WATERGATE: Not Exactly a Russian Story...

By Thornton Crowe

During Comey's hearing, Representative Adam Schiff (D-CA) mentioned Watergate and attempted to ask FBI Director James Comey to explain whether or not he knew about the incident in our presidential history. Unfortunately, Schiff proved he didn't have a full grasp of what actually happened in the Seventies. In fact, it seems Democrats who engage in such cheap banter are seemingly ignorant of what really went down.

A Matter of Political Espionage...

It all starts with a group created by President Richard Nixon's Administration called the Plumbers. This shadow team was financed by the Committee to Re-elect the President, consisting of Gordon Liddy, Howard Hunt, James McCord and Chuck Colson. They were an off-site group whom hired a group of operatives (professional thieves) whom did get busted for breaking into the DNC headquarters in the Watergate complex. However, it was only the initial event that led to a bigger scheme, much like Obamagate has become with the wiretapping and 'incidental surveillance."

The Plumbers were tasked to stop leaks coming out of the White House which were causing Nixon grave concerned. As many know, the President enjoyed almost as truculent relationship as the current administration with the press. Therefore, his distrust of leaks was on a high level, hence, he tasked Liddy, Hunt, McCord and Colson with the task to ferret the leakers out and quiet them, whatever way they chose to do so.

In one case, their target was Pentagon Papers leaker, Daniel Ellsberg, whose psychiatrist, Dr. Lewis Fielding's Los Angeles office was broken into in order to gain access to Ellsberg's file. In another, the Plumbers revealed what really happened in Chappquiddick with Ted Kennedy and Mary Jo Kopenche on Dikes Bridge resulting in the latter's death as well as the Kennedy Administration's participation in the assassination of South Vietnam president, Ngo Dinh Diem, which ultimately led to US involvement in the very unpopular Vietnam War.

Where Schiff really seems to lack any grasp is Russians and other outside agents were not used for the Watergate fiasco. Hardly. Even the FBI, IRS or CIA were not used to forward the president's purpose (unlike Obama) but a group of people hired for their spy abilities. In many ways, Watergate activities were no different than any administration before Nixon's or since. Not saying that it's right or moral, but it is not uncommon practice nor unique. Many presidents use the questionable means to gain info on their opposition, the difference between others and Nixon is they didn't get caught and then lie about it to a federal grand jury.

With Watergate, the reality of politics was finally displayed for the public to see and even though others since have also engaged and it continued through the last administration, it is usually done relatively quietly unless their targets become vocal with Congress, like the Tea Party did with the IRS targeting. Most times, people are too intimidated by these actions to ever mention them because, as we know, whistleblowers are often not protected from harm in many situations. Unlike many whistleblowers today, Mark Felt, aka Deep Throat, wasn't reveal until his death, Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward kept his identity a secret for decades.

In the end, Nixon was never adjudicated for any crime because of Gerald Ford's pardon, but he did resign knowing he would likely be impeached for lying to a Federal Grand Jury, investigating the Watergate scandal and refusing to turn over the 'smoking gun' call tapes to the investigative body. Many saw this as a miscarriage of justice and it certainly overshadowed all the good he did as president. Now, many historians have begun to revisit his presidency and relaying those good deeds but people like Schiff like to keep the black tar in Nixon's legacy out in the public, front in center, to throw shade on all the Democrats' misdeeds in the years since.

In reality, it's not uncommon for both parties to spy on one another. Its what keeps 'career' politicians in DC, living off the government dole, gratis the taxpayers. Yes, they play dirty tricks while we the taxpayers pay for their shenanigans in more ways than one. If you look at most politicians, producing tangibles is not really their deal. Hence, why Donald Trump resonated with many Americans, many of which crossed party lines to vote for him.

Unlike what happened with Wikileaks, Watergate information was piecemeal and put together of fragmentation rather than complete, damning documents like Podesta and DNC emails. Additionally, within the emails, we learned it was the Democrats who created the whole Russian fairy tale to marginalize Trump from gaining any acceptance in Middle America. Other reveals demonstrated the gross abuse of power and influence on Clinton's behalf, not the other way around.

Perhaps the real question now in light of recent events, is it Obama who is the real 21st Century Nixon on steroids? Only time will tell - and from the looks of it, it's not in the too distant future when truth is revealed!

Your best defense against Fake News is Knowing History...