildwww2]

109. Osama didn`t change the world. Bu$h did. Osama just helped him.

Besides, what else are former business partners good for?
Peace
Wildman
Al Gore is My President

[Special_Ed]

39. The gaul....

[robbedvoter]

41. Clinton was not among the half a dozen Arkansans indicted for Whitewater"

The media refuses to this day to admint that the entire Whitewater BS was a made up slime. They are still trying and trying to rewrite history....

[robbedvoter]

43. Like W, media pushes hard to get Clinton out of the way (pic)

[GoldenOldie]

44. Blitzer's "..serious news organizations..."

Please Wolf let the American public know just who they are??? It would be comforting to know what "news orgainzations," can be trusted to tell us the truth and not the latest sound byte issued by Rove.

Outbursts are what Hannity, Limbaugh, O'Reilly, Mathews, etc., do.
They are unable to conduct an interview without talking in a rant mode over their guest and salivating all overthemselves and the guest being interviewed. One is able to click to any channel and view this 24/7.

Seems the "serious news organizations" don't like to be questioned on their professional tactics???

[FlaGranny]

52. Thanks for the photo

It's a laugh out loud one. How in hell can Bush* make himself look so stupid in so many pictures? Because he is maybe?

[Hog lover]

69. I was there, and there was very little applause for Shrub

Way more applause for Bill, Hillary, Chelsea, the Carters. They flashed pics of Kerry on the jumbo-trons, and people started chanting "Kerry, Kerry." Bet that made ole Shrub mad.

[mooseboy]

79. Bush looked annoyed the whole time

I watched the full CSPAN coverage of the Clinton Presidential Center dedication, and for almost the entire time Bush looked pissy and angry at having to be there. There were some really telling shots, especially when the vocalist was performing, and the camera stayed on Clinton and G.W. next to each other for a long time. Clinton was genially talking to Bush (no audio), and Bush was barely acknowledging him, standing there with a pissy look on his face.

I missed the moment above, with W. shoving Clinton to get out the door, but it would be totally in keeping with his demeanor at the whole event. I hope CSPAN re-airs it for more to see, because it's a very telling picture of our crappy, petty President standing next to our noble ex-President. Clinton had plenty of good things to say about Bush when he spoke. Bush was a bit less generous, and always looked like he'd rather be anywhere else.

I can understand being annoyed at having to stand in the rain while you're late to get back to your ranch, but a little dignity, Mr. President, would be appropriate here. If Clinton can at least pretend to like you (and probably actually does at least a little), you can at least do the same at a ceremony that is IN HIS HONOR.

[DROCK49]

45. Where to Go to Here the Jackass Jennings Interview Clinton

Hi Group!
First of all there was no "outburst." Talk about hyperbole! These twinkies at AP wouldn't know an out burst if it hit them in the face. But go hear it for yourselves!

http://www.therandirhodesshow.com

[AllyCat]

70. I had no idea what a Jack*** Jennings was!

Good for Clinton to defend himself the way he did and not let Jennings try to describe him as caring so much he could feel it across the room. What a jerk! Clinton really told it like it was. (4 years late, but he told it like it was).

[robbedvoter]

81. You missed his asking Clark to denounce Michael Moore for the AWOL

remarks made at one of his rallies. jennings did that in a primaries debate in New Hampshire (the Faux debate).
Clark refused to do so, attacks ensued, McAuliffe defended...Kerry on it "Can't wait to see Kerry debate W on it" (primaries hadn't started yet at that point)

[Protect The Vote]

107. Evidently, in these days of bush

disagreeing = outburst

calling someone on their bullshit = angry, very angry (as Wolf put it)

[mseang]

46. I just keep feeling..

that we are screwed much worse than we even realize.

I am very sad.

;(

[RPM]

47. the big dog should show ringo some respect...

... oh, wait. Kenneth Star? Oh - fuck him in the ear!!!

[pauldp]

48. Proud to be CNN Free!

Go Bill

[stratomagi]

50. Ahh... Memories of a real president. n/t

[ronnykmarshall]

54. Bravo BILL!

Put the media on notice ...... this shit ain't gonna fly!

[Learning2Fly]

55. Love that pic!

It looks like the doorman is half tempted to slam the door on Bush! LOL

[jwirr]

58. God, what hypocrits those holy rollers are.

It was alright to criticize even the private life of a president when it was a Democrat but god forbid that we can even disagree with bushies policies without being called unpatriotic or unchristian. Neither the church or the country have the same democratic values I grew up with. The repugs have been busy destroying both in God's name. They are the devils handmaidens.

[SKKY]

71. I like Howard Dean, but...

...I think we need the Big Dog to run the DNC. Just the way he handled Jennings makes me think things may have been different if he played a bigger part in Kerry's campaign.

[muchacho]

72. The media whores have shown their hand

They are in the pocket of the candidate most "business friendly." All else (public service, truth) be damned.

[Robert Oak]

74. right on Clinton

It was bullshit. Everybody knew Clinton couldn't keep his dick in his
pants from 1992 on.

They interfered with his ability to run the country and the office
of the Presidency.

while now we have "no WMD's", asecret energy commission and
links to Halliburton via a VP plus a very corrupt Tom Delay and not
a damn thing happens.

To me, the Clinton impeachment shows just how much power the "vast
right wing conspiracy" really has.

Frontline did a show on the whole Whitewater affair and it's just
incredible BS against Clinton.

They do nothing about the Bush ties to the defense and oil industry.
Not a word.

[American liberal]

85. When you compare the media of the JFK to Nixon days to now

it's a no-brainer. JFK also was a womanizer, but his affairs did not make the centerpiece of his presidency in the media. In fact, the Marilyn Monroe stuff didn't come out until much later. Back then, the press was respectful of leaving most of public servants' private lives private. On the other hand, the media were EXTREMELY successful in bringing Vietnam right into America's living rooms. Many studies report that it was the graphic look of the war that swayed public opinion against the war.

The Defense Department learned its lesson very well. Every war since then has been completely anesthetized (sp) by the corporate-owned media. If the American media were really doing their jobs and reporting--in graphic technicolor--what's really going on in Iraq, I'm willing to bet Bush would not have been reelected and that people would be demonstrating vehemently to bring our troops home.

Clinton is right on! And those in the journalism profession who truly understand the mission of the "Fourth Estate" know it. What happened to Clinton was a smear campaign, pure and simple. And I give him all the credit in the world for rising above the fray of blood-thirsty jackals who call themselves journalists. I also admire that the Clinton library includes all the icky details of his presidency and how the corporate-owned media and Thugs tried to bring him down. We the people could see right through it. That kind of yellow journalism should not be forgotten.

I miss you, President Clinton. We need you now more than ever.

Peace,
AL

[BlueTexan]

77. Best President ever

I was so happy when I saw that interview. It's about time President Clinton told off a member of the press. He has been attacked about every stupid thing under the sun.


Cindy

[SillyGoose]

83. Go get 'em, Bill

and its about damn time, too!

(sigh) I miss him....:loveya:

[Dookiestix]

87. I sure miss the Clinton's, too!

ac8916:

I sure as hell miss him, too. Too bad the news wires have such a hard time understanding the stark differences between "outburst" and "the truth."

Here's my take on MY love affair with the Clintons, juxtaposed with the current moron in the Oval Office. And believe or not, it is the same picture (no editing, other than to highlight the stark contrast between the Clinton Years, and the Idiot Years)...



Feel free to spread this link.

Like I said, GOD I miss the Clinton years...

[FlaGranny]

88. The title of this should read

"Clinton rips Starr, Media on PERsecution.

[Democat]

94. Right wing media bullshit "outburst"

What a right wing joke the U.S. media has become!

[barb162]

96. true! it will also result in the death of this nation

[barb162]

97. Starr is a total pos who knew he had nothing on whitewater so he

went for the blue dress.

[Kill Radicalism Now]

99. Hey, I'm new here...

I love Bill Clinton. I read his wife's book and I'm going to read his book soon. He did so much for the American people that the media will never tell. And the Republicans complain about the "liberal media"??? Hell, it hasn't been a "liberal" media since before the Lewinski scandals.

Some people tell me Clinton was deceitful to the American people. It's the biggest load of crap I've ever heard. The Clinton's are real people with a real understanding of America. We need more honest MORAL people like them! At least he can admit a mistake when he makes one! HA!

[Bridget Burke]

102. I'm glad you're not one of those hypocrites....

Who believe that a consensual relationship between two adults is less moral than ignoring warnings of a terrorist attack, starting an illegal war & stealing from the poor & middle class for the benefit of the very rich & corporations.

[brettdale]

101. Clinton is still man

Clinton is still the best president of my lifetime. As for Ken Starr, try reading James Carville book, "and the horse he rode in on" It sums up that slime Starr to a tee.

[vkobaya]

104. No one has any idea what that's like.

Oh bunk! The Republicans did it to a vastly better man than Clinton, Jimmy Carter. The lies and inuendo that Carter suffered were horrible, maybe not as bad as Clinton as Carter was practice and learning, but just completely revolting considering the charges they made against Carter, about his intelligence, integrity and commitment to our nation. I remember how they repeated over and over again that he was a Georgia peanut farmer and a failing one who only went into politics to save his farm. Despite his military service they insinuated that he was disloyal and may have given secrets to the Soviets. And that he was a nuclear submarine expert did not prevent them from claiming he only had the IQ of a hick peanut farmer from the South.

As for Clinton lies, he sent our soldiers to the Balkans and to Haiti to destract from his political problems at home. Also, recall his bombing of the pharmaceutical factory in Africa claiming it was chemical weapons factory. His first effort to eliminate the military ban on gays was very highly laudable, but when he got his tail beat, he signed the disgraceful "Don't ask, don't tell" policy that was obviously as disgraceful and evil as the previous policies on gays in the military and then lied and lied about how it had completely changed the military policy to make it much more fair for gays. Only at the end of his second term, did he make a small admission that "Don't ask, don't tell" was wrong. Oops! Almost forgot that he also signed the "Defense of Marriage Act" in 1996.

I agree with everyone that Starr took partisanship to a criminal level but that is standard operating procedure for Republicans. Committing a crime is not a deterant for them. And yes, the media failed us in his administration allowing the Republicans to turn a silly sex scandal into a presidential impeachment. They fail us now even worse, allowing Dubya to steal the election, destroy the nation and endanger the world taking us to the brink of another world war.

My problem with Clinton is that he was on my side. It is bad enough to have such villains as our opposition, but curdled my stomach to say that he is our boy in the White House. Yeah, he was better than the opposition, but that is sort of like cheering for the cockroaches for being better than infested with mice or rats. Yeah, I take him in a second over the opposition, especially Dubya, but then Dubya was also, I very desperately hope, a better choice than Hitler or Stalin. But in my personal ledger, Clinton is listed in the column of villains. Clinton, Gore and Kerry were on slow boats to where Dubya is already at, America as Hell, but does not change the fact that they are allies if weak allies of Dubya, not dedicated, committed and honorable enemies of America as Hell and its Fuhrer, Dubya.

Vicki

[RedCon1]

105. I regretfully admit

I hated Clinton when he was in office. I was strongly opposed to the assault weapon ban and formed my opinion of him based on this single issue plus I was young and more than a little bit politically naive. In retrospect, I have to admit, he is one of the greatest Presidents we have known in some time. It is very unfortunate that his administration will be colored by that Kenn Starr BS but I think history will judge him far better than Ronald Reagan, GHB, and especially GWB. I'm sure the Republicans will attempt to re-write the history books to show him as a deviant sex fiend who rode the wave of prosperity created by GHB though. He who controls the past, controls the future you know.

[TaleWgnDg]

108. Well, President Clinton did it again . . .

President Clinton showed America what a truly class act he is, yet again. Even tempered. Direct. And to the point. Listen to him. Listen closely to what President Clinton says in this ABC Peter Jennings television interview . . .

http://www.therandirhodesshow.com/randi_audio/clinton.mp3

America owes President Clinton a deep and sincere "thank you."

Why?

For not resigning as president despite the constant 24/7 avalanche of Kenneth Starr/rightwing orchestrated sleaze flooding across America through the news media. Indeed, as President Clinton said to Peter Jennings, "madness . . . had taken ahold of American politics." And, that madness culminated in Congress when it attempted to remove a sitting president on an impeachment standard of "moral values!"

Not a "probable cause" standard. Not "clear and convincing evidence" standard. And certainly not "beyond a reasonable doubt" standard of proof. Instead, the burden of proof was the lowest of the low, a slippery slope of subjective ambiguous "morality."

President William Jefferson Clinton withstood the mud. Withstood the accusations. As did his own family. And those in the White House. As well as others. We owe President Clinton a debt of gratitude for setting a solid high standard for impeachment of any future president and for the Office of the President. No Congress should ever again take impeachment and its impact upon the Office of the President so lightly.

I, personally, as well as millions of others around the world, find President Clinton's tenacity irreproachable. All this despite Kenneth Starr and other rightwing 24/7 madness in their dance with the American news media.

Thank you, Mr. President (Clinton).




.

[Coltrane]

112. Message

http://www.crooksandliars.com/ has the small video clip that was aired on cable. Read David Brook's book, Blinded by the Right.
It tells all! The righties demonized him continually!

[passy]

113. 3 million dollar Bill

Maybe in the not too distant future, following the 2nd great depression, they will stick Bill's face on 3 million dollar bills.

[iguani]

116. Clinton is many things...

he stood up to Jennings like a true southerner. Will he be the next Secretary at the U.N.?

[Pooka Fey]

119. Bill bitch-slapped Peter Jennings, & it was a beautiful thing.