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AmericanProtest.net > Battle Blackmail |
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Battle Blackmailby Wayne Boettcher In 1996 I heard a columnist of a major newspaper say a remarkable thing on a talk radio show. He claimed he knew of many sexual indiscretions by politicians. And if any of these politicians voted for or supported impeachment for President Clinton, this publisher would then reveal those indiscretions in newspaper articles. Shocked, I asked an FBI agent if this was blackmail. "Those newspaper fellows do say some funny things," he chuckled. I was still shocked! The world of politics is a strange one. Primary Presidential candidate Gary Hart dared reporters to follow him around and catch him doing something wrong. That was a mistake! They published a photo of him with a lady (not his wife) on his lap. In his case, the shame caused him to resign his political race. On the other hand, President Clinton's legion of sexual escapades and abuse of women who worked for him seemed to overwhelm the American public. There was so much going on it just didn't matter anymore to many people. How often do we see politicians voting against their own stated positions? Lately it seems like a lot. The recent "immigration reform" bill was opposed by a large majority of people, yet it almost was forced through the Senate by politicians formerly opposed to amnesty. Only a gigantic campaign of letters, faxes, emails and phone calls barely stopped it. What made the Senators go against their constituents? Why did they fight so hard for something they knew we didn't want? Other famous cases of political blackmail attempts include the "outing" of Representative Kolbe. In that case Kolbe refused to give in and vote the way a homosexual issues magazine wanted him to, instead taking the consequences. He actually got more votes in following elections because people respected his stance. Though he later voted for similar and worse legislation, at least we knew it was because he wanted to and not because of threats. That single act of courage probably bought the otherwise inconsequential Congressman several more terms. How often are political scandals the result of blackmail? Many of us pushing for President Clinton's impeachment in the late '90's wanted the charges to be focused on Travelgate, Filegate, treason (due to releasing technology to Red China) campaign finance crime, politicized IRS audits, the Juanita Broaddrick sexual assault and a host of other serious crimes. Why did House Speaker Newt Gingrich emphasize only the least of all charges concerning perjury to cover up sexual abuse of a government worker? Travelgate, Whitewater and Filegate charges were relegated to the back burner and later quietly dropped! The answer may lie in the actions of pornographer Larry Flynt. Unlike the newspaper columnist who simply threatened to use what he knew, Flynt employed detectives and ran prominent advertisements promising rewards for scandal information on politicians that might vote for impeachment. He openly boasted of having knowledge of affairs and going after Congressmen in the name of "fighting hypocrisy." Liberals were delighted and Newt Gingrich was square in the crosshairs of the evil Democrat. After stalling serious impeachment charges, Gingrich suddenly resigned. And as we found out later, he was having an affair with a staffer, whom he later divorced his wife to marry. Did Newt Gingrich submit to blackmail? The next House Speaker was Bob Livingston, who also resigned after stalling serious impeachment charges. He too admitted to having affairs but not to being blackmailed. Dennis Hastert, the next House Speaker, may not have had time to pursue severe charges or perhaps he was caught up in his sudden unexpected promotion. The majority of the Senate seemed afraid to take a stand during that time as well, even though some of the more serious indictments had made it into the evidence submitted. A Republican Senator refused to hear about a sexual assault case, declaring that even if Clinton raped a woman and shot her dead, there would not be enough votes in the Senate to impeach. Why would so many politicians turn from the facts? Perhaps it was due to the threat of blackmail or blackmail itself. One of the impeachment charges, Filegate, concerned another blackmail related matter. Clinton employees had illegally gained possession of the FBI files of a number of Republicans who had worked in the White House. Were the files used to threaten or "get something" on them? Since the investigation was effectively dropped, we'll never know the answer to that. Yet, the Clinton smear machine was and still is famous for digging up items of the past to use against perceived enemies. Who knows what blackmail is being used today against our politicians? It's not really illegal if a newspaper publishes or doesn't publish a scandal and who's to know the reason? Usually the excuse for publishing is to "expose hypocrisy." That's the logic of why Democrats don't get exposed. Nobody expects them to live a clean life, so any affairs are not hypocrisy and need not be written up! Only Republican scandals should be uncovered (in the minds of liberal media editors and reporters) because they are expected to tell the truth. If you suspect your representative is caving in to threats, why not write and ask about it? When you see them voting against their own (and your) principles email them with something like this: "Are you being blackmailed? Because if you are, the American people will have far more respect for you if you just expose the blackmailers and stand up to them! And the information will get out anyway. Just do the right thing." This might shake them up, anyway! Perhaps they will understand and choose the straight and narrow path. We can also write newspapers when we see them openly threatening politicians in editorials. Tell them you know what they are doing and to stop trying to make government policy by extortion. They're not elected! And whenever pornographers threaten blackmail on behalf of the Democrat Party, also write a letter to the editor asking if this is the way Democrats operate. Call into a radio talk show or write about it in some internet forums. At least then liberals will be forced to deal with the light of day on the seamier sections of their philosophies. Let's stand against blackmailers as we all stand up for America! Wayne Boettcher is the head of AmericanProtest.net Related Links: |
