On the meaning of change (Lawrence Lessig)

[Egnever]

http://lessig.org/blog/

Senator Clinton says: "We're all advocating for change. We all want to change the status quo, which is George W. Bush and the Republican domination of Washington."

Really? Is that the "change" being called for by Edwards and Obama? Because I heard their call for change to be bigger than this. To be more fundamental. We've not made progress if change gets us to a world where lobbyists influence Democrats rather than Republicans. It's not "change" if we get back to a world where the Lincoln Bedroom goes to a leading Democratic fundraiser rather than a Republican. If the only "change" at stake here is a change in the party in control, then there's no much to get excited about.



Senator Clinton was given a great opportunity Sunday to explain what she means by "change." In an exchange on Meet the Press, she was asked about President Clinton's pardon of Marc Rich. Remember, Rich was the very rich man charged with tax evasion. Rather than fight the charge in court, he fled the jurisdiction. Not all his money fled, however, or at least lots came back -- in contributions to the Democratic Party, for example. Hours before leaving office, President Bill Clinton pardoned him.

Here was the exchange:

MR. RUSSERT: You say you've been deeply involved in the eight years of the Clinton administration. One of the powers given to a president is the power of pardon. At the end of the president's second term, he granted 140 pardons, including one to Marc Rich, someone who had been convicted of tax evasion, fraud and making illegal oil deals with Iran. Were you involved in that pardon?

SEN. CLINTON: No. I didn't know anything about that.

MR. RUSSERT: No one talked to you whatsoever?

SEN. CLINTON: No. No. Unh-unh.

MR. RUSSERT: His ex-wife gave $109,000 to your campaign.

SEN. CLINTON: Well, no one talked to me about it, Tim.

MR. RUSSERT: Nobody?

SEN. CLINTON: Nobody.


Later, Senator Clinton committed to following Justice Department "guidelines on pardons."

So this is a fantastic area to focus on in defining how Washington would "change" under the new Clinton rather than the old. Indeed, as her husband's administration was charged with essentially selling nights in the Lincoln Bedroom, and with this, selling pardons, it would have been a perfect opportunity for her to make clear just how different things would be.

Instead,she deflected responsibility, pointed to the Internet, and promised to follow "guidelines."

Not surprising. But not signaling, imho, "change."

[terisan]

1. I think she deftly handled Tim Russert. nt

I don't recall Rich being accused of directly contributing to B Clinton from overseas. Did he?

[Sparkly]

2. She's always said the same about Marc Rich.

You want her to "change" what she's always said did/didn't happen?