Clinton's Loose Association with the Truth

Ethics is often defined as a system of moral principles governing appropriate conduct for groups or individuals. Christian ethics, in order to be relevant, must first be understood in a Christian theological context.

This presupposition automatically invites nuance into the equation. In our contemporary political-speak, nuance and context are prerequisites. But this doesn't sit well with a public -- at least in theory -- clamoring for straight talk.

But are we the public unfair in our demands? Are we setting standards for political candidates that exceed the expectations that we hold for ourselves? Who among us is not guilty of nuance, providing partial answers, lies by omission and exaggerations?

What about lying? Here there appears to be uniformity of belief. There is no room for lies in the public discourse. That, however, has not prohibited politicians from engaging in the dubious practice.

Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have each experienced a loose association with the truth. It appears Obama contradicted himself as to whether he was present when his former pastor, Jeremiah Wright, made controversial remarks from the pulpit.

For Clinton, the most recent episode is the tale of two Bosnias.

In Clinton's version it was a harrowing mission that placed her and daughter Chelsea in harm's way from the moment they landed. But footage released by CBS News shows a very different scene from the one Clinton has promoted on the campaign trail.

Was this a lie or the usual political hyperbole? Moreover, how newsworthy is this?

Perhaps in the context of Clinton portraying herself as a shadow president during her husband's administration, this could matter to undecided primary voters. But among the potential untruths there remains an 800-pound gorilla that Clinton has yet to reconcile that goes to the heart of her experience.

Last summer, Clinton was asked whether she read the National Intelligence Estimate that challenged much of the Bush administration's prewar hype for going into Iraq prior to her vote.

It was a closed-ended question, requiring a simple yes or no response. "Did you read it?" the woman asked. Clinton said she had been briefed.

On Oct. 8, 2002, three days before the vote to authorize force against Iraq, Senate Democrats, including Clinton, caucused at the Capitol. Then-Senate Intelligence Chair Bob Graham urged his colleagues to read the complete 90-page N.I.E. before casting their war vote. It appears Clinton did not read it.

According to the New York Times, because Clinton was not yet on the Armed Services Committee, she did not have anyone working for her with the security clearances needed to read the entire N.I.E. and the other highly classified reports that pertained to Iraq. As a member of the Senate, Clinton only could have read the report.

This raises the questions: Did Sen. Clinton read the N.I.E. report? If not, who briefed her?

On March 6, 2003, Clinton told the organization CODEPINK, "I ended up voting for the (2002 Iraq war) resolution after carefully reviewing the information and intelligence that I had available."

Without a countering explanation for the inconsistencies between Clinton's statements and the facts available, what would a reasonable person conclude? On her Iraq vote, Clinton appears to stand dangerously close to the divide that separates exaggeration and mendacity.

Clinton has stated recently that she wished she had the vote back, but that is like Custer saying he would not charge Little Big Horn if given a second chance.

This is bigger than Clinton making her tax returns public or the potential of more inflammatory statements by Jeremiah Wright -- it goes to the heart of one's leadership, judgment and character. And that cannot be nuanced or contextualized.

Byron Williams is an Oakland pastor and syndicated columnist. He is the author of "Strip Mall Patriotism: Moral Reflections of the Iraq War." E-mail him at [e-mail] or go to his website, byronspeaks.com

Comments

[CCverve]

Regardless of her Bosnia "miss statements" I would be far more interested in hearing her respond to her husbands involvement with the Dubai port deal. Sen. Clinton severely and rightfully chastised President Bush for putting forth the idea to handover the security of the major U.S. ports to a company hailing from the area in which terrorist monies have been known to swirl through. This was a very bad idea. That said, at the very same time she railed against the bush administration, Former President Clinton was offering his lobbyist services to the Dubai port corp to push the deal through. Not only does this bring about grave ethical concern but frankly I am concerned as the information she is presently sharing with Mr.Clinton in regards to nation security matters. I could not imagine Bill in the White House unfettered by checks and balances

[ignorantwillyharper]

Hillary has been a liar from grade school, she taught Bill how to lie and now she is teaching Chelesa how to lie. Lying just comes natural to this woman and she will continue thru out her life to lie, as the old movies say's "THE GIRL JUST CAIN'T HELP IT".

[nazgul]

Supporters and apologists for HRC are basically saying that it was worth it for Hillary to vote for the war so she could run for President as a "tough" woman, even though she knew better, and despite the easily foreseeable tragic consequences for us, our children and our children's children here in the US, in Iraq, and elsewhere in the world where the impact of an inflamed Middle East/Islam reverberates. How generous of them to give her pass at our expense.

[S1m0n]

"It appears Obama contradicted himself as to whether he was present when his former pastor, Jeremiah Wright, made controversial remarks from the pulpit."

This is false; none of Obama's statements on this conflict. When asked in advance of his speech about a specific sermon given by Wright in Obama's absence, he truthfully answered "No". He wasn't there and didn't hear that sermon.

Later, in his celebrated speech on race, Obama acknowleged having heard Jeremiah Wright make other, (unspecified) "offensive" statements. While Fox news is trying to spin this as a confession contradicting his earlier denial, it is no such thing.

[keytow]

It is apparent you are not going to support Obama no matter what. The Rev. Wright thing is old news, and it pales to taking sniper fire. Hillary lied, and what makes it worse is she insulted all of our armed forces (I know, I spent 30 years active duty).

[Barky]

HC's hypocrisy is getting a tad weary. As a result of the Bosnia flap/lie/putdown she decided to invoke the pastor controversy of the previous week....I suppose to rebalance the scales of public opinion. She said "I wouldnt have Jeremiah Wright as my pastor" (paraphrase). She said this with a straight face ...after...having a sit down with Melon Scaife the owner/publisher of a Pittsburgh newspaper for an interview and editorial backing ...the same individual who would frequently castigate the Clintons when they were in office and actually practically accused them of murdering their friend Vince Foster. Scaife was central to the so called "vast right wing conspiracy" that HC railed against so much and that many Dems supported her on. Seems like much of her support is coming from the right. Hmmm..I wonder why?? Another conspiracy?
Shame.

[Bannister]

Why didn't Chelsea refresh her mom's memory of the "sniperfest?" Why didn't one of those students at Chelsea's little talks ask her about her version of the departure from the helicopter? Now we know why she does not accept questions from reporters. Good training for a future politician.

[Nilla321]

Oh give it up, they both lie Obama gets a pass. I am color blind and don't see the big deal here, in fact I agree with a lot of what Wright has said, though he's never been called a dumb Wap so I guess he can't relate to me personally nor has he been 5'2" woman attacked by her 6'4" husband but I won't hold that against him. The fact that Obama is distancing himself says a whole lot about Obama, with friends like that....we have another Bush

[tryharder2think]

sorry Nilla(as in wafer) - try a little bit harder...

Obama is liberal - read liberal - that's what we want.

I suppose you are probably still with your 6'4" husband that beats you.

You don't deserve it. Nobody does.

[ntmessage]

For people that pay attention, that NIE incorrectly stated there was a high confidence of WMD. Anyone who says that by reading this NIE, it would affect a vote to oppose the war is blatantly false. Just like the false equivalency of a speech and a vote in the senate makes Obama a better candidate on judgment than Clinton.

As far as the political statements by ALL candidates including Obama, by your logic they are either ALL lies or ALL something else. This is clearly an equivalency and given Obamas short stint on the national level, his percentage of *misstatements* when measured against timeframe is much worse than both Clinton and McCain by any empirical measurement.

Obama seems to be misstating or lying (based upon your framing of the debate) at a much faster rate than either opponent. Picking out Clinton misstatements over 35 years seems almost equal to those by Obama in the last several years.

[JasonEverettMiller]

Six senators read the NIE and all of them voted against the measure. In total, 21 democrats and a single republican, the chair of the Senate intelligence committee, voted against the measure. I am beyond tired of Hillary fans trotting out this tired line.

Name a single misstatement by Barack. (Before you start, denying that he was at the video-taped sermon while admitting he had heard the reverend say "things that could be considered controversial" is not a misstatement. It is two truthful answers to two different questions.)

I didn't think you would find anything. The simple fact of the matter is that you have been peddling this crap for months now and none of us are buying it. We provide concrete proof that your illusions are in fact many, yet you continue to spew this kind of stuff as if we had never spoken.

I wish Huffington Post would come up with the ability self-censor comments. If I find someone completely unable or unwilling to contribute or communicate in what I consider to be a sensible and open-minded manner, I can choose to never see their idiotic comments again.

[ntmessage]

Please check your facts on the Obama misstatements there are plenty, like for example how he was fluent in Indonesian as well as the obvious admission that he did hear Wright say those things in the Pastor Disaster after first denying the same. Your attempt to nuance the two statements implies that people are stupid if you think they could possibly believe that.

You cannot prove who really read and who did not read the NIE. Your supposition is false and disingenuous. 70% voted for the measure. You challenge to name who did and who did not is intellectually dishonest as well as your challenge for censorship since you cant handle the facts.

All of my posts are rooted in fact not emotion or ideology. If you can reply with any falsehoods even at the level of the ones you are guilty of here I will provide the background.

[lisakaz]

Really? You mean like that Clinton lie about him not being a professor. She lied because after attending law school and undergrad she oughta know better -- and even used the same language to describe someone of the same position as Obama as a "law professor." She's a liar, pure and simple.

[ntmessage]

Please check your facts. He was not a constitutional professor as was unchecked by the Obama campaign and the media. He was a lecturer. She is 100% correct. To say she lied is an amazingly false matter of fact statement, but you know that so you left the word constitutional out of your comment to give another false impression that she is deceptive when Obama could have easily corrected the record.

[TiffShelton]

I am hopeful that Chris Matthews will discuss this soon.

[serenegeezer]

Why, in Heaven's name? What could Dr. Shallow add ?

Or are you being sarcastic?

[eshaneua]

Let the record reflect: It does matter what clips the Repub use or don't use--Barack Obama is the Democratic nominee and the President of the United States. Barack's cousins (The Bushs and the Cheneys) have the utmost of respect for him and will see to it that absolutely nothing goes wrong to prevent Barack from winning the candidacy. Why do you think after everything that has been thrown at him, nothing's sticking?

[JasonEverettMiller]

Um, because it isn't true and many more Americans go to the Internet now to prove or disprove shit they see on TV. This election is truly unlike any that has come before. The electorate is actually doing a little due diligence of their own and passing that on, virally, to their friends and family. That's why the same old dirty tricks have only had limited, short-term benefits but are failing in the long run.

[nazgul]

Now that's a conspiracy theory!

[REZBOO]

When you know someone flat out lied and then you call that lying " a loose association with the truth," isn't tht a lie too...? Nuance is one thing-- but deception is deception. Where does it end...?

[roneckley16823]

Interesting post. Glad for the information. It does sound like Clinton is not doing well as a multi tasker.
Maybe she isn't prepared on day one? Of course that also is another falsehood. None of these candidates will be prepared on the first day in office. Anyone ever started a new job? There is definitely a learning curve.

[Dap]

Dear Rev. Williams,

Eloquently expressed, another fine essay/post. Personally, I don't like the fact that Senator Clinton shucked Her duty to read the N.I.E. report, especially that is was so important to making a decision with such grave lasting implications. That kind of reasoning is by Senator Clinton does not bode well for Hillary's leadership qualities. Agape.

[SCharb]

Okay, so there are 4-5 Wright clips that have caused a stir. Logically we can derive that Obama attended at least one, but not all of them. If he were to go through and list which ones he did and didn't attend, he'd only be creating political fodder for the Republicans to use against him. Basically, it would be unnecessary political suicide.

[Barackanot]

There are hundred of clips and I can guarantee you the Republicans have each and everyone of them and will not hesitate to use them if Barack becomes the nominee.

[esaid]

If there are hundreds of clips we would have seen them by now. Fox would not wait to put them out.

[dadumdee]

Republicans will never be able to you use crazy ass words spoken by a 'man of God' against a Democrat, lol. Do you know how many crazy ass things that right wing 'Christians' have said? According to them, Katrina, 9/11 and AIDS are deserved by the US of A. For every Wright clip, there are tens of conservative clips made on the national stage. Stop being such a punk.

[chlllfactor]

I love the phrase 'loose association with the truth.' A gentleman's nice way of saying she just plain outright lies! Granted, there have been many more serious lies, but two I have to share:
Clinton claimed on Sept. 11 daughter Chelsea was jogging around the World Trade Center when in reality Chelsea was at home sleeping.
Clinton claims she was named after Sir Edmund Hillary who climbed Mount Everest in 1953. but Hillary was born in 1947.
Just little lies, but if she embellishes the little lies so much....

[BigBen]

Good to know Barack is above such frailties.. See his explanation of when and how he would have separated from the Rev. Wright if and when he had heard such talk and his "bone headed" explanation of his connection to the Chicago Mafia. Yes indeed let he who is without sin amongst you cast the first stone.Hillary or Chelsie not supposed to make "bone headed" mistakes.Right?

[Barackanot]

Let's see - Obama out lies Clinton:

(Besides Obama's calculated lie about Rev. Wright. A lie told because he had gotten away with telling so many lies it never occured to him that people might actually not believe him. )

Obama said "I don"t think NAFTA has been good for Americans, and never have" - LIE

In 2004, according to Associated Press and the Decatur Herald & Review, Obama said that the United States benefited enormously from NAFTA and should pursue more of the same type of programs.

Obama said he passed a bill that required nuclear power plants to promptly report radioactive leaks. LIE - Never happened.

Obama says he doesn't take money from PAC - HALF TRUTH --

He accepted money from PAC during his Senate campaign and now accepts money from attorney firms who are lobbyist - a political ploy, nothing else.

Obama says he is not beholden to special interest - LIE

He voted against a cap on interest rates to keep corporate America in his pocketbook

He voted in favor of CAFA (with Republicans and against civil rights groups) - a win for big business and more money in his pockets

He failed to regulate the nuclear power industry - more money to his campaign

He voted against a measure to charge Mining companies a percentage of their royalties for mining on public land - more money to his campaign

His "little lies" are too numerous to mention.

[esaid]

Are you to give a source for any of this or are we just supposed to believe you?

[Nilla321]

OMG did you ever think maybe her mother lied to her. How about Obama's lies about Resko? He went from what 8K to 250K? What about his lies about Wright? What about McCains flip flopping about the war? Better yet what about the 4,000 americans who were slaughtered because of a lie, or the hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqi's who were "casualties" of a lie or the thousands of legless, armless, brain damaged KIDS? Now that is something that matters and we turn the other cheek?? The embellishments? Give it a break, already, let he who has never exaggerated throw the first stone.