A PARDON-CASH CONNECTION: IT'S OK IF YOU'RE A BUSH

The biggest story in the universe right now is that three people Bill Clinton pardoned -- without raising objections -- have now given money to Hillary Clinton's campaign. Those Clintons -- they're so uniquely evil!

Or maybe not:

The George Bush Presidential Library in College Station, Texas, reveals its most generous patrons on a gray marble wall in the foyer. When the center, located at Texas A&M University, was being erected, money flowed in from as far away as Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, places that had good reason to thank the 40th president of the United States. But for one donor of at least $100,000 -- Texas oilman Edwin L. Cox, Sr. -- gratitude may have been closer to home.

Just before leaving office in January 1993, [George H.W.] Bush pardoned Cox's son Edwin L. Cox Jr. The scion of one of Texas' richest families, Cox Jr. had pleaded guilty in 1988 to bank fraud by falsifying collateral on $78 million in loans....

Eleven months after the pardon, Cox lived up to his billing with a pledge to the library. His name is etched in gold as a "benefactor," those whose donations amount to between $100,000 to $250,000.... The Cox family's generosity began years earlier with at least $35,000 in contributions to Bush and GOP campaigns.... And the family kept on giving after Bush left office, with $125,000 going to GOP campaign committees in 1995 and about $30,000 to gubernatorial and presidential races of today's White House occupant, George W. Bush....

Yeah, maybe not:

...Anthony Franchi ... was convicted in 1983 of tax evasion, served two years' probation and paid a $20,000 fine, before completing eight hours of community service. This week, Franchi was one of 11 people to receive a rare Bush pardon.

... Franchi is also a generous Republican donor. Since Bush took office, Franchi has donated nearly $4,000 to the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

In fact, definitely not:

Four days before Christmas, President Bush granted pardons to 16 people....

According to a Federal Election Commission record search conducted by ABC News, one of the 16 people in the presidential pardons announced today by the Justice Department has donated money to the Republican National Committee and the Bush campaig

Dale C. Critz Jr. was convicted in 1989 of making false statements in a case. He never served time but was given three years probation for his offense.

He and members of his immediate family have made donations to Republican candidates and the RNC. On April 7, 2003, Critz donated $500 to the RNC and on Sept. 30, 2003, his father, Dale C. Critz, donated $2,000 to the Bush-Cheney campaign.

How often have you encountered these names in the news? How often do you think you'll hear about the Hillary donors?