Clinton Finds Himself Friendless, Under Fire

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14, 2001 -- -- All former presidents find that after losing their power, their friends are no longer always there. But in Mr. Clinton's case, the change has been remarkable.

His Hollywood friends, such as the Streisands and the Spielbergs, may not have dropped him altogether, but they are silent about his current troubles.

And many Democrats who have defended him in the past have been bluntly critical this time:

"I'm sorry Bill Clinton pardoned Mark Rich," says Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass. "I think it was an outrageous thing to do."

"Pardoning a fugitive from justice is wrong," voices Sen. Charles Schumer, D-NY.

"It appears to set a double standard for the wealthy and the powerful," echoes Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif..

"I think either the president had an incredible lapse in memory or was brain-dead when he did that one," says Sen. Joseph Biden, D-Del. "I mean, I just think it's totally indefensible.

Hitting Nerves Among Constituents

The Rich pardon also hit a nerve among African-American members who say their constituents have backed Mr. Clinton in the past but are outraged this time. "They're going to ask me about a guy who evaded taxes — allegedly evaded taxes — when they can barely afford to go to H&R Block to have theirs filled out," says Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md.

It's not just the Rich pardon that disturbs Democrats, but other pardons Mr. Clinton granted to drug offenders, such as Carlos Vignali, whose father reportedly donated money to prominent Democrats.

"[It's] wrong, anytime you take drug dealers and money launderers and pardon them, it's an injustice," says Chicago Mayor Daley.

Even Mr. Clinton's wife says she had nothing to do with pardons and it wasn't her fault.

Despite all the jokes that it's lucky he has Buddy, the dog, to keep him company, Bill Clinton still has friends. Some say privately they believe he will eventually make another of his famous comebacks — but not anytime soon.