He Did Not Have Relations With that Woman, Anna Nicole Smith

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By Mark Finkelstein (Bio | Archive)
February 21, 2007 - 07:51 ET
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"I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky." -- Bill Clinton
"He had no sexual relationships with that woman, Anna Nicole Smith." -- Debra Opri, attorney for Larry Birkhead, alleged father of Anna Nicole Smith's daughter

Same raised finger. Virtually identical line.

View video here.

You might have thought the sad soap opera that has been the life and death of Anna Nicole Smith would have offered a safe haven for those seeking respite from presidential politics. But Hillary cannot be pleased that echoes of a low point of her husband's presidency managed to work their way into the three-ring circus yesterday and onto this morning's "Today" show.

Lawyer Opri uttered her line outside the courthouse where Judge Larry Seidlin was auditioning for a TV show in the guise of conducting a trial. She was asserting that Howard K. Stern, Smith's companion, could not possibly be the father of her infant daughter.

The question arises as to why Opri decided to do her best Bill Clinton impression. My theory: Birkhead has been cast as a relatively minor character in this tragi-comedy. Beyond Anna Nicole herself, much more of the attention has focused on Stern. Even Zsa Zsa's ninth, the Prince, has garnered more than his fair share of air time.

So evoking Clinton was Opri's way of getting some media attention for her client -- and herself. And as we see, when it came to this morning's "Today" -- and to NewsBusters -- it worked.

Contact Mark at mark@gunhill.net

—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.


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My impression of that judge

February 21, 2007 - 08:09 ET by sarcasmo

My impression of that judge was that he seemed to want one of those schlocky judge-shows I hate. Then I found out I might be right and that he's been shopping around a tape to producers. Why can't the FL lotto numbers when it's a big pot be this easy??? Anyway, this guy's auditioning and I can only hope this will constitute the entirety of his 15 minutes of fame, because the world doesn't need yet-another judge-show with yet-another judge who doesn't want to act like a real judge...
JMR

Media circus

February 21, 2007 - 09:40 ET by iveseenitall

This entire story is just part of the media circus which dominates so much of American life. I'm afraid we're all in for a huge shock. Brace yourself and try to protect your children.

NEVER,NEVER trust a liberal

But Hillary cannot be pleas

February 21, 2007 - 09:50 ET by JDW

But Hillary cannot be pleased that echoes of a low point of her husband's presidential tenure managed to work their way into the three-ring circus yesterday and onto this morning's "Today" show.

More lamps to replace.

More wasted time 'dancing alone' on a damn beach...

JDW

Wounded skier. Corrections have been causing time-outs so mistakes will be made.

New pro-adoption dems, what about replacing abortions?

Those that refuse to learn fr

February 21, 2007 - 10:14 ET by Mean Gene Dr. Love

Those that refuse to learn from past mistakes are bound to repeat them.

Gun Safety Tip #8: No matter how responsible he seems, never give your gun to a monkey. (www.imao.us)

I overheard on one of the pro

February 21, 2007 - 10:42 ET by MikeB

I overheard on one of the programs the other evening (not sure if it was Glenn Beck or Nancy Grace) that Anna may not have any money to fight over, and given one of the terms in her will, even if she did, the baby girl wouldn't get it.  That's neither here nor there.  If Anna had no money when she died, it is her own fault: if she charged a quarter to each of the "men" that are now claiming to be that baby's father, she would have had the same net worth as Bill Gates.

The way the "news" programs are going on about this pseudo-issue, apparently I am the only male in the world who has not had sex with Anna N. Smith.  And, I really wouldn't be too surprised if Hillary Clinton shows up making the claim that she is the baby's father.

"A communist is someone who reads Marx.  An anti-communist is someone who understands Marx."  Ronald Reagan

Her father didn't have multip

February 21, 2007 - 11:26 ET by uc

Her father didn't have multiple aliases did he?  We may just have forgotten to ask William Jefferson or Monica whether William Jefferson Blythe III did the sleeping?  Are we just looking at "another name change" by Bill to get back to Captainship of the Bounty?   >>"Mr. Hillary Rodham Clinton" would still give him opportunity to "terrorize his crew."

Hillary, is it on one hand that you can count the number of times you didn't let your Captain Blythe III have is way?

Hillary, did I ask you yet about a Laura Bush for President scenario where if she ran in 2008 and won not one person in current White House would legally have to change positions or offices?   How does that Amendment work?

Remember Captain Blythe.  History does try to repeat itself.

Here's the $64 question: Wh

February 21, 2007 - 13:27 ET by Dyne

Here's the $64 question: Which number is higher - The number of people claiming to be the father of Smith's baby, or the number of people who ran for governor of California a few years ago?

"I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is to try to please everyone." - Bill Cosby