Reply #17: That's a little more specific

[JHB]

In their neverending struggle to blame Bill Clinton personally for everything, the Republicans freely mixed three different matters in order to claim (or at least strongly imply, a la what W does with Saddam, 9/11, bin Laden, and WMDs) that the Clintons were selling secrets to China to fatten their campaign coffers:

1) nuclear secrets obtained by China in the 80's when Reagan & Bush were courting them, something that didn't come to light until Clinton's administration, but after the arrest of Wen Ho Lee the Right used it to accuse Clinton of being lax on security;

2) The release by sattelite-maker (and Clinton-contributor) Loral Corp. of sensitive technical data to China in the course of an investigation into the loss of a Loral-built sattelite launched (almost) by a Chinese rocket. This was a real issue and in 2002 Loral was fined $20 million for the release, but following their pattern in the Waco hearings, the Republicans distorted real matters worthy of investigation into another "Kill Bill" circus.

3) The fundraising scandal with Al Gore at the Buddhist Temple.

Right wingnuts (with the blessing of and repetition by the Republicans) have free-associated these into the charge that Clinton
sold secrets for funds. In every case, Republicans have distorted the matter, undercutting the actual resolution of problems or prosecution of individuals, in order to gain cheap anti-Clinton headlines and "buzz" (successfully too, since your friend there is an example of their handiwork).

If he wouldn't vote for Gore due to this allegation, point out to him that the Republicans made political hay of it to the point of obstructing justice.

Then ask him about which party he's going to vote for next time.