I am not an apologist for Starr. I feel that Clinton's indiscretions are his own, and therefore very personal. However, several things need to be considered.
1. Lewinsky lied while being deposed for the Paula Jones case. It now appears that lie was suborned by the President.
2. The liaisons occurred in the Oval Office, making them a public issue, since the Oval Office is a place of public business. Had they occurred in the Lincoln bedroom, Clinton would have a little more leeway.
3. Since they occurred in a place of business, there is the possibility of sexual harrasment to be considered. The President and an intern? Clarence Thomas didn't get this much consideration.
4. Clinton, I understand (ggg), is a lawyer. Regardless of his reasons for doing so, he understood the consequences of his lying under oath, and then trying to obstruct the investigation.
5. He now is shown to be a an inveterate liar.
As much as I feel that Starr has spent an excessive amount of money, Clinton spent far more on his China trip. That amounted to a whole lot of zero. Oh yeah, I forgot, they blew up a rocket and got their hands on some top secret equipment of ours...so there was a payout there...for the Chinese.
Starr's money has been spent covering many topics, Lewinsky the latest of these. Lewinsky may be the charges that stick, but they also will reveal some smoking guns leading back to Whitewater and campaign fraud.
Starr spent that money because 3 Federal Judges found the potential of a criminal act to exist, and Janet Reno concurred. Therefore, it is money (ill-spent) legitimately spent.
Finally, don't forget that most Presidents come into office with upwards of 12 counsels on board. Clinton had 60. Furthermore, because information shared with White House counsel can be repeated, Clinton hired private lawyers IN ORDER TO AVOID having any of his testimony becoming a matter of record. Clearly, he recognized from the start he was in trouble and needed every means necessary to avoid getting caught.
As far as I'm concerned, the sex is b.s. Still, it is too little, too late. We all stink because of this man. |
