An Embarrassment of Riches

Bill Clinton's shamelessness never ceases to amaze me. He's made a new statement about the Marc Rich pardon which is classic Bill. He maintains that he did nothing wrong in granting Rich a pardon, and that despite significant and compelling evidence to the contrary, there was no quid pro quo arranged by Denise Rich to benefit the Clintons. Asked if he would do it all over again, however, he says that he wouldn't. Why? According to the former President, "It wasn't worth the damage to my reputation." So despite the fact that he believes Marc Rich was innocent and did indeed deserve a pardon, if Clinton had it to do over again he wouldn't give him one because of the damage to his own reputation. I hope one of the Kennedy kids is coming out with a revised edition of Profiles in Courage soon. This belongs in some Appendix of Shame near the back.