Remember the Valerie Plame fiasco during the Bush Administration? Richard Armitage had revealed Ms. Plame's name to Robert Novak. Novak mentioned it in a column and scandal ensued. Eventually, we had a Special Prosecutor to investigate this non-crime. Armitage was never charged with releasing Plame's name because she wasn't a covert agent: no crime. Still, it was a big deal and Scooter Libby - who did not reveal Plame's name to anyone - was convicted of a felony and fined $250,000.
Today, it is becoming increasingly clear that former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had classified and top secret data on a private server located in a restroom closet in Denver. Some of these emails had to be copied from secure servers and transferred to Ms. Clinton's far less secure server. If someone of lesser status (or a Republican) had done this, there would be an immediate revocation of all security clearances and criminal charges filed. Thus far, nothing. Unlike Plame-Gate, crimes were clearly committed. Where is the Special Prosecutor?
Former Governor Rick Perry of Texas is currently under indictment (by a Democrat Prosecutor) for using his veto when he was governor. Apparently, using his veto - an integral power of his office - was a crime. This has surely contributed to his failing presidential campaign, which was the point.
Lois Lerner of the IRS somehow only allowed one conservative group to get tax-exempt status in the 3 years leading up to the 2012 election. When Congress sought to look into this anomaly, her emails from that window were reportedly destroyed in a hard drive crash. When asked to testify on the matter, she invoked her 5th Amendment privilege against self-incrimination. No charges have been brought against her or anyone at the IRS.
Tom DeLay, former Republican Congressman and very effective Majority Leader, was indicted (by a Democrat) for violating election laws. Because Republicans have standards, DeLay had to step down as majority leader while under indictment (Democrats have no such rules). He was eventually acquitted in the appeals court (8 - 1 ruling) but his political career was long over by then (again, that was the point).
Vice President Al Gore attended a fundraiser at a Buddhist Temple in California where thousands of dollars were funneled from China to the Clinton-Gore reelection campaign (that's a violation of election laws, by the way). Though some of the foreign fundraisers were charged and convicted, Janet Reno declined to appoint a Special Prosecutor to investigate the Clinton Administration's part in the crime.
A mere whiff of impropriety can torpedo a Republican but a city dump stench of scandal has little impact on Democrats. This double-standard probably explains the spinelessness that I constantly attribute to Republicans. However, this is also why - even as a Libertarian - I prefer Republicans. The press will hammer them and the Democrats will oppose them tooth and nail. When Democrats are in office, the press cheers them and the Republicans are too scared to oppose them lest they be called racists, sexists, homophobes. or whatnot.
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