Published in The New York Post on June 5, 2008.
On his first day as the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, Barack Obama made his first clear, serious mistake: He named Eric Holder as one of three people charged with vice-presidential vetting.
As deputy attorney general, Holder was the key person who made the pardon of Marc Rich possible in the final hours of the Clinton presidency. Now, Obama will be stuck in the Marc Rich mess.
If ever there was a person who did not deserve a presidential pardon, it’s Marc Rich, the fugitive billionaire who renounced his US citizenship and moved to Switzerland to avoid prosecution for racketeering, wire fraud, 51 counts of tax fraud, evading $48 million in taxes, and engaging in illegal trades with Iran in violation of the US embargo following the 1979-80 hostage crisis.
Seventeen years later, Rich wanted a pardon, and he retained Jack Quinn, former counsel to the president, to lobby his old boss.
It was Holder who had originally recommended Quinn to one of Rich’s advisers, although he claims that he did not know the identity of the client.
And he gave substantive advice to Quinn along the way. According to Quinn’s notes that were produced to Congress, Holder told Quinn to take the pardon application “straight to the White House” because “the timing is good.”
And once the pardon was granted, Holder sent his congratulations to Quinn.
In 2002, a congressional committee reported that Holder was a “willing participant in the plan to keep the Justice Department from knowing about and opposing” the Rich pardon.
It is one thing to reach back to Obama’s pastor to raise doubts about his values. But it is quite another to scrutinize the record of his first appointee.
It couldn’t be a bigger mistake.
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Comments
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I enjoy reading your articles and listening to you on radio spots and the O’Reilly Factor. This piece about Eric Holder is great insight. I will add this to my reference book to keep pace with my wife, friends, and colleagues at work during this election year. Barry Obama has captured the imagination of many people but he must be seen for what he is–a staunch left-wing radical.
This is the wrong time for a liberal like Obama to be President regardless of the historic precedent. He must be defined as the radical person he is.
Keep it coming Dick and I hope to see you more on O’Reilly.
Very interesting article. I hope somebody in the Obama’s inner circle advises him well…..if I were Obama, I would seriously considering retaining one “Dick Morris” to be on my team. Sometimes I wonder if Ted Kennedy’s endorsement didn’t come with possible strings attached (Caroline Kennedy). From what I have seen and read, the “image makers” are molding a JFK model to sell to the American public….will be interesting if they can sell it.
Saw you on O’Reilly last night……the Monica Lewinsky study? O’Reilly didn’t pick up on that…..or if he did……he should have gave you credit. He is so taken with you and your analysis that he is lost for words. I noticed that you are rarely a “target” for you comments and analysis……of course there is nothing wrong with that….I surely would like to know the “skinny” you really have on the Clintons….let’s do lunch?
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Is there anyone involved in politics on either side that does not have a closet full of skeletons?
boalfson: Politics ia a business where one cannot help to accumulate skeletons…..if they don’t have them when they enter the political arena……they will surely have them before they depart….but don’t fret….we all have skeletons, you, myself, and even Dick. The secret is to keep the lock on the closet.
Despite a series of situations which would normally doom a candidate particularily relating to who they hang around, Obama’s teflon image continues. With the majority of the press in a lovefest willing to overlook a weak resume, a questionable inner circle, be part of history making and allowing themselves to be caught up with intoxicating speech performances, the GOP needs a person to bring the same kind of excitement to McCain. Like it or not, the contrast between McCain and Obama in engaging the electorate is light years.
Dick, please encourage the selection of the person who accomplished so much with so little and was the most talked about candidate in the Republican debates Mike Huckabee as McCains VP. Last evening I almost feel out of my chair when I heard Laura Ingram sharing with Greta how she feels Huckabee can bring the same kind of energy to McCain. We don’t have time to choose someone the majority of the country doesn’t know and wonder if they can get people fired up. Huckabee can rally the electorate and Ed Rollins has stated he is one of the greatest orators he has ever seen on the stump including Reagan! When Ronald Reagan first came upon the scene, he also was not initially embraced by beltway conservatives and talking heads. What a difference today > If there was sainthood proclaimed by these same people it would bestowed upon Reagan.
As you are fully aware, if Fred Thompson had dropped out prior to the SC primary Huckabee would have clearly won big there. He then would have won Florida and most likely been the nominee today. Like Obama,
Huckabee has a strong allegiance of supporters and is a master at speaking plainly as well as igniting a crowd. McCain knows he can trust him and he would be instrumental at assisting other Republicans win and maintain their seats in the House & Senate.
You know him personally. Please give him the Morris thumbs up!
Randy Whitman
Toledo, Ohio
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