Democratic leadership has some words of disappointment for Condit's interview. I'm really pleased to see that most people are acting out of decency and not partisanship here.
August 25, 2001
Gephardt Says Answers From Condit 'Fell
Way Short'
By LIZETTE ALVAREZ with JAMES STERNGOLD
WASHINGTON, Aug. 24 -
Representative Richard A.
Gephardt, the most powerful Democrat in
the House, joined a chorus of voices
expressing disappointment and disapproval
over Representative Gary A. Condit's
handling of a Thursday night television
interview to discuss the disappearance of
Chandra Ann Levy.
In sharply critical statements to The St.
Louis Post-Dispatch, Mr. Gephardt said
that Mr. Condit, a Democrat, should have
been more candid and should have
apologized to Ms. Levy's family and to his
own. The remarks, a sharp reversal from the
cautious, neutral stance Mr. Gephardt had
taken in the past, are expected to further
complicate the political prospects of Mr.
Condit, who has represented a conservative
district in California's Central Valley for six
terms.
``What he said last night was disturbing and
wrong,'' Mr. Gephardt told the editorial
board of The Post-Dispatch, his hometown
newspaper. ``I think it fell way short. It all
adds to the general perception that politics
are no good and politicians are a bunch of
bums.''
``As to his future, that rests with him and
political constituents,'' Mr. Gephardt said.
When asked whether he would remove Mr. Condit from his seat on the
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, which gives Mr. Condit access
to classified information, Mr. Gephardt said, ``I need to talk to my
colleagues.'' He added, ``We're going to have to deal with the issues.''
``I didn't hear candor, I didn't hear an apology,'' Mr. Gephardt said.
On Thursday evening, Mr. Condit appeared on ABC's ``Primetime
Thursday'' to be interviewed by Connie Chung. In the interview, Mr. Condit,
who is married, described his relationship with Ms. Levy as ``very close'' but
refused to say whether the two had had a sexual relationship. He also said he
had not impeded the police investigation or lied to the Levy family.
The interview, viewed by more than 23 million people, was part of a
publicity blitz intended to resuscitate a political career that fellow Democrats
say has been badly damaged. But a number of Democratic strategists said
today that Mr. Condit's appearance had done nothing to help his career.
Instead, many said it may have hurt Mr. Condit, who they said appeared
cagey and unfeeling.
Expressing his own frustration with his colleague, Representative Cal Dooley,
a Democrat whose district borders Mr. Condit's to the south, said today that
Mr. Condit owed his constituents and the Levy family much more than he
delivered on Thursday night.
``I had expected that he would apologize for his actions to the Levy family
and to his constituents, but he did not,'' Mr. Dooley said. ``I had hoped that
he would be willing to acknowledge the impropriety of his behavior over the
last few months, but he was not.''
Several other Democrats have been critical of Mr. Condit, including Senator
Dianne Feinstein of California, who said Mr. Condit had lied to her and
would be unable re-establish his credibility.
Bill Carrick, a California Democratic political consultant, said he was puzzled
about why Mr. Condit would go on national television and not be
forthcoming and contrite. ``I thought he did very badly,'' Mr. Carrick said,
adding that all the publicity had to have a ``negative impact on him.''
Even President Bush weighed in on Mr. Condit's appearance, saying he did
not care for Washington gossip and was most concerned about the facts. ``I
agonize for the mom and dad,'' Mr. Bush said of Ms. Levy's parents.
But Mark Mellman, a Democratic pollster, said that in the end, Mr. Condit's
constituents, not the rest of America, would decide his future. ``Here is the
odd thing about Gary Condit's situation,'' Mr. Mellman said. ``He may have
a better chance of getting re-elected than he does at getting any other job in
America.''
While Mr. Condit faced criticism in Washington, in California, many
Democratic Party officials were more supportive. Mr. Condit, who
overwhelmingly won re-election in 2000, represents a largely agricultural,
Republican leaning district that supported Mr. Bush in the election. He is not
easy to replace, they said.
``Condit has kept the seat Democratic for a long time and someone else
might not be able to do that,'' said Bob Mulholland, a campaign adviser to
the state Democratic Party and a member of the Democratic National
Committee.
No top-tier Republican has emerged to run against Mr. Condit, and Mr.
Mulholland said he had no doubt that Mr. Condit's re-election bid would be
well-financed. ``Agriculture is a big part of his financial support and a big
part of his district and those friendships go back a long way,'' he said.
Still, some campaign contributors said they were not enthusiastic. Donald J.
Stewart, a Republican who contributed $1,250 to Mr. Condit's last
campaign, said he would not be signing over any more checks. ``He
supports our district pretty well, but after what I heard I'm not going to
support him again.''
Art Torres, the chairman of the state Democratic Party, said there was
widespread disappointment among Democratic officials over Mr. Condit's
evasiveness. But that did not mean the party was certain to withdraw its help.
``What would you abandon him for?'' Mr. Torres asked.
But Mr. Gephardt's stinging words today did not bode well for Mr. Condit.
Before the Congressional recess, Mr. Condit told House leaders and
colleagues that he did not intend to seek re-election, a Democratic strategist
said. Suddenly, he is back in the race and appearing on national television.
Mr. Gephardt, one senior Democratic leadership aide said, was hoping Mr.
Condit would clear the air. ``Instead, it has muddied the waters,'' the aide
said. ``It was evasive word games.'' |
