Presidential Morality

By Jim Hightower, AlterNet. Posted July 7, 2004.

"I did something for the worst possible reason," admitted the President. "Just because I could."

That was Bill Clinton speaking, doing his recent mea culpa about his oval office tryst with Monica Lewinski. To his belated credit, Clinton admits shame about this abuse of power: "I think that's just about the most morally indefensible reason anybody could have for doing anything."

Now let us fast forward to George W. To his credit, W would not think of having sex with a White House intern. But this does not make him an innocent in the abuse of presidential power. What we've now learned from the 9/11 Commission and recent books by White House insiders is that George launched a war for the worst possible reason: Because he could.

It's clear that there was no geo-political necessity for his attack on Iraq, no threat to our national security, no weapons of mass destruction or ties to al Qaeda, no reason to send American men and women to die – except for the worst reason: Because he could. He and his gang of neo-con chickenhawks had an ideological score to settle with Saddam Hussein, and they were out to do it regardless of rationality, right or consequences.

Here's a Bush quote from a talk he gave to the National Security Council: " I do not need to explain why I say things. That's the interesting thing about being the president. Maybe somebody needs to explain to me why they say something, but I don't feel like I owe anybody an explanation."

He has the power. Might makes right. He can cause death, gruesome injuries, vast destruction, horror, and increased danger to America – just because he can...which is the most morally indefensible reason anybody could have for doing anything.

Clinton abused his presidential power to work out his sexual fantasies with an intern. That's pathetic. Bush, however, has abused his power to work out his Saddam fantasies with other people's lives. That's beyond contempt.

Jim Hightower is the best-selling author of "Let's Stop Beating Around the Bush," from Viking Press. For more information, visit jimhightower.com.

Liked this story? Get top stories in your inbox each week from AlterNet! Sign up now »