The Obamas: Barack on Accountability, Michelle on Colbert…

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Recently, Barack Obama indicated he would “immediately investigate” if “there [are] possibilities of genuine crimes” having been carried out by this White House, should he become President. He said he’d direct his DoJ and AG to “immediately review the information that’s already there and to find out are there inquiries that need to be pursued.”

In his comment, which seems to have carefully played every side of the street and both side of the fence, Obama told AttyTood’s Will Bunch:

I would want to find out directly from my Attorney General — having pursued, having looked at what’s out there right now — are there possibilities of genuine crimes as opposed to really bad policies. And I think it’s important– one of the things we’ve got to figure out in our political culture generally is distinguishing between really dumb policies and policies that rise to the level of criminal activity.

You know, I often get questions about impeachment at town hall meetings and I’ve said that is not something I think would be fruitful to pursue because I think that impeachment is something that should be reserved for exceptional circumstances.

Now, if I found out that there were high officials who knowingly, consciously broke existing laws, engaged in coverups of those crimes with knowledge forefront, then I think a basic principle of our Constitution is nobody above the law — and I think that’s roughly how I would look at it.

On the other hand, last night, during her appearance on the Colbert Report in Philadelphia, his wife Michelle was remarkably impressive, I thought. Really. For whatever that may be worth. Here’s the video…

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The Obamas: Barack on Accountability, Michelle on Colbert…

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10 Responses

  1. 1)
    czaragorn said on 4/16/2008 @ 10:33am PT: [Permalink]

    Man, Brad, thanks for that clip. I’ve been hearing all sorts of stuff about Osama’s (OOOPS! Sorry! Obama’s) wife and how cool she is, but man oh man would I ever love it if she were our first true “First Lady” in a good long spell – she rocks!!!

  2. 2)
    Redender said on 4/16/2008 @ 12:38pm PT: [Permalink]

    Obama nor Clinton nor McCain will do one thing about the CRIMES they already know have been commited ! This is another dangle the carrot tactic.
    Fire them ALL !
    Tar and Feathers have never been more appropriate.
    Sorry folks but I do not believe one of them not one .
    Just more lies out of all of them so the sheeple will still believe .
    What a bunch of hog wash .

  3. 3)
    Bluebear2 said on 4/16/2008 @ 12:47pm PT: [Permalink]

    I think that impeachment is something that should be reserved for exceptional circumstances.

    I don’t know what could be more exceptional than the current list of crimes committed by the Bush administration.

    I do realize he’s having to walk on eggshells here, but come on!

  4. 5)
    Steve said on 4/16/2008 @ 2:44pm PT: [Permalink]

    This is one of the few times I’ve seen Colbert kind of come out of his faux right wing character on his show. Other than the brief “elitist” dialogue he was almost deferential.

  5. 6)
    Dredd said on 4/16/2008 @ 7:21pm PT: [Permalink]

    McCain on impeachment:

    don’t know much about history

    don’t know much biology

    but I do know that I love bush

    and two bushie terms plus mine is three …

    what a oily war world it will be …

    Gotta luv those fascists eh?

  6. 7)
    Dredd said on 4/16/2008 @ 7:54pm PT: [Permalink]

    Remember the old song with the lyrics “anybody here seen my old friend Martin …”?

    “Anybody here” ever been for McCain? Same as being for preznit blush you know.

    Give it up and move on … you were wrong to support McCain and are now wrong to dis the people’s choice.

  7. 8)
    greg0 said on 4/16/2008 @ 11:04pm PT: [Permalink]

    Speaking of accountability…
    There is a great interview of MS Supreme Court Justice Oliver Diaz about recent political prosecutions at RawStory.com which leads to important questions of ACCOUNTABILTY!!!
    Pardons of political prisoners need to be considered, at the least.

  8. 9)
    Ancient said on 4/17/2008 @ 6:06am PT: [Permalink]

    The Obama’s are the epitome of the American dream, making them an unbeatable team!

  9. 10)
    Joseph Cannon said on 4/20/2008 @ 12:43am PT: [Permalink]

    It’s funny that no-one considers Michelle a corporate sell-out. She is the very well compensated vice president of a not-for-profit hospital that makes an obscene profit — a hospital notorious for unfair practices such as price-gouging the uninsured.

    See here and here.

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