Bill Clinton's Sexual Past is 'Totally Disgraceful'

[RobertEarl]

Showed a lack of morals and showed a lack of respect for the presidency and the People.

His wife should have left him, but it appears power kept her from doing the right thing?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Water under the bridge.

Bill isn't running, and Hillary's reasons for staying with him are personal and known only to her. Let's not go there.

[RobertEarl]

4. Disagree

It goes to show the character of the people involved.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

8. So let's say my husband cheated on me

but I stayed with him (because I still loved him and decided to forgive him) (because of the children) (because I couldn't afford to leave him) (because of reasons that are none of anybody else's business). How is that in any way a reflection on my character or morals?

[RobertEarl]

10. I would not vote for you

I would not want you to have any power over anyone else.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

14. You wouldn't vote for me because my husband cheated on me

and for some reason that's nobody else's business I didn't divorce him? That means I shouldn't have any power over anybody else??? Sorry, but of all the reasons I've heard of for not wanting to vote for Hillary (and I'm a Sanders supporter), that has to be the very dumbest ever.

[RobertEarl]

22. Oval office?

Please,,,, that was so embarrassing. Yeah, he made it my business. Denial is what's dumb.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

25. But you are blaming Hillary for what her horndog husband did.

What he did was reprehensible, but the fact she decided to stay married to him for whatever reason is not. You are basically attributing Bill's dubious morals to his wife - the victim of his treachery - and that's just ridiculous.

[emulatorloo]

27. +1

[RobertEarl]

31. Treachery?

That is apt, also. Thanks for including that.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

41. Of course, Bill betrayed his marriage vows.

That wasn't Hillary's fault. It was his, and his alone. Unless you're one of those guys who thinks that if a guy cheats on his wife it's her fault because she isn't a good enough wife? I sure hope not....

[zazen]

53. um, it's NOT "did". . . it was a pattern of serial adultery with younger women

over time.

She's smarter and more self-controlled than her husband.

If people want to claim she's this feminist role model, then her husband's behavior comes into play. Sexual politics are personal--the personal is political--and this exercise of male privilege and her consistent tolerance of it set an example for younger women that you have to put up with this devaluation. That's what it is. You can't expect fidelity because you're a strong aging women and males aren't capable of fidelity. I'm sick of it. She can be faithful. So can he.

If they can leave the "role model" out of it, then I'm happy to leave him out of it. She's far more qualified. I just disagree with her politics.

The minute anybody claims she's this feminist role model, then NO. I do hold her responsible. She sets a terrible example.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

58. I don't especially care for her as a feminist role model,

and I'm not supporting her for the nomination. I just wouldn't go as far as to blame her for her decision not to divorce him or use that as a reason not to vote for her.

[Travis_0004]

82. I think its fair game if you want to run for president

I have 500 better reasons not to support Hilary, but I dont think the topic is off limits if you want to be president.

She can make it off limits, and if she loses votes, so be it.

[hollysmom]

91. Are you serious? does that mean you wish we never had FDR? or JFK? they actually fooled around

more openly than Clinton. Heck, my husband cheated on me and then begged forgiveness and I forgave him until he started telling me she was a better person than I was and I never screwed around with someone else's husband, so found that going to church did not make her a better person than me. ThatI could not forgive. There are things worse than cheating.
I would rather have a president that screwed around on their spouse than one who screwed around with the country. By your standards GWB was a great president because he was never caught

[RobertEarl]

94. GWB can go to hell

Your smears, in an ill-founded attempt to protect Clinton's disgracing the office, are atrocious.

[hollysmom]

99. my smears? I have not smeared anyone - perhaps you should look up the definition of smear.

who did I smear with unknown information - the dalliances of previous presidents are well known and were not considered so offensive. To the best of my knowledge, I believe only Harry Truman and Jimmy Carter were faithful husbands. And poor Jimmy got smeared with lusting in his heart. Super religious types apparently do not like honesty. I know about GHB's affairs, but not so much about GWB, although there is a rape allegation in his youth and a woman who was suing Bush fora rape when he was older that died the way so many bush opponents die - a bullet tothe head which was declared suicide cough cough.

[DesertFlower]

76. i agree. nt

[Kalidurga]

88. I am with you

unless some kind of hard evidence is presented that shows Hillary actually did something wrong. I have seen smear pieces that read like something out of a fan fic, I don't mean that kind of evidence.

[niyad]

2. are you sure that you are on the correct board?

[ronnykmarshall]

57. No shit ..

but what this place has become rivals the bullshit spewed on pretty much every right wing website when it comes to Hillary.

[niyad]

65. sadly, you are quite correct. I knew that the attacks on her from the other side would be

beyond disgusting. sadly, after 2008, not entirely surprised to see the same thing here.

[ronnykmarshall]

66. 2008 was horrible.

But this time it's 1000 times worse. I've seen more bullshit spewed than in a cow farm. Oh, my favorite was some asshole saying that "Hillary and Bill bullied Obama to appoint her as SOS". That type of shit is ALLOWED to stand here!

[Squinch]

71. And this OP is proof that a lot of it is sexist to the core.

[niyad]

73. exactly!!

[DesertFlower]

77. well said. nt

[dsc]

3. It isn't our business how their marriage is

He did his job as President, I don't care about his concentual affair with an adult. As to Hillary, she chose to stay. Maybe for her daughter, maybe for herself, maybe because she doesn't believe in divorce, I have no idea, it isn't my business.

[RobertEarl]

6. Like I say

He disrespected the office and the People.

Shows a lack of good character. And stupidity of thinking with the little head.

[Squinch]

5. Gee, Bob. You ought to tell all the gals how you think they should conduct their marraiges.

Because your opinion on that really matters.

[RobertEarl]

9. Only if they want my vote.

As for me, I can control my penis. Some idiots can't. Wouldn't vote for them again, would you?

[Squinch]

13. Gee, Bob, why don't you write her a little note so you can tell her how to conduct her marraige.

Because your opinion about that really matters.

[FSogol]

20. Doesn't your candidate have a son born out of wedlock?*

* To the alerting squad: I could care less about candidates private lives and don't feel it should ever be an issue, but it is hypocritical to complain about some sexual indiscretions and ignore others. What consenting adults do is no business of anyone else.

[RandySF]

30. Let's dig into your closet and find out

Usually, people who talk this high and mighty have the dirtiest laundry.

[oasis]

93. That chirping sound you hear is crickets. Read post #84

[NCTraveler]

33. Might I ask whose penis you won't be voting for? Nt

[ronnykmarshall]

69. Honey, no one WANTS your penis.

So get over it.

[immoderate]

7. I don't even care when Republicans screw around.

--imm

[niyad]

11. you have, of course, excoriated vitter, craig, ensign, nixon, and all the family values

pukes who have affairs, etc.

[Luminous Animal]

12. I do not agree that Hillary should have left him even though his behavior WAS disgusting...

It was something for them to negotiate and deal with privately. Many people, both men and women stay with their cheating spouse and some of them go on to have a happy and healthy relationship.

I know. I witnessed it with my own parents. They came through more committed and loving than I had ever seen them.

[libdem4life]

15. What made it worse was that it was in the Oval Office...a politically sacred place in

an American's life. When it was in seedy, or fix-me-up Bubba...is one thing. At least there was some element of shame. But day in and day out, he walked in and out of that office knowing that everyone knew...what hutzpah.

Hillary...yeah, she stayed for the politics, of that I'm convinced. But now she's got to run against a Bernie Sanders who doesn't want to play the dirty attack games. She could probably beat most anyone in that particular arena.

So, what's she going to do...other than send Bill out to campaign? She's got all these endorsements because of her years and background, but Bernie has the personal character that shows through.

[RobertEarl]

19. Personal character, indeed

Bernie has it. He will show respect for the office.

[FSogol]

23. Bullshit. A lot more crappy stuff has occured in that office before you ever

get to consenting adults screwing around.

Politically sacred?

[libdem4life]

36. Need a fainting hanky? What did they used to do...have orgies?

That's like saying the church deserves no special respect because preachers and priests have so despoiled it. Sorry. Doesn't wash.

Yes, a trip to the White House Oval Office...for normal people...is often a chance of a lifetime. And here, kiddies, is where all the bad things happen...Not.

[FSogol]

49. LOL, Read Kitty Kelly's biography of the Reagans and the Oval Office will lose

all of it sacredness.

Fainting hanky? You're the puritan who is outraged, not me. The Oval Office is where Nixon committed his crimes, W started unnecessary wars to help his friends earn a profit, Reagan ran a drug war to sell weapons to our enemies, and Nancy screwed Frank.

[cherokeeprogressive]

68. You forgot to mention LBJ lied the country into a war there and ruined a generation.

[FSogol]

70. You could write volumes on crap that happened there before you ever got to

oral sex with interns.

[hedda_foil]

95. Nancy screwed Frank in the Oval? Do tell.

Given her rep as a starlet, I'd have thought she would have given him one of her famous blow jobs.

[emulatorloo]

16. Bill Clinton is not running, and Hillary's decision about her marriage is none of your damn business

Nor are you qualified to ascribe motives to her decision.

I hate to break it to you, sometimes spouses forgive infidelity and choose to preserve and strengthen their marriages. It is honestly nobody's fucking business but the couple involved.

[Squinch]

24. You said it best. Thank you. Honestly, this is getting ridiculous.

[FSogol]

26. +1, Well said. n/t

[Agschmid]

39. Yup.

This OP is a disgrace.

This last month is going to suck, I really wish we could just get voting and see what happens.

[arcane1]

42. And apparently she only has "power" if she stays married to him.

The post feels like a "let's make the people who prefer someone other than Hillary look ridiculous and discredit them" to me.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

44. Exactly.

[tammywammy]

60. +1 n/t

[artislife]

85. I have to agree. I think we should get out of people's bedrooms

If we believe that for LGBTs, we need to believe it for straights. Their relationship, their business.

[NCTraveler]

17. Have at it. This is so far over the top.

Edit

[JudyM]

18. I agree it compromised his integrity but much more importantly it made him -and so the country -

vulnerable to blackmail. That is serious.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

48. We had a beloved president who shared a girlfriend with a mob boss and survived.

The same beloved president who deflowered a nineteen year old virgin intern and compelled her to provide oral favors to his friends and tried to get her to provide oral favors to his youngest brother. The same president who as a senator was carrying on an affair with a East German spy at the height of the Cold War. His wife never left him

Of all my pet peeves my biggest peeve is the fundamental unfairness of judging different people by different standards.

[JudyM]

56. I hear ya. My standards would be the same. The problem is loss of subjectivity and vulnerability

to blackmail.

[Douglas Carpenter]

21. I'm puzzled by his utter lack of judgment-knowing full well that his enemies were salivating like

Pavlov's dog - jumping with excitement at the thought of getting him on something like that. But, I don't want to be too judgmental or make a political issue out of it.

"Let him who is without sin cast the first stone." - John 8 : 7

[DemocratSinceBirth]

59. More beloved presidents have done infinitely worse. Please See Post 48...

As a lapsed Baptist these are my two favorite Biblical quotes:

For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

Matthew 7:2

"And why worry about a speck in your friend's eye when you have a log in your own?

-Matthew 7:3

I wonder how many of our own lives could withstand such scrutiny. I know mine couldn't.

[jehop61]

28. As someone once said

He who is without sin, shall cast the first stone

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

32. But this is even worse.

The OP is casting stones at the sinner's wife for no reason other than that she decided not to dump him. I don't get that at all.

[RobertEarl]

35. Then there is Iraq

Bill dropped bombs on those poor people then Hill voted to invade and drop more bombs. Like I say, lack of character.

[RandySF]

29. I didn't know there were so many Republicans on DU.

[Squinch]

64. I think the Bundy minions from Fort Gift Shop have infiltrated DU. And they snuck in the Duggers.

The assholery is astonishing.

[arcane1]

34. Who the fuck are we to tell her what the "right thing" is to do in HER marriage?

Do you know if they had an open marriage, and rules for this sort of thing? Do you know what went on between them?

Fuck no you don't.

This OP is "totally disgraceful" and should be self-deleted.

[RobertEarl]

40. Oval office

And now wanting me to vote for a Clinton, again? I don't think so. If they just faded away, I wouldn't have posted this.

[Agschmid]

43. +1

[bigtree]

37. this isn't 1950

...criticizing a spouse for remaining in the marriage after their partner's infidelity is presumptuous bull.

The public has as little credible insight on 'the right thing' involving the Clinton's marriage as they did the consensual sexual affair.

[TacoD]

38. Jury results

AUTOMATED MESSAGE: Results of your Jury Service
On Mon Jan 11, 2016, 08:35 PM an alert was sent on the following post:

Bill Clinton's Sexual Past is 'Totally Disgraceful'
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251996694

REASON FOR ALERT

This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate.

ALERTER'S COMMENTS

No comments added by alerter

You served on a randomly-selected Jury of DU members which reviewed this post. The review was completed at Mon Jan 11, 2016, 08:38 PM, and the Jury voted 3-4 to LEAVE IT.

Juror #1 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #2 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #3 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Not sure it belongs in GP-P, moderator could have it moved to another forum. Not alert worthy.
Juror #4 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: The poster is commenting on a possible reason for a candidate's actions.
Juror #5 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #6 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: Absurd crap. I am a sanders supporter, but we don't need this discourse.
Juror #7 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: The alerter almost certainly wants this kept, hence the lack of comment. But this is the kind of shit OP that I am happy to vote to hide. This reads like it was lifted right off of a right-wing site.

Thank you very much for participating in our Jury system, and we hope you will be able to participate again in the future.
Cannot reply to automated messages

[Agschmid]

45. Dear juror 3, next time read the instructions on how juries work.

Also dear alerter, add a comment next time.

[RobertEarl]

47. It is already a post in GDP.

So calls that it doesn't belong are kinda dumb?

I get that it makes some upset. Sure upsets me that the couple have the audacity to ask us to vote for more of the same.

I vote to hide the Clintons!

[ronnykmarshall]

63. The whole jury system is bullshit.

Someone could call Hillary a whore and the "fair" jury would allow it. Oh wait that already happened.

This place has turned into a cesspool.

[Thinkingabout]

46. Bookmarking for later reference.

Spouses are attacked.

[RobertEarl]

50. Bombing Iraq was even worse.

Book mark it!

[Thinkingabout]

51. Bombing Iraq is not the reason I am bookmarking.

[oasis]

52. Thank your sanctimonious lucky stars, Hillary stood by Bill.

By doing so, she preserved the office of the Presidency and protected the will of the voters who elected Bill Clinton to office.

If Hillary would have turned away, the American public would have also abandoned him. The President's removal would occur following the fraudulent impeachment.

[TDale313]

54. Of the many, many reasons not to vote for Hillary...

This is way, way at the bottom of my list. In fact, it's not on it. Her decision to stay with Bill is none of our business. And honestly I can't imagine a male politician being criticized for choosing to stay with his spouse. As a Sanders supporter, I'd prefer we not go there.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

61. My sentiments exactly.

[ronnykmarshall]

55. Right from the right wing playbook

and THIS shit is allowed on DU ... oh I mean BU?

[emulatorloo]

62. FWIW, lots of Bernie supporters giving the OP hell for this egregious bullshit

[ronnykmarshall]

67. and I love you guys for that!

And I adore you!

[arcane1]

74. Count me in!

[Bleacher Creature]

72. Has this place hit rock bottom yet?

Because if not, I'm not sure I want to see what's worse that this one.

Seriously, when did Henry Hyde's ghost join DU?

[Squinch]

75. And a jury let it pass.

[Dawson Leery]

81. The OP should be banned.

[840high]

92. Why? He's not

entitled to an opinion?

[R B Garr]

83. I brought up Henry Hyde's name in a thread the

other day and then got bombarded with comparisons of Clinton's "morals" and whether or not slavery was moral. It was as bizarre as it was offensive. Desperate to boot.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

100. I'd love to see a link.

[bvf]

79. How the two of them resolved things

is entirely between them, as far as I'm concerned.

That said, the fact that Bill Clinton went all Risky Business when he knew what might be the consequences, remains the concern of the country that elected him.

Popular as president? Solidly, with job approval averaging about 60% his final year in office.

Trustworthy and honest? The majority of voting-age Americans considered him to be neither as he finished his second term.

Hillary's handlers obviously think he'll be of benefit on the stump, as long as nobody brings up what everyone remembers.

[one_voice]

80. His wife should have left him...

It says so much about a man when he figures out a way to smear a woman for her cheating husband.

[RobertEarl]

84. Not just any woman

This one wants to be the president. And her husband as president smeared the People with his philandering.

Hey, who let the swarm out? I never saw such want for censorship and trash talk reaction to an expression of opinion about someone who wants to be MY president. It is if some of you are kindergartners on recess playing bully. Shameful exposition.

ETA: Oh, and for 'some' reason I can only see half the replies in this thread when I am logged in!

[one_voice]

90. wait..what?

This one wants to be the president. And her husband as president smeared the People with his philandering.

You're continuing to blame her for what her husband did. Speaking of shameful...

For the record: I'm an O'Malley suppoter & I would never censor this...please let all this hang out.

[Agschmid]

110. Yup.

Let it all out.

[delrem]

104. Apparently, she took the opportunity to smear the intern.

So I guess it takes all kinds.

[loyalsister]

86. One of the more disgusting reasons I heard for supporting Clinton

came from a bitter divorced guy who thought that was how it should have gone for him. He respected Hillary for putting up with Bill's philandering the way his ex didn't.
I worry about a sister who is unlikely to leave an abusive husband. Thanks in no small part to the fact that our mother stayed with our dad.
As far as feminist role models go, not having adopted the Tammy Wynette motto should be a litmus test.

[Scruffy1]

87. So is mine. And I'm a Bernie supporter.

My father had several affairs, and even a child by one, and yet my mother loved him. They were married til death and loved each other. some are not good at monogamy. It doesn't make them all bad.

[doc03]

89. I totally agree but I commend both of them for staying together

and the reasons are none of anybody else's god damn business.

[RobertEarl]

97. Good for them

But bad for the country.

No one is happy with this situation. But it is history and it does show what type of characters we are dealing with.

If the Clintons just went away such posts as this, which makes everyone unconformable, would never even appear, and the deniers would not show their dumb posts in their foolish attempts to make it go away. You can bet the republicans will be bring it up if, gawd forbid, Hillary gets the nom.

[zappaman]

96. 0 recs, Bob.

Gives me hope for DU.

[delrem]

103. Who would recommend Bill Clinton's sexual history? Who?

Mentioned, yes. Recommeded, no.

[Agschmid]

111. Up to 1 rec now... So much for your hope.

[anigbrowl]

98. I always distrust self-appointed spokespersons for 'the People'

Somehow they just keep turning out to be narrow-minded moralist wannabe authoritarians. Take your poutrage at someone else's sexual and marital life and stick it where the sun don't shine.

I say this not on behalf of Bill Clinton or his wife, but for myself - I don't want to be badgered by people who feel the need to make commentaries on the relationships of others, and I especially don't want to be badgered by people who falsely claim to be doing so on behalf of everyone else. I am a liberal precisely because I believe that consenting adults should be able to conduct themselves as they see fit.

[delrem]

102. No.

Way back when Bill Clinton was head honcho over the entire USA and there were tons of "interns", there was also an ambient awareness that company policy should discourage sex for favors between the powerful and powerless, since the transaction was often both coercive and "sexist".

That awareness, that suggestion, had something to do with that archaic thing, "the feminist movement".

I put these words in quotes because it's to laugh, isn't it? Strange outmoded terms recalling strange outmoded ideas that, in this day and age of the annunciated Hillary Rodham Clinton, no longer exist. No more than truth does.

All I have to say is that the Clinton's give a different meaning to the phrase "trickle down politics".

[delrem]

101. Not my mother or any of my sisters, or any of my progressive woman friends

up here in Canada defended Bill Clinton, and they all derided me as as being bloody ignorant when I tried to defend Bill Clinton by saying "The Republican are out to get him!"

They all, every one of them, said I didn't get the point. That I was a dinosaur.

[treestar]

105. Why is she the one called upon to "do the right thing?"

He was, and that was quit cheating. Geez.

[oberliner]

106. Welcome to Republican Talking Points Underground?

Sure feels that way sometimes.

Three Minutes Hate on Hillary is pretty strong around here.

[nilesobek]

107. I'm still deciding who to vote for...

Mr. Earl. Doesn't this just add to the abuse laid down by Trump? This smacks like an abused woman who when needing help, gets further abused. Victim blaming. I think you're wrong about this.

[ljm2002]

108. None of us can know Hillary's motives for staying...

...and it is unseemly to attribute motives to her, especially to try and score a political point.

Neither you nor I can ever know Hillary's motives. They are hers and hers alone. Those of us who have ever been married know that the relationship is complex and very personal. When there are children to consider, that brings in even more complications. Few of us truly understand our own motives in matters like this, much less someone else's.

There are plenty of reasons to criticize Hillary Clinton. This is not one of them. Please, leave it.

[NCTraveler]

109. Kick.

With a full running start.

[NCTraveler]

112. Kick

[NCTraveler]

113. Kick. nt.

[RobertEarl]

114. Hahaha

This really got to you, eh?

The people with all the power, with the influence and money who support the democratic party right now will leave before they would support a candidate like Sanders.

[NCTraveler]

115. Didn't get to me. I love transparency.

That's all it is to me. No clue what the rest has to do with anything.