Clintons Abandoned by Hollywood Friends

The last scandal of the Clinton administration, the pardoning of some questionable characters, most notably Mark Rich, has left some previously ardent Clinton supporters at a loss for words. Or, more exactly, wanting to avoid saying anything that may be recorded or printed and later reflect poorly upon them. Hollywood's brightest stars, from Richard Dreyfuss to Martin Sheen, have refused to comment on the latest questionable act from their "longtime friends" the Clintons, and in political circles there are questions about the legitimacy of Hillary's New York Senate win. Detractors and objective observers alike have wondered aloud if the pardoning of a large group of Orthodox Jews that swindled the government served as repayment for the Jewish vote that pushed Hillary into her position as a U.S. Senator.

Meanwhile, no less a Clinton fan than Barbara Streisand has refused to come to the aid of her good friend Billy. A spokesman for Martin Sheen said that Sheen "was not real amenable" to commenting on the issue, while Steven Spielberg and David Geffen won't go on record supporting the former president.

A fickle group these Hollywood types, but rest assured, politicians have spoken their mind. Even Clinton supporters have lambasted Bill and Hillary for this latest indiscretion. Congressman Barney Frank told the Washington Post that the pardon (of Rich) was "contemptuous" and "a betrayal of all who'd been strongly supportive of him." Senator Pat Leahy claimed the pardon was "unexcusable" and later threw in "outrageous" just for good measure.