Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Bill Clinton Scandal - SANITY CHECK -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: DMaA who wrote (9817)	10/16/1998 1:58:00 PM
From: Zoltan!	Respond to of 67261

>>The constitution protects us from our government, not from the opinions of our peers. Here's an opinion worth noting: Senior Dem Senator from Connecticut confirms that Clinton is an "idiot" and refuses to retract the idiot identification, arguing truth - and saying that it "totally consistent" with what he has said in the past." WH doesn't dispute the idiot label calling it the "remark of one good friend to another good friend." Franks asks Dodd recant 'idiot' quote Friday, October 16, 1998 By MICHAEL P. MAYKO Staff writer WATERBURY - Republican Senate hopeful Gary Franks on Thursday demanded U.S. Sen. Christopher J. Dodd apologize to President Clinton for referring to Clinton as "the idiot," a remark Franks called "dangerous" and "damaging." A member of Dodd's staff said the senator won't apologize, and a few hours later a spokesman for the White House said no apology was needed. "I'm shocked and disgusted the senior senator from Connecticut would refer to the president of the United States as 'the idiot,' " Franks said at a press conference at his headquarters. "I'm a Republican, but an American first and no matter what Bill Clinton is accused of, referring to the most powerful person of the free world as 'the idiot' … is a serious matter. It's dangerous … It can be damaging if other countries read about this." Dodd made the comment about Clinton at a meeting with the Connecticut Post's editorial board Wednesday, when editors questioned him about his views on impeachment and Clinton's affair with White House Monica Lewinsky. "I was for two years the general chairman of the [Democratic] party," Dodd said Wednesday. "I got the guy re-elected. On issues, I've stood up and fought for things. And all of a sudden, the idiot throws [the Lewinsky affair] in the midst of all of this." Jennifer Greeson, a spokesman for Dodd, said the senator "will not apologize. … He stands by his remarks," which she said are "totally consistent" with what he has said in the past." "It's Gary Franks who owes the people an apology for voting against the assault weapon ban, for voting against breast cancer research funding, for voting against the Family Medical Leave Act and for refusing to talk about the important issues facing this state and our country," Greeson said. Craig Smith, the White House political director, concurred. "Gary Franks' political opportunism is not going to be a factor in our relationship with Chris Dodd," Smith said. He added, "It's one word, blown out of context. Chris Dodd has been a great chairman of the Democratic National Committee. He's been a great U.S. senator. I think I understand his frustration at the president's behavior and the consequences of it." At his press conference in Waterbury, Franks said Dodd's comment "has broader ramifications than some off-the-cuff remark of one good friend to another good friend." Even as Franks was denouncing Dodd's remarks, he was putting them in a context that seemed designed to give them weight. "He is one of Bill Clinton's biggest supporters and defenders," Franks noted. "He nominated Bill Clinton … Chris Dodd's brother is an ambassador in the Clinton administration." Dodd's brother, Tom, is ambassador to Costa Rica. Dodd nominated Clinton at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in 1996. Franks also has used strong language to describe Clinton's extramarital affair with Lewinsky. In earlier interviews, Dodd called the affair "immoral" and "disgusting." On Thursday, Franks noted that he once apologized for calling House Speaker Newt Gingrich a liar. "I made a mistake when I called Newt Gingrich a liar," Franks said, recalling comments he made when he represented Connecticut's 5th Congressional District. "I apologized. We're all human. We all make mistakes but it takes a strong person to admit they made a mistake and correct it.' Also Thursday, Franks touted a recent Mason-Dixon Poll that he said shows he is gaining on Dodd, whom he has trailed by more than 30 points in earlier polls. He said the poll showed him trailing Dodd by 24 points among registered voters. Greeson, Dodd's campaign spokesperson, took comfort in the poll. She said it showed that Franks would have to gain more than a point a day to close the gap by Nov. 3. "Gary Franks is out of money, out of ideas and almost out of time," she said. Staff writer Keith Eddings contributed to this report. connpost.com