Anyone who listens to CSpan, Fox, or any number of talk shows that allow call-ins know by now what a hot button Sandy Berger is for those on the right. For years now the Right has used Berger as a propaganda issue against the Clintons and the Left.
The News that Hillary taken on Berger to do what he used to do for the Kerry campaign before he was fired over the scandal is going to do more to outrage the Rights base than any other thing she could of done.(The facts about if Sandy if has been hired or is working unpaid and informally are in question, fyi)
WASHINGTON (Map, News) - Sandy Berger, who stole highly classified terrorism documents from the National Archives, destroyed them and lied to investigators, is now an adviser to presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton. Berger, who was fired from John Kerry’s presidential campaign when the scandal broke in 2004, has assumed a similar role in Clinton’s campaign, even though his security clearance has been suspended until September 2008. This is raising eyebrows even among Clinton’s admirers
I guess we should file this under What the hell is she thinking. One should really wonder about her judgement when pulling a boneheaded stunt like this. That is the thing I can think to call it. It shows absolutely no connection with what is going on out in the real world and opens her up to major criticism from both the Right and the Left. Not that it would take that much to spark any more criticism, but this will inflame all of Rushs and Hannitys Wingnuts more than any single thing she could of done. I don't believe that if Bill got caught with his drawers down again would be as stupid a move as this.
"It shows poor judgment and a lack of regard for Berger’s serious misdeeds," said law professor Jonathan Adler of Case Western Reserve University, who nonetheless called Clinton "by far the most impressive candidate in the Democratic field."
Adler told The Examiner that it is "simply incomprehensible to me that a serious contender for the presidency would rely upon him as a key foreign policy advisor. He’s back: Sandy Berger now advising Hillary Clinton"
The Berger theft of classified documents comes up every morning on the Washington Journal Show. The Wingnuts make sure not a day goes by already that they take issue over his sentence of probation, and his destruction of those documents, the extent of his total destruction is still unknown to date. Look for this to overshadow the Rush and his Phony Soldier Story, if anything could of killed that story, this is it. This will push aside any stories the Left might of wanted to see got attention since this will be like any Missing Blond is to Fox News, the only story they will run for days, if not the rest of the campaign.
If anyone has been waiting for Hillary to make that one major mistake that could derail her run for President, the wait is over. For all her not answering of questions, she will not be able to duck this no matter how hard she trys. I give Sandy less than a week on the job before he is asked to step aside. If it even takes that long, Hillary will have done more damage in one day than anything else she could of pulled. Nice move Hillary.
Update: I changed the title by request because of reports Sandy is at this point a unpaid advisor. I will try to keep this up to date.
Update 2 : Be advised this diary has turned into a feeding frenzy over the details of what Sandy Berger did or didn't do with the documents he admits stealing. It also appears that the Hillary people are unwilling to accept the facts on record. Enter at your own risk, it's getting ugly.