Originally Posted by jdanton

This is exactly the type of attack that I find myself defending Hillary against.

Originally Posted by NewsBusters.org

CBS ‘Early Show’: Clinton Sex Addiction vs. ‘Political Rock Stars’
By Kyle Drennen | October 29, 2007 - 12:41 ET



A segment on Monday’s CBS "Early Show" by co-host Julie Chen about accusations by the late President Ford of Bill Clinton being a "sex addict," was in sharp contrast to an interview last week with author Sally Bedell Smith, when co-host Harry Smith referred to the Clintons as a "still-young couple" and "political rock stars."

Smith teased the Monday segment on Clinton’s sex addiction by saying, "Plus, a presidential scandal comes back in the spotlight. Find out who's calling Bill Clinton a sex addict." Contrast that statement with Smith’s glowing assessment of the Clinton marriage from last Tuesday’s segment on Bedell-Smith’s new book on the Clinton marriage:

A simple Google search reveals there are more than 40 books about this still-young couple. They met in law school, two bookish, wonkish, idealistic kids who somehow transformed themselves into political rock stars.


Strangely, in last week’s segment Smith never thought to ask a single question about the affect of Bill Clinton’s sex scandals on the marriage.

During Monday’s segment, Chen described the accusations by the late President Gerald Ford and Betty Ford as chronicled in "Write It When I'm Gone: Remarkable, Off-The-Record Conversations with Gerald R. Ford," by author Thomas DeFrank. Chen then asked sexual health expert, Dr. Jennifer Berman, to define the term "sex addict," and followed up by scolding the Fords for even making such an allegation:

What's your reaction to this book and the Fords saying this? I mean, how would Gerald Ford, or Betty Ford, for that matter, know if Bill Clinton was or was not a sex addict?


Berman responded by discussing the fact that the Fords had a "personal relationship" with the Clintons and had simply "observed sort of the ways that he interacted with women." Berman even went on to say of Clinton, "All I can say is that he definitely engaged in high-risk behavior that is concerning --" Chen seemed a little surprised by this observation and pressed Berman:

CHEN: Like what?

BERMAN: That almost cost him the presidency.

CHEN: Like?

BERMAN: I mean, high-risk behavior is defined as, you know, something like having unprotected sex, having sex with prostitutes, or engaging in activity that is high risk in terms of to your family --

CHEN: But you're not saying Bill Clinton did that, you're saying these are typical behaviors of someone who --

BERMAN: "Of sex addicts. Well, Bill Clinton having a relationship with an intern in the White House, if in fact he did, would be considered, you know, a high-risk behavior."


While Julie Chen’s shock at the idea of Clinton actually showing signs of being a sex addict is interesting, Berman’s "if in fact he did" comment in reference to his admitted affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky is even more troubling. But I guess that depends on what the definition of the word "is" is.

Finally, just in case Bill Clinton really is a sex addict, it’s certainly not his fault:

CHEN: Betty Ford said in the book -- this is a quote -- "you know that -- you know there is treatment for that kind of addiction. A lot of men go through it with a lot of success." Is that true?

BERMAN: There is treatment. And actually, it is a real addiction.

CHEN: What's the treatment?

BERMAN: The chemicals that are released in the brain are similar to the chemicals that cocaine causes. So the treatment is much like the 12-step programs in alcoholism and drug addiction, and it requires therapy and it requires changes in behavior, and there are even some medications that treat obsessive-compulsive disorders.


Here is the transcript of the 7:49am segment:

7:22AM TEASER:

HARRY SMITH: Plus, a presidential scandal comes back in the spotlight. Find out who's calling Bill Clinton a sex addict.

7:31AM

HANNAH STORM: Also, what President Ford and his wife had to say about Bill Clinton's sex life and why.

7:39AM

HARRY SMITH: Plus, President Ford calls President Clinton -- yeah, listen -- a sex addict. We'll ask sex expert Dr. Jennifer Berman if he's right.

7:45AM

HANNAH STORM: And stay with us, we're coming right back to take on sex addiction. It's in the news because one president said another president needed help for it.

7:49AM SEGMENT:

JULIE CHEN: This morning in "Health Watch," sex addiction. In a new book, "Write It When I'm Gone: Remarkable, Off-The-Record Conversations with Gerald R. Ford," author Thomas Defrank writes that the former president considered Bill Clinton a sex addict and that he ought to get treatment for it. Betty Ford, who practically invented rehab, as founder of the Betty Ford clinic, apparently agreed with her late husband. Dr. Jennifer Berman is a leading expert on sexual health. Good morning, Dr. Berman.

JENNIFER BERMAN: Morning.

CHEN: First of all, define what a sex addict is for us.

BERMAN: Well, sex addiction is really defined as engaging, a person that engages in multiple sexual acts, sexual activity, sexual partners, that he is, or she, is unable to stop or control. Generally, these experiences or these relationships are unfulfilling, and there is a compulsive nature to it.

CHEN: What's your reaction to this book and the Fords saying this? I mean, how would Gerald Ford, or Betty Ford, for that matter, know if Bill Clinton was or was not a sex addict?

BERMAN: You know, apparently, they had a personal relationship with him and observed behavior and observed sort of the ways that he interacted with women, and I'm sure they're drawing these conclusions on speculation. I certainly couldn't say, you know, whether Mr. Clinton is a sex addict or not. All I can say is that he definitely engaged in high-risk behavior that is concerning --

CHEN: Like what?

BERMAN: That almost cost him the presidency.

CHEN: Like?

BERMAN: I mean, high-risk behavior is defined as, you know, something like having unprotected sex, having sex with prostitutes, or engaging in activity that is high risk in terms of to your family --

CHEN: But you're not saying Bill Clinton did that, you're saying these are typical behaviors of someone who --

BERMAN: Of sex addicts. Well, Bill Clinton having a relationship with an intern in the White House, if in fact he did, would be considered, you know, a high-risk behavior.

CHEN: You mentioned -- you said he or she. How often are women falling into this category of sex addicts?

BERMAN: Well, that's a good question. It actually affects more men than women. Women can be sex addicts as well. However, in women, the incidence is more love addict, they're more addicted to what the relationship and the endorphins associated with falling in love than necessarily the sex act itself.

CHEN: Betty Ford said in the book -- this is a quote -- "you know that -- you know there is treatment for that kind of addiction. A lot of men go through it with a lot of success." Is that true?

BERMAN: There is treatment. And actually, it is a real addiction.

CHEN: What's the treatment?

BERMAN: The chemicals that are released in the brain are similar to the chemicals that cocaine causes. So the treatment is much like the 12-step programs in alcoholism and drug addiction, and it requires therapy and it requires changes in behavior, and there are even some medications that treat obsessive-compulsive disorders.

CHEN: Dr. Jennifer Berman, thank you so much.

BERMAN: Thank you.

CHEN: You're welcome.

Originally Posted by CNN

Book: Ford feared Cheney was GOP liability, called Clinton sex addict

Story Highlights
Late president's talks with reporter to be published in "Write It When I'm Gone"

Gerald Ford called Cheney a liability for 2004 ticket, preferred Giuliani

Ford said Bill Clinton was sex addict, believed Hillary Clinton "stronger"

From Ed Henry
CNN


WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Former President Gerald Ford suggested to a reporter in 2004 that Vice President Dick Cheney should be dumped from the Republican ticket, according to a new book to be published Tuesday.


Presidents Clinton and Ford mark the 200th anniversary of the White House with Hillary Clinton in November 2000.

Ford preferred former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani because he feared Cheney had become a "liability" to President Bush, according to the book's author.

CNN obtained an advance copy of "Write It When I'm Gone," and interviewed author Thomas DeFrank.

Ford privately gave New York Democratic Sen. Hillary Clinton high marks, saying she was "tougher and stronger" than her husband, who Ford said he had mixed feelings about, DeFrank said.

While Ford thought Bill Clinton was the best pure politician he had ever seen, he felt Clinton needed therapy for sex addiction.

"He thought Bill Clinton had a serious addiction here and he needed help," DeFrank told CNN. "And Jerry Ford didn't have a vengeful bone in his body. I think his comments about the addiction business were heartfelt on his part."

In 1991, Ford began a series of off-the-record conversations with DeFrank. The reporter had gained Ford's trust when he worked for Newsweek magazine covering Ford as vice president and president.

DeFrank, now the Washington bureau chief for the New York Daily News, said Ford spoke to him on the condition that the conversations be kept secret until after the former president's death, which came in late 2006.

Cheney served as chief of staff in the Ford White House. Bush's former defense secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, also was defense secretary in the Ford administration.

"Gerald Ford always thought that Don Rumsfeld and Dick Cheney were his favorite proteges," DeFrank said. "He always kind of felt like he raised them as pups. But in 2004, President Ford said to me that he was fearful that Cheney would be a liability on the ticket."

Ford revealed that people within the Republican party had called him inquiring if there was a move afoot to dump Cheney from the ticket.

"Ford said to me, 'And they asked me the question in a way that makes it sound like they want me to help make that happen, which I'm not gonna do,'" DeFrank recalled Ford telling him.

"Ford loved Dick Cheney till the day he died. He loved Dick Cheney. And he was not going to be part of a cabal to get rid of Cheney."

But when DeFrank asked Ford if he believed Cheney had become a liability, the former President said yes and suggested Giuliani as a possible replacement. "He did say, 'I'm apprehensive as to Cheney's value to the ticket in 2004,'" DeFrank said.

A spokeswoman for Cheney had no immediate reaction to the new book when reached by CNN.

Before his death, Ford also expressed his opinion that Giuliani would be the GOP's strongest presidential candidate in 2008.

"He said at one point that if the Republicans wanted to win and stop Hillary Clinton, Giuliani would be their best bet," said DeFrank.

Ford also speculated about the possibility of Hillary Clinton becoming the nation's first female president and expressed admiration about her credentials, though he disagreed with her on many issues.

"He also said once, 'She's tougher and stronger than her husband. She's got stronger convictions. And when she gets her back up, he defers to her, and she's not gonna roll over,'" DeFrank said.

"He was very admiring of her political skills. He was not very admiring of her political philosophy. He thought she was 'an old-fashioned liberal with unbounded ambition,' was the way he put it. But he thought she was a very competent politician."

Ford was much more conflicted about Bill Clinton, according to DeFrank.

"He once said to me, 'I called my old friends in Washington and said: Don't underestimate this guy. He can sell three-day-old ice; he's that good,'" DeFrank said of Ford. "He thought Bill Clinton was the best pure politician he'd ever been around. But he also had serious reservations about Bill Clinton's personal side."

Based on his wife's own battle with addictions and her work at the Betty Ford Clinic, the former Republican president "saw a dark side to President Clinton" and believed he needed therapy for an addiction to sex, according to DeFrank.

"He was not trashing and bashing Bill Clinton," said DeFrank. "I think his comments about the addiction business were heartfelt on his part. I think he had lived with a woman who had severe addiction to prescription drugs and to alcohol and he had seen addiction up close, and I think that's what really motivated him."

A spokesman for Bill Clinton did not immediately respond to a CNN e-mail seeking comment on the book.

DeFrank told CNN he knows he will face some criticism for keeping these conversations secret for so long. He says it weighed on his conscience that he may have been used by Ford to spin his own view of history.

"It's a very fair question," said DeFrank. "All journalists know that we every day make agreements with sources to protect them in exchange for information. When you accept something like that you may be used or spun, but it's part of the business."

DeFrank said Ford never would have cooperated if his comments were published in his lifetime, so the author believes history is richer for having these insights now out in the public record.

In another embargoed 2004 interview reported shortly after Ford's death, Ford told the Washington Post's Bob Woodward that Bush and his chief advisers -- Cheney and Rumsfeld -- "made a big mistake" with their justifications for the Iraq war.

Originally Posted by ThetaBurst

Well have fun, because it's all coming back.

If you don't think it is, you are living in a fantasy world.

Hillary Clinton has already picked on Barack Obama because of something he said in KINDERGARTEN. You think the Republican nominee will actually pass on the opportunity to tarnish Hillary in any and EVERY means possible?

If so, you're dreaming.



Well, I think it does but, regardless, merit is not the problem.

AVAILABILITY is the problem.



Exactly.




DON'T PUT WORDS IN MY MOUTH, JD.

Suck up the truth about Hillary's candidacy and you'll have enough to chew on.

She has no "experience" to speak of, and her husband is a sex addict. Her husband's sex addiction very likely brought down Al Gore. Al Gore wouldn't even campaign with him in 2000. The sex addiction and resulting scandal also very likely helped get George W. Bush in office. If you think this shit's going away, keep dreaming.

You should adapt.

ASAP.



Merit is not your problem, JD.

There's an 800 pound gorilla in the room.

And he's holding his penis.

Originally Posted by cronincal

another "showing your ass" day for theta.

Originally Posted by jdanton

Old shit that her HUSBAND did.

It will get thrown at her, and she'll go up in the polls because of it.

Originally Posted by ThetaBurst

And look who's checking my ass out, huh?

You're always a follower, cronical.

And, for the record, I don't create the facts.

I just relay them.

Your beef is with CBS News.

Or CNN.

Or Gerald R. Ford.

And, don't swell up into a bloating puffbaby, just because the words Hillary and Sex Addict have dropped in on your day.