On Geffen and Clinton: Is Sen. Obama Wiliing To Pardon Leonard Peltier?

[wyldwolf]

Geffen's Law Enforcement Agenda?
By Larry Johnson | bio

Normally I steer clear of the political back and forth but wanted to offer a perspective on the dust up pitting the campaign of Senator Hillary Clinton against that of Senator Barak Obama. Stuck in the middle is Mr. David Geffen. Maureen Dowd's column yesterday had this key observation:

They fell out in 2001, when Mr. Clinton gave a pardon to Marc Rich after rebuffing Mr. Geffen’s request for one for Leonard Peltier. “Marc Rich getting pardoned? An oil-profiteer expatriate who left the country rather than pay taxes or face justice?” Mr. Geffen says. “Yet another time when the Clintons were unwilling to stand for the things that they genuinely believe in. Everybody in politics lies, but they do it with such ease, it’s troubling.”

That boys and girls is the heart of the matter--Leonard Peltier. Peltier was convicted of murdering two FBI Agents. His conviction has spawned enormous controversy. Geffen and other fans of Peltier pushed hard to get him a pardon. President Clinton, confronted with a strong FBI counter protest, sided with law enforcement. Personally, I'm with the FBI on this but I know this is a hot button item among some in the Hollywood Hills.

I asked an FBI buddy about the Peltier matter because I did not pay much attention to it back then. He wrote:

Peltier has stated that Clinton was offered a $30 million a year job by Spielberg and Geffen to be the attorney for Dream Works. When Clinton denied Peltier’s clemency, that job went away. Understanding that Peltier has a difficult time with the truth, I don’t know how accurate Peltier’s comment is.

If Peltier was telling the truth, this means that Clinton was not willing to sell off his integrity on this issue. My buddy went on to say:

The Leonard Peltier Defense Fund and similar organizations/groups have been quite active over the past decades. Likewise, the “No Parole For Peltier” organization (run by former FBI Agents) ( http://www.noparolepeltier.com/index.html ) has been very vocal in opposing his parole and in countering falsehoods spread by those who seek his parole. As you can imagine this is a very hot button issue with current and former Agents.

Peltier has many supporters in Hollywood, as well as with the more liberal associations of professionals and with Members of Congress. Some Members of Congress who have written to then President Clinton requesting clemency for Peltier include Maxine Waters, John Conyers, Jr., Constance Morella, Wyche Fowler, Edward Markey, Leon Panetta, Mickey Leland and Shirley Chisholm. The National Lawyers Guild and the United University Professions are two of the groups who also wrote to Clinton requesting clemency. Former Congressman, and former FBI Agent (UGH!!!), Don Edwards has criticized the FBI for opposing Peltier’s parole.

This makes for an interesting question Senator Obama has not yet answered--is he willing to pardon Leonard Peltier? If so it raises the specter of a Senator willing to bow to wealthy benefactors and will certainly raise major hackles in the law enforcement and national security community. If he says no he may face some new fund raising challenges. Let's see if anyone in the press has the stones to ask the question.

http://www.tpmcafe.com/blog/coffeehouse/2007/feb/22/geffens_law_enforcement_agenda

[FARAFIELD]

1. HEH?

Is obama willing to pardon leonard Peltier? Sounds like a right wing radio talking point thingy. If HE did pardon him it would be on his last day in office. that issue is hotter than hot. On the other had you could ask is John McCain willing to pardon some right winger currently in jail what about the enron guy (not the one that offed himself)

[aquart]

2. Ah, Geffen. Should have kept your big mouth shut.

I can't tell you what a kick I'm getting out of this.

[PresidentObama]

3. Whats the point of this? Who cares if Obama would. n/t

[TomClash]

4. The point is to attack Obama

and try to pry away his Hollywood support.

Larry Johnson opposes the War but fully supports the Empire in all of its incarnations. He spent a lot of time dissing the Clintons. He's not a man I would trust.

[PresidentObama]

7. Clearly, and very uneffectively.

Obama isn't responsible for people who give him money and endorse him. And it's unfair to ask him to make stupid decisions from years ago just to attack him because Geffen is one of his supporters and bad mouthed Hillary. Should Ford give back his money, and endorsement of Hillary for saying Obama couldn't win because he's black?

How about this. Hillary can ask Obama if he would pardon this guy, if Obama can ask Hillary if she believes Ford when he says he can't win because he's black? And if one gives back the money and endorsement, the other should too!!

[TomClash]

19. I totally agree

Given some of the people who have been giving Hillary cash (i.e., Rupert), the irony is astounding.

[smoogatz]

5. List of things to do for 2008 President elect:

1.Get us the fuck out of Iraq.
2.Do something about global warming--quick!
3.Stop al Qaeda from nuking an American city.
<snip>
3,756,892. Decide whether to pardon Leonard Peltier.

[LFOD NH]

6. EASY QUESTION

"I AM NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE DETAILS OF THAT CASE OR ANY OTHER POTENTIAL PARDON, BUT I WILL DO MY BEST IN EVERY ASPECT OF THE JOB IF YOU ELECT ME PRESIDENT" or something like that. Why the either/or though? Obama would either be a shill or misleading (to donors) on this no matter how he answers? I don't think those are the only two possibilities here, or even the most likely two.

[zulchzulu]

14. Welcome to DU!

Jump in. The water's fine...

[geek tragedy]

8. Silly, silly, silly. eom

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

9. He should be pardoned

because I still think it was all a frame up. But then I've been talking to Lakota people, who, frankly, I believe more than I do the government officials.

[MethuenProgressive]

10. Geffen says he won't back HC becuase of LP, now backs BO...

.. seems like 'will there be a quid pro quo' is a logical question.

[Forkboy]

11. Subtle as a sledgehammer.

[BayCityProgressive]

12. I agree with other above posters

he should be pardoned but it isn't near the top of the list. ALTHOUGH, I would like to see him get at least new trial early on. Is this possible? Assata Shakur and Mumia also need to be pardoned but lets face it, there are probably thousands of people locked up because of racism that are innocent.

[zulchzulu]

13. Obama is not in a position to pardon Peltier at this moment

Perhaps you're mixed up on what a Senator is allowed to do...

I'm sure that if he was asked the question, he'd answer it succinctly and without trying to subtly attack any other candidates.

[PresidentObama]

15. The OP obviously doesn't care that Obama isn't allowed...

....to pardon Peltier. It's an attack, and a silly and uneffective one at that!!

[The Magistrate]

17. Since Mr. Geffen, Sir

Has made it clear this matter is key to his break with Sen. Clinton, this is a reasonable matter for discussion, as it throws some light on the root of his recent and widely quoted disparagements of her and her husband.

First, it is obvious many people took his comments as meaning something vey different than he actually intended, by assuming he was refering to some matter of importance, and of concern to them, when in fact all that was at stake was a left-over scrap of sixties trivia.

Second, while Mr. Geffen has probably acted as he has solely in order to punish Sen. Clinton, he may well mean to try and press Sen. Obama, should he become President, to pardon Peltier. He will be as disappointed by a President Obama as he was by President Clinton: no one is going to pardon Peltier.

[PresidentObama]

21. So what does this have to do with Obama?

Because he gave Obama money, Obama now has to shun Geffen and answer silly questions about the pardon? I don't think so. If the Clintons were so offended and didn't want to just attack Obama for anything, they would have suggested that Obama apologize and turn down Geffen's endorsement and gave back his money in return for them doing the same with Ford who made some outrageous statements as well.

[The Magistrate]

23. If Mr. Geffen's Reason, Sir

For choosing to give financial backing to Sen. Obama rather than Sen. Clinton is his pique that President Clinton did not pardon Peltier, which seems to be the case, at least in part, then the question will naturally arise whether Mr. Geffen has asked Sen. Obama to deliver this pardon should he achieve the Presidency. Mr. Geffen may well have done so. Sen. Obama may be in a position where he must decide whether to offend a powerful backer by stating the obvious, that he would not pardon Peltier, or else openly identify himself with a hobby-horse of the old New Left, and offend a great many voters.

"Politics ain't bean-bag."

[AtomicKitten]

25. um

that's "ineffective"

On edit: Sorry to correct but you posted it upthread and it's hurting my eyes

[PresidentObama]

28. I apologize for the typo's.

Also for hurting your eyes!

:hi:

[MannyGoldstein]

16. Problem is Clinton 'Put Out' - But Not For Geffen

I remember an incident in college that I think is relevant:

A roommate of mine had a date with a woman who was known for her proclivity for casual sex. When he didn't "score" on the first date, he was REALLY, REALLY PISSED. FUMINGLY ANGRY.

Now he'd had plenty of other dates that didn't culminate with the horizontal bop, and he wasn't normally particularly aggrieved by this. But with a known player? This was a huge disappointment.

Geffen, and most of the rest of the world, knows that the Clintons will do anything for a enough coins. When Clinton pardoned Marc Rich for a bribe, but wouldn't pardon Peltier, Geffen saw that as an huge affront.

I have no idea if Obama would, or would not, 'put out'. However, if Obama is reasonably honest, I don't think that folks will begrudge himn for not taking their particular bribe.

[Clark2008]

18. Who cares?

Geffen - like me - has only one vote.

[Colobo]

20. I don't care about Peltier

Viva Obama!

[ellie]

29. Ugh. This is the worst

thing I have ever read on DU.

[OnionPatch]

30. Definitely merits a "what??!!"

An activist Indian man wrongly jailed as a political prisoner in the US, and, uh....so what? :shrug: :sarcasm:

[election_2004]

22. If Sen. Obama is asked this question, he should say....

"I'll certainly examine the background of the case, and make what I believe to be the fairest decision based on that information."

[The Magistrate]

24. An Excellent Answer, Sir

"You answered without saying anything --- that's politics."

[AtomicKitten]

26. ah, politics

Dissecting every news blurb or whatever comes out of the mouth's of some that mentions any of the candidates. From where I sit, people approach these conversations from a preconceived point of view and view the tasty tidbit of "news" from that perspective.

Politics is a junior high school drama class.

[eridani]

27. Forget pardon. How about a fair trial?

The conviction evidence was absolute garbage.