Bill Clinton

In a political climate where President Obama has gotten dinged for "playing the race card" when he acknowledged taking offense at being described as "uppity" by Republicans, I guess it's only fair to ding Herman Cain for playing the race card over accusations that he sexually harassed female employees when he headed the National Restaurant Association in the 1990s. Never mind that some white politicians have been chastised for similar offenses. Mr. Cain's fellow Republican, Newt Gingrich, was roundly criticized for his serial marriages, although it doesn't seem to have hurt his career much.

When it comes to sex, the media apply different standards to Republicans and Democrats. Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton allegedly trolled for women, using state troopers as his procurers. As president, mr. Clinton engaged in oral sex with Monica Lewinsky in the Oval Office. He lied about it under oath and was impeached, though later acquitted by the U.S. Senate. Other sexual accusations tainted Mr. Clinton. That "everybody lies about sex" and "it was just sex" and didn't affect his public responsibilities, were just two of the exculpatory statements from Mr. Clinton's Democratic defenders.

After reading Dan Rodricks diatribe in today's Sun ( "If John Boehner is a moderate, we have a problem," July 28) I was tempted to opine that his column was what one would expect a loud-mouthed liberal to spew out. But then I decided to simply challenge him to prove - prove - even some of the allegations he had made in his column: the tea party freshmen class created the mess over the nation's debt ceiling, the tea party's agenda is...

I completely agree with your editorial "Why did Weiner resign?" (June 18.) What I can't understand is how these men, especially Bill Clinton, could have such disrespect for the office they hold. Jeanne M. Jones

It's been interesting to see the change in politicians' opinions about lying when Democratic leaders lined up to condemn New York Rep. Anthony Weiner — a judgment with which I am in total agreement, by the way. Even The Sun's editorial "Heat makes you stupid" (June 9) pointed out that "the lying is unforgivable. " So where were you in 1998 when President Bill Clinton lied to the American public using legal mumbo jumbo to cover up his affair with Monica Lewinsky? He got away with lying to congressional investigators because no Democratic senators would vote to convict him. If the current trend persists, we had better brace for a lot of recall elections because I doubt many politicians will pass the no-lying test.

On weekday mornings, I'll post the most controversial, shocking and (of course) ridiculous stories for your reading pleasure. That way, when you walk into work, you'll be the master of witty conversation. National  • This took 45 minutes to announce? Obama plans to cut $4 trillion from deficit over 12 years . (Political Wire)  • Can you blame him? Did Joe Biden sleep through the president's speech ? (ABC News)  • Days, not weeks: U.S. still bombing in Libya . (CBS News)

There's been a lot of talk about Bush nostalgia lately. At Martha's Vineyard, the Obama-bilia wasn't moving like it was during the Obamas' previous visit there. The biggest seller was a T-shirt depicting a smiling George W. Bush with the tagline "Miss Me Yet?" Meanwhile, liberal writers, and even the president in his Oval Office address, have had kind(er) words for President Barack Obama's predecessor. "Words I never thought I'd write: I pine for George W. Bush," Peter Beinart recently vented in the Daily Beast, in response to Mr. Obama's vacillating and lawyerly support for the Ground Zero mosque.

Democrats are beginning to panic as we speed toward the midterm elections. They have good reason to get nervous as they ponder the spectacle — so unlikely a year or so ago — of being reduced once again to a minority in the House of Representatives. The deservedly repudiated Republicans miraculously stand to benefit from the anger of the dispossessed middle class. These are indeed strange times. Baltimore's own native daughter, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, is unhappy that White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs blurted out a widely known truth Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press" when he was asked whether House Democrats could lose their substantial majority and replied that that was entirely possible.

North Korea's surprise "special pardon" of two American television journalists may have reopened the channels of communication between the Obama administration and the secretive regime that for years has defied the world with its nuclear tests and political bombast. After a whirlwind 24-hour visit that capped months of quiet diplomatic negotiations, former President Bill Clinton left Pyongyang on a private jet with the reporters today following talks with leader Kim Jong Il, according to North Korea's state news media.