A news item you won't read in the NY Times. LOL
Friday June 15, 2001; 6:10 p.m. EDT
Reno Dodges Clinton Honesty Question
newsmax.com
Former Attorney General Janet Reno won't say whether she thinks her former boss, Bill Clinton, is an honest man -- no matter how hard she's pressed on the question.
Fox News Channel's Paula Zahn did her best to pin the Florida gubenatorial hopeful down on the Clinton-honesty question Thursday night when Reno guested on her show "The Edge."
But the FNC newswoman might as well have been trying to nail jello to the wall.
With each question, Reno grew more sphinx-like, offering answers no more responsive than old toy Eight Ball. Still, to her credit, Zahn gamely pressed ahead.
If the former attorney general takes her hostage-video speaking style out on the stump, it's going to be a long campaign.
ZAHN: On the issue of your former boss -- Dan Rather of CBS News was recently a guest and on our show he called Bill Clinton an honest man. Is that the way you view Bill Clinton?
RENO: The way I view Bill Clinton is that he's one of the smartest, most intelligent people that I've ever met. He has a tremendous knowledge of government. He understands people and he was always straightforward and dealt directly with me.
ZAHN: Well, do you agree with Dan Rather, then -- that he's an honest man?
RENO: I think he's made some big mistakes.
ZAHN: And what do you think were those big mistakes?
RENO: I think he should have been more straightforward on the issues that resulted in the impeachment.
ZAHN: And you -- a lot of people think he lied directly to the American public. Did he lie directly to you?
RENO: (Pause) I think that he has made some big mistakes and I think candor is necessary in that position.
ZAHN: So when you're not candid are you telling a lie?
RENO: (Pause) I think it's important to be as truthful as you can and I think it's now time to move on to other issues.
ZAHN: You may think it's time to move on but I was just wondering, in a personal sense, if you at any point of working with Mr. Clinton felt let down by his behavior?
RENO: I think any time you watch somebody make a big mistake and, having been in the position where you were making so many wonderful steps forward for this country, it hurts.
ZAHN: And did it hit you in a personal way?
RENO: It just strikes me as -- here's a man with tremendous knowledge of government who cares so much, who can relate so well to people. And I want to see him succeed in all that he was trying to do in terms of reducing crime, in terms of building the economy, in terms of giving far more Americans wonderful opportunities to partcipate in the American dream. I don't like to see things interrupted on the way. |
