Dan Quayle Speaks, with Truth, Strength and Conviction...
usatoday.com
Why President Clinton should resign
By Dan Quayle
Like most Americans, I withheld any final assessment of the current
White House scandal until the basic facts were known. With President
Clinton's speech last Monday, we now know all we need to know.
Clinton has now made it clear that he engaged in a sexual relationship
with a 21-year-old intern, he lied about it under oath, and he lied to the
American people. This leaves to him only one honorable course of
action: He should resign from the presidency.
I say this with a great deal of sadness for our country, but I am
convinced it is the right thing to do.
All of the chatter about what constitutes "perjury" misses the point,
which is that Clinton lied under oath. This is a line that must never be
crossed. Period. A president's authority flows just as much from moral
leadership and personal integrity as from votes received in the Electoral
College. Furthermore, there are serious allegations of criminal conduct
involving obstruction of justice and subornation of perjury.
This scandal is also about an abuse of power and trust. We do not
allow anyone in a position of trust and authority to use that position to
the disadvantage of someone entrusted to his or her care. Whether it is
a high school principal and a student, or a commanding officer and
someone of lower rank, the important issue is the gross violation of trust
that is involved. In the case of the president of the United States and a
young intern, there is no gray area at all: It is an outrageous abuse of not
just private, but public, trust.
Our main consideration should always be the national interest. The
recent bombings of terrorist targets in Sudan and Afghanistan, however
appropriate, illustrate the importance of the president having the moral
authority and credibility to conduct the nation's business. Unfortunately,
the response of many Americans was to refer to the film Wag the Dog
instead of immediately rallying behind a president who made a correct
decision to send a message to terrorists.
As Presidents Ronald Reagan and George Bush proved, a commander
in chief's word is more than rhetorical flourish: It is an indispensable part
of America's ability to project confidence, reliability and commitment.
Now, our adversaries abroad will take a cue from Americans and
increasingly discount what Clinton says. In domestic policy, that is a
shame; in foreign policy, that is downright dangerous.
Some say it is enough to forgive this president, and that we should "put
this behind us." I wish it were that easy.
Here at home, impeachment proceedings are almost inescapable. In
addition to what we now know, serious issues of obstruction of justice
will have to be explored. If Clinton remains in office, we will suffer the
spectacle of either impeachment proceedings or a much-weakened
presidency. This problem will not go away. If this crisis is allowed to
continue, we will endure many more weeks, if not months, of tortuous
legal hair-splitting, public commentary and further damage to the highest
office in the land.
When Clinton said this "has gone on too long, cost too much and hurt
too many innocent people," he unintentionally described his own
administration. We have suffered through this president's personal
problems long enough; it is time to put the interests of the American
people first. The only way to do so - and to begin to repair the damage
done to the presidency - is for him to resign from office now.
DD |
