-Caveat Lector-
Pardon Me? That Will Be $6.95
By CATHERINE DONALDSON-EVANS
;Marc Rich got one. Why shouldn't you?
Now you can have your own personalized pardon from former President Bill
Clinton. And it will only cost you $6.95 on the auction and trading Web
site eBay. That's a bargain when compared to the many millions of
dollars Rich spread around in his lobbying effort to secure his
presidential absolution.
Gary Carlson, 56, of West Chester County, N.Y., said he's sold about 500
of the bogus pardons on eBay, which are printed on official-looking
paper with the recipient's name typed in bold letters across the top.
They are signed by "William Bubba Clinton."
"People seem to be really happy with these," he said. "They get all
excited. I did this as kind of a joke, but people get into this [to
make] a political statement."
Carlson said he borrowed from the text of the real pardons Clinton
granted - and was sharply criticized for - as he left office.
"Now, Therefore, I, William Bubba Clinton, President of the United
States . do grant a full, free, and absolute pardon unto (fill in name)
for all offenses against the United States which he, (name), has
committed." the phony pardons read.
One of the most controversial of the real pardons handed out in January
was to Marc Rich, the fugitive financier living in Switzerland and
indicted in New York in 1983 on federal charges of fraud, tax evasion
and participation in illegal oil deals with Iran. He was listed as an
international fugitive wanted by the Justice Department when Clinton
absolved him of the crimes just before he stepped down from the
presidency.
Rich's pardon sparked a widespread and ongoing investigation - and
provided late-night comedians and Clinton bashers with fresh fodder.
Carlson said many of the online buyers have purchased his fake pardons
as gag gifts. The highest bid so far has been about $18, he said.
"I had one woman who used it as a greeting card to keep in touch with
her relatives," he said, adding that a police captain, a handful of
judges and several politicians have been among the buyers and
recipients.
A Chicago-area native and self-proclaimed Clinton fan said she bought
seven of the pardons for friends and customers of the plumbing wholesale
supplier she works for.
"They're cute," explained Victoria Schoone. "They exemplify how stupid
the whole 'Pardongate' was."
Schoone said she gave one to her ex-husband, a Clinton foe, to spite
him.
"He would never get off his soap box against Clinton," she said. "He
hates Clinton so much, so this was a slap in the face."
A spokesman from eBay said the company monitors - and generally forbids
- the sale of joke items, but said the pardons fall within the realm of
what's allowed to be traded on eBay.
"We simply do not want to see the site used for pranks," said eBay
spokesman Kevin Pursglove. If someone is caught peddling such a
product, he said, "we will remove it immediately and suspend the person
selling the item," usually for a period of 15 to30 days.
Since the pardons are not being marketed deceptively on eBay, however,
they are legit.
"We do allow items up that can serve as gag gifts," Pursglove said.
"Clearly somebody was trying to have some fun with this."
Carlson, who also sells the bogus documents through
www.pardon.bigstep.com, doesn't produce and trade any other political
satire items and said he hasn't seen anything comparable around for
either President George W. Bush or former Vice President Al Gore.
More straightforward political items were hot during election season,
according to Pursglove. The most popular products, he said, were those
associated with whichever presidential candidate was ahead in the polls
at the time.
=================================================================
Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh, YHVH, TZEVAOT
FROM THE DESK OF:
*Michael Spitzer* <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
The Best Way To Destroy Enemies Is To Change Them To Friends
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