A lie many DU'ers believe

[ck4829]

Many DU'ers say that Bill Clinton was offered bin Laden. That's a lie, and I don't blame anyone except the 'liberal' media for this lie. Hey, I believed Bozell when he said Ken Lay slept in the White House when Clinton was President, which was also another lie.

On June 21, FOX News Channel co-host Sean Hannity repeated the false claim that former President Bill Clinton refused an offer from Sudan to turn over Osama bin Laden to the United States in 1996, even though the 9-11 Commission found no "reliable evidence to support" the claim that Sudan made such an offer. This false claim originated in a 2002 article by the right-wing news site NewsMax.com that distorted a 2002 statement by Clinton. Lanny J. Davis, former White House special counsel to Clinton, pointed out that Hannity was lying, but Hannity persisted.

The truth is that Clinton never offered Osama bin Laden to Saudi Arabia. Hannity distorted a remark Clinton made in a speech to the Long Island Association's annual luncheon on February 15, 2002, in which Clinton said that he "pleaded with the Saudis" to accept Sudan's offer to hand bin Laden to Saudi Arabia. Sudan never offered bin Laden to the United States. Hannity's mention of "the tape" is a reference to a video of this speech. NewsMax.com obtained a video of the speech in 2002 and began hyping the supposed Clinton "admission" (see transcript and listen to the audio). In fact, Clinton did not "admit" to the Sudan offer in that speech or anywhere else.

http://mediamatters.org/items/200406220008

[Bouncy Ball]

1. Figures.

Like Clinton would say "Osama bin Laden? No thanks, you keep him!"

Now I CAN see bush saying that, since OBL is pretty good for the fearmongering business.

[leftynyc]

2. You mean Hannity lied?!!!!

I'm astonished. I'll bet every dime in my pocket that those who believe such drivel are devout views of Faux news. That network is making morons out of Americans.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

3. I don't see anybody but the hit'n'run freeper trolls believe it here.

Of course, there are the not-so-hit'n'run ones that may have blathered about that but I missed.

[RobertSeattle]

4. Thanks for the reminder

Too often Liberals on the talking head shows let the RWers say things without response that are just outright lies. Then even the liberals watching the shows start to think the lies are true.

[Demit]

5. ah, the "many people say" intro. So useful.

[ck4829]

8. Here is an example if you doubt me

"He could have gotten Bin Laden,but didn't"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=3241453&mesg_id=3241596&page=

[Demit]

9. That appears to be "one person says", in that thread. Nobody agreed with

him/her, out of about 35 other posters. Not a great example for your claim of "many DUers" believing something.

[ck4829]

10. It is a minority belief but it is something that needs cleared up

The vast majority of DU'ers do not believe that Clinton was offered bin Laden.

[KharmaTrain]

12. How Do You Speak for A "Majority Of DU'ers"

There is no definitive proof on this subject so anyone who claims that bin Laden could have been offered up is only reciting rumors that have been regurgitated by both sides for nearly 5 years now.

In '96, bin Laden was a threat, but no more so than dozens of other "terrorists". The focus was still on the Egyptian cell that conducted that first WTC bombing, and how convenient for the Freepers not to note that the worst terrorist attack on the U.S. in the 90's was in Oklahoma City and absorbed the media and the government in its aftermath. bin Laden didn't come back to light until the Nairobi bombings in '98. Anyone who dares say they knew about this guy before then is outright lying.

The "Clinton blew bin Laden" defense if one of the pillars that keep the wingnuts and freepers in line with this war...since it was Clinton who let this evil-doer get away and made him stronger...of course they refuse to discuss the BFEE connections or why bin Laden was let go at Torra Borra.

If they lose the bin Laden boogie man...just like the stereotypical Arab "terrorist" (the latest creation from the folks who believe in the Frito Bandito, Ivan the Red, that evil black man who wants to rape his wife and Chinese hordes are ready to flood across the Pacific) this coven loses credibility within itself, thus shills like Hannity and other wingnut plugola puppets ape the company line that it was Clinton's fault...and it always plays well with their brainwashed horde.

Please don't attempt to blanket a "belief" of a "majority" of DUers...since the marvel of this place is its uniqueness and diversity. If anything, it's the lack of one mindset here that hurts Democrats as many put their special interests ahead of a common national party goal.

There's many here who still go with the LIHOP/MIHOP theories that all but dismiss bin Laden as nothing but a cartoon figure used by this regime...so again, a diversity of opinions here...and what makes DU the interesting little water cooler it's become.

[bryant69]

6. There is also a Sudanese Business Man

Looking for Contracts in the United States, who claimed that he could produce the head of Osama Bin Ladin. But, as he was not an official representative of Sudan, and he couldn't actually deliver what he promised, the Clinton Administration turned him down. He then went to Right Wing media sources and told his story (with a few notable omissions).

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[RebelOne]

7. Hannity is still repeating that lie.

I think I hear it on his radio show at least once every few weeks. But of course, this idiot doesn't really wouldn't know the truth if it slapped him in the face.

[ooglymoogly]

11. are you inferring that hanniity lied?....shocked shocked i tell you

i would be more shocked if you told me he told a truth.

[applegrove]

13. No. The Taliban offered bin Laden to Bush just before the Afghanistan

War. Bush refused because he assumed he would get him anyway and needed a war to slap down anti-US terrorists. I wish Bush had accepted the deal and then invaded them for harboring terrorists.

Nothing wrong with invading Afghanistan. They festered & allowed for the al Qaedas to grow. Much of this was courtesy of the USA. Another War, another time eh? Let us just hope the Repukes and right wing really do see the 'value' in promoting democracy. Even if it is for the wrong reasons or the wrong war. Let us hope they learnt a tiny bit in their neocon brains. And then let us kick them out of office. Twenty Months & counting till the liars/manipulators start getting the heave-ho!

[BikeWriter]

14. Uh, I thought you knew that! I did.

[lonestarnot]

15. Read first sentence only and do not! NOT NOT LONESTARNOT n/t